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03.10.2008 :: 69. Poutines VS. Poutine

So, cheese curds. I'm holding out hope that the fresh Wisconsin-ish cheese curds are the real deal and not the same as the packaged Trader Joe kind. I tried them and my thoughts are MEH. No squeak (I'm crushed too), kind of a stale, lifeless flavor. But. I will live my life with the goal of finding REAL cheese curds. Everyone needs goals, right?
However, one comment about the cheese curds caught my attention. From Blogless Cyndy: Google Poutine to see what should be done with cheese curds! Curds are also good chilled.
So I did! Not just because Cyndy told me to but Poutines are part of my heritage. It's true!
My first inkling that this was not MY poutines was that she used the word singularly, not ending in an "S" which mine is always always always. Always.
Poutine: (not mine) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine
Wait one Potato ball minute! French Fries covered with cheese curds and covered in gravy? Holy heart attack, Batman! This is not MY POUTINES! My poutines are gray potato balls with pork in the centers, wrapped in cheese cloth! MY MOUTH WATERS! I know it sounds unappetizing! They look unappetizing too~ But I would so eat one right now~ I'd trade my oldest child for one. Or perhaps 2, he is a good kid after all (Young adult, sorry. Not mine to trade anymore. Trade is off)
There at the top of the POUTINE page is the small sentence: This is the Quebec-style dish. For the completely different Acadian dish, see poutine râpée.
So, I did!
Yes, now I remember that MY Poutines are Acadian which is not really Canadian after all! But the wikipedia page is very unsatisfying for describing poutines to you!
This is the whole entry:
poutine râpée is a ball of grated and mashed potato, salted, filled with chicken or pork in the centre, and boiled.
Well, Mr. Wikipedia, please try to contain your excitement!
Cripes!
So, I went off on a little Googling.
Ahh, THIS IS BETTER!
I remember my Memere making these (she looked a lot like those women too). This was quite the undertaking. A huge project. And those unappetizing looking Poutines? They never looked better to me! My mouth waters just thinking of them.
poutine_rapee.jpg

Image found here : http://www.billcasselman.com/canadian_food_words/cfw_six.htm
Anybody eat MY poutines?
(If you are ever in the area of Holy Rosary Church, be on the lookout for their bazaar in the fall where they sell Poutines from the Holy Rosary Poutine Factory!)
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Mmmmmm...PoutineS
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Your invitation to the book club HERE: let me know if you have trouble seeing it.

Posted by Sandy on 03.10.2008 AT 04:53 PM

Comments

Ah yes. Klub= poutine only in Norwegian. Leftovers are the real treasures because they are fried in butter the next day.

Posted by: Linda on 03.11.2008 AT 11:18 AM

Mmmmm. Potatoes wrapped round pieces of pork. What's not to love? With some salt & pepper, some butter and a bit o'gravy. I'm feeling weak in the knees here...

Posted by: Kim on 03.11.2008 AT 08:40 AM

You have to love a dish that combines the essential food groups in one convenient package. I've never heard of these, but they are not unlike the idea of pierogi, or aroncini - all the great cuisines must have a "favorite carbohydrate stuffed with meat or cheese" dish - just like they all seem to have a tripe dish!!

Posted by: Nora on 03.11.2008 AT 07:08 AM

Poutine is also a New Jersey delicacy (except it goes by its Merican name: cheese fries n gravy).

Posted by: Anne on 03.10.2008 AT 11:59 PM

Wow. I never knew about poutines. I guess I'm just an uninformed French Canadian. Living in Philly doesn't help.

Posted by: Cyndy on 03.10.2008 AT 10:27 PM

You are right, they should squeak. I have had both Vermont and Wisconsin cheese curds. Didn't the Yarn Harlot mention gravy on them, or something...?

Posted by: Paula on 03.10.2008 AT 08:53 PM

I think I'll stick to Swedish meatballs.

Posted by: Carole on 03.10.2008 AT 07:58 PM

I guess I should ask with a big PLEASE? ;-)

Posted by: margene on 03.10.2008 AT 07:40 PM

Poutines or poutine...never heard or seen or eaten either! Will you invite me to dinner and make a bunch? ;-)

Posted by: margene on 03.10.2008 AT 07:40 PM

Wow. I have never heard of these poutines. But then again, even though I grew up right on the border with a non-French(but Canadian) mom, I only learned about poutine a few years ago from an attorney here in Vermont whose ancestors are French-Canadian. Hm.

Goulash/ACS, Poutines/poutine. I think you should start a TV show: Sandy's Kitchen, to reveal these important differences in Sandy cuisine! :D

Posted by: Norma on 03.10.2008 AT 07:33 PM

I have a memere too! (I've never come across another Memere -- exciting moment!) Pardon all the exclamation marks!! She never made poutines or poutine. I missed out.

Posted by: Nannette on 03.10.2008 AT 05:16 PM

Now I'm hungry.

/sigh

Posted by: Cookie on 03.10.2008 AT 04:58 PM