Canadian Delicacies

Yesterday I found myself at the very northern most part of the US route 1 highway, where nothing but an icy river and a set of train tracks separates the US from it's friendly neighbors to the north. This area consists of border towns powered by paper mills, and logging and is unlike any place I have visited. The language is a mix of French and English, the people are shaped by the forestry and mill jobs available to them, and the landscape is remote and wild.

When traveling I always make an effort to speak to the locals and to sample some of the local cuisine. During this trip I had a chance to try an eastern Canadian delicacy; poutine. This is a strange dish I haven't encountered before, it's basically thick cut french fries covered with a dark gravy and cheese curds. Upon receiving my order I felt I made a huge mistake, it had the look of something you pull out of a clogged drain pipe. After the first bite however my mind was changed. As you would guess the french fries and gravy compliment eachother beautifully; akin to mashed potatoes with gravy. Add to that the fresh cheese curds and it's a wonderful dish. It's not something I'd eat everyday, it's far too heavy for that, but it makes a great treat when visiting the frozen north.