Trader Joe's Poutine!

I guess you know poutine has really made it when Trader Joe's, the amazing American grocery store, makes poutine. Frozen poutine! My cousin who lives in  the city of angels sent me this image and said, "Mediocre; the curds were too squeaky." I myself love a good squeaky curd, so I'll just have to head south and try it myself. If anyone else has give this a try, please leave a comment and lemme know.

Poutine-flavoured potato chips

 President's Choice has come out with poutine flavoured chips.

 We figured we'd have to give them a try.

 Not sure they were "mouth watering." They were pretty good...

...but after much discussion we felt that these chips were no match for the real thing.

However...kudos for giving it a go, President's Choice!

Swedish Chef Makes Poutine

Best Folk Art in Town! Poutine? Not so much...

 On a recent trip to Muskoka, ON, we decided to stop at a chip truck in Huntsville
and try their poutine.

 The big temptation was the folk art. 

 All her own paintings of the food she was cooking up in her little hut.

How could we resist  this? With real curd!

 Unfortunately, the poutine was just not as good as the painting. No curds but shredded cheese instead. Crispy fries. Okay gravy. Extra point for using recyclable container but not a huge winner taste wise. About a two out of a possible five curds.
But...I LOVED the folk art!

Farmhouse Tavern

 We went for brunch at the Farmhouse Tavern in Toronto and we sat outside on the patio.

 Inside there are tractor seats at the counter. Authentic farm stuff everywhere.

 Outside it was a busy, sunny, brunchy spot. I HAD to try the Hangover Poutine.

What can I say? A real knock out! It was a ragout with potato chunks vs. fries and topped with a seared foie gras. Really over the top and almost impossible to rate on my regular curd scale. Totally amazing and in a class all its own.
How about a 5 on the "high-end" curd scale? 

Yah! That's it.

Farmhouse Tavern, 1627 Dupont St., Toronto, ON
Text reservations: 416-561-9114 or email dupontfarmhouse@gmail.com

www.farmhousetavern.tumblr.com

Radio Room

Jack is back! It's been a while since his last review and we've been dying to hear more from him...so at last, here's his latest review.

So me and Dolly-girl, I mean Fiora, decided seeing how it was Mothers' Day and all that, would head on over to one of our favorite joints and tie on the feedbag. And maybe, just maybe, have a couple or three beers. Se we perambulated over to Radio Room just in time to hit the happy hour. It was a shocker to me to see that the menu had changed and even more of a shake-my-tree to see that poutine was now on the card. What a great day. I ordered it. Fiora shook her head and mumbled something about how she thought I was watching my waist and she didn't exactly see how this fit with that. Well, it doesn't, but who can resist an untried poutine?

The bowl arrived and I'll just issue this one alert right now. THIS IS TOO MUCH POUTINE FOR ONE HUMAN TO CONSUME although this human did. Bring help.

It looked good--I guess that means the presentation was pleasing. The menu described fries, covered with vegetarian gravy (a minus in my book), curds (of course), bacon (a plus in my book), a poached egg (plus again), and scallions (nice touch). First the negatives. The fries should have been crispier to slow the absorption of the gravy and the curds should squeak. The tastes, including a rich gravy and bacon, more than made up for that. The egg was a perfect topper (but then I like poached eggs) and turns this poutine into a perfectly good bacon, egg, and potato breakfast too!.

So Radio Room, the score: 4 curds. I might be talked into adding a half a bonus curd for a bowl that clearly tops 1,000 calories, but 4 is a really good score for me. Crisp up those fries and you're headed to a 5...

If you're looking for poutine in Portland, and you like poached eggs (and beer, and a fun spot), head to the Radio Room and tell them Jack sent you...

Radio Room, 1101 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211

Phone: 513-287-2346

Email: info@radionroompdx.com

Website: RadioRoomPDX.com

The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro

Another great review from Jen. Thanks Jen!

We were at The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro  in Ottawa recently and took advantage of a coupon we had and ordered their "Lipstick on a Pig" poutine. It is pulled pork and BBQ sauce on your traditional poutine. At The Works you always get plenty of food for your money and the burgers are so totally worth the wait! This poutine did not disappoint either. Generous to the bottom with gravy and curds, the pulled pork and BBQ sauce added a nice touch and depth of flavour to the experience. They make great fries and it was warm and toasty to the last bite. 

We rated it a 4.5 out of five curds. It was a nice treat to share with plenty for two people.

The Works Gourmet Buger Bistro has various locations across Canada, mostly in Ontario.

If you'd like to see where they are located, click here.

 

Two Rivers Brewing Company

A review from PJ in Pennsylvania. Thanks!

Yes, the poutine was very good and very rich. I mean, short ribs, gravy, cheese curds, French fries. I ate everything but most of the fries. What it seemed like to me was pot roast beef. It had that type of flavor. Really, what's not to like?  I was always put off by the term "cheese curd" but it's just melted cheese to me. 

The restaurant says that their influence is New Orleans, so I guess they do poutine because of the French influence, nothing to do with Canada. (Note: Uh, poutine from New Orleans...now...come on Two Rivers!)

Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042
Tel. 610-829-1131
Website: Two Rivers Brewing Company

Poutine Soda?

Okay, what the heck do you think this tastes like? Anyone?

Sign of the Times...

Seen in Alexandria, Ontario today. Does this inspire you to order a poutine?

Why Can't America Get Poutine Right?

Here's an interesting read from the website BuzzFeed entitled
"Why Can't America Get Poutine Right?"
It's worth a read. Click here for the link.

Talea Bistro Urbain

This just in from my friend Natalie who was in Quebec City. 

Here's her poutine review. Thanks Nat!

We tried out the smoked meat poutine at Talea in Quebec City and it was very delicious! The restaurant decor is lovely, featuring exposed brick, birch trees and other things that make you feel like you're in a comfy ski chalet atmosphere.

 The poutine came served in a metal bowl on a wooden board, with a tasty 

and healthful side salad.

The "fries" were fat, oven-baked hand-cut morsels of tuberous tenderness. They were blanketed with a yummy gravy, fresh squeaky curds 

 and ample amounts of authentic smoked meat.

 My hubby Gordon would have liked more curds in the mix, so he rated it 4 curds out of 5.

 I agreed that the curd ratio could use a slight improvement, but still decided on 

4.5 curds out of 5 for this scrumptious concoction. A wonderful dining experience!

Talea Bistro Urbain, 634 Grande allée Est, Québec City, Québec G1R 2K5

Phone: 418-523-7979

Website: Talea Bistro Urbain

Be Still My Heart

I saw this on Pinterest today. Could I be dreaming? Could "poutine" be a new flavour of

 Lay's potato chips? Lay`s is holding a "name the next potato chip" contest. 
In the U.S.A. the final round's flavours are: Cheesy Garlic Bread, Chicken & Waffles and Sriracha.
In Canada? Maybe it'll be poutine. Click here to get to their Facebook page to vote or suggest your own flavour!

Smoke's Poutine - Scotiabank Place

Richard and I were in Ottawa at Scotiabank Place to see a Blue Rodeo concert and needed to have supper. We looked for the Smoke's Poutine outlet that's there, but it was closed (only open for hockey games). So...we found that their poutine was served at a few other places so we tried one.

It was a delicious poutine with TONS of curds! We both loved it. Hot gravy, not salty, fun serving container that is biodegradable! Top marks. 5 out of 5 curds.

Winter Visit to Gaetan's

 Richard and I love the poutine at the chip truck called Gaetan's in the town of Alexandria (Ont.) on their main drag. After we stand in line on a freezing, snowy day and place our orders...

...we hop into the car, dig in and enjoy our fabulously creamy and hot poutine. I love how the windows fog up. An annual mid-winter treat for sure!


To see my original review of Gaetan's from a few years back, click here.

R.I.P St. Albert Cheese Factory

The best curds from around this area (and the world!) are from St. Albert Cheese Factory in St. Albert, Ontario. Today the whole factory burned down. There will be no curds available for a while until they rebuild. This is so sad for the community, for the people who worked there and for all of us who love their curds on our poutine.
To see photos of the fire from the Ottawa Citizen click here.

Chicago Holds Its First Poutine Festival

America is catching on to Canada's national dish! Check this link and read about Chicago's Poutine Festival.
To see my review of the terrific poutine I had at The Gage in Chicago click here.