Finding Southern Flavors In Canada : Poutine Comes Home!
About two years ago, I had an opportunity to visit Canada. I had a wonderful time, met some great people, had delicious food, and learned two things about Canadians.
One is that they are very nice people! Seriously, they were the biggest group of nice folks I had ever encountered outside of my own stomping grounds. I can’t imagine feeling as welcome anywhere else as I was in Canada (I really think they liked me better than my own family but that is a story for another day…)
Secondly was that Canadians have an almost inhuman ability to maintain body heat. With my Alabama blood in the Canadian climate (in January), “I THOUGHT I’Z GONNA FREEZE!” I have never, never, never, never, never, never, never experienced cold like that before in all of my born days.
I was told to bring my winter coat so I packed my wool pea coat. I love that coat but living in Alabama means only getting to wear it once or twice a winter if I’m lucky. You see, where I am, the winters are so mild that the grass doesn’t even die. We generally wear jackets if we go out but there have been occasions warm enough for shorts even in the middle of December. Needless to say, I was surprised when I got there and, upon looking at what I considered to be a winter coat, my friends asked me where my coat was.The photograph at the right shows me standing amidst more snow than I have ever seen in my entire life, wearing a coat – borrowed from a Canadian (I told you they were awful nice!).I had a week filled with firsts. From stepping into snow and watching my shoe actually sink entirely down into it to visiting a grocery store and seeing things written entirely in French. Canada was a great experience and as I said before, the people were just wonderful. Another first from my trip was trying this dish – poutine (Pronounced pooh-teen).
From day one I was told, “Oh you HAVE to have Poutine!”. When it was described to me, hot fries topped with fresh cheese curd and a rich gravy, I was a bit put off. It just didn’t sound good to me. Still, they were persistent. Finally, three days before I left, I relented.
It was pure and true love at first bite. I had poutine at just about every meal until my flight back home. I ate so much poutine, I was being watched with concerned eyes as if hoping I would somehow get back on the wagon again. They had unleashed a poutine monster.
Once you taste this, you’ll see why. Now remember, I thought it sounded weird to begin with, too. In truth though, Poutine tastes about as southern as food can get and despite what you think, you really can’t imagine what it tastes like until you try it. Three simple ingredients meld to become something altogether more than what they seem.
This dish is so popular in Canada that McDonald’s and Burger King actually serve it, although I can’t imagine it is as good as it is at the little mom and pop diners. Canadians get creative with it, too. I’ve heard folks adding bacon, hamburger, and all sorts of other toppings into the mix. As for me, I like it just as I tried it that first time – and the second time, third, fourth, fifth, sixth…
You’ll need three simple ingredients. French Fries, Beef Gravy, and Mozzarella Cheese.
We’re making this a bit differently from how they do in Canada as we don’t have fresh cheese curds. I can’t really tell the difference but I’m sure fresh cheese curds just make it all the better!
Bake or fry your french fries. I love these Big Daddy steak fries. They are absolutely wonderful, and very difficult to find. Most people prefer to fry them in oil but I just bake mine. Surprisingly, I really don’t like to deep fry anything!
While those are cooking, slice your mozzarella cheese…You want a good handful, about a half cup for each serving.
Cut your slices into small cubes.
Heat your gravy until piping hot. You can use the stovetop for this or the microwave. I nuke mine.
Place hot fries on a plate and salt them.
Sprinkle liberally with cheese cubes.
Ladle hot gravy over hot fries.
Get a good bit on there! Make sure you cover up your cheese so it will get all ooey and gooey.
Give it a minute or two to melt and dig in.
Oh lord, I made this a few weeks ago and am just now putting the tutorial up.
Now I have to go make it again!
OH CANADA!!!!
Servings: 4
Calories: 708kcal
Ingredients
- French fries cooked and kept hot
- Mozzarella cheese cut into small cubes
- Beef gravy in a can
Instructions
- Heat gravy until piping hot. Sprinkle cheese cubes liberally over hot fries. Pour gravy over all.
- Pretend you know french. C'est Magnifique? MAIS Oui! C'est tres magnifique!(hey, I said pretend!)
Nutrition
Calories: 708kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!
I love love love cheese with fries. I’ve never topped it with gravy but I love making the fries (or chips as we mainly call them) in the oven, letting cheese melt over them while they’re in the oven and covering them with chilli, sweet chilli or BBQ sauce to eat.
Yummy 🙂 Your blog makes me so hungry! Especially those buttermilk biscuts!
BTW, Pinky sent me here to say “HI”
Poutine…..well I dont know if its just southern men Christy..lol. Im from Bama and got me a California husband who is about to bust a gut with this name.. We live close enough to Wisconsin that I can get the cheese curds. Gonna have to make it this weekend for him.
With all this talk of greens… omg……………… I havent had any fresh greens in years, but I did get a few jars of Pepper Sauce made from the garden this year!!!! now I must go in search of fresh Greens!!!!!btw… Pinky sent me…hehehehe… even though I have stalked you since she mentioned you the first time. And I subscribe… btw… Please tell me you were asleep at 3:45 this morning when I got the email???? lol.. My hubby is a truck driver so I had an excuse to be up!..lol.. He was heading off to KC.
Alyssa! HI ! Welcome to Southern Plate!!!! Its so great to have you here!!!
Goodness I just love all of you gathering about on my front porch!! Let me go get some iced tea and frozen salads! I’ll be right back, y’all get comfy!!
Deanne! I am jealous of your family now, can I come for supper???!!!???
Thank you for reading Southern Plate! Please come back often!
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Do come back often!
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Denise: Welcome! I hope you come back a third, fourth, fifth, sixth…time! hehe
Pinky is my spokesperson! Isn’t she great?
Katie: Awww, edits and deletes are my home field! Don’t you worry one little bit! I’m just thrilled to have you here! I do hope you find some things you like and be sure and let me know if you get to try anything!!! Welcome!! I love your name, by the way! My little girl is Katy :). K-K-K-Katy! Beautiful Katy!!! You’re the only G-G-G-Girl that I adore!! When the M-M-M-Moon shines, over the cow shed! I’ll be waiting by the K-K-K-Kitchen Door!!!
(that is a very old song)
Peg: Welcome to Southern Plate!!!! I am SO Glad to have you here!!!! Thank you again, Pinky!!
~Christy
Pinky sent me over to say hi and I am glad I found your blog. Yummy!
Colleen: Welcome to Southern Plate!!!!
I wish I had a way of tossing confetti over the heads of every new person who happens in and throwing a little party in their honor! I do hope you come back often and please let me know if you ever have any questions or special requests!!
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I hope you enjoy the Country Bob’s! They sure are nice people and their sauce is AWESOME!