Poutine virginity lost

Poutine, not to be confused with a Russian totalitarian monster we are supposed to hate a lot, is kind of a greasy spoon comfort food which was born somewhere in rural Quebec in the fifties. It is french fries and cheese curds covered with gravy. The cheese curds melt between the fries and the gravy. Here is my order:

It is delicious. With every bite you clog your arteries, I'm sure, but it's good.

Here is what wiki says about the etymology of "poutine":

The Dictionnaire historique du français québécois lists 15 different meanings of poutine in Quebec and Acadian French, most of which are for kinds of food; the word poutine in the meaning "fries with cheese and gravy" is dated to 1978. Other senses of the word have been in use at least since 1810.^[8]

While the exact provenance of the word "poutine" is uncertain, some of its meanings undoubtedly result at least in part from the influence of the English word pudding. Among its various culinary senses, that of "a dessert made from flour or bread crumbs" most clearly shows this influence; the word pouding, borrowed from the English pudding, is in fact a synonym in this sense. The pejorative meaning "fat person" of poutine (used especially in speaking of a woman) is believed to derive from the English pudding "a person or thing resembling a pudding" or "stout thick-set person".

In other meanings of poutine, the existence of a relation to the English word pudding is uncertain. One of these additional meanings — the one from which the name of the dish with fries is thought to derive — is "unappetizing mixture of various foods, usually leftovers." This sense may also have given rise to the meaning "complicated business, complex organization; set of operations whose management is difficult or problematic."

The Dictionnaire historique mentions the possibility that the form poutine is simply a gallicization of the word pudding. However, it considers it more likely that it was inherited from regional languages spoken in France, and that some of its meanings resulted from the later influence of the similar-sounding English word pudding. It cites the Provençal forms poutingo "bad stew" and poutité "hodgepodge" or "crushed fruit or foods"; poutringo "mixture of various things" in Languedocien; and poutringue, potringa "bad stew" in Franche-Comté as possibly related to poutine. The meaning "fries with cheese and gravy" of poutine is among those held as probably unrelated to pudding provided the latter view is correct.

In Maine and northwestern New Brunswick, poutine may be called "mixed fries", "mix fry", or simply "mix", although the term "poutine" has been gaining in popularity in recent years. In some parts of eastern Canada, the term poutine is not commonly used. In Baie Sainte-Anne, New Brunswick for example the word patachou is used to describe this dish.

Joanie and I went out on a food cart quest in her corner of Portland. Unfortunately, at this time of year a lot of food carts shut down for the season. After all, it is cold. One of the first things I learned upon arriving in California lo those many years ago is to dress in layers. Down there it's because of all the microclimates. It might be fifty degrees one place and sixty-five degrees twenty blocks away, or over a hill. So you dress in layers so you can take off or put layers as needs be. In Portland you also dress in layers, but to keep warm. Here:

I am wearing a t-shirt, a shirt, a sweatshirt and another sweatshirt and I could have used another couple of layers.

At this place there were several different food carts, a crepe place, a Cajun place, etc., and they had a heated tent with picnic benches where you could sit and eat. That's good when the alternative is to squat on a curb and watch your food freeze before your eyes.

Joan got fries covered with pulled pork. It was, eh, interesting. The pork was spicy, not a problem, but it was spiced entirely differently from what you think pulled pork should taste like.

You'll note that Joan's wearing gloves, a kind of clothing I should investigate.

Anyway, the poutine was as good-tasting and as bad for you as it looks. This was my first food cart. We had started out looking for a place called "Cracka Lacka" that serves fried chicken that's like crack. But as I've said, like a lot of food carts, Cracka Lacka was closed. We must wait for that one. [I have seen Cracka Lacka referred to as "cackalack's". I don't know if this is another business or a derivation of the name.] 

Joan's promising to take me to a barber shop that serves beer, though.  

Comments

[FGF]

I love Potato Champion; glad you got a chance to try poutine. Haven't tried the crack fried chicken cart, but maybe I can get the girls to take me there.

[polo ralph lauren femme pas cher]

s'avérait pas contaminée.