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Tourtières at M. Wells in Long Island City in Time for the Holidays

A Tourtiere, which is a meat pie traditionally made in Quebec

Photo credit: Jesse Winter

I got an email newsletter today from M. Wells, the source of all French Canadian food goodness in Queens, updating subscribers on what’s going on with their restaurants—M. Wells Steakhouse (open!) and M. Wells Dinette (new menu!). They also mentioned they are offering tourtières:

The 10-inch pies are filled with an array of birds, brisket, pork, potatoes, spices and draft beer. Each comes with a jar of cranberry ketchup and serves 4 to 6 people.

I have to admit, it sounds delicious. I wanted to learn a little bit more about the tourtière. Turns out it’s a traditional French-Canadian meat pie served during a réveillon, which is a big, long meal traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The fillings vary in different parts of Québec (it’s also eaten in New England here in the US), with coastal areas using fish and inland areas using pork, beef, and wild game (sounds like the ones from M. Wells are more like the inland pies). The name of the dish is based on the vessel this pie was originally cooked in, the tourtière.

Well, I am sorely tempted to order one of these tourtières. They are $45 a pop, and can be ordered by phone (718-786-9060) up until noon Saturday, December 20th (I think they mean the 21st). Pickup is at M. Wells Dinette on Sunday and Monday. It comes frozen (directions come with how to heat it up), which adds a level of convenience. I’ll report back if I buy and eat one.

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Food-Lover’s Cleanse

While on twitter the other day, I came across a link (via @glutenfreegirl) about a “food lover’s cleanse.”  There was something about it that intrigued me – a cleanse that focuses on actual food, rather than just juice or some strange concoction of disparate ingredients. Sounds like it has potential.

I took a look and was really pleased with what I saw – 14 days of essentially whole foods eating, with lots of variety.  Makes sense to create something like that, as the holidays often focus on fractured foods – sugar, white flour, an excess in caffeine and/or alcohol.  I’ll admit I boarded that train from time to time during the holidays.  Time to hop back on the real foods wagon!

This cleanse has been put together by Bon Appétit (aside: I adore how easy it is to type accents on a Mac!)  magazine and the introduction is as follows:

Forget juice fasts and calorie counting. Start the year with a resolution you’ll actually want to keep: a fresh, healthful approach to cooking.

Amen!  Although my idea of healthful and their idea of healthful does diverge at certain points – the use of soy and low fat dairy, which I don’t partake in.  Still, I am encouraged by the use of whole grains, seasonal vegetables, grass fed meats, and eggs.  Apparently most of the dishes are gluten-free, too.  There’s even one recipe where they acknowledge that one might actually want to eat the chicken skin!  Nice.

I’m seriously considering trying this out, as I mentioned on twitter, but adjusting some of the recipes to be NT-friendly: use of raw, full fat dairy, and soaking grains (I handle grains ok), to start.  Oh, and eschewing all that canola oil.

I’d also probably not do everything in order – one of the dinner recipes takes hours to prepare (close to 4) and is slated for a weekday evening.  With my work schedule, that’s just not practical.  Dinner on one of the following days looks like it takes much less time, so I’d likely switch them.  I also have meetings some nights where I just won’t be able to cook; though one of those nights I’ll be at a chicken carving and bone broth making workshop!

What are some of the recipes?  Here are some examples (breakfast, lunch, dinner), which sound delicious:

  • Breakfast: omelet with mushrooms, thyme, and caramelized onions
  • Lunch: black-eyed pea curry; spinach salad with apples, sunflower seeds and vinaigrette
  • Dinner: five spice beets soup; seared grass-fed hanger steak; warm escarole salad with mustard vinaigrette

I’ll need to put in my orders with my CSA and buying club in the next day or so if I want to do this.  Thankfully, BA put together a shopping list (warning: pdf) with all ingredients on it, so that part is easy – just print and go.

I’ll definitely chronicle my experience with this cleanse if I decide to follow it!  But I’d love to know, have you ever done a cleanse before?