Poutine

[Shanamir Duntak]

Juntel made me tought of this in the anything post.

Who ever tasted the best Quebecer fast-food? I mean Poutine!

And what did you think of it?

Poutine is, in my opinion, the best thing you can eat. Anytime.

[juntel]

Oh, but there is poutine, and then there is poutine!

For example, McDonald's try for a poutine is a joke!

One shouldn't use any kind of cheese: you gotta have the right kind of cheddar, what we call here "cheddar en crottes", which I won't translate for fear of being banned!

And the sauce! Any good poutine has it's own secret sauce.

And the fries!...

I'm sorry, gotta leave... I have to get myself some poutine...

[Shanamir Duntak]

Where do you think they have the best poutine? I believe it's Ashton's and Stratos.

That reminds me... once I went to the Maine and There was "La Poutine Quebecoise" at a little resto. The cheese on it was cheese-wiz!!!! BEURK!!!

Hummmmm... forbidden poutine.... do'h!

[bmilder]

Pou- what?

[juntel]

For our anglo and american friends, how to pronounce poutine:

"poo-teen" is ok; the slang way is "poo-tsin".

Don't ask me what it means: I have NO idea!
It isn't french; it's slang, but of an origin unknown to me. Maybe Shanamir knows...

BTW, the new prime minister of Russia is Vladimir(?) Putin... that's a big laugh here for a name!

[Shanamir Duntak]

I don't know for the origins but I'll do a search...

[juntel]

Ah! I remember my first poutine!
Since then, I can't go without!

After a poutine, I want another one...
and another one...
and another one...
I can't stop!

[juntel]

But then there was this other poutine once...
The sauce was of a strange hue, and didn't smell that good.
I could see things in it also... well I'll spare you the details.
I just couldn't get into it and eat it.
I left it there, maybe for somebody else to eat.

[Bullroarer]

If you wont tell us what it means, then what is on it, other than a secret sauce and good chedder cheese?

[juntel]

What's a good poutine?

A good poutine is moist and warm, makes you salivate merely by looking at it. It invites you with its smell and its texture.
And once you dive into it, you just can't stop eating it!
Mmmmm!

[Eruve]

Ah, poutine... Such wonderously healty food. So good for the cholesterol level... NOT!! :evil:

Basic poutine is French fries topped with cheese curds (cheddar cheese before it's pressed into brick form naturally forms large curds... The word juntel was referring to rhymes with curd but begins with a T, and they sort of look like that, too, but the real word is cheese curds!) and gravy. Very healthy stuff. Then there are the variations: Italian poutine (thin tomato sauce instead of gravy), poutine with hot dogs cut up in it or with smoked meat (pastrami)... There are infinite variations.

And no, I've never had it in the 18 years I've lived mainly in Quebec. I think it just looks too gross for words, live vomit actually (sorry). And no, it's not because I'm a health food nut, far from it!

[Bullroarer]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
I see.

[noldo]

Mmmm... Sounds delicious.

:lol: I thought this thread was going to be about the president of Russia and that Shanamir had spelled the name in-correctly! :D

[Eruve]

Well, that's the joke here at the moment. The Russian president's name is pronounced just like the Quebec junk food.

[juntel]

Eruve, do you think eating a poutine is a guy thing mainly?

(I hope anduin is reading this...)

[anduin]

????

Don't elaborate please. ;)

[Gilthalion]

(The little Hobbit, reading the thread, smacks his lips and thinks that his little corner of the Shire could certainly use a good Poutine franchise... Not that he's ever had any, but doesn't it sound like a fine little pre-appetizer snack before supper?)

[Eruve]

Juntel, I have no idea. My husband has eaten it, but he doesn't go out of his way to eat it, or get cravings for it. I think the last time he had it was over 10 years ago and we'd been out at a club and had the hungries at 3 AM. (Ah, life before kids!) I know women who like it. So I really don't know the answer.

[Darth Tater]

It sounds good, and I'm brave, if I ever go up there I guess I'll try it. Oh, I thought this was about Putin too, I was quite confused when the first post was about food ;)

[Shanamir Duntak]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
I never thought about Russia when posting this thread!

Me and my girlfriend love poutine... a good evening for me is: eating a poutine, going to a movie then... :p can't say there are kids here :D

Ok... here's the trick to do your own poutine at home...

cook french fries (!)
for the sauce, you can use hot chicken sauce or any brown sauce, (BBQ is VERY good).
While your fries are on the way and your sauce is warming, cut lots of little (1cm wide) cheddar cubes.
When your fries are ready, put them in a bowl put the cheddar (it most cover all surface, AT LEAST 1,5 cm thick) then pour your sauce on it. CAUTION sauce MUST be EXTREMELY hot so the cheese soften and start to "melt", but then let if cool down a couple of minute if you don't want ot burn your tongue! :p

That's about it. But keep in mind that what you'll eat, even if it's really good, will be VERY FAR from what they serve in restaurants.

[Eruve]

I hate to say this, but I'm not sure the proper kind of gravy is available anywhere but in Quebec. I never heard of hot chicken until I came here... We lived in Nova Scotia for two years and I had to buy a lot of St. Hubert hot chicken sauce packets in Quebec to take back to Nova Scotia. They just didn't have the right gravy there!

Anyone who wants to try this delicacy will just have to come visit. While you're here you can sample some of our other culinary delights: Michigan hot dogs, smoked meat, hot chicken, St. Hubert chicken, Mikes submarines...

[Shanamir Duntak]

Smoked meat ain't another local meat? I hope not! It's almost as good as poutine!

But I still say BBQ gravy would be the best for the home-made poutine

[Gilthalion]

Ah well!

If we are to discuss other culinary pleasures...

(the little Hobbit's eyes brighten)

...down here we have never heard of Hot Chicken Sauce.

And what we cook at HOME, in our snug little holes, is ususally FAR SUPERIOR to most restaurant fare!

Oh, I could tell you fantastic tales of our adventures in the kitchen! The Mrs. and I, we truly enjoy the work of our own hands, I must say. And I do say!

We make the finest spaghetti sauce in all the Shire and the Outlands! Our butcher provides us with the choicest cuts of prime meats, which we marinate and season and grill until all the juices are exuding an aroma that absolutely drives the neighbors green as the water oaks with envy! We use fresh herbs and creams to make the most wonderful sauces for savory rice and fine pastas. Our gardens grow the most delicious tomatoes and beans and peas and sweet corn! Oh! and don't get me started on the collard greens and mustard greens and early spinach! And here by the sea we get flounder and shrimp and red snapper and oysters! The best in the world! Farm fresh bacon and brown country chicken eggs! And may I say that we also have the finest boiled mudbugs (crawfish), jambalaya, gumbo, and Cajun Hobbit cuisine anywhere!

Tonight, Hamburgers! I have just put them on the grill! The Mrs. made the patties with our own butcher's blend of hamburger and all the spices we add ourselves. She made these pretty big, I'm afraid. Why, they must be 3/4" (2 cm) thick! They'll be much too big for the buns (this hamburger doesn't shrink up). Well, we'll make do.

I just turned them! Oh you should see the little beauties! We have a cast iron grill (much like a hibachi only sturdier) and it leaves the finest marks on the meat where the sugars caramelize and give you that fine grilled flavor. The hickory chips will infuse the burgers with a fine smokey flavor that will mingle well with the onion, garlic, pepper, and other tastes blended into the delicious meats.

The Mrs. is cutting up a vine ripened tomato and will be expecting me off this thing shortly, so I mustn't linger until she's cross.

If I could stay, I'd tell you about BREAKFAST in the South Farthing of the Shire! Grits and farm eggs and thick country bacon and ham and sausage patties and links and strawberries and grapefruit and honeydew mellons and homemade blackberry jam...

That's the Mrs. now! Got to go!

[Bullroarer]

[Mr. Lunt voice]You're making me hungly![/Mr. Lunt]

[The One Ring]

Never heard of poutine, but I'd certainly try it if given the oppoutinity. :p

[Shanamir Duntak]

:lol:

Seriously, i told you how to do it by yourself... tomorrow, tell everybody in the house you're cooking and impress them! :D

[Darth Tater]

What is the sauce? Can you explain it? I'm good at immitating foods

[juntel]

As Eruve said, the cheese to be used it curd cheddar (not cheddar cut in cubes, Shanamir!).
For the sauce, well, BBQ sauce would be ok, or HotChicken sauce. I find that the less salty sauce are better (today commercial sauces are too salty; the "low-salt" ones not enough; so get "low-salt" sauce, and add salt as you like!).
But as I said, the better poutines are those with special sauces that are custom home made by ingenuous people; maybe it's just a mix of lots of different canned brown sauces, or maybe sometimes its real brown sauces made from scratch from bones etc... ie the old way brown sauces were made. You try to make your own.
And as Shanamir said, pour it *hot* on the fries/cheese. And let the cheese to melt a bit, and soak the fries somewhat.

Oh, and Eruve, you forgot about St-Viateur street's bagels! They come all the way from New-York to buy these bagels!

[Eruve]

Yeah, I forgot the bagels. Montreal bagels are unlike any other bagels elsewhere. I also forgot souvlaki on pita: wonderful Greek take-out! And how we eat French fries along with pizza... And putting whipping cream (unwhipped) on pie, and all the stuff you get when you go sugaring off...

And yes, Shanamir, smoked meat sandwiches as we have them here, the really big, thick ones, are unique. Smoked meat exists elsewhere, it's usually called pastrami, but I never saw the sandwiches like you get at Schwartz' anywhere else.

[juntel]

Or at "The Main" on the main...

[captain Tarpols]

I don't know what you people are talking about. SMOKED MEAT IS VILE!!! GROSS, YUCKY, ETC :p Our family tried it in Canada (yes including bmilder) and we hated it! :p If you say that Poutine is almost as good as smoked meat then poutine must be pretty awfull :p Pastrami is not smoked meat...

[Eruve]

Where, specifically, did you try smoked meat? You have to know where to go. In Montreal, the best place is Schwartz. And according to my ex-sister-in-law's father who was a Jewish butcher, smoked meat is pastrami. :p

[captain Tarpols]

no its not! :p and we tried it at some plave called Ben's deli or somehting...

[Shanamir Duntak]

Juntel! I know it's curd cheddar, but it co$t here... just imagine elsewhere where dairy product cost more! So I gave a cheap alternative. Anyway, those who had read the thread from the beginning knew it was curd cheese as you said in your first(?) reply.

And, In my opinion, BBQ sauce is the best! This evening I'm gonna eat a big Ashton's poutine with BBq sauce.... hummm... if you want, I can fax you a frie :p And NOTHING beats my father's smoke meat. 2"!!!!!! Yes, 2 inches thick, but costly in meat :D

[Johnny Lurker]

I must admit that I've never tried it.

Perhaps someday...

"But until then, I'll say this"

Cheese (cheddar.ca, of course) and "gravy" do very well as a fry compliment. In large quantities.

[Darth Tater]

Yes, cheese fries are found mostly in New Jersey. Basically, they're fries with melted velvita on them ;)

I shall have to find some curd cheddar, but the explanation of the sauce is still not good enough to understand. Are you saying a chicken gravy?

[Eruve]

Try brown gravy. The chicken gravy mentioned is brown: it's meant to be eaten on a hot chicken sandwich, which is (ironically enough) made with cold chicken between two slices of bread with the brown gravy poured over top. Then you put peas on top of that and eat it with French fries. Kind of a Quebec version of SOS... Actually, you can buy the gravy in deydrated form, where you add water and heat till boiling (stir constantly). Tell you what, Tater, <a href=mailto:elyse1999@my-deja.com>email me</a> a mailing address for you, and I'll send you a packet of sauce mix!

[Shanamir Duntak]

Ok... summary: anything brown, liquid, salted, and that you CAN eat -And would eat- (no, I'm not talking about disgusting things you do in the bathroom after too much beers ) will do.

I think I'll scan you one packet :p

[Gilthalion]

Tomatoe Gravy on Hot Buttered Biscuits!

[Darth Tater]

i've actually made that before minus the cheese curds ;)

[anduin]

Wait! Hold everything! ;) Gil are you saying that you actually know what tomato gravy over biscuits is?? Have you ever eaten it? ;) How do you make it?

[Shanamir Duntak]

Beurk!...

I just don't know how I'll give the scanned image to you...yet.

Anyway... if someone is interested... tell me

[Darth Tater]

Me me! darthtater@tolkientrail.com

Someone just pointed something out to me. It's sick, so I can't mention it here. Bet all you non french speakers wish you had a clue what I'm trying to not say ;)

[juntel]

anduin told me about it from the start...
read some of my posts (after the 2nd or 3rd) with that in mind... (and also the anything post!)

No, we french-q's didn't know about that...
(nor the russians, I'm sure!)

[Shanamir Duntak]

What are you talking about???
I'm french-speaking and not sure I understand what you're talking about! :(

Tell me please!
Anyone? ICQ 48186112!

[juntel]

err...
well...
in some parts of the us, "powtayne" means "raw oysters"...

yeah, that's it...

[anduin]

Hey!!! Leave me out of this! No one needs to know how dirty my mind is! ;)

[Darth Tater]

nm ;)

[Shanamir Duntak]

BEURK!!!!!

[Gilthalion]

Shanamir wanted you to see this!

geocities.yahoo.com/Heartland/Glade/3474/poutine.jpg (http://geocities.yahoo.com/Heartland/Glade/3474/poutine.jpg)

And if that doesn't get it, then go to my Bare Bones Website in my signature. You'll find that, and a few other things. (Including a new Tolkien reading!)

Thanks Shan! Poutine looks great!

[Eruve]

There is is in all it's glory! Now you know what it looks like, but without the authentic sauce, you still don't know what it tastes like.

[anduin]

What's in the ladle??

[juntel]

Sauce is in the laddle...

and I must say this: poutines I eat look MUCH better than that!

and is not served in a plate like that, but in a bowl, so that it can contain many more fries, so that the heat of the fries is conservated so that the cheese melts better...

hmmm... a poutine... every guys delight!
and women too can like poutines!
(sorry, this was for anduin!)

good idea Gil to find a picture!
an image is worth a thousand words (but it destroys the secret running joke! does anduin want ME to find a picture of a beautifull hot poutine in all its glory!?)

[Gilthalion]

Actually, Shanamir sent me the picture and I just posted it for him! :)

[Shanamir Duntak]

Yeah, you little "/%&$?* hobbit!!! Don't take credits for my scans! :D

Anyway, as Juntel says, Poutine made in Ashton or the ones I myself make at home look much better than that! And yes, it's usually served in a bowl more than in a plate.

I mostly sent this picture for all of you to get a look a the sauce and also get a look at the ingredient list. (By the way, I now ingredient are hard to read cause me and Gil downsized the picture, but I still have the original and could cut it just to show that list if anyone wants).

For all of you who'd want to take a look a REAL poutine, I'll try to find a publicity pamphlet from Asthon and scan it.

I say try, cause tomorrow, I'm returning to school, and seeing my old pals may make me took lots of alcool based substance and I may become really lazy this week... :p

Shan

[anduin]

Juntel!! *stomps foot*

[Darth Tater]

So basically it's gravy

[Shanamir Duntak]

No, basically, it's good :p :p :p

[juntel]

Us guys, we like the gravy!

(anduin stomps foot on juntel's big toe! Ouch!)

[Shanamir Duntak]

Hum gravy... :rollin:

[juntel]

Hmmm... Poutine gravy...

Tell'em Shan!

[Shanamir Duntak]

indeed... hum poutine gravy...

Do'h!!! Drool vrywhr in my kyboard... damn the lttr " " ain't working anymor!
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:lol:

[Gilthalion]

Great Galloping Goblets of Gravy!!!!

You guys are acting like Poutine is as good as GRITS!

[juntel]

Uh... you'll have to tell us first about grits: what are they?!

[Eruve]

Grits are a Southern thang... I can't explain exactly what they are; I've only had them once. I thought they were pretty tasteless, but I suppose it makes a big difference who makes them. I had them on a breakfast buffet at a hotel once. I bet Gil. has a secret ingredient or two...

While we're on regional cuisine, anyone ever had Shoo-fly Pie? Mmmmmmm!

[anduin]

Grits are made from coarsely ground hominy which is corn. Whole hominy looks like garbonzo beans or chickpeas. Grits do have a pretty bland taste, that is why you have to add stick of butter to it and plenty of salt. I also like plenty of pepper and melted cheese on mine. YUM YUM!

Shoo-fly pie.....hmmm, only on vacation. :)

[Darth Tater]

Grits, tasteless? With salt and pepper they're great!!!

[anduin]

Are you reading my posts??

[Shanamir Duntak]

Anduin No he's not :p

And everybody I never tasted grits but I'm SURE they're not as good as Poutine. In fact, NOTHING's as good as a good poutine!

[juntel]

Hey, grits sounds a bit like falafels!
Except that falafels are not made with corn...

So, is grits more a meal taken from our hosts the native americans...? Sounds like something they would have invented, and passed on to the colonizers in the begining, before the quarrels...

[Gilthalion]

Grits can be served with gravy.

Grits can be cooked with water, or milk, or beef broth, or chicken broth.

Grits can be served with melted butter and with melted cheddar cheese.

Grits should have a spoonful (or two) of sugar in each serving.

Grits are nice with onions and garlic, too.

***
Of course I have a recipe! Deceptively simple, as all great recipes are...

If you are as lazy as I am, and want something fast and hot and good for breakfast, this is my off-the-shelf recipe for the best grits you can possibly eat, ready in less than 5 minutes! Just time enough for the coffee to perk.


LAZY HOBBIT GRITS

2 packets Instant Cheddar Cheese Grits (I like Quaker brand)
4 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons dried chopped onions (from your grocer's spice shelves or 4 tbs fresh)
1/4 stick of butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup water (substitute chicken broth if desired)
1 cube chicken bullion (optional)

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. (Crumble or predisolve bullion cube if desired, good without it.) Microwave for about 3 minutes. Stir and let sit for a couple of minutes while you sip your coffee down a little. Wolf down and fly to work. Delicious and good enough for company in the evening, especially if served with fried catfish which is also good for breakfast! Makes two servings.

***
Anyone ever eat a Poutine for breakfast?

GRITS RULE!!! ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY GRITS!!!

[The One Ring]

Ah, grits.... I had them in North Carolina once. Didn't care for them too much though. A bit too, well, gritty for me.

[juntel]

A poutine for breakfast?
Of course!
With a brownie and a DrPepper...

[Shanamir Duntak]

Hum, Poutine for breakfast..... I did this last week. and the week before. :p That's a good way to start the day!

[Gilthalion]

Well, if you can eat a Poutine anytime of day, then I guess it's pretty good!

...but Grits rule!

[anduin]

Hmmm....adding sugar to grits.....haven't tried that yet, nor even heard of it, but it makes some sense and I think I will have to try it. YUM......GRITS!!! :D Onions and garlic.......now why didn't I think of that?!! YUM.....GRITS!! :D

[juntel]

Hmmmm.... that makes me wonder anduin...
I wonder if there is *another* hidden meaning to the word "grits"...
Something like the "poutine" thing...

[Gilthalion]

:eek:

Goodness gracious! No hidden meanings here!

What dirty minds you French Canadians must have!

[Shanamir Duntak]

Indeed my friend, indeed. What a dirty mind Juntel has...

[HarryPotterbookfan]

Juntel, not the rest of us...?

[Shanamir Duntak]

Don't you think your sig is a little long?

[juntel]

Long, and anoying!!!!


















(Unless of course you replace those cartoons with real women...)

[anduin]

Juntel, didn't we already have the little chat about dirty minds and keeping them a secret?? ;)

[juntel]

euh...
ah...
weelll...
sure...

ahem...

maybe you were talking to my "clean" mind then...
my "dirty" mind was probably busy at the time...

[Shanamir Duntak]

Busy thinking of Anduin?
in some "déshabillé" maybe? :lol: