La Boucanerie Du Nord

In Val David, Quebec, on our way to the amazing ceramic show 1001 Pots, we stopped for lunch and when I saw pulled pork poutine, I had to give it a try.

La Boucanerie Poutine was all that it said it would be. Pulled pork with fabulous clear and dark gravy topped fresh cheese curds and nice fries.

I guess my only complaint was it was a little short on the curds. But overall, this poutine rocked.

A solid 4.5 out of 5 curd rating.

La Boucanerie du Nord, 2482 rue de l'Eglise, Val David, QC J0T 2N0

Tel.: 819-322-3104

Archibald at YUL

Next time I'm at Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport, I"ll be trying out this joint. 
Thanks Jack D'Mestiere for another rollicking review!

I got off the Clipper from the north and figured I'd take a stroll before my flight from YUL to YYZ. Little did I know that I would be overtaken by circumstances beyond my control. I'd spent the week behaving--eating bales of lettuce and walking. Before you get all "Wow, that's great, Jack," you need to know that I was in Kay-beck, which is how I think Québec is to be pronounced. Given that, and given my language skills, it makes it a little more difficult to put on the feedbag, but salad is salade so there you have it. The only voice whose French pronunciation is worse than mine is Ms. Google US English who pronounces Saguenay, "say-goony" and Chicoutimi "chic-oh-you-tee-me."  I'm better than that. What's that? OK, I'll get on with the story. 

So I'm walking through YUL and I note a place to get a beer. They also have poutine. Danger! I walk on. I pass another place. No poutine, but bad beer. Another place. No beer or poutine. I'm headed back to the gate when I see:

I feel my defenses crumbling. Even souvenir stands are conspiring against me. Maybe a beer will make me strong! I slide into the first place--Archibald. 

The bar man eyes me up and immediately speaks English. Still feeling strong, I order up a beer.  "Food?"  "I'll look." 

There it is and it sounds tempting. Tempting, it sounds great after a week of grazing. Summoning up all the Québécois Newshawk gave me, I called the barman and said "I'll have a Pou-tin." Not "Pou-teen". He gave me an approving look. I guess he says Ce-lyn instead of Ce-lean...

By the time he put it in front of me, I'd convinced myself I didn't need to eat it all. After all, the taste is what counts! And it was work! I was on the Poutine Chronicles beat! 

Crisp fries, a salty rich beef gravy, shredded beef in that gravy, caramelized Pearl onions, pickled onions...and lots of curds, but sorta parked on the side and not warm. Maybe it's a YUL thing, I think. And a piece of what I assume is tuile de caramel au bacon. Still don't know what that added. I'd rather just had some bacon...

The fries stayed crispy, the onions were great, I mixed the curds in to warm them up, the beef was good, the gravy rich to the end. It was damn good. Of course, for $16 for poutine, it ought to be good. 

Tempted as I am to give it a 5, I have to maintain a tough palate, even after a week of salad. Four-point-seven-five curds. I've reached new heights in splitting curds, and for an airport poutine, no less!

If you are in YUL, head on over to about gate 50. The beer's good too!

By the way, I ate it all.  "Mare-cee Kay-beck!"

Archibald Microbrasserie (Aéroport de Montréal), (zone sécurisée, face à la porte 51), Casier postal 205, 975, Romeo-Vachon Blvd N, Dorval, Quebec H4Y 1H6

Tel. 514-687-9977

Website: archibaldmicrobrasserie.ca

Pirogi poutine, anyone?

Cunningham's in downtown Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC offers a pirogi poutine.
A friend sent me this menu card and hasn't tried it yet but threatens to next time.
Would you try it?

Smoked Meat, Poutine Pleasures

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. 

Montreal Poutine

A review from Alisha who was visiting Montreal. Thanks Alisha!

The poutine was delish. The French fries were fresh cut and fried to crispy perfection...the gravy was okay but not hot enough...the cheese curds were really, really good.

Hmmm...sounds to me like a four out of a possible five curds...losing a point for coolish gravy. But having the poutine as a side to the hot dog was a fab idea! Montreal steamie and a poutine. You can't miss!

Montreal Poutine, 161 rue St. Paul E., Montreal, QC H2Y 1G8
Phone: 514-656-0935
Website: montrealpoutine.ca/site/

Poutine: Rich in Fibre?

Who knew? (Seen in Montreal by Natalie Rowe. Thanks for the heads up Nat!)

Big Russ' Chipstand

A new local place for poutine. Can't wait to go try it. Their poutine looks terrific! 

Here's the e-mail I got:

We are located in St.Regis, Quebec on the Akwesasne Reserve. You have to go through American Customs and head towards the casino and turn left at traffic light in Hogansburg, NY. Head 2 miles down into St.Regis/there is no customs to go through and you're back in Quebec. I've been open for 2 years in June 2014.

My potatoes are from Quebec and my curds are made in NY and I've found them better than St. Albert's curds.Check out my FB page Big Russ' Chipstand or friend request me Russell King if you have Facebook. I have been to chipstands,restaurants and tried poutines everywhere around me like Cornwall, Alexandria Ottawa Montreal and think my poutine rates up there!! Thank you for taking time to read this and hopefully I can get me on the map 

Big Russ Chipstand, 71 Angus Thomas Street, St. Regis, Quebec
Tel: 613-575-2857 
Email: King.russell@hotmail.com

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

Lachute Flea Market

Last week we headed to the Lachute Flea Market, held every Tuesday and one of my favourite places in the world.

 If you are looking for something, chances are you'll find it here.

And if you're not looking for anything in particular, you'll likely find it here too!

They also have an amazing fresh fruit and veggie market.

They even sell cheese curds...which reminded us we'd better go for a poutine lunch.

We tried the outdoor hut-type restaurant in the middle of the flea market. The kitchen was hopping so we knew it'd be fresh.

And it was fresh and hot and served with lots of curds. Extra points for cardboard/environmentally friendly container.

Under the huge wooden canopy we were serenaded by a country and western singer, singing en francais. Nice!

 Richard liked the melting cheese curd strings.

All in all it was a good poutine; a solid 4.5 curds out of 5. Well done Lachute Flea Market!

Lafleur

On a quick trip into Montreal, Richard and I decided to stop at the iconic Lafleur -- a chain of fast food restaurants -- this one right off the Highway 20 in Ville St. Pierre.

We split a medium and it was full of curds and pretty yummy. Richard wasn't fussy on the fries. He thought they were just too darn soft.

We both loved the gravy and the ample curd coverage. I'm guessing a solid 4 out of five curds. I might even be tempted to give it a 4.5 out of 5!


To find a Lafleur near you: http://restolafleur.com/

Restaurant Ma-am-m Bolduc

A review from poutine connoisseur Brendan W. Thanks Brendan!


A couple weeks ago five friends and I went to Montreal to enjoy the nightlife. I, being the poutine connoisseur that I am, decided to look up "the best poutine in Montreal" prior to leaving. According to various websites Ma'am Bolduc held this distinction. It is a small cafe style restaurant with an outdoor seating section, though it was rainy so we had to sit inside. It was extremely busy; we were lucky to scoop up the last open table. 
We all ordered the traditional poutine, the women all ordered the small poutine but despite the waiter's warning me and the other guy in the group, we ordered the large. We waited a very, very long time for our food, but given how busy the restaurant was we were patient. And it was well worth the wait and only $9 for the large. 
I have eaten many poutine in my day and that was by far the best poutine I've ever eaten! And the others all agreed. The fries were fresh cut, crispy and hot with a bit of skin still on them. The gravy was perfectly seasoned, hot and in good supply. And the cheese curds were fresh, squeeky and plentiful.
I give this poutine 5 cheese curds out of 5! Absolutely perfect. Note : The poutine in the attached picture already has a few bites missing, it looked even better when it first came out.  

Restaurant MA-Am-M Bolduc, 4351-4355, Avenue De Lorimier,Montreal, QC H3H 2B3
Phone: 514-527-3884
Website: maammbolduc.com

Frozen Poutine?

 Available in local Couche-Tard convenience stores in Québec...

 ...is frozen, instant poutine, microwavable in 2 minutes.

 It has all the nutrition values on the back, so you know what you're getting.

 And it looks kinda good.

My friend Anthony over at www.mapoutine.ca let me know that it was a great idea...but didn't taste that great. Have any of you tried it? Lemme know!

Bistro-Burger

From my friend Judi who lives in South Florida. Thanks Judi!

The fries were excellent, and the gravy was hearty and satisfying. The cheese curds, well... I made the decision early on not to examine too closely. Nor to dwell upon the about-to-be-rancid undertow.
Starved of such things as poutine in Coral Springs, Florida, I thoroughly enjoyed and devoured the dish. It was next door to a shabby motel called Colibri, which she translated for me as "hummingbird." But at first I heard "Human Bird." So we laughed, enjoying this tasty dish, remembering the almond croissants we'd eaten that morning at the Atwater market near where my kid lives, happy that we would be in Montreal another day to walk over and eat more tomorrow morning.

Bistro-Burger Plus, 6966 Rue St.-Jacques, Montreal, QC H4B 1V8
Tel. 514-487-4768

Bonhomme Patate

Just over the bridge from Hawkesbury, Ontario is Bonhomme Patate in Grenville, Québec.


It doesn't look like much from the outside...


...but inside it's very nicely decked out.


The menu offers a wide variety of poutine.


Richard and I decided (on the suggestion of the server) to split a large all-dressed poutine.


That means besides curds and gravy, it had bacon and grilled chicken.


I look pretty serious about splitting it, don't I? Check out the ton o' curds!


Richard's waiting to dig in. We both thought it was a very nearly perfect poutine. Very yummy. Richard mentioned the fries getting a bit soggy at the bottom of the bowl, but we just could eat it quickly enough I think. At any rate, we gave it a 4.5 out of a possible 5 curds. Great poutine Bonhomme Patate!

Bonhomme Patate, 427 rue Principale, Grenville, QC J0V 1J0
Phone: 819-242-8506