It's hard to visit Montreal without hearing about La Banquise. The restaurant is hardly ever empty, and lines often stretch down the block as an eclectic mix of locals and tourists wait patiently for what are often touted as some of the best poutines 30 in total on an ever-changing menu in the city.
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.