FRENCH CANADIAN - What is Poutine?

Have been to Canada a few times including Quebec where poutine (poo teen) comes from and had never had it until today at Lucky 32 Restaurant in Greensboro North Carolina.  There are an unknown number of recipes for poutine, however, the comfort food main version is:

Mix of French Fries, Cheddar Cheese, and Brown Gravy.    It's sort of a war between Drummondville and Victoriaville (small cities of Québec province) to decide who invented it first. There's some other kind of poutine: - Regular Poutine - heh - Italian Poutine - Bolognese Sauce instead of Brown Gravy - Spicy Poutine - A bit of Tabasco in the Gravy - Galvaude - Add chunks of chicken and green peas - Dulton - Add Ground Beef, sometime sausages. Great hangover remedy, if you can eat it all!

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen in Greensboro NC and Poutine

What we had:

Hot Ham and Havarti Sandwich 

with spicy brown mustard and Creole mayonnaise,

served with hand-cut fries

My photos

Other People’s Poutine (pronounced poo teen)

our fries + cheese curds + brown gravy = sublime

(Didn't know what Poutine was so googled it at restaurant: is from Quebec, Canada)

Also had: Collard Greens (best in Greensboro) and

Creamy Grits

Here is WIKI link:

LINK TO Wiki on Poutine

The portions were large. My friend said the Hot Ham and Havarti Sandwich was very good but that there were too many fries on the plate.

The Poutine was great but the portion was large enough for two people (one plate) if you want sides.  I took a doggie bag home.

The service was excellent, too, as always. 

LINK TO Lucky 32 lunch menu

LINK TO website with great photos and clickable links

After doing research on poutine I found out there is more than one poutine recipe.

LINK TO Huffington Post 10 poutine recipes with slide show

LINK TO Poutine recipe from Emeril Lagasse

NOTE:  About the cheese curds. If you can't find them and I bet you can't, one source said use small chunks or thick slices cut up of mozzarella or other white cheese. However, I believe what I had at Lucky 32 was a mild to sharp cheddar and I think if I made this that is what I would use as I could really taste the cheese & I think that a white cheese would be too bland.  Just my opinion.  The yellow cheese juxtaposed with the gravy and the potatoes.  I would put more sliced green onion tops on top of the dish.  

BEVERAGES: 20 Twists on Homemade Lemonade from Huffington Post - SLIDE SHOW

20 Twists On Homemade Lemonade

  

  

  

LINK TO Lemonade recipes

ITALIAN - Tuscan - Giada makes her favorite Osteria recipes (1 VIDEO)

Osteria


Osteria's are like Italy's version of a coffee shop; where groups hang out, play cards and gossip. The main difference is that the food can be a little fancier and wine is served instead of coffee. Giada's going to prepare some of her favorite dishes that are typically found at an Italian Osteria.

Recipes in This Episode

Apricot and Nut Cookies with Amaretto Icing

Gorgonzola and Porcini Mushroom Risotto

Chianti Marinated Beef Stew

LINK TO Giada's Osteria recipes

INDIAN - Spice Goddess - Bal's New Favorites

Bal's New Favorites

Bal Arneson creates a bold, delicious menu of all her new favorite foods - baked Spinach and Paneer Turnovers with Mango Basil Chutney; juicy Indian Roast Chicken; decadent Cardamom Fennel Brownies; and refreshing Spiced Lemonade.

RECIPES IN THIS EPISODE

• Cardamom Fennel Brownies

• Five-Spice Blend

• Indian Roast Chicken

• Mango Basil Chutney

• Spiced Lemonade

• Spinach and Paneer Turnovers with Mango Basil Chutney

LINK TO Bal's new favorites

PRODUCT REVIEW: Lean Cuisine Chef's Pick Culinary Round Table - Mushroom Mezzaluna Ravioli

Sometimes really too busy to cook. Bought this for freezer.  OK, but wouldn't buy again. I put lots of fresh ground pepper on it and it did not pop!  OK for a hurried  lunch! I liked the name of the product. 

Would probably be good homemade:  Can't read ingredient side panel without a magnifying glass. But, ingredients are ravioli filled with portobello & button mushrooms, romano & ricotta cheeses in a creamy marsala wine sauce with spinach and red peppers. 

There was a recall on this in February (had glass in it) but not the one I ate. 

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm339140.htm

What is a mezzaluna pasta?

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-mezzaluna-pasta.htm

PRODUCT REVIEW: Walmart Lemonade - HFCS - HEALTH ISSUES

I didn't buy this product. It was bought for me.

See ingredients:  high fructose corn syrup

HFCS can cause the following diseases or problems:

FROM WIKI: 

Health concerns have been raised about HFCS, which allege contribution to obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes,^[37] and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.^[38] Critics of the extensive use of HFCS in food sweetening argue that the highly processed substance is more harmful to humans than regular sugar, contributing to weight gain by affecting normal appetite functions.^[39]

FROM ME:

In my extensive research on non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy I have found that HFCS can cause it, make it worse, etc.  Fibromyalgia (a relative of peripheral neuropathy) is also affected by HFCS. 

FROM RESEARCH ON INTERNET: 

HFCS can also contain higher than acceptable levels of mercury.