Foodies, we live in a place that is in constant identity crisis. This by no means is a new issue for us in La Belle Province. That being said, it seemed the "identity question" made a feverish comeback this past year: Expansion of bill 101, Randy Cunnyworth, the supposed theory of Montreal as an english settlement and even a botched assassination attempt. It seems that where you were born, raised and educated doesn't cut it anymore to determine, at its most basic level, who you are...
But fear not brave citizens! We have a champion to remedy our plight! The humble poutine.
Beyond hockey, maple syrup and potholes, is there anything more quintessentially Quebecois than our beloved poutine? Much like us, there is something unique about the poutine. From humble beginnings, it has made a name for itself a lot like the Quebec people over time, and now, it's world class. If you've traveled a bit- or even if you haven't - you can feel that je ne sais quoi in the streets and the people. That same je ne sais quoi is manifested in our national dish. Yeah, we've seen fries with gravy before but none quite like this. Add the squeaky texture of the cheese curds and...magic!
The poutine, at first glance, isn't the most elegant dish. "Weird Al" Yankovich was once quoted as saying, upon having poutine for the first time "I don't know if I'm about to puke or if I just did". The quip notwithstanding, the truth is that the true beauty of this amalgamation resides in the combination of differently sourced, simple ingredients that create a nicely layered and subtly sophisticated whole. Hot crispy fries, soft cheese and onctious gravy just work! Just like us anglos and francos and natives and immigrants living, working together. We make it work.
So in in these next seven days, partake in the ubiquitous concoction with not only gluttonous abondon but with a bit of national pride. With all the ethnic variations of the poutine and how it's both at home in the pedestrian as well as the classic, this week should be seen not only as a great local culinary experience, but a pilgrimage of self discovery. Poutine, we hardly knew ya!
But fear not brave citizens! We have a champion to remedy our plight! The humble poutine.
Beyond hockey, maple syrup and potholes, is there anything more quintessentially Quebecois than our beloved poutine? Much like us, there is something unique about the poutine. From humble beginnings, it has made a name for itself a lot like the Quebec people over time, and now, it's world class. If you've traveled a bit- or even if you haven't - you can feel that je ne sais quoi in the streets and the people. That same je ne sais quoi is manifested in our national dish. Yeah, we've seen fries with gravy before but none quite like this. Add the squeaky texture of the cheese curds and...magic!
The poutine, at first glance, isn't the most elegant dish. "Weird Al" Yankovich was once quoted as saying, upon having poutine for the first time "I don't know if I'm about to puke or if I just did". The quip notwithstanding, the truth is that the true beauty of this amalgamation resides in the combination of differently sourced, simple ingredients that create a nicely layered and subtly sophisticated whole. Hot crispy fries, soft cheese and onctious gravy just work! Just like us anglos and francos and natives and immigrants living, working together. We make it work.
So in in these next seven days, partake in the ubiquitous concoction with not only gluttonous abondon but with a bit of national pride. With all the ethnic variations of the poutine and how it's both at home in the pedestrian as well as the classic, this week should be seen not only as a great local culinary experience, but a pilgrimage of self discovery. Poutine, we hardly knew ya!
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