- Fresh-cut fries, fried twice
- Cheese curds (they must squeak)
- Hot brown gravy, poured over to half-melt the curds
Poutine
Poutine served in Quebec City. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Poutine is fries, cheese curds and brown gravy, and it is Canada's most famous export after politeness. The curds must squeak against the teeth; the gravy must be hot enough to melt them halfway. Get either wrong and it is just chips with cheese.
It was invented in rural Quebec in the 1950s: Warwick and Drummondville, both in the Centre-du-Québec, claim the honour. From there it conquered the country, and now every region has its own version.
Key ingredients
Where to try it
- La Banquise in Montreal's Plateau (open 24 hours, dozens of versions).
- Chez Ashton in Quebec City, the local chain.
- Every chip wagon and casse-croûte across Quebec and Ontario.