Watch Out World - Poutine Is Now Hip

Traditionally, real Canadian Poutine is french fries served with gravy and cheese curds. I like all my food in one bowl all mixed together so for me, Poutine is dream comfort food. So I wasn't surprised to see some sharp young food entrepreneur take the concept to a whole next level. While purists might complain, I like the variety. Perogie Poutine - sweet eats from the old country - would be my first choice at this new ALL Poutine eatery.

 

 

Next on our must-try list was the pierogi poutine. This two-pound bad boy was topped with, naturally, potato pierogis in addition to crispy bacon, sour cream and caramelized onions. The winner of second place at Chicago's Poutine Fest this spring, this one tasted how attending a surprise party where all your favorite friends show up feels.

 

 

Our journey to food coma continued with the breakfast poutine -- topped with bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and served with a side of maple syrup -- which was another surprisingly happy marriage of flavors recalling an oh-so-satisfying breakfast at a greasy spoon diner the morning after knocking back a few drinks too many. This certainly beats the waffle taco hands down.

 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/16/big-cheese-poutinerie-chicago_n_5326058.html

 

Does the word "poutine" mean anything to you? If not, you'd better get with the program stat.

The Canadian comfort food staple -- traditionally made up of french fries topped with gravy and a small mountain of cheese curds -- appears to be on the verge of breaking out in a big way. If Google Trends data are any indication, the poutine trend is "hot right now" and that's music to the ears of Michael Stadnicki, the co-owner of the first U.S. location of Big Cheese Poutinerie, which opened its doors last month in Chicago.

One thing though. You branding is a little weak and your storefront looks dumpy. You need to license some French Voyageur with his smiling bearded face and red cap. Use the red and white color of Canada and you got yourselves a winner.

Stadnicki's shop, located just a few blocks south of Wrigley Field, is thought to be the only American restaurant serving up an entirely poutine-centric menu.

Big Cheese offers no fewer than 30 different takes on the hearty dish -- including everything from a vegan poutine to an apple cinnamon dessert poutine -- that's said to have been invented by a woman in rural Quebec in the 1950s, delighting decades of Canadians ever since. All the poutines share a base of fresh-cut french fries, squeaky-fresh white cheddar Wisconsin cheese curds sourced from Ellsworth Farms and one of three gravies -- beef-peppercorn gravy, a sweet basil gravy and a vegetarian/vegan gravy -- imported from Canada.