When the going gets tough, the tough reach for poutine. And we are a nation in love with this rich, button-bursting dish of fried potatoes, gravy and cheese curds that squeak when you bite into them.
To celebrate, the famous La Poutine Week launches across the nation starting Feb. 1, allowing fans to enjoy poutine variations from hundreds of restaurants and eateries across Canada, while helping the restaurant industry through these tough, pandemic times.
Now considered the largest poutine festival in the world, La Poutine Week encompasses eight provinces including Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and involves participating restaurants, “demonstrating that even during a pandemic, restaurants will still come together through a universal love for cheese, fries, gravy – and poutine,” as noted in a recent media release.
And a quick check of the website site shows restaurants are truly going to town with the variety of wild and wonderful variations – from the traditional to the totally outrageous, with every known food group playing a role. Poutine with Buffalo chicken, poutine with pizza and with shrimp, with pho – it’s all there and then some.
Now in its ninth year, La Poutine Week, partnered with Saputo Cheese and SkipTheDishes, is the brainchild of Na’eem Adam and Thierry Rassam, who are also at the helm of the highly successful fall food festival known as Le Burger Week. La Poutine Week is not only the largest poutine festival in the world but it annually raises thousands of dollars for charity.
This year the event – which is, in essence, a friendly competition among the participating eateries – is more crucial than ever, given it allows restaurants to keep their doors open during these difficult, economic times.
How this competition works is at the end of the festival, each city will announce their respective winners in several categories, including Most Popular, Judge’s Choice, Most Outrageous and Most Creative. Some of the dishes will be judged by a panel of food experts, while others – like the most popular – will be judged by fans (check the website for more details on how to vote.)
“This year, more than ever, every poutine that will be consumed becomes a mark of loyalty – for restaurants, for us, for our community,” notes co-founder Adam in a recent news release. “We are here to support our restaurants by driving sales through a national platform that celebrates our most recognized and beloved dish.
“The restaurant industry and the foodie community need good news, and La Poutine Week is one of them.”
For more details, check out lapoutineweek.com
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2021
