Poutine
Photo: Safyrr · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

Poutine emerged in rural Quebec in the late 1950s, with several Centre-du-Quebec towns claiming its invention. It spread to Montreal's late-night diners and by the 2000s had become a national symbol. La Banquise on Rue Rachel turned it into an art form with dozens of loaded versions, though purists still argue for the classic three-ingredient plate.

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Common allergens: Milk, Gluten

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 30 minTotal 45 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1kg floury potatoes, cut into thick fries
  • 300g fresh cheese curds, at room temperature
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 500ml beef or chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp cider vinegar
  • Salt and pepper
  • Oil for frying

Method

  1. Fry the potatoes twice: once at 150C until soft, then again at 190C until golden and crisp.
  2. For the gravy, melt butter, whisk in flour and cook to a light roux, then whisk in the stock and vinegar. Simmer until it coats a spoon.
  3. Pile the hot fries in a bowl and scatter the room-temperature curds over them.
  4. Pour the hot gravy over so the curds soften but stay squeaky. Serve immediately.

Tip from the editors. Room-temperature curds are essential; cold curds will not squeak and warm gravy melts them into a puddle.

Where to eat poutine

Poutine in Montreal

La Banquise ★ 4.5

$$ Street foodPlateauUntil Open 24 hours

La Banquise never closes, making it Montreal's default 3am stop for poutine, its Rue Rachel dining room filling with a post-bar crowd every weekend night.

TryPoutine

TipThe line after last call is long but fast; go for the classic and split a wild variation with friends.

Directions

Au Pied de Cochon ★ 4.5

$$$ French bistroPlateau

Au Pied de Cochon is Martin Picard's temple of Quebecois excess on Avenue Duluth in Montreal, home of foie gras poutine and the theatrical duck in a can.

OrderFoie gras poutine and the canard en conserve.

TipPortions are enormous and rich; come hungry and plan to share every dish.

Directions

Chalet BBQ ★ 4.1

$$ RotisserieNdg

Why locals goA 1944 charcoal-chicken rotisserie in NDG frozen in mid-century decor, off the radar for downtown visitors but a lifelong ritual for west-end locals.

TipDine in for the untouched retro room; the quarter chicken with gravy fries is the only order you need.

Directions

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