This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
They welcome media from here and abroad to help them discover the province’s attractions. What addresses do they recommend to those who wish to taste our legendary poutine? To help you identify the best possible stops during your summer road trips, here are the answers of tourism professionals who know both the classics and the more gourmet versions of this dish that arouses passions.
Mauricie
In the summer of 2022, a video posted on TikTok by content creator Niko Atsaidis had a snowball effect in Yamachiche. According to the influencer, who tested 50 poutines in seven days, the best poutine in Quebec is found at the Les Couleurs de la Terre agrotourism farm. “People were queuing! recalls Karine Gélinas, press relations and marketing delegate for Lanaudière-Mauricie, Le Québec authentic. What sets her apart? Local ingredients, starting with potatoes grown on site. In addition to farm tours, the company welcomes van travelers who are members of the Terego network and added a bed and breakfast last summer.
Sherbrooke
In 1949, horses pulled Louis Luncheonette’s trailer. Over time, the horses were replaced by a motor, then the trailer gave way to a restaurant located on King Street. “When I was little, I often went to Louis Luncheonette with my grandparents,” says Shanny Hallé, press relations coordinator for Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est. She remembers the smell of pushing the door open, the leather banquettes and the excitement of placing her order alone. She is now taking her children Édouard, 20 months old, and Thomas, 4 years old, there. “You find the same good taste and the unique family spirit that reminds me of my childhood. »
Montreal
Public relations and partnerships advisor at Germain Hotels, France Savard has no hesitation when asked where she ate her best poutine in Montreal: “Chez Simon urban canteen, in Tétreaultville! It’s on Hochelaga, at the corner of Lebrun. She recommends the poutine alldressed, with homemade sausage and pieces of bacon. She also suggests the Smash Burger, with capicole, caramelized onions, pickle, cheese and “secret sauce”. “The owner also opened Le Bellerive, nicknamed the “Buvette du Far Est”, she points out.
Laurentians
Impossible for Mélanie Poirier, media coordinator at Tourisme Laurentides, to choose a single address: her heart swings between Lacroix poutine from Cidrerie Lacroix, “with applewood-smoked pulled pork, homemade fries, cheese curds, veal sauce and Lacroix barbecue sauce”, the 117 from the Microbrasserie Shawbridge, “with smoked meat, homemade fries, cheese curds, green onions and IPA 117 and cheese sauce”, the “P’ tite Vite” from the Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!, “with demi-glace sauce and spices, crispy fries and cheese”, and the Buffalo chicken poutine from the Microbrasserie du Lièvre, “with crispy chicken, Buffalo blue cheese sauce and green onions “.
Quebec and surrounding areas
Kathy Leclerc, Americas delegate, business development and press relations for the Alliance de l’industrie tourisme du Québec, admits it: she’s not a big fan of poutine. But when the urge takes her to devour one, she opts for safe bets: the snack bar Chez Micheline, in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, for “its crispy fries, its delicious sauce and its cheese in large quantity”, the snackOld Mill, in Pont-Rouge, or the Resto richard, in L’Ancienne-Lorette, three addresses that have been welcoming the faithful for several decades. “With its potato wedges, the revisited poutine at the Chic Shack, opposite the Château Frontenac, is also interesting,” she adds.
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
Katherine Bouchard, Tourism Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean press relations officer, also has a safe bet: the classic poutine from Cantine Boivin. “It is created with products from here. Both the cheese and the secret sauce come from Fromagerie Boivin, located in La Baie. Its products are recognized by the inhabitants of the region. She promises that the cheese is really “squik squik”!
Abitibi-Temiscamingue
Responsible for digital creation and content for Tourisme Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Claudine Gagné particularly likes Chez Morasse, “a classic from Rouyn-Noranda and even from Abitibi-Témiscamingue”! Newly acquired by a couple from Benin, the snack bar has kept the recipe for its success. “Its variety of poutines is very appreciable as well as its service, until late at night”, specifies Claudine Gagné. The Patate Pierrot family snack bar in the same city is also one of his favorites.
Outaouais
“The BBQ Shop, with the secret sauce, is amazing! says Annie Léveillée, media relations delegate at Tourisme Outaouais, about the poutine of the same name from the Gatineau snack bar. Cooked in peanut oil, russet potatoes with their skins are accompanied by St-Albert cheese curds and enhanced by the mysterious sauce. “They also have a food truck who roams all summer among the events,” she adds. She also has in her list of favorites Poutine from the factory of the microbrewery Les Brasseurs du temps, in the Hull sector of Gatineau, where you can also stop to visit the beer museum. A last address for the road? The Fromagerie Montebello snack bar, “with its superb terrace overlooking the Ottawa River”.
Monteregie
A travel media relations officer at Parks Canada, Eric Magnan knows the snack bars of his native region, the Suroît. He recommends anyone passing through the area to stop at the restaurant Le Bidon, in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, where a dozen poutines are on the menu, in addition to the original “with breaded cheese curds”. La Frite à Brigitte, near the national historic site of Coteau-du-Lac, and the snack bar Chez Tipit, in Rivière-Beaudette, are also to be considered, according to him.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.