My father-in-law was born in Boat Harbour, Newfoundland, in 1907. Even though his family moved to the United States when he was a child, he had fond memories of the small cod fishing village located in a cove on the west side of Placentia Bay. He would entertain his children and grandchildren with tales of life on this cold northern island that residents pronounce NewFOUNDland.
His family of fishermen and master carpenters immigrated first to the Miami, Florida area, then gradually moved to Brunswick, Georgia, because of the ship building industry. They had left their homeland after five relatives in the Denty family were lost at sea as they tried to return to port during a storm from a fishing trip. Only one body was ever recovered.
As an adult in Brunswick, he, too, joined the fishing industry as a shrimper. During the 1940s, he worked as a shipbuilder on the Liberty ships; and in 1942, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Like so many men in his family, he could build or fix about anything made of wood or metal.
Since 1497, Newfoundland, settled by the English, Irish and French, was a British dominion. The newest providence of Canada, it did not join the Confederation until 1949. Of course, this land was originally inhabited by Indians and Eskimos; and the first Europeans to set foot on the soil were the Vikings around 1000 A.D. Although they did not stay long, the remains of their settlement have been found and partly restored in L’Anse aux Meadows which is now a United Nations World Heritage site.
Earlier this year, our older son and his wife began talking about visiting this far away land of tales, legends, and heritage. Our daughter and her husband said they also wanted to go. With their oldest child graduating high school and getting ready for college, our youngest son and wife declined to make the trip. In 1988, my husband and I had joined his parents, a brother and sister in making this trek to Newfoundland. This time with our children proved to be a totally different jaunt.
With two full days of going and coming by air travel, we spent six days touring the most easterly points, the Avalon Peninsula of “The Rock,” from the capital of St. John’s south through the Irish loop to the fishing villages, including Boat Harbour, to the French Isle of St. Pierre.
According to Newfoundlanders, fish is always cod. Other fish - halibut, salmon - are called by their specific names. So we dined on “fish,” halibut, salmon, mussels, lobster, chowders, root veggies, poutine, and breads, both hearty and sweet. We met cousins, saw history in action, and marveled at how a staunch group of people could not only survive such harsh conditions for centuries, but also be so happy and so friendly to strangers.
Newfoundland Saying :Who Ya ‘Longs To?
It means: Where do you belong?
Poutine
According to Canadian Spencer Buell, writing for Boston Magazine, Poutine, a dish strange to us, originated in Quebec about a half century ago. It has since been adopted by all Canadians as comfort food. He writes, “Here’s what poutine is: It’s good, hand-cut fries, cooked a little crispier than usual; it’s rich, handmade gravy; and it’s cheese curds so fresh they squeak when you bite into them. It’s simple, and simple is good.”
The term itself, Poutine, is slang for “mess.” The original recipe calls for cheese curds on top. Newfoundlanders have their own adaptation. Often, it’s served with crispy fried fish (cod), the proverbial fish and chips.
A plate of (French) fried potatoes, extra crispy.
Topped with dressing (more like seasoned dried bread crumbs)
Covered with handmade brown gravy
Topped with sauteed onions
Although we ordered our toppings “on the side,” and questioned how healthy such a dish could be, it’s moving southward. Northern states like Massachusetts and Maine have already adopted and adapted the recipe to their tastes.
2018
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