Garnish, garnish, garnish. For
many the idea of the classic, simple, uncomplicated grub of Canadian palates
just isn’t enough. Poutine has seen its fair share of creative redesigns from
the bold and brave restaurateurs determined to reach a new echelon of poutine
perfection, and the stomachs eager to gobble it all down. Although the
straightforward meat, cheese, gravy combo will always have its place in the
kitchens of the greasy spoons, it’s got some stiff competition. Restaurants
have upped the ante on the poutine.
Dunn’s Famous has a rich history
and stellar track record of consistently providing savoury smoked meat to the
patrons of Montreal for decades. With over 88 years under its belt, the
delicatessen has managed to remain an authentic staple in Montreal’s restaurant
scene. With a philosophy of “no quick fixes and no cutting corners,” Dunn’s has
kept their tradition of stacking the smoked meat as high as they were in 1927
when the franchise was born. And their offerings have since expanded to include
another staple of Quebec culture.
Of the numerous South Shore restaurants, Dunn’s Famous, nestled just a stone’s throw
away from Montreal, offers an tantalizing spin on poutine that is uniquely famous:
ITALIAN
The poutine that will make you
want to call your mama! Here, the classic gravy is replaced with an
Italian-inspired meat sauce so delicious, spaghetti will be crying foul.
ALL DRESSED
Think pizza minus the dough. This
poutine gives you sautéed mushrooms, onions, peppers, pepperoni and Dunn’s
homemade gravy. It’s pizza for when you don’t actually want a pizza.
LE HOT CHICKEN
What came first, the chicken
breast or the peas? In addition to these ingredients, the poutine is topped
once again with Dunn’s homemade gravy and fresh cheese curds. Handle with care!
BUFFALO
Go head to head with this Dunn’s
creation of chicken tenders cloaked in buffalo sauce and topped with shallots.
No guarantee you’ll grow buffalo horns, though.
DUNN’S FAMOUS
The namesake of the restaurant,
this Quebecoise poutine is packed with the Dunn’s famous smoked meat. It’s a
2-in-1 for the newbies to poutine and to Montreal’s famous smoked meat.
MEXICAN
If you were to weigh all of
Dunn’s poutines, this one would take the top spot. You’ve got your fries and
seasoned ground beef garnished with banana peppers, shallots, cheddar cheese
and sour cream. Chances are by the time you’re done you’ll be in a satisfying
food coma.
If these selections just aren’t
enough to fulfill your Dunn’s poutine cravings you can always build your own
with extra cheese, hot dog, bacon, smoked meat, grilled chicken, ground beef
and sautéed onions and mushrooms.
Montreal’s premier deli doesn’t
skirt on ingredients, flavour or polish on the menu. In fact, you can’t get any
messier than with poutine and smoked meat. With an array of traditional
offerings mixed in with modern dishes, Dunn’s is a restaurant that young and
old can enjoy. If you’re ever in the Montreal area, this is one stop you can’t
ignore.
