Toronto Poutine Face-off: Part 1

In any relationship there are moments during which wonders to what lengths one is willing to go in the name of love. Such a moment arose in early December when CA Scotch Gent was asked at the last minute to speak at a conference in Toronto and invited CA Scotch Chick to accompany him for a long weekend.

CA Scotch Chick must admit that her first responses to the offer to leave sunny San Diego for the frigid north ranged from "No" to "H*!! no." Who in their right mind would hold a conference in Toronto in December; and, who in their right mind would agree to go to a conference in Toronto in December?

CA Scotch Gent put on his best nonchalant expression. "Bet there'll be hockey on television." The CA Scotch Couple don't have a television, and they both love hockey. However, there was a reason there would be hockey on television — it was winter in Toronto. No sell.

CA Scotch Gent thought for a moment. "You know," he said, "Toronto is supposed to have poutines." Loyal Scotch Chix Fans will remember our CA Scotch Couple's trip to Québec City, and their love affair with Chez Ashton (Chez Ashton).

That clinched it. They were off to Toronto for the weekend in the dead of winter. On their way through Duty Free, CA Scotch Chick picked up a bottle of The Glenlivet 16 year Nadurra to keep warm on the cold Canadian nights.

Scoping out the poutine scene ahead of time revealed that the best poutines were supposedly to be gleaned from trucks, in particular, a blue truck parked in front of City Hall bearing the sign Mr. Tasty Fries (not to be confused with the other blue truck in front of City Hall). There was also an upscale poutine entry from an eatery called Jamie Kennedy wine bar — kind of a nouveaux poutine. Finally, there were a couple of fast food establishments with promise: New York Fries and Harvey's.

The weekend started off with a bang when, on arrival, the CA Scotch Couple discovered a poutine truck parked right in front of their hotel! It was white and bore the sign "Chunky Fries," but it would do. While CA Scotch Gent checked in, CA Scotch Chick shivered in the cold to score their first round of poutines (man, it was cold). Upstairs, they uncorked the Glenlivet Nadurra and dug in.

Chunky Fries

The fries weren't great, but they weren't bad. The gravy was actually pretty good, and they used real cheese curds, but, alas, the fries were underdone. The Glenlivet Nadurra was terrible. The palate was overwhelmed by a vanilla candle taste, so much so that it gave the illusion that the body was waxy. Water did not help level out the taste. This was a reminder to the CA Scotch Couple as to why they don't usually try a new whisky with a bottle purchase.

Chunky Fries and The Glenlivet Nadurra

The next day, the conference organizer, who had been told of the CA Scotch Couple's penchant for poutines, took the CA Scotch Couple to Jamie Kennedy wine bar for lunch. Jamie Kennedy is a fairly small, hip and happenin' establishment that serves its food tapas style (i.e. in little bitty, expensive portions). The CA Scotch Couple knew what they were there for. They ordered the soup of the day (because it was so darn cold) and the poutines.

Jamie Kennedy

9 Church St. Toronto, ON M5E 1M2

The soup of the day was a creamy squash soup. It arrived first, and it was outstanding. It was piping hot, creamy, and had a nice depth of flavor. The poutines came just as the CA Scotch Couple were finishing their soup. They also were excellent, but they weren't poutines. They were very wonderfully crisp fries with shredded beef, some kind of white dressing, and a little bit of feta cheese.

Jamie Kennedy Tiny Portion of "Poutines"

A poutine is not a poutine without gravy and cheese curds, and there is something just wrong about substituting feta. Consequently, while the dish was good, the CA Scotch Couple do not consider it to be poutines.

The weekend was half-way over, and the CA Scotch Couple had yet to find a decent poutine. They decided to brave the weather and strike out in search of the elusive Blue Truck the next day. Stay tuned Loyal Scotch Chix Fans for another installment of the Toronto Poutine Face-off later this week.