Forget poutine and butter tarts — feast on worldly flavours to mark Canada Day: Andrew Coppolino

As the country turns 155, area restaurants plan to celebrate Canada Day with a world of food.

In some cases, you'll find Spanish-Canadian-inspired beverages, ice teas, Canadian empanadas and Brazilian poutine.

Here's a selection of some of the events and foods that will be served during the Canada Day weekend (please check with individual venues for availability and hours of operation).

With food operations run by Zerka Mya of The Pulao Gals and the kitchen by chef Atlas Rampersad, the Old Galt Bottle Shop has burgers and beer-bacon sausages by Forequarter Butcher and a spicy vegan lentil patty as specials. A special strawberry-rhubarb cocktail for July 1 will see a portion of sales go to the Gord Downie Chanie Wenjack fund.

At the Kitchener Market, check out KW Empanadas' Canadian-Argentine empanadas: baked dough pockets stuffed with meats, cheeses and vegetables, including Canadian flag colours of Mozzarella and tomato sauce, or bacon and Cheddar. (It is recommended to order online; available until July 3.)

To celebrate the end of the school year, kids under 10 eat for free (with an adult meal purchase) at Ridge Social Eatery in Ayr on Canada Day. 

Kitchener's Sari-Sari Filipino Cuisine will be closed Friday, but on Saturday, July 2, they will have a special roast pork belly cooked on a spit over fire.

Located near the University of Waterloo, Exotica: The Sandwich & Wrap Bar has a Canada Day (and July 2) 10 per cent off special on their "Frankies," a popular Bombay street-food wrap, either with meat or vegan.

Enjoy a parade then an adult slushie in Cambridge

Everyone loves a parade, and the Canada Day Parade in Preston is back starting at 11 a.m. on King Street. Make a reservation (note: space is limited) at La Lola Restaurant and Catering for an Ibero-Canadian celebration of Canada. The bar will be serving a red Vermouth "adult slushie" called Viva Canadá and chef Miguel Angel Pastor Alvarez will be making a special tapa that pays homage to Canada.

Staying with the Latin theme, Passado Brasil food truck will be at Wave Maker Craft Brewery on Laurel Street in Cambridge, on July 1 with their Brazilian poutine, carne e fritas: picanha steak on French fries with a choice of "maionaise verde," chimichurri or pico de gallo. (The picanha is a nice fatty sirloin cap of beef that is often done in Brazilian churrasco rotisserie style.)

And Los Rolling Tacos food truck, operated by Jose Delgado, will be at Norm Hill Park on Jacob Street in Wilmot; there you will find a Canada Day special "choriqueso" taco with a chorizo sausage-cheese combination with onion, cilantro and salsa. Delgado will serve up some churros too.

A day to reflect

For many, the day isn't just about celebration but also to reflect on how the country has treated Indigenous people. That includes a sunrise ceremony in New Hamburg and a chance for people to view the exhibit by Métis artist Tracey-Mae Chambers in Waterloo Park during a community picnic Friday afternoon.

Indigenous chef Sydney Keedwell at Fat Sparrow Group often works with, and sources ingredients like huitlacoche, from Wisahkotewinowak, an urban Indigenous garden collective in Waterloo-Wellington.

This Canada Day weekend, Taco Farm will be serving frybread tacos, strawberry juice and Cedar ice tea until July 4 with some proceeds going to Wisahkotewinowak. Keedwell says that Canada Day is an opportunity to teach Canadians about Indigenous peoples.

The Neighbourhood Group of Restaurants (The Wooly Pub, Borealis Grille, Park Eatery, Miijidaa) is giving 10 per cent of sales to support Anishnabeg Outreach.

Sweet strawberries and barbecue

There are some sweets, too, and this is the best time of the year for strawberries. CE Food Experience & Bakery, having recently moved to Uptown Waterloo beside City Hall, will be preparing their fresh strawberry-vanilla cupcakes. They will also be baking a maple-oat whole wheat bread as well.

While the Canada Day barbecue patio party at Jacob's Grill St. Jacobs includes Montreal smoked meat and Whisky Caesars with bacon, it's also time for their S'mores kits. Dogs are welcome on the patio, and feature menus run until July 3.

Beer and food plays a role in Canada Day celebrations.

TWB: Together We're Bitter Co-operative Brewing kicks off its summer music series on July 1 with I, The Mountain on the patio along with a pop-up barbecue and house chef Rob Hillier. This is a non-ticketed, pay-what-you-can event.

Because TWB is a co-operative, they are also celebrating "International Co-operative Day" on July 2 with a cheeky launch of their Belgian dubbel: a collaboration with Guelph's Planet Bean coffee, the beer is called "Dubbel Dubbel" for good Canadian fun.

Four Fathers Brewing Co. in Cambridge released their summer mix pack this week and will celebrate Canada Day with a community barbecue at the brewery from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday.

In Kitchener, micro-brewery Counterpoint Brewing Co. has partnered with SNickelFritz Kitchens for — wait for it — butter tart ale, a Canadian beverage if there ever was one.