Celebrating the Unique Culture
of Canada's Maritime Provinces
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MICHELLE CASKIE (the cook at Joe's Atlantic Grill) of Kelligrews, in Conception Bay, Newfoundland, holds a platter of Jiggs dinner. This delicious meal consists of salt beef, turkey, dressing, peas pudding (which takes a day of boiling to make), cabbage, turnip, carrots and potatoes. Seconds were encouraged!
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Jim millar of Norman's Cove, Newfoundland, kept time to the music of Celtic Spirit on the spoons. At every respectable Newfoundland party, everyone has their party piece, whether it's singing, dancing, or just keeping time to the music.
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PART OF THE RITUAL to become an Honourary Newfoundlander requires kissing the cod. Participants wore a sou'western while some had to close their eys to avoid the fishy stare.
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CELTIC SPIRIT provided entertainment at Joe's Atlantic Grill. (L-R) Lorne Warr of Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Jimmy Cole of Colliers, Newfoundland and Jennie Bice of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
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You may talk of Clara Nolan's Ball
or anything you choose,
But it couldn't hold a snuffbox
to the spree at Kelligrews.
If you want your eyeballs straightened
just come out next week with me,
You'll have to wear your glasses
at the Kelligrews Soiree.
- A Bell Island, Newfoundland song
Written by Johnny Burke
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - Joe's Atlantic Grill which recently opened its doors in Port Moody is an East Coast establishment, featuring authentic Maritime food prepared in their own kitchen. On special nights throughout the month, they will feature an Atlantic Kitchen Party and Newfoundland Night, complete with traditional food and music, and don't forget the essential Maritime beer and Screech rum from Newfoundland.
Owner Mac MacDonald was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, and lived for a time in Nova Scotia before moving to British Columbia. He named the restaurant Joe's Atlantic Grill after his father.
On June 16 I was invited to attend a Newfie Screech-In at Joe's Atlantic Grill. I knew that they would be serving the famous jiggs dinner from Newfoundland and that Screech was the rum native to that province. I was also aware that if you wanted to become an honourary Newfoundlander, it involved kissing a dead cod fish, but I had never attended a Screech-In.
It was a great evening with entertainment by Celtic Spirit, who played a lively mixture of Maritime, Irish and Scottish music. Many in the audience played the spoons, keeping time to the music.
Then came the jiggs dinner and everyone was served a platter (and you needed a platter as there was such variety). The dinner consisted of salt beef, turkey, dressing, peas pudding (which takes a day of boiling to make), cabbage, turnip, carrots and potatoes. Seconds were encouraged...it was some good!
The jiggs dinner was prepared by Michelle Caskie, who hails from Kelligrew, Conception Bay in Newfoundland. She is the cook for all the Newfie and Atlantic Kitchen Party nights at Joe's Atlantic Grill. Michelle said that her recipes were handed down from her mother.
Newfoundlander Jimmy Cole, leader of Celtic Spirit, asked the audience if they would like to become an honourary Newfoundlander. He explained that in order to become one, they needed to kiss a dead cod fish and then down a shot of Screech. They would be given a certificate, verifying them as a bona fide Newfoundlander.
In no time at all, 16 people were lined up to kiss the cod. Participants were given a yellow sou'western fisherman's rain hat to wear. Then they proceeded to kiss the cod and down the Screech.
I'm quite sure they needed the Screech after that kiss! I overheard one young participant asking if someone could cover the cod's eyes before she took the plunge. Anyway, it was great fun and everyone had lots of laughs.
Mac MacDonald said, "I opened Joe's Atlantic Grill to give people a rest from all the other cultures and because it celebrates the unique cultures of Canada's four Maritime provinces - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. We're also open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch."
Joe's Atlantic Grill is located at 2410 St. Johns Street in Port Moody. It has a yellow awning with a replica of a flashing lighthouse outside the door. For more information about their special Atlantic Kitchen Party and Newfoundland nights, call (604) 931-8765.
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