Jiggs Dinner/Sunday Dinner

A group of friends prepared a Jiggs Dinner/Sunday Dinner for us, yesterday.  I had been talking to one of them and they were surprised that I had never had Jiggs Dinner, a traditional Newfoundland feast, before. He went on to explain in detail how to prepare it. Then he said that, of course, you prepared such a dinner for a whole group. This got him thinking. "I'm getting hungry thinking about it, now", he declared. And before I knew it, plans were in the works!

We almost missed it. This was because we knew what was on offer and just assumed that this "dinner" was offered at suppertime. WRONG! It was ready for NOON! Luckily, we found out in time. 

I have to admit, I was unsure how much I would enjoy this meal. Here is the list of the foods involved: salt pork, peas pudding, cabbage, turnip, carrots, and potatoes. It was explained to me that for Jiggs Dinner to become Sunday Dinner, you added other meats like chicken and moose. We would have both. So this was technically Sunday Dinner and it was appropriately on Sunday.

We arrived and there was quite a spread. Now, we were 5 minutes late because everything I have attended here has started late. My arriving bang on time tends to be a signal that I am from "away". I have a hard time coming late to things but allowed this 5 minutes. They were waiting for me, pointing at their watches. This dinner started at NOON! Not at 12:05. Apparently, one thing Newfoundlanders are never late for is Sunday Dinner.

It was delicious! Everything was so tasty! They really take pride in how things are prepared. Vegetables, for example, are all cooked together and their flavours mingle. 

I have had moose before but have never really liked it. This moose was delicious! This was the same one that I had seen photos of after the hunt. Full circle. Again, it's all about the preparation. 

Some other delicacies were mustard pickles (the homemade ones were the best) and a dessert brought to the feast by a young woman who is French Canadian. Pouding chômeur is a québecois dessert and it is delicious. It was known for being made when times were tough and people didn't have much.

When travelling, always try the local food, if you can.