Poutine

Poutine is a dish native to Quebec – a plate of cheese curds, brown gravy, and French fries. One story of its origin is that a customer at a cheese factory in Kingsey Falls asked chef Fernand Lachance to combine the curds and spuds, at which Lachance is said to have declared the combo a mess, which in colloquial Quebecoise is “poutine.” Poutine is a popular dish at drive-ins throughout Quebec as well as in diners and cafes in northernmost Aroostook County, Maine, where it sometimes is listed on the menu quite simply as fry mix. South of the International Boundary, it is likely to be made with mozzarella cheese rather than cheese curds. Variations add sausage, bacon, or ground beef or replace the gravy with marinara sauce. For reasons yet to be known, the same dish is known in New Jersey as disco fries.