Poutine is a well established Fun Food (one of my faves) and is celebrated during La Poutine Week each year!! For 2024, the week starts today, February 1.
This Vancouver is Awesome article outlines where to experience the 2024 special poutines for the next 7 days. One location is at the Vancouver Aquarium so you can visit your favourite fish and eat your favourite Fun Food!
Actually it is pickle ON pizza. This PureWow article advises that a trending pizza topping in 2023 is PICKLES! They suggest a garlic sauce base and then mozzarella cheese then dill pickles & sometimes ranch for dipping but I tried it on a good ole pepperoni pizza and it was REALLY good.
AND soon I plan to try adding pickles to my usual pineapple & olives – Deadpool Pizza!
Poutine Week has expanded to 2 weeks – February 1 – 14th. This is the 11th year for La Poutine Week which is celebrated at 983 restaurants across Canada – outlined in this detailed Dished article! La Poutine Week has it’s own website and instagram account! I’m not sure where the idea originally came from but I am in full support of Poutine, a Canadian Fun Food AND the celebration of Poutine for 1 OR 2 weeks!
Now there seems to be some debate about Poutine’s origin but I believe it was compiled in Quebec – and I believe the correct verb is compiled as there is a base of french fries, then a layer of curds/cheese and finally a drizzle/douse of gravy.
And there also seems to be a debate around the correct second layer – chewy squeaky curds NOT grated cheese… While I prefer cheese curds, I once did have killer poutine at the Templeton in Vancouver where they used a layer of grated old aged cheddar that was VERY memorable. Their current menu indicates that they are now using curds for their poutine!
AND there are some that find the various additional toppings that have been added to traditional Poutine an outrage BUT I say they have just never tried Breakfast Poutine or Butter Chicken Poutine. The RecRoom (now gone) was where I first tried Breakfast Poutine and now I try it whenever I find it on a menu! And when I am craving Butter Chicken Poutine I go to The Spud Shack Fry Co. – they have great traditional Poutine as well as 10 variations.
I think I may add Poutine to my Horizontal Fun Food Tasting Chart!
Eggs plus cheese plus bacon and now PLUS potato chips – Quiche is Fun Food! This recipe by Chrissy Teigen is for Loaded Potato Chip Mini Quiches. A muffin pan has never been so useful! And I am betting the Spanish may not have seen this twist on their Tortilla Espanola.
There is also a NY Times omelet recipe that has potato chips from Ferran Adria! Having made it multiple times with different types of chips, I find crinkled thick chips work best for me and I remember to let the mixture soak a bit before cooking for maximum “potato-ness”! Chrissy also recommends letting her chip of choice, crunchy kettle cooked, soak.
New Chip Flavour Alert – this info filled Thrillist article advises Lays has 2 new cheese flavours! I’m keeping my eyes open for them to see if they are good in either of these recipes, or just on their own, or with dip, or with soup, or …
It has been established that ALL things Cheese can be Fun Food. How about a cheese board masquerading as a flower arrangement!!
This flower arrangement could be perfect for the honey bunny in your life as February 14th is approaching fast. I just learned (thank you Wikipedia!) that Valentine’s Day or Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine was originally a feasting day – a beautiful edible arrangement really may be perfect!
Marissa Mullen is successful again with this wonderful Fun Food idea and beautiful photo.
Or, instead of flowers, why not bring this to the next party or celebration you are invited to since entertaining could be a real possibility in 2022. The how-to is in this helpful Food52 article.
HAPPY National Cheese Lovers Day!!!
Cheese is best when it is melty! Melty = Fun. I’ve posted this before but it deserves reposting as we start 2022 and celebrate National Cheese Lovers Day.
Melty cheese – on a burger – on french fries with gravy – fried & flambeed in a pan (Saganaki) – in layers between pasta or pastry – in the center of chicken – on top of a pizza (next layer to the sauce or on the very top or both!) – floating on the top of French Onion soup – baked brie with or without a topping – grilled in a sandwich/panini, see these new ones from IHOP, Sandwich Melts.
And a VERY melty cheesy Fun Food is fondue – it is the ultimate in melty cheese. This killer recipe for Junk Food Fondue is from Chrissy Teigen and is now on my to-try list. Her key idea is what you DIP in the fondue – tater tots, chicken or chick’n nuggets, piggies in a blanket, sausage rolls, maybe onion rings!! Or baguette / crackers / pretzels if you run out of other Fun Foods. I would only change one thing, “Fun Food Fondue” may be a better name.
Enjoy National Cheese Lovers Day!
New Year’s Eve is a special occasion for appis – at a party OR at home – and this comprehensive Purewow article outlines 75 ideas & recipes, yes 75 Appis (appetizers) that are good for New Year’s Eve but also EVERYDAY! Perhaps make one or two of these recipes per week to prepare for HNY 2023…
There are 2 recipe ideas that have a similar & excellent concept and feature one of my fave Fun Foods, potato chips. Cheesy Bacon Holiday Crack & Loaded Baked Potato Chips!
And if you thought waffle makers only come out in the morning, think again. Waffle-Iron quesadillas! Or how about Bacon Apple Cheddar Waffles!!
Happy 2022 Everyone!!
PS – Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip anyone?!?
And, this is a continuation of all things cheese since today is National Cheese Day. Cheese & Cheese Boards are Fun Food and so are Fruicuterie Boards & Bagel Boards. And now Jarcuterie!
PureWow always has great Fun Food ideas and this article has all the how-to’s. In this time of Covid, this idea is perfect with everyone having their own OR anytime for people who don’t like to share…!
You will be surprised just how much a jar can hold, especially when you get creative.
June 4th is National Cheese Day SO today is the perfect day to enjoy cheese. Here is a link to ALL the celebrated food days – Fun or not – so you do not miss any!
Cheese on a plate goes by a number of names and add bread (any type!) plus crackers and you have the perfect Fun Food partners. You can also include potato chips & grilled foods to up the Fun Food Factor – a combination created by Marissa Mullen.
Marissa is an Insta Foodie & author who focuses on all forms & types of cheese – @thatcheeseplate. She has a book, gives classes, shares recipes and so much more that you can find right here. Marissa is the perfect start to finding the World of Cheese on Instagram & in your life. #cheese !
Melty Cheese is Fun Food – fondue, raclette, baked brie, grilled cheese sandwiches, even the trendy TikTok Baked Feta with or without pasta – all Fun Food.
I love a wonderfully cheesy One Pot recipe which is so doable even I can make it. I overgrated and added more cheese (an extra cup or so…) and my mom renamed it Cheese with Mac!
Technically it is One Pot Mac & Cheese from my favourite Insta Foodie @theshayspence (Traveling Food Editor @people) that was inspired by Friar’s Nook at Disney World! Follow him – this man knows Fun Food.
Whitney's Fun Food Suggestions! 