A Traditional Dish or a Dang Mess?

Quebec is a province in Canada heavily influenced by French culture and language. It is a diverse land of large cities, as well as numerous lakes and rivers. Quebec is home for some of the most diverse communities in the world including First Nations and other people from around the world. In Quebec numerous cultures live and work together while sharing a national pride, yet often maintaining traditional culture and customs.

Festivals

Festivals, many of them celebrating arts, music, and culture, abound throughout the year and are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Several of Quebec’s larger cities play host to these events such as Montreal and Quebec City. Quebec City, the capital of Quebec, is a North American community that has been in existence for nearly 500 years!

Ingredients

Nearly all visitors to Quebec province are encouraged to try a local delicacy, called poutine. Poutine is a Canadian dish made with french fries topped with brown gravy and cheese curds. In fact, it’s so popular, fast food restaurants like McDonalds, KFC, and Burger King offer poutine as a major item on their menus.

Origins

While many claim to be the first to make poutine, those who know believe it was invented in Warwick, Quebec. In the 1950s at a local festival, a guest requested a handful of cheese curds be added to his fries. The servers replied, “Ça va faire une maudite poutine!” (“It will make a dang mess!”) The gravy was later added to keep the fries warmer for a longer period of time.

So, next time you order fries at your local restaurant, make une maudite poutine by adding a handful of cheese curds and a spoonful of gravy!

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