Anybody that has been to Canada would be familiar with Poutine, a popular fast food dish consisting of French fries and cheese curds topped with a light brown gravy like sauce. It’s not the first time I’ve had this dish in Adelaide, but the owner, originally from Canada, assures me this is the real deal. The secret is in the cheese curds which is supposed to have a crunchiness to it.

There are 9 different Poutine topping combinations to choose from which are available in 3 different sizes. Customers can choose from the classic fries, gravy and cheese curd, to more gourmet toppings which include pulled pork, double smoked bacon, bolognese sauce and sauteed mushrooms. If you’re not in the mood for greasy hot chips, they also have a selection of 4 superdogs to choose from.

For lunch, I had the Double Pork Poutine which consists of fries, cheese curds, gravy, pulled pork and smoked bacon. The chips were crunchy as were the cheese curds. I would have expected the subtle sweetness of the pulled pork to balance the saltiness of the bacon, however, I just found the dish very salty. Having never been to Canada or having experienced this particular dish before, it’s hard to comment on how it should be.

I ordered a small serving of the Double Pork Poutine which set me back $6.90. It’s a fair price for something that fills you up. The small serves start at $4.50 and go all the way up to $14.90 for a large gourmet selection. The whole concept is quite simple really and their point of difference is that they prepare the cheese curds correctly. Based on the line ups at this food court store, this particular comfort food is going to prove quite popular among locals.

WHERE: City Cross Shopping Centre, Shop FC16, Grenfell St, Adelaide