tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88311268557750704432023-11-16T03:05:55.553-08:00Toronto PoutinePoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-7539373851772861272010-01-26T08:48:00.000-08:002010-01-26T09:07:12.311-08:00Poutine on CityLinePoutine was the star of a seven minute segment on Cityline, Canada's national lifestyle show, today.<br /><br />Chef Massimo Capra demonstrates a homemade poutine that looks absolutely delectable.<br /><br />I can't get the video to embed here, so click the link below to watch - and to access the recipe. This is a must-try for any poutine fan.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.citytv.com/cityline/food/recipes/article/67749--canadian-cuisine-poutine">Canadian Cuisine: Poutine - CityLine</a>PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-88594279397053164262010-01-25T18:17:00.000-08:002010-01-25T19:05:38.237-08:00Disappointed by Duggan's <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment-->I visited Duggan’s during their “soft launch”.<span style=""> </span>I can only hope it gets better from here. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br />Duggan’s has been getting <a href="http://www.thestar.com/living/food/article/743450--happy-to-hop-into-a-new-brewpub">great buzz</a> – an exciting new microbrewery <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=duggan%27s+toronto&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=duggan%27s&hnear=toronto&cid=2968613508781508708">located in the heart of downtown Toronto</a>. <span style=""> </span>There’s certainly some real potential here, but this is not yet a must-visit poutine destination. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br />While there’s no doubt that the beer (courtesy of owner Michael Duggan, formerly head brewer at <a href="http://www.millstreetbrewery.com/">Mill Street</a>) will satisfy most aficionados - especially Duggan’s already famed <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mike-duggan-number-9-ipa/101573/">#9 IPA</a>, the service and ambiance - not to mention the poutine - are still very much a work in progress.<span style=""> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br />During our visit, the waitstaff were generally inattentive (getting a beer involved flagging down a second server after our original server took our order and disappeared) and the space itself lacks character.<span style=""> </span>While it was full of patrons, bare walls and fairly standard pub furnishings make the space feel unfinished. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br />And the poutine is disappointing.<span style=""> </span>I sampled the duck confit version (there’s also a curry poutine on offer), which featured a disappointing amount of the promised confit.<span style=""> </span>Instead, the main feature of the dish was the mushy French fries, which simply couldn’t hold their shape or flavour when doused in gravy. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br />The gravy itself, and accompanying cheese curds, are passable enough as pub food.<span style=""> </span>But the finished combination of elements fails to satisfy. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br />I’m willing to give Duggan’s some time – and another go.<span style=""> </span>Especially because I've heard that better Duggan's experiences do exist. Anyone care to share?
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Fries: 2/5</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >
<br />Cheese: 3/5</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">
<br />Gravy: 3/5
<br />
<br />Total: 8/15</span>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou0qIvXzbX2niogan26AinsR5wZkRpTafSytKIRYq_TqXY6il-bY-jmwkQjhzfVhxwX0PX9f3SBdgDWOiAmjnHEG69Q770k_Aexb6sPxTTxOp1fDtN0hLZlF-cpQXuQveXR0jyP_3Tvc/s1600-h/Duggans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou0qIvXzbX2niogan26AinsR5wZkRpTafSytKIRYq_TqXY6il-bY-jmwkQjhzfVhxwX0PX9f3SBdgDWOiAmjnHEG69Q770k_Aexb6sPxTTxOp1fDtN0hLZlF-cpQXuQveXR0jyP_3Tvc/s200/Duggans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430869083921225842" border="0" /></a></p> <!--EndFragment--> PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-52462350157000500072010-01-19T06:24:00.000-08:002010-01-19T06:33:27.484-08:00The Night They Invented PoutineFull credit to fellow poutine blogger Ronna at <a href="http://poutinechronicles.blogspot.com/">Poutine Chronicles</a> for unearthing this gem. It's famed Montreal performers Bowser & Blue performing an ode to poutine. "The gravy must be hot and the cheese must be cold" - these guys know their stuff!<br /><br /><object style="height: 344px; width: 425px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bTBB8IY12QM"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bTBB8IY12QM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-62951663194781182332010-01-12T15:54:00.000-08:002010-01-12T15:59:10.144-08:00Poutine making culinary inroads in U.S.: Toronto Star<blockquote></blockquote>From today's Toronto Star:<br /><p> </p><blockquote><p>Unless it's maple syrup, it's unlikely many Americans could identify an example of truly Canadian cuisine. But it seems one national dish, a belly-busting concoction born in La Belle province, is creating a buzz south of the border.</p> <p> Poutine – a mixture of French fries, cheese curds and hot gravy – is making it onto menus alongside typical American fare like cheeseburgers and chili dogs.</p> <p> Thierry Pepin, an actor and model who moved to New York from his native Quebec six years ago, opened a restaurant last summer dedicated to the hearty dish. T-Poutine (the T is for Thierry) is located in the Lower East Side, close to bars and the club scene, and offers 12 different variations of the item on its menu.</p> <p> "It's great, but it's not easy," says Pepin of the reaction to the calorie-laden creation, often described as a "heart attack on a plate."</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Read the full article <a href="http://www.thestar.com/travel/article/749283--poutine-making-culinary-inroads-in-u-s">here</a>. Sounds like it's time for a tasting trip to New York!<br /></p>PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-19275470473377374242009-12-28T14:19:00.000-08:002009-12-28T14:30:21.207-08:00Sneaking one in... <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>213</o:Words> <o:characters>1219</o:Characters> <o:company>Harbinger Communications</o:Company> <o:lines>10</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1497</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:100%;">This post is sneaking onto the blog in two ways.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">First, because I wasn’t intended to post again until the new year.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">And second, because the blog is called Toronto Poutine, and this is most definitely a post dedicated to Montreal. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">But I’m home, celebrating the holidays, and thought you would allow me one from the road. </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />It’s pretty much impossible for me to come to Montreal without a stop at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafleur_Restaurants">Lafleur’s</a>. With almost 50 years of history, Lafleur’s serves up staples of Quebec cuisine: including steamed hot dogs and what I believe to be the best French Fries I’ve ever tasted. </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />In fact, the fries are so good that I rarely order poutine here.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The fries on their own are enough. A sprinkle of vinegar and a liberal dosing of salt, and I’m happy. </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />But in service of you, dear readers, I doused these fries with gravy and cheese and sampled away.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />As the base for a Lafleur’s poutine, the fries maintain everything that’s perfect about them.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The perfect golden brown colour. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The succulent texture (just soggy enough).</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The rich potato flavour.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">And both the gravy and the cheese are good.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">But they’re nowhere near the nirvana that the fries deliver.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The gravy is, I dare say, even a tad salty.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">So what was an incredible serving of French fries has become a merely good poutine. </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />So I’ll keep enjoying them naked.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Thank you very much.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">But there’s no doubt that they’ll continue to be an important (and delicious) part of my Montreal routine.</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />Bon appétit!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br />
<br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Fries: 5/5</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >
<br />Cheese: 4/5</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">
<br />Gravy: 3/5
<br />
<br />Total: 12/15</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >
<br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBWQHYq8JdQQrNC4NUmRxaWelGTMicJbytI656KabX9WcjlLfFbko1d0XuesZTFlJ6cyJD83HEDfHBDgrfPqwx8w4kWGcjdrreervzHpG9LnKFqDDFjh2rLfsmOTaCD2LNbDIXtbGqkM/s1600-h/IMG00019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBWQHYq8JdQQrNC4NUmRxaWelGTMicJbytI656KabX9WcjlLfFbko1d0XuesZTFlJ6cyJD83HEDfHBDgrfPqwx8w4kWGcjdrreervzHpG9LnKFqDDFjh2rLfsmOTaCD2LNbDIXtbGqkM/s200/IMG00019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420417238456512210" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span> <!--EndFragment--> PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-45294779169334401822009-12-19T09:37:00.000-08:002009-12-28T09:49:00.306-08:00A tale of two Jamies <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/lpasquin/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>279</o:Words> <o:characters>1594</o:Characters> <o:company>Harbinger Communications</o:Company> <o:lines>13</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1957</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b>Jamie Kennedy’s French fries made him famous.<span style=""> </span>It’s only natural, then, that we would seek Kennedy out in the quest for the best poutine in the city.<span style=""> </span>And in fact, that’s exactly what I did – not once, but twice.<o:p>
<br />
<br /></o:p>Tracking Kennedy down requires a tad more effort that it would have just a few months ago, before he<a href="http://www.thestar.com/article/699955"> sold his exquisite Wine Bar</a> on Church Street. Now, the search for the Kennedy fries begins at <a href="http://www.jamiekennedy.ca/content/restaurants-gc.html">Gilead Café</a> – a tiny space located down an alley in Corktown.<o:p>
<br /></o:p>
<br />Originally home to the JK Kitchens administration offices, the restaurant itself is delicious – rough-hewn wood tables, walls lined with jars of seasonal preserves, and an open kitchen and deli counter offering fresh, local selections (the menu is edited daily).<span style=""> </span>The Pulled Pork Poutine, unfortunately, is anything but.<span style=""> </span>While the fries are classic Kennedy – crisp, golden and full of flavour – the pulled pork topping is overly spiced and lacking in enough moisture to make the poutine come to life.<span style=""> </span>And there’s just enough cheese to tease you into believing this actually is a poutine – a bite or two, and then its gone.<span style=""> </span>A disappointing offering from one of Toronto’s acclaimed poutine masters.<o:p>
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<br /></o:p>We fare much better a few weeks later at the <a href="http://www.jamiekennedy.ca/content/restaurants-jkg.html">Jamie Kennedy outpost</a> at the <a href="http://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/index.aspx">Gardiner Museum</a>.<span style=""> </span>During a special holiday event at the museum, Kennedy offers up a specially created<meta name="Title" content=""><meta name="Keywords" content=""><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>1</o:Words> <o:characters>9</o:Characters> <o:company>Harbinger Communications</o:Company> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>11</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourti%C3%A8re">Tourtiere</a> Poutine. While the idea alone is enough to warm a Quebecer’s heart, the execution is even better.<span style=""> </span>The traditional Kennedy fries are topped here with warm, perfectly spiced ground beef, a cheese drizzle and – best of all – tiny cubed potatoes.<span style=""> </span>That’s right – potato on potato.<span style=""> </span>It might just be my definition of heaven.
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<br /></o:p>The only bad news is that this is a special seasonal offering only.<span style=""> </span>I’m already marking my calendar for next Christmas. <span style=""> </span>Merry Christmas, Jamie!<span style=""> </span>And Merry Christmas to you, Poutine Toronto readers.<span style=""> </span>The quest continues in 2010...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuKC0Db91OZlEZrEyzbrvrRWt2gZ4jqHadq8SqJUh1BvqMM1lhYCvaZSDYcEcYaAqLOCapqZfvL13tru2T3M0oQC4fu0vXMsOQrGcT41Ks_oh8epg6hBkpfurkUxCCnwu4rTn9IuzQLM/s1600-h/JamieKennedy1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuKC0Db91OZlEZrEyzbrvrRWt2gZ4jqHadq8SqJUh1BvqMM1lhYCvaZSDYcEcYaAqLOCapqZfvL13tru2T3M0oQC4fu0vXMsOQrGcT41Ks_oh8epg6hBkpfurkUxCCnwu4rTn9IuzQLM/s200/JamieKennedy1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420344139709080930" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Blah! Pulled Pork Poutine at Gilead (above)</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFodxATkROdUZdso7wMWaAALlvbQSY86aR_fLdFGdSjKJgLgTZiA5ok0CBJib_QSdigDMvhlrtdoSZj-ee14vw26sCe-2N0WqWpr_9qTo4H9Yyi-hYExv6UEwjc2XSyltk60BvFNp8lm4/s1600-h/photo+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFodxATkROdUZdso7wMWaAALlvbQSY86aR_fLdFGdSjKJgLgTZiA5ok0CBJib_QSdigDMvhlrtdoSZj-ee14vw26sCe-2N0WqWpr_9qTo4H9Yyi-hYExv6UEwjc2XSyltk60BvFNp8lm4/s200/photo+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420344532655005282" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Hurrah! Touriere Poutine at Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner</span>
<br /><!--EndFragment--> PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-54408714388703055532009-11-30T17:44:00.000-08:002009-11-30T14:53:11.915-08:00The day the poutine came to me.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKrtLVvXiFVL8vlbzv81bClMNeFFfq_9-ZtqVHN7xX3GCBXrJHr2YHD1OtB3tePohp6jPI6a1p5F4mkt7elyOFvdn85JLw0GuoqH8ovLg3DYXppMyIxLyBQ5hOFt-dFdY53pxbxYJlWo/s1600/IMG_7050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKrtLVvXiFVL8vlbzv81bClMNeFFfq_9-ZtqVHN7xX3GCBXrJHr2YHD1OtB3tePohp6jPI6a1p5F4mkt7elyOFvdn85JLw0GuoqH8ovLg3DYXppMyIxLyBQ5hOFt-dFdY53pxbxYJlWo/s200/IMG_7050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410033266726515490" border="0" /></a>
<br /> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/lpasquin/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>399</o:Words> <o:characters>2275</o:Characters> <o:company>Harbinger Communications</o:Company> <o:lines>18</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2793</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I started this blog to help rationalize my poutine addiction. And with the faintest hope that I might be able to leverage it to get a free meal or two. Recently, I managed one better – I was lucky enough to convince the boys from <a href="http://smokespoutinerie.com/">Smoke’s Poutinerie</a> to bring their <a href="http://www.thestar.com/living/Food/article/692980">new poutine truck</a> down to my office at lunch. “Official blog business”, you know.
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<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Since I’ve started writing this blog, I’ve been inundated by commentary about Smoke’s. And I think it’s probably true that I can’t really claim to be any sort of authority on the subject without a review of Toronto’s official poutine emporium.
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<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Let me say first: I’m biased. I love Smoke’s creator and owner Ryan Smoklin (how can you not love a man with a vision to bring great poutine to the huddled masses of Toronto?). I love the simplicity of the idea – nothing but poutine and pop. And I love that Smoklin is building not just a restaurant, but a brand (I seriously considered a franchise. I’m not kidding).
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<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">But the real question is: do I love the poutine? The answer really depends on the gravy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">The Smoke’s truck came equipped with two kinds of gravy: the traditional, and the veggie option. In the spirit of authentic journalism, I threw my waistline to the wind and sampled both.
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<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">As a Quebecer, I’m a stickler for the right kind of gravy – and the traditional doesn’t quite meet my expectations. It’s a poultry-based offering with a strong sage flavour that belongs more on Thanksgiving turkey than on poutine. In fact – it did top a recently offered <a href="http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto/articles/Best-Toronto-Restaurants-for-Thanksgiving-13504.html">Thanksgiving poutine</a> that Smoklin claims was a best-seller.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">The veggie gravy, on the other hand, was much closer to the traditional “brown sauce” you find at chip trucks across La Belle Province. Rich in flavour, and beautiful to behold, it provided just the right compliment to the fries and cheese. Although the pieces of mushroom were a tad offensive to a poutine purist like myself.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">A later visit to the <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=smoke%27s+poutine&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=smoke%27s+poutine&hnear=Toronto,+ON&cid=0,0,13785975966257221666&ei=-ksUS92zEJSTnQf-ybjFAw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQnwIwAA">Smoke’s location on Adelaide</a> presented an even more intriguing offering: a peppercorn gravy that gave the meal a delicious kick. While not standard poutine offering, I’m willing to make an exception here and give it two thumbs up for tastiness.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">There are a whole lot of things you can put on your poutine at Smoke’s beyond gravy. Enough permutations and combinations of flavours to warrant their own blog. So more posts to come on some of their selections. For now, my rating on the traditional offering:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><b><i><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Fries (daily hand-cut Yukon Gold): 4/5<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><b><i><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Cheese (produced by dairy farmers from the Eastern Townships of Quebec): 5/5<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><b><i><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Traditional gravy: 3/5<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><b><i><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Vegetarian gravy: 4/5<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><b><i><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Peppercorn gravy: 4/5</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">And a bonus point for style – for a <b><i>grand total of 13 or 14 / 15</i> </b>(gravy dependent).
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<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">(</span><span style="line-height: 130%;font-family:Georgia;" >Oh. And the boxes are adorable, but messy. Be prepared.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; line-height: 130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWahWyWC09syrSjeunHcZ1MUuAi6KSezRnFZz6798z18_IVEwUulLHVFIYfHkh4OquVKx2UureQ4i6Uh2f7JOmgCCUiQzC4jMjGGaC88mk9JdIh9hNutVI1WFQnb4Lr2SaUjH9kqZ7cw/s1600/photo+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWahWyWC09syrSjeunHcZ1MUuAi6KSezRnFZz6798z18_IVEwUulLHVFIYfHkh4OquVKx2UureQ4i6Uh2f7JOmgCCUiQzC4jMjGGaC88mk9JdIh9hNutVI1WFQnb4Lr2SaUjH9kqZ7cw/s200/photo+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410033425461959874" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="line-height: 130%;font-family:Georgia;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-87474633198531020472009-10-05T07:14:00.000-07:002009-11-30T14:54:16.192-08:00Love in the Food Court<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARX_d1fqVL_ly5NuVmy_5mADn-brjVwKt_MFWjD0DkKwrS8ZF9bI1ceUKpb6vh7oU3bHnOO7uvBKhHcAl6fVSax5vaUwqhFviBxeEufLE9Sz7Zs80xEpaG7MlstdKh0PFbwMCcgTAqsY/s1600-h/IMG00024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARX_d1fqVL_ly5NuVmy_5mADn-brjVwKt_MFWjD0DkKwrS8ZF9bI1ceUKpb6vh7oU3bHnOO7uvBKhHcAl6fVSax5vaUwqhFviBxeEufLE9Sz7Zs80xEpaG7MlstdKh0PFbwMCcgTAqsY/s200/IMG00024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389119771740860418" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">I’m a poutine lover.<span style=""> </span>An afficianado.<span style=""> </span>A fanatic.<span style=""> </span>But I’m no snob.<span style=""> </span>I know that good poutine can be found anywhere.<span style=""> </span>Like the mall.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">Enter <a href="http://www.newyorkfries.com/">New York Fries</a> – and the myriad of reasons you should love this food court mainstay.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">Did you know that there is not a single New York Fries location in New York?<span style=""> </span>Or in the United States, in fact. <span style=""> </span>New York Fries is, in fact, a proudly Canadian company (although I’m not sure Bratford, Ontaro is known as a bastion of poutine gastronomy…).<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">How about the fact that this is a company that knows what they do well and stick to it?<span style=""> </span>When they wanted to diversify, NYF launched <a href="http://www.southstburger.com/">an entirely new brand</a> rather than muddy the menu at their core chain (hear that, <a href="http://can-restaurantnews.com/content/publish/national/Pizza_Hut_launches_pasta_delivery.shtml">Pizza Hut</a>?).<span style=""> </span>According to their website, “focusing on one product allows New York Fries to be the "fry specialist", and making perfect fries every time is why our customers continue to come back to our store.”<span style=""> </span>Damn straight, New York Fries.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">Plus, how can you not adore a company that refuses to take itself too seriously. <span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/08/12/gary-coleman-wants-to-tell-you-your-fry-cup-fortune/">Enter Gary Coleman</a> stage right.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">And finally, this is a company that makes a really, really good poutine. Crispy fries.<span style=""> </span>A delicious, dark gravy that’s thick enough to stick to the potato, but not so thick that it congeals on top of the serving.<span style=""> </span>And a generous serving of curds (although be warned that this is not your Quebec grandmother’s squeaky cheese – by the end of the bucket, the cheese is melted).<span style=""> </span>Well worth a trip to the mall.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><i style="">New!<span style=""> </span>A formal rating system to try and bring some order to these reviews...<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><b style=""><i style="">Fries: 4 / 5<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><b style=""><i style="">Gravy: 5 / 5<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><b style=""><i style="">Cheese: 3 / 5<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><b style=""><i style="">TOTAL: 12 / 15</i></b></p> <!--EndFragment-->PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-68940979151852831582009-10-02T07:56:00.001-07:002009-10-02T13:27:16.025-07:00My Canada Includes PoutineSpotted (thanks, Grant!) on the streets of Ottawa. How do I get this on a t-shirt?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGN4zhzMNvXkjYvcdXfCSsT5NTufyBOVD745FxsmUcmdm45AGP24_wY8VKAzpurZ2vOicbPory3BDVD9jlG56ABAFbfwX6o6HEWpPhHrbOB4d6QfHt-c1Fp2Jl6WXUrt81Gv1pZCk9eM/s1600-h/MyCanada.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGN4zhzMNvXkjYvcdXfCSsT5NTufyBOVD745FxsmUcmdm45AGP24_wY8VKAzpurZ2vOicbPory3BDVD9jlG56ABAFbfwX6o6HEWpPhHrbOB4d6QfHt-c1Fp2Jl6WXUrt81Gv1pZCk9eM/s320/MyCanada.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388016808671099122" border="0" /></a><br />UPDATE: I've just learned that there are, in fact, t-shirts! The sign is from Ottawa's Elgin Street Diner. I'm on the case...PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-75873505286934769762009-09-28T12:51:00.000-07:002009-09-28T12:55:28.008-07:00To Market, To Market.<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">The Bier Markt is good for a lot of things.<span style=""> </span>Beer, for example.<span style=""> </span>But gastronomical hotbed it is not.<span style=""> </span>And so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by what I found there on a recent outing to the resto’s newest location on King Street West – a middling offering of fries, gravy and curds packaged as poutine.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">The fact is, it was fine.<span style=""> </span>The gravy was fine.<span style=""> </span>The fries were fine.<span style=""> </span>The cheese was fine.<span style=""> </span>There were some layering issues.<span style=""> </span>And they could have been more generous with the gravy (ratio is important to me - take a close look at the photo below...there are some dry fries in there).<span style=""> </span>But it wasn’t terrible. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">It just wasn’t great. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">My advice?<span style=""> </span>Stick to the beer – let’s seek out a poutine that’s worth the calories.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKHIBsyhwr2TbkCIX63GzfQ8AayRFHwZVS6scwmK0dTaEYXGqo_cIGq4HAfZoX7iQEOVEekA9b8YA27-Cg5p3dC0QJc-SgmhqXG7jmZdB6rbZ1yePvvUMXNnIug02h8Ic-gOAcATwwUg/s1600-h/IMG01212-20090924-1848.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKHIBsyhwr2TbkCIX63GzfQ8AayRFHwZVS6scwmK0dTaEYXGqo_cIGq4HAfZoX7iQEOVEekA9b8YA27-Cg5p3dC0QJc-SgmhqXG7jmZdB6rbZ1yePvvUMXNnIug02h8Ic-gOAcATwwUg/s200/IMG01212-20090924-1848.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386608772341066642" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-39103367617163307622009-09-11T14:26:00.000-07:002009-09-11T14:31:14.489-07:00Poutine Heads South<span style="line-height: 17px;font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Today's poutine news is from <a href="http://tastingtable.com/">TastingTable</a> - a roundup of some of the hottest poutine offerings south of the border. Toronto Poutine roadtrip, anyone? I vote for Dallas as the first stop. Here are some of the concoctions they profile:</span><br /></strong><blockquote><strong>Dallas</strong> <a title="Bijoux" href="http://tastingtable.com/er/1203/421931/null/to/" target="_blank">Bijoux</a> chef Scott Golich's <em>Bleu Benedictin Poutine</em>, which features Canadian blue cheese, duck-fat-poached fries and duck-confit gravy, is served as a cheese course in his tasting menus.<br /><br /><strong>Los Angeles</strong> At the meat-lover's playhouse <a title="Animal" href="http://tastingtable.com/er/1203/421932/null/to/" target="_blank">Animal</a>, chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo top their version with rich oxtail gravy and white cheddar.<br /><br /><strong>New York City</strong> The recently opened <a title="T Poutine" href="http://tastingtable.com/er/1203/421933/null/to/">T Poutine</a> has gained a following for its no-frills service and DIY approach: <em>Poutine</em> purists can mix and match different types of fries (including shoestring), cheese, gravy and meat.<br /><br /><strong>Philadelphia</strong> The "snack" of choice at the new gastropub <a title="Blockley Pourhouse" href="http://tastingtable.com/er/1203/421934/null/to/" target="_blank">Blockley Pourhouse</a> is fries covered in caramelized-onion gravy, slices of short ribs and heaping chunks of industrial-orange "squeaky" cheese, a cousin to the city's beloved Velveeta.</blockquote><br />Read the whole article <a href="http://tastingtable.com/ecs/1203.htm">here</a>.<br /></span>PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-345282377983310792009-09-10T05:27:00.000-07:002009-09-10T05:32:24.842-07:00Poutine on Wheels!Is poutine possibly the hottest topic in the news this week? Today's update is courtesy of <a href="http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/94642">Jennifer Bain</a> at the Toronto Star: the highly anticipated Smoke's Poutine truck <a href="http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/692980">makes its debut this weekend</a>.<br /><br />Poutine on wheels. Whatever next?<br /><br />Review to follow, as soon as I can track down that truck.<br /><br />PS: Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/Poutinerie">Smoke's on Twitter</a> to keep up with their news.PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-86635075884127910042009-09-09T08:00:00.000-07:002009-09-09T08:00:03.412-07:00More Poutine in the News: the new Smoke's location...This one from <a href="http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/09/does_poutine_mark_a_new_beginning_for_the_dundas-sherbourne_corridor/">BlogTO</a>:<br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>After nearly a year in business serving curry and nacho versions of Quebec's famous dish, <a href="http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/smokespoutinerie">Smoke's Poutinerie</a> owner Ryan Smolkin is set to open his second location later this month directly across from the infamous Filmore's strip club at 203 Dundas East. It's pretty much smack dab in the middle of a part of the city known more for guns and girls than gourmet anything.</blockquote><br />The location is so gloriously close to my office, I can't do anything but celebrate. And maybe go for an extra long run.<br /><br />Read the <a href="http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/09/does_poutine_mark_a_new_beginning_for_the_dundas-sherbourne_corridor/">full BlogTO post</a> for more...PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-13214426389265360922009-09-08T18:11:00.000-07:002009-09-10T05:36:36.823-07:00The Burger Shoppe: A middling showing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-D1DsE_zUiKFK1xs_DjBjMi4y3NvSRCX5_58o8zJBOx410tpvRP37JTyUnxbgh6p7k8VcsZobwX_aAsQRL_zJZKwqXhuLtm53_JwlzKRbOKmW1b01EvRac-ub9szwfoYbHsS-tlHGwME/s1600-h/IMG00014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-D1DsE_zUiKFK1xs_DjBjMi4y3NvSRCX5_58o8zJBOx410tpvRP37JTyUnxbgh6p7k8VcsZobwX_aAsQRL_zJZKwqXhuLtm53_JwlzKRbOKmW1b01EvRac-ub9szwfoYbHsS-tlHGwME/s200/IMG00014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379816704194762866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="display: block;" id="previewbody"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">There’s a lot that’s good about <a href="http://www.burgershoppe.com/">The Burger Shoppe</a>’s poutine offering.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, there’s also a lot that isn’t very good.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">In the first category: cheese.<span style=""> </span>Delicious, classic, squeaky cheese that holds both shape and flavour even after a short walk home with take-out.<span style=""> </span>And cheese in sufficient quantity to ensure that even the last bite ends with that resounding squeak.<span style=""> </span>Perfect. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">Also great?<span style=""> </span>Composition.<span style=""> </span>Enough gravy to coat each and every French fry. A nicely layered dish.<span style=""> </span>And a huge portion (good for sharing, especially if you’re pairing with a burger) – all for less than $5.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">Not so great?<span style=""> </span>Dramatically undercooked fries.<span style=""> </span>A word to the wise: squeaky cheese?<span style=""> </span>Good.<span style=""> </span>Squeaky fries?<span style=""> </span>Not so much.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">And while the consistency – and even the colour – of the gravy is lovely, the flavour isn’t quite right.<span style=""> </span>It’s trying too hard.<span style=""> </span>And with a good poutine, each element should work in harmony, not in competition<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%;">There's a life lesson for you. From the bottom of a poutine dish. How about that.</p></div>PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-49611178092512593912009-09-02T06:28:00.000-07:002009-09-02T06:30:33.049-07:00Poutine NewsFrom <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/restauranto/2009/08/21/riding-the-gravy-train-smoke%E2%80%99s-poutinerie-plans-new-locations-and-a-poutine-truck/">Toronto Life</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>In November, Smolkin—with help from consulting firm the Fifteen Group (<a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/bar-and-pub/roy-public-house/">The Roy</a>, <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/midday/mercatto/">Mercatto</a>, <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/international/vertical/">Vertical</a>)—opened Smoke’s Poutinerie at 218 Adelaide Street West and now plans to open two more locations: one at Dundas and Jarvis in the second week of September to specialize in catering, and another at Queen and Bathurst in November. This Labour Day weekend, he’ll launch the Mobile Poutine Truck to offer curbside curds.</blockquote><br />Poutine catering? Brilliant.PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-41520391982382197402009-09-01T17:26:00.000-07:002009-09-04T16:35:05.110-07:00Reliable Halibut & Chips: A Damn Mess<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqqIOTCMXol9AQ2ug_gIbHxtvfObubSwkuT6sHRMG28QcJsRZR-ypL3OBMHPpzrDhkRE11QX3_HP0YZp3PIlF2xZyR3xe0q9Khw9XENvQmsXHDDyn7QlReLsOXRZQ6SdkIzp02P60uak/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqqIOTCMXol9AQ2ug_gIbHxtvfObubSwkuT6sHRMG28QcJsRZR-ypL3OBMHPpzrDhkRE11QX3_HP0YZp3PIlF2xZyR3xe0q9Khw9XENvQmsXHDDyn7QlReLsOXRZQ6SdkIzp02P60uak/s320/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376660854609307378" border="0" /></a>I don’t know if poutine was on the menu when <a href="http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/457536">Reliable Fish & Chips</a> opened in 1930, but it’s a standout on the menu in 2009.<br /><br />At only $4, this poutine makes a great meal on its own, or as an accompaniment to a piece of deep fried fish. I often choose to pair it with a crispy piece of halibut – a heart-healthy dinner any night of the week.<br /><br />Some stories tell that the first poutine was put together when a man asked for fries while waiting on an order of cheese curds. The reply? Ca va faire une maudite poutine – loosely translated as "it will make a damn mess".<br /><br />A poutine from Reliable is indeed a damn mess, and that’s part of what makes it so delicious. Getting takeout? The overall consistency of the dish by the time you get it home makes it hard to determine what exactly you’re biting down on – but that’s exactly why it’s so enjoyable.<br /><br />Reliable’s offering is a great choice for our first review – classically delicious. Nothing fancy: just the right ratio of gravy to cheese to potato (a great poutine gives you a taste of each in every bite) with a rich and delicious gravy in a perfect portion size.<br /><br />I’ve long been a fan of Reliable’s poutine – in fact, I believe it might be one of the best in the city. So we’re setting the bar high.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvyoth-gt-VzzJZOh5HNP2YTTxsvzghfjprN-cqSB1xtqidqxmbx7LmRKvW-a7470Pxb2AGk1yUy_wZ6evzUy1Kqf2UfKs5ztBepIcgAJDvGBIhvhcoRALbxqp6Ui8KQrAPo2oFTHXug/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvyoth-gt-VzzJZOh5HNP2YTTxsvzghfjprN-cqSB1xtqidqxmbx7LmRKvW-a7470Pxb2AGk1yUy_wZ6evzUy1Kqf2UfKs5ztBepIcgAJDvGBIhvhcoRALbxqp6Ui8KQrAPo2oFTHXug/s320/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376661120500606354" border="0" /></a><br />Where to go from here?PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831126855775070443.post-43091609968624995512009-09-01T15:11:00.000-07:002009-09-02T15:28:21.495-07:00Welcome.Comfort food. Hangover cure. Gastronomic delight. Poutine may be the world's most perfect meal.<br /><br />And as a Montreal kid, I'm a bit biased against Toronto - if this city can't even get its bagels right, how can it possibly be expected to master the delicate balance between fries, gravy and cheese?<br /><br />But I'm willing to give the Big Smoke a chance.<br /><br />I know there's great poutine out there. Let's find it together. Here we go...PoutineQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385838980121390275noreply@blogger.com0