Montreal·Video

Poutine-mania: Montreal celebrates the delectable dish

Montrealers celebrate their first-ever poutine week and embrace the ever-expanding elements that can top one of the city's home-town favourites.

Poutine finds new life in non-traditional toppings

Montreal's poutine week

12 years ago
Duration 2:19
Montrealers devote an entire week to poutine and chefs tinker with the traditional recipe

For the first time, Montrealers are devoting an entire week to a comfort food that's become a city staple.

But poutine has moved beyond far beyond its humble roots of gravy, cheese curds and fries.

Delectable topping choices now traverse the divide between fast food and fine dining. Montreal restaurants now offer non-traditional poutine garnishes ranging from marinated eggplant to filet mignon to guacamole. 

But, for the poutine purveyors, those offerings don't come without controversy.

"It gets pretty vicious," said Devin DeSousa, co-owner of the Fabergé Restaurant where the signature dish is a breakfast poutine complete with Hollandaise sauce.

"When someone like a classic-style poutine and you bring something new to the table, there are problems there."

CBC's Catherine Cullen reports on the creative new face of the classic dish.