Canadian historians said the word “poutine” could have come from the French word “pouding” (pudding) or the slang word for “mess” in Quebec. In the book Poutine Nation, author Sylvain Charlebois describes the Quebecois origins of the poutine. The author said a customer named Eddy Lainesse in a dairy town named Warwick in Quebec walked into a restaurant in 1957 and asked Fernand Lachance, the restaurant owner, to put cheese curds and fries together in a brown paper bag to go because he was in a rush. The restaurant owner complied with the customer’s request but told him, frankly, that “That’ll make a damn mess!” (“Ca va faire une maudite poutine!”). While this may have been how the humble poutine first became a menu item in Quebec, the dish is now sold at famous fast-food chains and restaurants all around the world, including in cities such as London, Paris, New York, Shanghai, and Tokyo. There’s just something very comforting about freshly made fries topped with beef gravy and a generous heaping of cheese curds! According to Reader’s Digest magazine, the poutine is still not as famous as the pizza around the world, but many historians believe it will one day become as popular as the pizza. Meanwhile, Canadians in Quebec and beyond continue to show strong love for the poutine. At select restaurants in Montreal, you can even find upscale versions of the original poutine where fancy cheese sauces are added to the fries in addition to expensive slices of steak.
At Coolmate Rentals, we look forward to helping you or your business serve signature Canadian dishes like the poutine to customers at your next event! Our fleet of walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer units can be rented on a temporary or long-term basis, depending on your needs. You can use our units to store temperature sensitive items like dairy, meats, seafood, and ice. Our units range from 6’ to 16’ in size, which means we’ll be able to accommodate you, no matter how big or small your operation is! We can provide you with a trailer for special events such as: wedding receptions, private parties, concerts, sports games, or outdoor festivals. Contact us today to learn more about our fridge rental and freezer rental units, and we’ll help you make your next event a success!