Poutine protest: Canadian diner renames dish because it sounds like ‘Putin’ (2024)

It’s freedom fries, part deux.

A Canadian diner temporarily renamed poutine in order to show support for Ukraine after Russia invaded it. Poutine is a popular Canadian specialty of French fries and cheese curds, topped with brown gravy. When said out loud, it sounds similar to Putin — the Russian president’s last name.

Le Roy Jucep, which has touted that it invented poutine, wrote in a Feb. 24 Facebook post that it was changing the name to “la frite fromage sauce” — the fry cheese gravy. The post also revealed “a revised logo sporting Ukrainian blue and yellow,” Eater Montreal reported.

The backlash was swift for the restaurant and it removed the post after it was reported that they received death threats.

Since the invasion, liquor stores in both the United States and Canada have removed Russian vodka from their shelves. In New York City, people have flocked to the East Village’s Ukrainian diner, Veselka, to show support, while Midtown’s Russian Tea Room has seen less customers.

After the well-known diner received media attention, it posted: “Very touching to learn that our tiny message of support has been sent fromDrummondvilleall the way to Ukraine! If we could make someone smile there, that’s already a win! We are with you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Poutine protest: Canadian diner renames dish because it sounds like ‘Putin’ (2024)

FAQs

What does the slang word poutine mean? ›

Also unclear is the origin of the word by which the dish is known. Some assert that poutine is related to the English word pudding, but a more popular etymology is that it's from a Quebecois slang word meaning "mess." The dish has in recent years been making inroads on American menus.

Is poutine a Russian dish? ›

Poutine (Quebec French: [put͡sɪn]) is a dish of french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy. It emerged in Quebec in the late 1950s in the Centre-du-Québec region, though its exact origins are uncertain, and there are several competing claims regarding its invention.

How did poutine get its name? ›

The name "poutine" as we know it today appeared only when large restaurant chains started selling that product. This name is probably due to the fact that other dishes made of potatoes are also called poutiness, and it could also be derived the English word "pudding."

What is poutine called in America? ›

History of Poutine

The dish started becoming popular in the U.S. during the late 1970s, although it was called "disco fries" in America. The dish was popular in New Jersey and New York, and it was usually consumed after a long night of partying and dancing, hence the "disco" in the name.

Can you get poutine in America? ›

The original Québec poutine now has cousins in the rest of Canada! In the United States, some restaurants of New York and New Jersey propose their own mix of fries, gravy and cheese, called « Disco Fries ». In Latin America, we can enjoy a poutine on the isolated beach of Zipolite island in Mexico.

What does poutine mean in french? ›

“Poutine” is not a metropolitan French word . In Quebec, “poutine” is a dish made of French fries and grated cheese. The word comes from the English “pudding” or “ put in” according to different sources. As a proper noun , it's the French spelling of the English written form of “Putin”, the Russian president.

What is the gravy in poutine made of? ›

Step 1: Make the Poutine Gravy

The roux will start off clumpy then become a smooth paste. Don't shortcut this process – you don't want to be able to smell any raw flour after it's cooked. Add the rest of the Gravy ingredients: beef broth, chicken broth, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings.

Does poutine have any meat? ›

There are versions of poutine that have meat, but the standard, “classic” poutine is only fries, gravy, and cheese curds.

Is poutine healthy? ›

A large poutine, incredibly high in total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and refined carbs, can raise the triglyceride levels in your blood for 6-12 hours after consumption. Triglyceride levels will rise even higher if you have alcohol in your system, which most people eating a late-night poutine probably do.

What does poutine taste like? ›

So what does this combination of fries, gravy and cheese taste like? No surprise here, but it's delicious! The french fries provide crispness and saltiness—two must-haves for any savory snack. The cheese is mellow and creamy.

What is the national food of Canada? ›

What is Poutine? Poutine is Canada's national dish, which usually consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy.

Are cheese curds illegal in US? ›

At this point, the milk is legally pasteurized. (Raw or unpasteurized milk is banned in the United States, but luckily, cheese curds are 100 percent legal!)

Why do cheese curds not melt? ›

Believe it or not, cheese curds do not melt unless they are brought to a very high temperature. This is due to their low acidity. They have a very high melting point and in many traditional dishes like Poutine that is specifically why they are used.

Do they eat poutine in England? ›

They traded around Birmingham and the rest of the UK including Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Cambridge and London at various street food events and festivals where their poutine gained incredible popularity everywhere they went.

What is a poutine in Canada? ›

poutine, a Canadian dish made of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. It first appeared in 1950s rural Québec snack bars and was widely popularized across Canada and beyond in the 1990s. Poutine may be found everywhere from fine dining menus at top restaurants to fast-food chains.

What's the deal with poutine? ›

Born in Quebec, this artery-clogging comfort food—crispy fries topped with cheddar cheese curds and doused with beef gravy—is finding fans far from home. But what is poutine, and where is it from? The word poutine likely comes from a Quebecois slang word for a “mess”—an admittedly apt description.

How do you use poutine in a sentence? ›

I have some poutine gravy mix, and now I need cheese curds to make real poutine. Poutine is a popular fast food, especially in Quebec. They always put the poutine in the oven, so the cheese is properly melted. The poutine was good, but not amazing.

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