Poutine Week is here Toronto get your stomachs ready! Yes, this is a real thing and it started on February 1st. It lasts for a week and takes place in 4 cities, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Montreal. In total there will be more than 100 restaurants participating. “La Poutine Week” as it was originally called pits city against city, restaurant against restaurant to see who can come up with the best combination of French fries, gravy and cheese curds. What makes this even better is the fact that each serving will be $10 or less.
“It can be argued that it’s our national dish, so why keep it all in Quebec? That’s not fair. This one week is dedicated to our favourite comfort food — we can burn the calories later,” says La Poutine Week co-founder Na’eem Adam.
Made popular in Quebec as a post-drinking indulgence this meal has become nationally recognized. Poutine has several meanings. Obviously there is the literal meaning of “Fries, gravy and cheese” is the one most people know. However, there are other meanings such as “Fat Person”, “Sloppy Mess”, or “Hodgepodge”.
In Toronto, there will be several restaurants participating giving patrons a taste of poutine in numerous different forms. There will be the traditional styles, with a few added specialties, but there will also be some places giving extremely different tastes, such as a lobster bisque, caramelized kimchi, or even breakfast poutiness available too. Don’t worry vegetarians; there will be some options for you too!
In August, the same organizers and several of the same cities participated in Le Burger Week, featuring some of Canada’s most over-the-top burger creations — including a Montreal version of the cronut burger.
Here’s a list of participating restaurants, plus short descriptions of their innovative takes on the fries-curds-gravy equation.
Boots ‘n’ Bourbon: The Honky Tonk
Pulled beef brisket, Quebec cheese curds, Cajun-spiced fries, gravy, horseradish mayo and scallions. $10.
725 Queen St. E., 647-348-0880
Caplansky’s Delicatessen: The Jew-Tine
Smoked-meat poutine topped with crispy onion straws. $10.
356 College St., 416-500-3852
Duke’s Refresher: Breakfast Poutine
Crispy fries, sausage, bacon, pulled pork, gravy, cheese curds, two eggs and special sauce. $10.
382 Yonge St., 416-979-8529
Fancy Franks: Fancy Schmancy Poutine
Fries, beef ribs, cheese curds, grilled onions, gravy, fried egg and scallions. $10.
326 College St., 416-920-3647
GameDay on College: Buffalo Chicken Poutine
Fries, Cajun panko-crusted chicken tenders, Quebec cheese curds and Buffalo-infused brown gravy. $10.
614 College St., 647-349-9464
Great Burger Kitchen: Bawk-Bawk Suey Poutine
Fries, Ontario cheese curds and chicken braised with soy sauce, ginger, brown sugar and chillies. $10.
1056 Gerrard St. E., 416-778-0111
Hogtown Smoke: Quadruple Pig-Pass
Fries, pulled pork, deep-fried pork-belly cubes, candied bacon, one pork back rib, Quebec curds and bone-marrow gravy. $10.
1959 Queen St. E., 416-691-9009
Holy Chuck: Love the Bone
Fries, braised and pulled veal cheek, veal cheek gravy, brie cheese, roasted and confit cipollini onions in wild blueberry juice, and roasted bone marrow. $10.
1450 Yonge St., 416-962-4825
La Société: P’ink
Fries, ham hock, tarragon, manchego cheese and squid ink aioli. $10.
131 Bloor St. W., 416-551-9929
Lisa Marie: Pad Thai Fries
Fries, secret sauce, bean sprouts, lime and cilantro. $10.
638 Queen St. W., 416-999-6822
Lou Dawgs BBQ: The Mighty Loutine
Fries, homemade gravy, Quebec cheese curds and slow-smoked pulled pork. $8.
589 King St. W., 647-347-3294
MerryBerry Café and Bistro: The Drunken Shroom
Seasoned potato wedges, French beans, mushroom–white wine sauce, goat cheese and walnuts. $10.
559 Parliament St., 647-348-0411
Rock Lobster Ossington: Lobster Poutine
Fries, Quebec cheese curds, Nova Scotia Lobster and lobster-bisque gravy. $10.
110 Ossington Ave., 416-533-1800
Slab Burgers: Poutine Double Down
Fries, house-ground beef, cheddar cheese, bacon, Quebec cheese curds, house gravy and peppers. $10.
47 Charles St. W., 647-350-5883
The Indie Alehouse: The Oxen-ator
Fries, IPA-braised oxtail, cheese curds and beef gravy on rosemary pizza crust. $10.
2876 Dundas St. W., 416-760-9691
The Lakeview: Disco Fries
Fries, melted cheddar and havarti, beef or mushroom gravy. $10.
1132 Dundas St. W., 416-850-8886
The Saint: St. Poutine
Fries, cheddar cheese curds, grilled thick-cut bacon, sour cream and bacon gravy. $10.
227 Ossington Ave., 647-350-2100
The Thompson Diner: Braised Beef Poutine
Poutine topped with ancho-braised beef short ribs. $10.
550 Wellington St. W., 416-601-3533
Toma Burger Addiction: Toma Poutine
Fries, truffle olive oil, double-smoked bacon, caramelized onions, fresh cheese curds and homemade gravy. $8.
712 Queen St. W., 416-901-1027
Triple A Bar: Texas Smoked Brisket Poutine
Fries, cheese curds, gravy and Texas-style smoked brisket
138 Adelaide St. E., 416-850-2726
Yakitori Bar: Beef Tongue Kimchi Poutine
Fries, caramelized kimchi, beef tongue and Japanese mayo. $10.
1 Baldwin St., 647-748-0083
Michael Chantler
Follow Mike on Twitter @mchantler
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