I suppose last weekend in Paris wasn’t enough French culture for me, I’m ready to push forward to Montreal tomorrow! And you can be sure I will be on the hunt for some poutine. It’ll look like this, but with cheese curds:
NOT poutine, but halfway there…
I got my first taste of poutine during my one-year stint in Banff, Alberta, a resort town in the Rocky Mountains where you will find probably the largest Quebecois population anywhere outside of Quebec. I worked with them, lived with them, partied with them, and grew to be quite fond of French Canadians. I was 18 and 19 years old at the time, and it was my first time living outside of my parents’ home. An impressionable age, to be sure, and I’d been quite sheltered up until then. My French Canadian friends introduced me to so many things for the first time: music of all genres, new places, experiences, ideas. I owe much of my early passions to them, because they were such passionate people. They seemed far less self-conscious in their identity and how they appeared to others, and they were always happy to share their culture and verve with me, no matter if there was often a language barrier.
In fact, even though tomorrow will mark the first time I have ever visited Quebec, when I returned to Canada from overseas in 1995 I was convinced I should either repatriate myself to Montreal or Vancouver. Vancouver won out, because that’s near where my family lived. Otherwise, I would’ve ended up in Montreal and that would make for an entirely different story…
I think I’m in a minority in this country when it comes to appreciating the French Canadians. But that’s OK, I’m more accustomed to being in a minority than a majority in most everything. This Canada Day long weekend I’m looking forward to being around the French Canadians again, soaking in the ambience of Montreal, and eating my way around the city!
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Mmm, I just got goose bumps thinking about French fries. Is that a bad sign?:)
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Had never heard of poutine before, except referring to the Russian leader! Eat one to my health. But from the looks of it, must be fattening
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Fattening, Claude, you don’t know from fattening!
Anyway, Gail, you’re going to love it! I’m from Montreal, grew up in Laval and my sister lives west of the area in Ormstown. When he’s in the country and not gallivanting around the world (http://www.aroundtheworldgang.ca/blog/) it’s home to Case’s nephew as well. Montreal is a wonderful city with life and love and all that stuff!
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Have a great trip Gail, hope your remember your French lessons better than I do.
J’espere que la Vieux Port est une de tes destinations. Si tu avais du temps, Le Biodome est tres populaire aussi.
Saturday, 30 June 2007
When the base ingredient is “french fries,” you know the outcome is probably going to be incredible…
I’ll have to try that. Haven’t ever!
Sunday, 1 July 2007
mmm Poutine! I cannot wait until I’m back in Canada in October to get myself a feed of it! I make poutine here but with regular cheese as I can’t seem to figure out what cheese curds are exactly or how to explain it to the dutch cheese guys so they can tell me what it is here.
You gotta have it with ketchup, by the way!
Sunday, 1 July 2007
Poutine with ketchup? What a travesty!
No, seriously, people, poutine must be sampled at least once in your life. You, too, Muckdog! I didn’t have any yesterday, but I will definitely have some before I leave Quebec.
Breigh, I think you have to ask for unripened cheese to get the curds. It’s basically what bocconcini is, except bocconcini is formed into shape.
Sunday, 1 July 2007
I have to admit I don’t get cheese curds… they’re so… squeeky!
Monday, 2 July 2007
Poutine or not, I so want to go to Montreal.