I have a few severe weaknesses when it comes to food. Bacon is one of them. Poutine is another.

For those who live in Canada and have never tried this high cholesterol treat that originates from Quebec, you MUST eat it or you cannot really call yourself Canadian. Made up of equal parts French fries, cheese curds and gravy, the poutine is one of the reasons why Canada is so awesome. In Quebec, the cheese curds are so fresh they “squeak” when you chew on them.

I am on the hunt for the Best Poutine in Calgary. There are a few places on my list but I am always happy to hear more suggestions.

I had been meaning to try the Laurier Lounge which is a French-inspired tapas lounge and restaurant best known for its fondue experiences. A meetup with my writing group at the Laurier Lounge proved auspicious, as Ian, one of my foodie dining companions, mentions that LL’s duck confit poutine is calorifically frightening though sinfully delicious. This advice tipped my menu-decision-making-scale towards the duck confit poutine over the steak poutine.

Featuring pulled duck confit, Quebec cheese curds, dried cranberries and gravy ($20), Laurier Lounge’s poutine is Christmas and heart disease rolled together on a plate.

The fries are thick and mushy on the inside. The gravy is not too salty nor thick. Laurier Lounge does not skimp on the perfectly cooked duck (which as a protein glutton, I was thrilled about). I particularly liked the addition of cranberries and thyme to add sweetness and freshness to the perfectly balanced, rich and fattening dish. No squeaky cheese curds, but that is unlikely in Calgary since cheese curds must be consumed in the same day they are made for said squeaky noises to occur.

As the first poutine paramour in my quest for the Best Poutine in Calgary, Laurier Lounge’s duck confit poutine’s dinner-sized portion rates as an illicit affair that’ll cost you calories and a bit of cashola, but is worth the risk. I do recommend you indulge in this gourmet version of poutine at least once, and if you enjoy it, twice a year thereafter, perhaps around Thanksgiving and Christmas in order to get into the festive spirit. Anymore often than that and the inside of your arteries could start to resemble cheese curds…

Merry Christmas!
-Anh Chu

Laurier Lounge, 1111 7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, (403) 228-3771.

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