Culinary Culture

View Original

Does Poutine Belong on Your Menu?

Poutine is a Vehicle for Flavor and Revenue

Poutine RecipesHave you considered adding poutine options to your menu? Perhaps you should.Poutine is a Canadian staple consisting of French fries, gravy, and cheese curds. But it can be so much more! You can slather your fries in an array of sauces, condiments, and garnishes. Not only is poutine a clear fan favorite, it's a great way to cross-utilize and up-sell.The word "poutine" itself has many different meanings and derivatives, but it's a commonly accepted Québécois slang word meaning "mess." And when it comes to fries, a hot mess is really a good thing. And, if you worry that your customers just won't get poutine, you can always opt for calling them "dirty fries."So, let's look beyond chili cheese and see how else you can drive sales with smothered French fries.

Unique Poutine Ideas

Pizza Poutine

Pizza PoutineLet's start off the list with an absolute crowd pleaser.Everyone loves fries and everyone loves pizza, so why not combine them? Smother your crispy French fries with a smoky fire roasted tomato sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and savory pepperoni. Finish it with some briny slices of pepperoncini peppers, fresh grated Parmesan, and an Italian herb mix. This is a can't miss up-sell.

Buffalo Chicken Poutine

Buffalo csauceIt's football season and what's better with the game than savory buffalo chicken wings? How about buffalo chicken dirty fries?Top your papas with a dash of celery salt and a heap of shredded chicken blended with Ragin' Red Buffalo sauce. Garnish with a drizzle of Ranch dressing, feta cheese, and loads of sliced green onions. There's no way your mouth isn't watering right now.

Smoky Mexican Poutine

Mexican PoutineNow let's really turn up the heat.Top your fries with savory ground beef, melted cheddar cheese, or better yet, creamy queso then hit it with a generous drizzle of smoky chipotle sauce. Add some sour cream to cool things off and finish with chopped green onion ripe tomato, and cilantro. How could that not sell?!

Korean Poutine

Korean Dirty FriesDon't sleep on the Korean flavor craze. It's holding on strong, and with that in mind, it's not a bad idea to Asian-up your poutine either.Here let's opt for pulled pork on top of the fries with a liberal splash of sweet and savory gochujang BBQ sauce. Skip the dairy on this build and instead hit it with some spicy kimchi, fresh green onions, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Guaranteed to knock your socks off!

Endless Possibilities

We've just given you a few ideas of how poutine can liven up your menu. These French fry dishes work as a great way to up-sell a staple menu item and cross utilize existing ingredients. Use your imagination (as well as your pantry) and see what craveable concoctions you can create.Cheers!