Considering that tourism provides millions with jobs and brings billions into the economy, why not sell the story of the poutine? Favoured by the Québécois as their own “traditional dish” and by many Canadians to be a truly Canadian experience when eating out. So why not come to Ottawa, the nation’s capital, both literally in terms of politics and poutine. In Ottawa there are many places to buy poutine, each different and unique from each other. Although mostly in the summer is when you`ll find these places, you can find entire restaurants that stay open all year long, so you can eat… all year long. Try going to Smoke`s Poutinerie, Spud`s, S&G, Patate LouLou (Gatineau). Try as much as you can so you can see the difference between each restaurant and be able to share the experience with people back home, who knows, maybe you`ll like poutine as much as the city of Ottawa. While in Ottawa you can stay either in Gatineau or Ottawa, which ever you prefer, staying in some of the nicest hotels in town, such as the Château Champlain, Château Cartier, Ottawa Hotel, or simply a Best Western. You would be looking at somewhere from 1200-200$ a night. While dining you will see the hustle and bustle of Canadian Life, but when you`re done… why not take a tour of Parliament Hill, see what Canadian politics and life are about and if you`re in Ottawa during the summer, be sure to stay at Parliament Hill near 9:30 to see the beautiful MosAika Light&Sound show which is projected onto the Parliament Buildings. It`s running every summer and every night during the summer for free!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrXkm72GAg8.

      If you want to be more `French` about your visit, be sure to visit all of Gatineau, but be sure not to insult the poutine… otherwise… you`ll find out. If you`re up for a nature walk, talk a beautiful walk into La Parc de Gatineau and into the mountains, visit Pink Lake and walk along all the trails, you`ll be sure to return home amazed and wanting to return. 

           Being French and growing up in Québec, I have been born to love poutine. Ever since I was little I have known this dish and have also made it all my life. Making it with my mother and father, it was always fun. Taking that little car ride into Casselman, home to the St. Albert's cheese factory was always my favourite part. Seeing how it was made was fascinating and now that I think of it, appreciating all the extremely hard work that goes into it, from milking the cows and the heating, curing, aging, transportation and such. After taking a tour of the factory, the people are generous enough to offer not even 5 minute old cheese, the squeak of it on your teeth probably the best part. The mouth-watering taste of fresh cheese as it literally melts in your mouth. Having a large family we would usually buy a 2kg bag of cheese curds and bring them home to eat and of course for our poutine.  Making everything from homemade ingredients made it all the more better. Everything was always more fresh and tastier, there was no preservatives or unknown ingredients and products.

         However for as much as I love poutine, there is always a limit, you can only eat something like this once a month or every other week, unless you’re a die hard. After being in cooking class for nearly two years, I have seen experiments on fast-food, and let’s just say it was rather… disturbing. Although most poutine you buy unless from chain restaurants like McDonald’s, is usually small individually owned business, you still never know exactly where all the food is coming from, how fresh it is or what’s in it. Having taken lessons on biodiversity and sustainability, I have learned that I need to keep a mixture of plants and animals in my diet to help save the planet and to eat locally, in order to save on money and lessen the amount of greenhouse gases emitted: I see now that by making your own food, you are not only saving yourself but also the environment.  You help out the local farmers and provide them with opportunity and jobs. You bring money into your local economy and this provides the money for better education, healthcare and all other necessities.

I have 2 recipes for you, one on the “sweeter” side and the other more of a savoury flavour.

 I created my own recipes for you to try if you’re in the mood. Being from Québec, Maple Syrup is a HUGE industry, producing over 80% of the entire world’s supply. So next time you want to try and make a truly “Canadian” meal, and replace the gravy with a little bit of maple syrup and top with bacon instead of cheese. This combination is extraordinary and truly Canadian eh?

         If you want to go into more mouth-watering and savoury dishes, try a poutine with pieces or sirloin steak or Montréal smoked meat, with thick and garlicky-Spicy beef gravy. I have no doubt that if you try these two, you’ll be coming back for seconds.   

Spuds Potato bar/Poutinerie Review

Living in Ottawa, you are in poutine capital of Canada and therefore, the world. Having more poutine shacks and poutineries than anywhere else you are exposed to this wonderful dish all your life. I decided to have dinner at Spud's, a poutinerie in Suburbia.  Although the restaurant has literally 30 different poutines to choose from, I chose to just buy a medium original with beef gravy, at 7.49$+tax it is kind of pricey. The customer service was good; the people were happy and smiling. Sitting down to eat was very comfortable it was quiet and cozy, but the colours of the furniture and walls were very revolting, green and orange. The poutine was nice, fries were crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and gravy was well seasoned and thick the use of real St. Albert’s cheese curds topped it all off. I will say though, there could have been a bit more of the cheese it seemed to be mostly gravy. My brother decided to get the Italian poutine with Spaghetti sauce instead of gravy, it was okay, but there too much sauce, it became over whelming and eventually sickening… So I wouldn’t recommend that variety.

 I asked the girl at the cash if she knew where the potatoes and cheese were coming from she said, “The potatoes are Canadian from PEI and the cheese is from right in here in Ottawa, from Casselman where the factory is.”

            How many Spud’s are there? “I don’t know”

            

          Spud’s was a nice restaurant and definitely worth your money, I would recommend it if there’s one near you. Personally I just like the classic poutine, but the choice is up to you. One thing that maybe the restaurant needs to improve on would be the layout of the store, although having the potato sacks in the front makes a customer know the potatoes are fresh and cut in store not in a big factory in another country or province, it looks messy and unorganized. The bathrooms have no sign so it would be impossible to notice them if you hadn’t asked, perhaps they could switch these two locations to make it more accessible for people. Speed is big issue when it comes to food, because the worker had to cut fries due to shortage it took a little bit longer than usual, in the end though I got what I wanted.

The hours of operation- Monday to Sunday: 11am-10pm.

You can view the online menu with this URL. http://www.spudspotato.com/menu.php

LDHSS

         Having a grade 10 culinary course in High School is fortunate, being able to take that course is extraordinary. At Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School in Ottawa, Ontario I take that course. Chef has taught me a lot, but one of the labs that I think I learned the most from was the stocks and soups. Having to de-bone an entire chicken, make thighs, wings, breasts, legs, etc and then using the bones to make a stock has shown me a lot. It showed me how to do this first of all but to also appreciate where my food comes from and how hard some of the work goes into making things for everyday life. However, the biggest thing would be how to be economic about my food. Although my family makes everything homemade and does not eat out regularly, we don't necessarily  buy everything in the most economic way. We buy chicken breast that can be up to 9$, well that seems silly and stupid to me now, because I can get two breasts  four wings, two legs/thighs, and more from an ENTIRE chicken that cost no more than 10$. Since my family makes a lot of soup, I can then use that same chicken's carcass and formulate a stock. Something which I know has no preservatives, something which isn't weeks, months or years old... it's fresh. I can then make as much soup as I want. Again, this was one of the most productive labs that I have done because it taught me so much about food, how to use it and be economical about it at the same time. Without classes such as culinary, kids will not learn things like this and this message of eating healthier, locally and more friendly so for that I am thankful and hope that other people will become more aware of what they buy, where they buy, what and how they eat what they do.

         The Poutine is a Québécois dish, traditionally it is made from fries, chicken or beef gravy and cheesecurds<3 and is served hot (If you get shredded cheese you are not actually having a poutine and should get your money back). However, many places alter the recipe to the liking of themselves and the regional cuisine. In Atlantic Canada lobster could be used as a topping, in Montréal... smoked meat. Many countries including Sweden, Netherlands, and the UK have all adopted their own varities of "poutine" each with their own distinct flavour and ingredients. It is not known exactly what town is the birthplace of poutine in Québec but most people can agree that it was created during the 1950's. The word poutine has no definite definition but is now associated with "fries with cheese and gravy". Contrary to belief to many Americans and southern Canadians who do not speak french, the word poutine is pronounced "Poo-Tin" not "Poo-Teen".  
Anything you want to add? Comment below.

The Poutine is nearly every Canadians craving dish when they feel like eating, anything. It's so popular in Canada that fast food restaurants started making their own versions of this amazing dish. The American coperation, Wendy's started the Poutition to make the Poutine Canada's national dish.

                                                                       McDonald's

                                                                      Burger King

                                                                  New York Fries

                                                                        Harvey's

                                                         Wendy's (You can see what I meant)

This blog is dedicated soley to the most amazing dish ever created in North America... the Poutine.