While you can find poutine on the menus of various fast food places in Edmonton these days, don't be fooled into thinking it's the real thing. For that, you have to go to La Poutine next to the old Garneau Theatre on 109th Street. “It’s Canadian comfort food,” says owner Lindsey Robbins. “We did a lot of research when we lived in Quebec, learning specifically about what goes into poutine to make it special.”
Lindsey and her husband Francis Cote tasted many different poutines when they lived in Quebec, and when they moved to Edmonton they went to work finding the right products to put forth authentic poutine for the enthusiastic locals here. “There was a lot of anticipation before we opened,” says Lindsey. “Once we did open it was crazy-busy. We could barely keep up. We were not prepared for how busy we were going to be. It was just wild. We started with two staff in addition to Francis and me, and we had to call in family and friends to help us get through those first couple of days.”
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Worlds collide here as western-style poutine and Quebecois-style poutine finally find some common ground at La Poutine. Their gravy comes in two styles: traditional, Quebec-style gravy (that happens to be vegan) and the dark brown beef gravy that Westerners are more used to. The fries themselves are Russet, fried twice in canola oil, while the fresh cheese curds are locally sourced.
View this Smart ListLa Poutine pays homage to the iconic Canadian dish with its mouthwatering tradition of smothering French fries in gravy and cheese curds, with a menu strictly devoted to the signature dish. For adventurous eaters, La Poutine offers an extensive menu riddled with creative flavours from the fiercely Canadian Traditional, Québécoise and Donair poutines to the more exotic Chili Supreme, Italian and Perogy. If you’re a rebel who scoffs at structure and revels in chaos, you can customize a poutine just for you - there are even delicious options for the vegan and vegetarian poutine lovers.
View this Smart ListLa vie est belle at La Poutine. With a couple dozen varieties to choose from, this is definitely a favourite spot. With your choice of traditional (vegan), beef or gluten-free gravies, there’s really something for everyone. If you’re hungry, try the meat lover, with loads of ground beef, bacon bits and smoked sausage. For something a little different, try the garden with green peas, sautéed mushrooms and onions.
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