Maritime Magic on a Winter Night
Last Saturday night, over 100 people braved the bitter cold and headed toward the Storrington Lions Hall, where eager volunteers served up a traditional East Coast dinner. The event sold out quickly, and the tables began to fill up at 5 p.m. sharp.
As you entered, your breath froze in the parking lot at –23 degrees, but at the threshold, the warm smell of fresh molasses bread and seafood chowder thawed your chilled bones.
Tracy and Marie greeted us with a welcome smile and handed us two precious tickets—one for the savoury chowder that sat steaming along the well appointed buffet table, and the second for the famous Jiggs Dinner.
Tables continued to fill as groups settled in with warm or cold beverages, and the band Tom MacIntosh & Friends began to pick up the beat with East Coast rhythms and sounds. I was, no surprise, starving and could barely contain myself in anticipation of the chowder. By the time I headed toward the buffet, the lineup snaked through the many tables as friends and neighbours chatted, greeted each other, caught up on the latest local news, and even slipped in a little bit of politics on the side.
Once you received your generous bowl of piping hot, creamy chowder—mushrooms or no mushrooms—you could settle back with your group and sip and dip into the savoury, warm dish. The generous portions left nobody hungry, as the first course prepared you for the main meal.
According to Newfoundland tradition, a Jiggs Dinner is considered classic comfort food, built around salt preserved meat and hearty vegetables:
Core ingredients: Salt beef, Cabbage, Potatoes, Carrots, Turnip/rutabaga, Peas pudding (yellow split peas cooked in a cloth bag right in the pot)
Often served with: Pickled beets, Mustard pickles, Fresh rolls or bread
For our meal, we had everything except the peas pudding. As we headed toward the second buffet line, we could feel the steam rising as volunteers served up boiled vegetables and tasty meat (cottage roll). We then loaded up with pickled beets and mustard pickles. Dessert did not disappoint, as we satisfied our sweet tooth with wild blueberry or apple crumble topped with a dollop of whipped cream. As we slurped and chatted, the band played on, keeping the mood upbeat and festive as the temperature continued to drop outside.
My table included authentic Newfoundlanders visiting South Frontenac, and they shared stories about this type of meal, explaining how the steam would fill the kitchen as all the ingredients boiled together. Two hours later, our bellies full and our hearts content, everyone prepared themselves to head back outside to a true Canadian winter.
The Storrington Lions are active members of the Township of South Frontenac, passionate about good food, kindness, and compassion for those around them. Their next event is the Valentine’s Dance on February 14, with a few tickets still available. Proceeds will support the Storrington District Firefighters Association. Call 613 449 4744.
Thank you for a fun evening of food, friendship, and laughter.
