Across Canada by train from Toronto to Vancouver

When you travel as much as I do, and when you are a foodie, as I am, then food is a very important element of any journey; and the cuisine on The Canadian did not disappoint. The Canadian dining cars are sleek stainless steel as a nod to the bygone era of Art Deco and luxury travel. They also offer fabulous views of the unfolding scenery as well as providing regional Canadian food of a very high standard. I never had a bad meal on board and I was constantly amazed how they managed to cook food to such a high standard in the tiny galley kitchens.

From local bison burgers, lobster ravioli, roast crown of lamb to pickerel (a local lake fish that’s similar to pike), scallops and peameal bacon, each and every meal I took on board was beautifully cooked, regionally sourced and indicative of the province we were travelling through at the time of serving. And it wasn’t just the food that was paired with the local provinces; each day we were treated to tastings of local wines and beers too, whilst sitting in one of the Skyline Dome Observation Cars.

As the tapestry of the Canadian landscape was laid out before me, each and every day offered different scenery as we snaked our way across this great continent; one night, a lady entertained us before and after dinner with her soulful folk songs, and as the prairie lands disappeared out of view and the start of the mountainous area started to dominate the skyline, we listened to stories of pioneering hardship, hope and love. It was a magical moment that I will never forget.

On leaving the vast wheat lands of Manitoba and Alberta behind, the local beverages became more wine orientated as we approached British Columbia and breakfasts veered away from hearty full Canadian’s (which comprised peameal bacon, ham, eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes and breakfast sausage), taking on a lighter, more West Coast healthy feel where fruit, yoghurts and vegetable omelettes were in the spotlight.

The famous Panorama Car had now been added to the train at a recent stop in Edmonton, and as we approached the magnificent Rocky Mountains, this comfortable glass viewing car was my daytime home (in between meals that is!) Armed with my camera, I snapped my way through the spectacular landscape. Towering mountains, cool dark green pines and flame-hued maple leaves shone bright outside the windows, and we often saw bears and moose ambling alongside the tracks.

If the local fauna and flora influenced our daily viewing so did the food, and along with the introduction of more British Columbian wines I noticed that after leaving Saskatoon we were treated to bison steaks, wild salmon and an assortment of Saskatoon wild berries in general. Viewing outside the windows whilst dining was now spectacular, as glaciated deep blue lakes and mountains crowded our panoramic viewing screen. Canada continued to amaze me with its stunning autumn clothing and sheer natural beauty.

This was undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the train journey, and the part that most people look forward to, but I had been captivated by all the scenery I had passed on my epic journey. From the vast plains of Ontario, the windswept prairies of Manitoba and the patches of woodlands that was the preclude to the Rocky Mountains, I felt I had truly experienced Canada first-hand. The people I met on the train, with all their different stories, will sustain my imagination and interest for years to come.