Last week in the Georgia Straight, we brought you the culinary secrets of some of the international pavilions that have popped up around Vancouver for the Olympics. This week, we go domestic. All of the Canadian provinces and territories are represented either individually or in a regional pavilion. All are open—at least in part—to the public and entrance is free. We’ve listed those with interesting eats below; enticements range from free food samples to celebrity chef appearances to gourmet bistros. None take reservations, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Alberta House
In the covered plaza in front of Alberta House, there will be a licensed area serving food and drinks. The casual, Alberta-themed menu was created by chef Brad Smoliak, cofounder of Hardware Grill in Edmonton. It will showcase Alberta beef, pork, bison, and lamb. The focus will be “healthy Alberta comfort cooking”, with dishes like beef chili, Prairie Chowder, chicken potpie, and barbecued beef on a bun. Nothing tops $10. Beer, cocktails, and wine by the bottle will also be on offer.
Where: Corner of Robson and Beatty streets
When: February 12 to 28, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Info: www.alberta.ca/vancouver2010/

Saskatchewan Pavilion
Chow down on a bison burger, a sausage on a bun, or pierogies with sour cream at this pavilion. If you’re after something sweet, try a saskatoon-berry tart. Grab-and-go items will be $5 to $8.
Where: Concord Place near Pacific Boulevard and Carrall Street
When: February 12 to 28, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Info: www.saskpavilion.com/

Ontario House
There’s lots of foodie fun here, from samples of Ontario wine and beer to cooking demos. Chef Jamie Kennedy will show off the province’s bounty on Friday and Saturday (February 12 and 13), and chefs from the Ottawa branch of Le Cordon Bleu cooking school will give demos from February 24 to 26. There’s also a lounge and bar area with a tapas-style menu ($5 per dish) with items such as charcuterie and Bliss-on-a-Stick cheesecake.
Where: Concord Place near Pacific Boulevard and Carrall Street
When: February 12 to 28, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Info: www.ontario.ca/olympicgames2010

Maison du Quebec
This pavilion looks like a good dining bet with a licensed counter-service bistro and an extensive menu featuring products straight from the province. Here’s a sampling of what you can order: split pea soup, a cheese platter with a choice of three out of 14 cheeses, smoked duck salad, tourtií¨re, and duck cassoulet. Mains run $12 to $14, and Quebec microbrews ($10) are on offer. There’s seating for 96 people between the inside and outside on a heated, covered terrace.
Where: Concord Place near Pacific Boulevard and Carrall Street
When: February 12 to 28, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Info: www.quebecverslepodium.gouv.qc.ca/ (in French), www.bonjourquebec.com/ (in English)

Atlantic Canada House
This house represents all four Atlantic provinces. It won’t have meals for purchase, but three times a day (at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m.), students from the region’s culinary schools will serve complimentary food samples, such as stuffed Prince Edward Island lobster tail and Bay of Fundy scallop paella. Each province’s specialties will be highlighted on a different day: Nova Scotia on February 16, Prince Edward Island on February 18, New Brunswick on February 23, and Newfoundland and Labrador on February 26.
Where: Arts Club Theatre (1585 Johnston Street, Granville Island)
When: February 13 to 27, pavilion open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Info: www.atlanticcanadahouse.com/

2010 Aboriginal Pavilion
Run by the Four Host First Nations, this pavilion’s catering services are geared to private groups. Entry to the pavilion is free. But if you’re looking for food, a cover charge of $25 per person buys access to the lounge and a platter of hors d’oeuvres that reflect aboriginal cuisine in a specific region of Canada. Note that the lounge is only open to the public from 9 p.m. to midnight.

There are four hors d’oeuvres menus in rotation, one each night. Items on the Salish menu include seared scallops wrapped in wild boar prosciutto and smoked salmon charcuterie. The Eastern Nations menu includes warm smoked venison sausage and salmon skewers. The Métis menu features bison satay and bannock and pemmican canapés. The Inuit/Northern menu has grilled arctic char skewers, elk potstickers, and asparagus wrapped in musk ox prosciutto.

Patrons can add additional platters, which each serve two to three people and cost $18 to $29. These feature items like bison sliders, bannock-based aboriginal pizza, and sweet fried bannock “bear paws”. B.C. First Nations chef Andrew George Jr. is overseeing the kitchen along with Ontario’s Arnold Olson. A cash bar will be available with beer and Nk’Mip wines by the glass.

Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre plaza, corner of West Georgia and Hamilton streets
When: February 13 to 28, 11 a.m. to midnight
Info: www.fourhostfirstnations.com/