Poutine

Poutine, with its tantalizing combination of crispy fries, gooey cheese curds, and savory gravy, has become a beloved staple of Canadian cuisine and a culinary sensation around the world.

Legend has it that poutine was first conceived in the small town of Warwick, Quebec, in the late 1950s. According to folklore, a diner named Le Roy Jucep claims to have invented the dish when a customer requested a unique combination of fries, cheese curds, and gravy. The chef, faced with limited ingredients, improvised by layering the crispy fries and squeaky cheese curds before smothering them in piping hot gravy. The resulting dish was an instant hit, and poutine quickly spread across Quebec, becoming a beloved comfort food for locals and visitors alike.

Another popular legend attributes the invention of poutine to a restaurant called Le Café Ideal in Drummondville, Quebec. According to folklore, the owner, Fernand Lachance, began serving a dish called "mixte" in the late 1950s, which consisted of fries, cheese, and gravy. Over time, customers started referring to the dish as "poutine," a colloquial Quebecois term meaning "a mess" or "a hodgepodge." The name stuck, and poutine soon became synonymous with indulgent comfort food throughout Canada.