It is a simple question, but one that demands food lovers to take a side. How do you enjoy your poutine? On Top Chef Destination Canada, the Quickfire Challenge took a different approach to that beloved dish and the results were surprising.
From the moment the cheftestants arrived in the Top Chef Canada kitchen, they knew that certain dishes and ingredients would be part of the season. In the second episode of Season 22, two food items were the focus, maple syrup and poutine. Putting aside the visit to the sugar shack, it is poutine that can have people divided on Canadian specialty.
While Gail Simmons quipped that she likes her poutine at 3 a.m., the dish is not that late night or hangover food. There is simplicity in the handful of ingredients. But, simplicity is hard to master, which has led some chefs to take poutine to the bougie side.
In the Top Chef Destination Canada Quickfire Challenge, the chefs needed to make a dish inspired by poutine. The only parameters were that the dish had to include a starch vegetable, cheese, and a sauce. The cheftestants could take the dish in any direction, and they did.
The winning Quickfire dish, Massimo’s complete transformation of poutine into an elegant potato dish that captured the flavor of the classic recipe, deserved the win. It was creative yet gave the judges that familiar taste.
While many of the dishes swapped starch, cheese, and sauce, it brings up a debate that divides poutine lovers, should this dish stay rooted in its traditional recipe or have people made it too bougie.
For example, at bustling food hall Le Central in Montreal, the poutine is far from the simple dish. One dish is topped with copious amounts of lobster. The dish is delicious, but it is bougie.
When asked by some local food experts gathered around the table, the group was divided. One thought that elevated ingredients took away the essence of the traditional dish. Others appreciated the chefs’ creativity.
For some locals the opinions were quite clear and they would not budge. Even though the appreciated the intention, they would not order anything but the traditional crispy fries, cheese curds and luscious gravy.
Far from the Canadian borders, Universal Orlando Mardi Gras International Flavors of Carnaval serves a poutine in its Canada booth. The Margherita Poutine, with mozzarella and roasted tomatoes, is an example of the transformation of that traditional recipe. People are happy to order it.
Even with all the riffs on the dishes, the traditional dish will never go away. The Top Chef challenge might have opened another chapter in the story, but the book is not closed.
Top Chef Destination Canada airs new episodes Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Peacock.