Melting Pot of Cuisine and CULTURE
If not all have fallen into the cauldron from the first day, many food enthusiasts in search of new sensations gleefully draw from the vast cultural melting pot at their disposal to delight their taste buds! It has become evident that the joy of cooking is now unequivocally fuelled by diversity and the intermingling of cultures and ethnicities. With this inclination as a backdrop, the concept of the “melting pot of cuisine and CULTURE” refers to the idea of cooking and assembling the flavours, colours, textures and traditions of different countries in a single dish. In essence, it’s a way to travel. It’s the desire to broaden one’s horizons and stimulate the palate with new tastes. It’s the pursuit of a happy union. Ultimately, it’s the quest and creativity in the art of using food to craft happiness…
But to be entirely accurate, the melting pot of cuisine and culture is not a recent trend. Migrations, commercial exchanges and colonial influences have fostered culinary blending and the birth of new recipes. What’s been fascinating in recent years is to see the craze in Quebec for flavours from “elsewhere” and the 1001 emerging ways to rethink certain traditional dishes, including, of course, cheese fondue! Clearly, Quebec is proud of its poutine, pâté chinois (Quebec-style shepherd’s pie) and ragoût de boulettes (Quebec-style meatballs stew), but what’s really got the province’s culinary enthusiasts buzzing is the revitalization of these comforting classics with a personal touch and by drawing on the culinary traditions of “other” cultural groups. In light of this trend, you’re invited to take a colourful and flavourful trip around the world! Here’s a selection of recipes from 1001 Fondues that showcase ingredients, techniques, and influences from various origins. Let’s be inspired! Let’s dive headfirst into the vast melting pot of cuisine and culture!
Cheese Fondue À l’Italienne
Regardless of season, sun-dried tomatoes exude an irresistible aroma that instantly transports us to a vacation time and delight. Indulge yourself with a delectable fondue recipe featuring Quebec cheese, which invites itself to the table with sunny accents of southern Italy. Mamma Mia! Heat up the pot!
Chicken Tacos with Veggies
How about some colour on your plate? Head for Mexico! … Well, not quite. Actually, let’s go to the Alps! No, we’re not! OK, then simply treat yourself to an explosion of flavours resulting from a perfect marriage between the delicious aromas of Tex-Mex cuisine and the absolute comfort of cheese fondue!
Ham and Cheese Fondue Pancakes
How about a stack of American-style pancakes topped with ham and Quebec cheese fondue? These filling yet fluffy diner-style cakes — that we call “pancakes” — are sure to give comfort! Get the kids into the kitchen and turn them into little chefs! You’ll blow everyone’s minds with this one! To die for!
Quick Sauce for Fish and Chips
Fish and Chips have a long-standing reputation as a simple recipe and a go-to dish of great comfort. And there’s nothing better than a delicious sauce for dipping. Here is our quick recipe full of flavour and ready in 1 minute!
Chic! Moussaka
When it comes to moussaka, we immediately think of Greece. Although this delight is commonly regarded as a Greek and Turkish specialty, it is actually a traditional dish of the entire Balkan region (Albania, Greece, Kosovo and Romania as well as the Middle East: Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, etc.). Yet again, we’ve reinvented a recipe just for you! This time around, we did it with a Quebec touch and a slightly smoked ingredient — the delicious fondue Chic! fumée (smoked)!
Spanakopita and Fondue
This exquisite crunchy dish has its origins in Greece. We have created a phyllo dough recipe that works as an easy appetizer. Inspired by the traditional spanakopita (Greek spinach pie), this culinary treat combines not only spinach, but also a staple of 1001 Fondues: the fondue Aux 3 fromages de l’Isle. To die for!
Sauerkraut and Cheese Fondue
Let’s continue our love for local products! This easy recipe is for a tasty dish made with not only the Chic! à la bière Fondue (crafted with beer), but also Tapp’s out-of-this-world organic sauerkraut. A true Gaspesian delight!
Quebec-Style Shepherd’s Pie
We just had to share with you a traditional recipe adapted by our dear Pepe (Jean-Yves of 1001 Fondues). Also known as “pâté chinois” in Quebec, today’s Shepperd’s Pie is topped with a deliciously decadent cheese fondue. Warning: You’ll never want to make Shepperd’s Pie any other way!
Poutine À la Fondue
Poutine is one of our all-time favourite foods, so we thought we’d reinvent it with a delicious dollop of cheese fondue. Our fondue À la Léonne makes all the difference in this gourmet twist on a quintessential Quebec classic!