Moreish meat, fresh cheese and salty fries come together to form poutine. Here’s all you need to know about this unique fast food dish that Canadians can’t get enough of.
Canada’s Unofficial National Dish
The exact origins of the dish are widely debated, but one thing’s for sure: it wasn’t the genius idea of a single chef, but the collective work of 1950s Quebec diner patrons. In one restaurant, a chef reported that he first added cheese curds to fries at a customer’s request, then began topping it with gravy to keep it warm. In another diner, the chef said he first began serving a dish of fries topped with gravy, then customers added the cheese curds themselves.
Since the 1950s, poutine has fast become one of the most popular meals in Canada. In fact, it’s so popular that 51% of survey respondents considered it to be the country’s national dish. It’s even now a permanent menu item in Canadian McDonald’s restaurants, under the name of McPoutine, of course. While it’s still a relatively well-kept Canadian secret, it’s slowly making its way around the world (even here to Singapore!).
A Mouthfeel Explosion
This simple dish consists of just three ingredients: French fries, cheese curds and beef gravy. However, that doesn’t mean just anyone can make great poutine. To get it perfect, chefs must use the freshest and juiciest cheese curds to keep that chewy texture along with a flawlessly seasoned gravy served hot over the fries and curds right before they’re eaten.
When you eat the dish, the most important thing is making sure you get a little of each ingredient in every mouthful. This is a dish that’s all about mouthfeel, and nothing beats the squeaky chew of fresh cheese curds combined with the crunch of the fries, all wrapped in an envelope of hot gravy.
Where to Eat Poutine in Singapore
Thankfully, you don’t have to travel 8,000 miles to get your hands on this unusual Canadian delicacy. Enjoy the cheesy, meaty goodness in the comfort of your own home by ordering poutine from a Singapore restaurant.
Malthouse (East Coast) serves a traditional version of poutine with added beef for even more hearty goodness. American-style restaurant The Beast has a southern version of the meal on its menu, made with sausage gravy, mozzarella cheese and a sunny-side-up egg. From the original version to all the variations, there’s no wrong way to enjoy this dish as long as it tastes great.
