As everyone knows , poutine is synonymous with the province of Québec . The decadent and oh-so-delicious combination of French fries , gravy and cheese curds is said to have been invented there in 1957 . The dish has since become an avowed Canadian classic , adopted and interpreted by fast-food joints and high-end restaurants around the world .
But perhaps you didn ’ t know that poutine is also a favourite in Manitoba , where four percent of the population is French-speaking . Of course , the westerners apply their own unique spin , adding local ingredients and culinary influences from other cultures . This unique culinary vision has proven so popular with locals and tourists alike that it has inspired a signature poutine trail with some tasty stops along the way .
The trail is situated in the small , bilingual communities south of Winnipeg , scattered from east to west in the province . Each establishment showcases a myriad of ways
to enjoy poutine , from fries topped with scrambled eggs , to fries paired with popcorn chicken to fajita-style steak and fries . ( The key word here : fries .)
One of the stops is the Nobside Café in St . Norbert , the southernmost neighbourhood within the city of Winnipeg . This poutine , dubbed La Brewtine Montreal , applies a local twist , topping the fries with Montreal smoked meat , cheese curds from Bothwell and gravy infused with beer from Fort Garry before adding a drizzle of beer chipotle mustard .
From there , it ’ s on to the village of Lorette , about 26 kilometres southeast , known for its excellent public golf course and its perogy poutine , a nod to the Eastern European influence of the province . The version created by Chicken Chef is a belly-buster for sure : The home-cut fries are crowned with perogies , bacon or farmer ’ s sausage , green onions , sour cream and gravy .
Photos : top left courtesy Manitoba Tourism ; top right and bottom courtesy Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities ( CDEM ) six star magazine 33