The simple Quebecois tradition of fries, cheese curds and gravy is getting its global due as Poutine Week kicks off around the world.
Running between Feb. 1 and 7, this year 200 restaurants around the globe are celebrating the quintessential comfort food, half of which are in Quebec.
“We have it in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and then we also have it in Australia,” said Poutine Week cofounder Na’eem Adam. “There’s a few in New Zealand, Brazil and the UK. We have poutines all over the world that are showing what they got.”
While your basic poutine contains just the three main ingredients, chefs around the world are finding innovative ways to make the dish their own. There’s vegetarian poutine, poutine with jerk chicken and if you’re feeling fancy, poutine with foie gras.
While poutine might be getting served overseas, it’s still a major tourism draw in its native province.
“It’s neck and neck all the time,” said Risa Dickens, a community manager for restaurant review website Yelp. “La Banquise probably has the most reviews for any poutine place with over 800, but Patati Patata creeps up in there with one of the most beloved poutines in the city.”
