By James March 6 May 2021 It is the unofficial official dish of Canada. In fact, if they could make it look good on a flag, the maple leaf s days might be numbered, Jamie Oliver quipped in an article about making the perfect poutine. As harmless as Oliver s comment appears, it s the perfect example of how a dish that stirs real feelings of heritage and culture in the Canadian province of Quebec may slowly be losing its regional identity.
Whether it s from a busy late-night diner or a quiet countryside cafe, poutine s combination of French fries topped with fresh salty cheese curds and a rich meaty gravy remains a simple, timeless comfort food. Though its unassuming origins lie in the rural dairy strongholds of the Centre-du-Québec region, the popularity of the dish spread to Montreal s cafes and bistros in the 1970s, hit the menus of fast-food giants like Burger King and McDonalds a decade later, and was a nationwide favourite by the early 1990s.