CANADA
A Traditional Dish or a Dang Mess?
By Jim Barta
Bemidji, MN, United States
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!
Have a suggestion for this story? We’d love for you to submit it!


Blank
Blank
Math Resources
Learning Activity for Middle School: Linear Relationships
Sample Problems:
- Calista is a high school student living in Burlington, Vermont. Her 30-person choir is planning a trip to Quebec City for spring break. A friend of hers said she absolutely must try a local snack called poutine. At a local restaurant, each serving of poutine costs C$4.65 (Canadian dollars). In addition, the server charges an extra C$10.00 to serve such a large group. What will the total bill be for the group?
- Find the exchange rate for Canadian dollars versus US dollars. What will the above bill cost in US dollars?
Extension Question
What are the traditional foods of your culture or country? What would be lost if those dishes didn’t exist?
Explore Further
- Detailed information about Canada’s First Nations
- A recipe for poutine
- How-to tips for making poutine
- History of poutine
Share Your Story
Write your own Global Math Story and send it to us!
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.