Oreilles de crisse
Oreilles de crisse (French pronunciation: [ɔʁɛj də kʁis]) is a traditional Quebec dish consisting of deep-fried smoked pork jowls. It is generally served in cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks) in spring time, traditionally topped with maple syrup.
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Origin
The strange expression is thought to have originated in a lumber camp on the Saint-Maurice River. A brawler named Christ, after a couple of fights, had his ear swell like a cauliflower. Because of the similarity between the cauliflower ear and the fried pork jowl, he was made fun of by a cook. The cook said "Qui veut des oreilles du grand Christ?", which means "Who wants the ears of big Christ?".
Etymology
The word crisse derives from "Christ" written phonetically in the Québécois dialect, and is arguably the strongest Quebec French profanity. Though not directly translatable, it is most often used in the same sense as fuck is in English. Profanity is used elsewhere as a mark of excellence in Québécois cuisine, as with pets de sœurs.
See also
- Pork rinds
- List of deep fried foods
- List of smoked foods
