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The Ten Most Recent Comments By 2muchfood

From Talk

Canadian Cuisine?

Geez, there's a lot of comments here! Okay, my step-mother and step-sister are Canadian, and one of the things I remember most is breakfast, which was a bird-in-a-nest and some real pea meal bacon. Bird in a nest is basically an egg fried into the center (or, in Canada, "the centre") of a piece of toast. That bit you removed is also toasted in the pan, for dipping. This can be done on any side of the border where a slice of bread and an egg can be found, but what about the bacon? Believe it or not, it can be had (for a price!) here in the good ol' U-S-of-A, at a place called ...

Real Canadian Bacon

You can get it sliced or in roasts. If you're well heeled enough, you can get it by the gross, if you want. I find it's not too far off of the "real" stuff, but with a lot of extra water added that cooks out. What I've not done (and should) is a whole roast, THEN sliced.

Anyway, chips-n-gravy, chips-n-curds, amazing steaks served with butter on top, and great game. That, along with some good produce in the summer puts off the "I can't be bothered with you" attitude you sometimes get in Toronto.

2muchfood at 5:13PM on 04/12/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

It's unfortunate that someone's accusations can throw an entire carreer out the door. From what I've heard and read about Mr. Smith, he was a kind and gentle person. One could believe that he decided his career was over whether he proved himself innocent or not (something that's not supposed to have to happen in America) so why ruin someone else's career along with it (Wollum's). We are all supposed to be innocent until PROVEN guilty, and that did not happen. If the allegations were proven, I'd be right along side BITTER there, but they were not.

As for his recipies and cookbooks, with some experience and "Try, try again" spirit, you could get some darned good food out of them. Now Alton, he bats closer to 85%, little prior knowledge required!

2muchfood at 5:01PM on 04/12/08

Responses to Comments by 2muchfood

From Talk

Canadian Cuisine?

Torontonians are not the most well-liked people in Canada. I grew up in central Ontario and moved to the GTA a few years ago. They are very snobby and rude, I guess they are the American equivalent of New Yorkers. Must be because its city life.

As for cuisine, most people have touched on it. Wild game, seafood, poutine, maple syrup, beavertails (but I grew up with them being called Moosetongues), peameal bacon etc.

The prepared foods in Canada are unique, such as dill pickle chips, coffee crisp, crispy crunch, kraft dinner, and Tim Hortons. Other than that, I think our cuisine is very similar to American.

bellasly at 4:01PM on 04/15/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

I was a big fan of the Frug' and I think his influence changed a lot about how cooking shows are presented. I can't think of another show at that time that really explained the regional differences in how people eat.

He really raised the bar of food knowledge in the country, especially in the midwest where I grew up. In the mid-80s people just weren't eating things like squid ink pasta, balsamic vinegar, fennel bulbs, etc. etc. Al dente' was a word most had never heard.

If he hadn't had his troubles, and the evidence is pretty overwhelming against him even if he never had to admit to anything, then I believe he would be among the most revered food educators. As it is, most younger people don't know him at all, but his influence is still being felt in very strong ways.

It was a deep personal loss to me, he really taught me how to cook and also why it's important to be curious about the foodways of other cultures. I still have all of his cookbooks, but I don't use them much.

ebraun at 4:28PM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Canadian Cuisine?

@2muchfood, slightly OT, but I have heard that Torontians (sp?) are so uptight and rude - what gives?

BITTER at 1:38PM on 04/13/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

@Calichef: "So, just like abusive parents being a repeating cycle, so goes abusive chefs."

You don't know how true this still is!!

SayWhat at 9:20PM on 04/12/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

I agree that his accomplishments in food education on TV, and otherwise, were enormous. I also agree that ignoring his greatness because of unproven allegations (for which he was never prosecuted) is foolish. Every time I head to the stove I never fail to think to myself, "Hot pan, cold oil, food won't stick!" Plus I think it's silly to hold something that may or may not have happened (but probably things happened) against a dead man. I'm sure those last few years of his life were hellish and he suffered enough.

As for uppity Craig Wollam, he grated on my nerves something fierce! I suspected (even way back when he first appeared on the show) that he and The Frug were more than just "friends." I mean, all the trips, come on. However, I expect he's much more circumspect now that he's been taken down a bunch of pegs. I think counseling for kitchen workers that have been abused is a great idea and he will never run out of clients. All kitchen workers have been abused at some point.

As an aside, I once asked a chef why he was so hard on his crew and was told that he was treated the same way when he started. So, just like abusive parents being a repeating cycle, so goes abusive chefs.

Calichef at 9:13PM on 04/12/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

I remember this show. My mom used to watch it. The Fugal Gourment, Jeff Smith, passed away in July 2004.

paris221966 at 8:11PM on 04/12/08