How do you turn poutine into $1266 to fight cancer?

You find a great cause. In this case, Isabelle Rivard's (@spoonsie) Give to Live challenge (isaonabike.com) to cycle from Vancouver, BC to Austin, TX (a 4300 km trek) and raise $10,000 for cancer causes.

Izzy Rivard
Proceeds from this event went to The Lance Armstrong Foundation, Craig's Cause for Pancreatic Cancer, and The Canadian Cancer Society.

You find seven generous restaurants who make specialized takes on the dish that normally tops crispy fries with squeaky cheddar cheese curds and a veloute-style gravy.

You contact culinary tour guide Paola St. George (@cestboncooking) who is also the marketing manager behind C'est Bon Cooking.

Chef Andrée Riffou and Paola St. George of C'est Bon Cooking

You sign up 35 poutine enthusiasts to join you in a tour of Ottawa's ByWard Market, including Mark Warburton (founder of Ottawa Foodies), Kaitlin (Ottawa food blogger behind Heartful Mouthful), and Jodi (Ottawa food blogger behind Simply Fresh).

Mark Warburton and Paola St. George

You split the group in two and take everyone on a 2 km walking tour of downtown Ottawa.

The result,

@foodiePrints (Jul 17, 09:40 PM)
@EqualOppKitchen ...7 very generous restaurants. 37 happy p0utine enthusiasts. 2 km of walking tour. $1266 raised to fight cancer!

Poutine crawls are not unheard of. Earlier this year, Toronto food bloggers organized one. Theirs was not a fundraiser, just poutine enthusiasts, trying the various takes on poutine their city has to offer. The dish that has been long derided, often referred as "fat lumber jack food", has slowly colonized the city.

With the help of friends, the bloggers behind the Endless Simmer blog organized a "Tour de Poutine" in New York City. In total, they visited 7 eateries and sampled 7 takes on poutine. As Rebecca Marx of the Village Voice blog wrote about the poutine crawl, it revealed Brooklyn to be an unlikely poutine paradise. The most interesting to me was the one that came from a lunch counter in the Essex Street Market, Shopsin's. Dubbed the "Last Supper Poutine", it was topped not with cheese curds, but three poached eggs.

Well, Ottawa neighbours Quebec, the province that gave poutine birth. This is a city that knows good poutine. Here's what our ByWard Market produces.

The Courtyard Restaurant (21 George Street)

Chef Michael Hay's take on Poutine

Hand Cut Shoe String Fries, topped with Duck Confit, St-Albert Curds, and smashed Foie Gras Torchon
Jenn and I unfortunately did not get the opportunity to try Chef Hay's poutine. Sous Chef Arleigh Martin assembled the poutine to order. According to one of Chef Hay's earlier tweets, the sauce involved "French fry consomme." The torchon looked like it was frozen with liquid nitrogen and "smashed."

Zak's (16 ByWard Market Square)

Breakfast Poutine
Home fries, cheese curds, hollandaise, and paprika.

More after the jump...

A total of 4 opportunities to enter the draw for the pair of tickets to the Give to Live Poutine Crawl (July 17, 2010) have been spoken for. One remains.

Again, here is how the raffle works:

• Everyday, we will post a picture of poutine from an Ottawa restaurant, not necessarily one that will be included in the poutine crawl.
• We will leave hints. We may even be careless enough to leave links to websites or Facebook pages.
• The first person to comment on the post, correctly identifying the eatery where the poutine comes from, will be entered into a draw for the pair of tickets.
• Each day, a different first correct commenter will be chosen.
• If someone submits multiple guesses, the first one submitted will be considered.
• The winner of the tickets will be chosen using random.org Friday afternoon.

Here is the 5th and last opportunity.

Mystery Poutine

This poutine comes in one size: generous! It is a specialty poutine you will find no where else, a Caribbean jerk chicken poutine ($7.99). It is wonderfully savoury. The fries are crisp. There is boned dark meat chicken. The gravy is distinctly jerk.

According to wikipedia.net, jerk is a style of cooking in which meats, traditional pork or chicken, are dry rubbed or wet marinated in a spice mixture. Jerk originated in Jamaica, but can be found in other parts of the world like the Caribbean where it intermingled with indigenous cuisine, creating some regional specialization. The principal ingredients of jerk seasoning include scotch bonnet peppers, allspice and thyme. Other ingredients can include cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper.

The Caribbean eatery that makes and serves jerk chicken poutine was originally located at 1018 Merivale Road. It relocated further down Dalhousie (401) in a smaller location. More recently, it moved to its current digs at 409 Dalhousie Street. It so happens Ottawa's location of Smoke's Poutinerie opened next door.

Hailing from Grenada, the eatery's Chef, Lennox Antoine, is well known in the city for serving authentic Caribbean fare, including great roti.

Menu
In fact, the A-Channel had him prepare and talk about his chicken, jerk chicken and goat roti on the A Morning show.


Inside the restaurant casual dining room, there are but a handful of tables.

Dining Room
On the weekends, the restaurant is known to overflow with patrons.

Beside its cash and till, you will find freshly made fruit juices and Jamaican patties.

Tropical Fruit Juices

Jamaican patties
Above the Jamaican patties, a great manifesto about what it means to be West Indian.

Name the Caribbean eatery and be entered in the draw for a pair of Poutine Crawl Tickets.

Good luck!

Particulars:
Island Flava
409 Dalhousie Street
(613) 321-4198
Open Weekdays 11:30am-9pm; Sat 11:30am-4am; Sun 12pm-6pm

A total of 3 opportunities to enter the draw for the pair of tickets (value $50) to the Give to Live Poutine Crawl (July 17, 2010) have been spoken for. Two remain.

Again, here is how the raffle works:

• Everyday, we will post a picture of poutine from an Ottawa restaurant, not necessarily one that will be included in the poutine crawl.
• We will leave hints. We may even be careless enough to leave links to websites or Facebook pages.
• The first person to comment on the post, correctly identifying the eatery where the poutine comes from, will be entered into a draw for the pair of tickets.
• Each day, a different first correct commenter will be chosen.
• If someone submits multiple guesses, the first one submitted will be considered.
• The winner of the tickets will be chosen using random.org Friday afternoon.

Here is the 4th opportunity. This time, there are two mystery poutines pictured:

Mystery Poutine 1
This poutine is a small and goes by the name "Hogtown" ($6.99) It came with deep fried bacon, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, cheese curds and a less flavourful sauce (much less savoury) than what authentic Quebec poutine-goers would be used to.


Mystery Poutine 2
This bacon poutine is also a small ($6.49). It came with deep fried bacon, cheese curds, and the same less flavourful sauce.

Both were made with freshly cut and single fried fries. In fact, on your way to this establishment's washroom, you may walk by palettes of Yukon Gold potatoes that will eventually end up as poutine. Katilin (@kaitli) (fellow Ottawa food blogger) and I thought the fries were fried in oil set too low. They came almost soggy and slightly grease laiden. The fries were also cut somewhere in between thick cut and shoe string, 7/16" according to the chain's website. Still, they tasted of fresh potato and the poutine was served "smoking" hot.

This happens to be the establishment that re-ignited Ottawa's love for poutine. It belongs to a Toronto-originating chain that serves 20 varieties of poutine with several sauce options. Varieties include "traditional", pork, chicken, beef, and vegetarian. Sauce options include vegetable-based gravy, curry sauce, and a meat sauce. The chain has received a good deal of press, opening 5 locations in Toronto and locations in Kingston, London, and Tremblant (Quebec). The chain even held a "World Poutine Eating Championship", one participant establishing a new world record (13 lbs of fries, cheese curds, and gravy eaten in 10 minutes).

The chain was founded by one Ryan Smolkin.

Interestingly, the chain was missed during a Toronto Poutine Crawl that was organized by a number of food bloggers earlier this year. The Ottawa establishment will be missed in the GiveToLive Poutine Crawl as well.

During the establishment's opening week (week of July 28, 2010), it gave away Pop Shoppe bottled soda with its first boxes of poutine. Line-ups went out the door from its stainless steel counter.

Stainless Steel Counter

Inside the establishment, you will find an 80s theme, including a wall with icons from the era. Most recognizable is KITT from Knight Rider. The chain's logo features a big haired person with 80's style oversize aviator glasses.

On your way out of the establishment, you are invited to make your addition to its community chalk board.

Chalk Board

Name the establishment and be entered in the draw for a pair of Poutine Crawl Tickets.

Good luck!

Particulars:
Smoke's Poutinerie
407 Dalhousie Street
(613)789-2872 (CURD)

More after the jump...

Well, 2 opportunities for the draw for a pair of tickets (value $50) to the Give to Live Poutine Crawl (July 17, 2010) have been taken. Three remain. Interestingly, correct comments were submitted within minutes of the blog post going up. Perhaps, we're making this too easy? Nah!

That said, we promised five opportunities and there are but 3 days left, so I'm squeezing another one in today.

Again, here is how the raffle works:

• Everyday, we will post a picture of poutine from an Ottawa restaurant, not necessarily one that will be included in the poutine crawl.
• We will leave hints. We may even be careless enough to leave links to websites or Facebook pages.
• The first person to comment on the post, correctly identifying the eatery where the poutine comes from, will be entered into a draw for the pair of tickets.
• Each day, a different first correct commenter will be chosen.
• If someone submits multiple guesses, the first one submitted will be considered.
• The winner of the tickets will be chosen using random.org Friday afternoon.

Here is the 3rd opportunity:

Mystery Poutine

This poutine ($8.99) is listed on the restaurant's menu as "La Poutine." It features thinly sliced wedge fries (fried crisp), a chicken gravy (complete with chicken bits), and cheese curds.

The menu also sports a rather "foolish" looking chicken, painted by noted Ottawa artist Alison Fowler.

The restaurant is community-minded, participating in this year's Taste for Life and Bon Appetit charity fundraisers. It also served corn chowder and mini-corn bread muffins during this year's Taste of Wellington West event.

Mini-Corn bread Muffin
The muffins come with each entree, in lieu of dinner rolls.

The restaurant's upstairs is an event space with a full bar and lots of tables. It hosted the Hintonburg Supper Club in May and the last Case Study Jam event (#5) until fall 2010.

A certain food blogger spoke at that Case Study Jam while partaking of a quarter rotisserie chicken dinner (breast portion $11.99).

Quarter Rotisserie Chicken Dinner
My better half and I found the meal somewhat uneven that evening. After chatting with the owner, we discovered the kitchen had a mishap involving its main line cook, a knife, and his foot. He was discreetly taken to the hospital. Unevenness: forgiven!

Though, we did discover the restaurant's coleslaw tastes better with a splash of vinegar, as suggested by fellow speaker Emily Chen (@mchenwears). At least, it tasted better to those of us who dislike mayonnaise-based coleslaw.

Recently, the back of house at the restaurant must have turned over, producing a new menu. New, are the made from scratch, breaded, zucchini fingers ($7.99).

Zucchini Fingers
Unfortunately, our zucchini was somewhat under cooked and crunchy.

The rotisserie chicken, on the other hand, had improved markedly. Tender and flavourful, we did not find a bite harsh or dry, whether dark meat ($10.99) or white meat ($11.99) portions.

White Meat Quarter Chicken with Ribs Dinner

Dark Meat Quarter Chicken Dinner
The potato salad is also a pleaser, something Jenn always orders when we have dinner at this restaurant.

In fact, we have eaten the rotisserie chicken from this establishment twice during the first half of July. Both times, we were impressed.

Last week, we bought the family pack: 2 1/2 chickens, 1 lb sweet potato fries, house salad, coleslaw, cornbread, and dipping sauce ($29.99). While we always discard the sauces (their being too acidic) the family dinner turned out to be enough food for two meals for a pair of food bloggers.

Chicken aside, guess the restaurant and be entered in the draw for a pair of Poutine crawl Tickets.

Good luck!

Update: Apparently, tickets for the Poutine Crawl have been sold out. You can however still go to Event Brite and put yourself on the waiting list.

Particulars:
Foolish Chicken
79 Holland Avenue
(613) 321-4715

More after the jump...

While Paola St. Georges (@cestboncooking) already tweeted the identity of this poutine purveyor, the raffle for a pair of tickets (value $50) to the Poutine Crawl (Saturday, July 17, 2010) must go on.

To re-iterate, here is how the raffle works:

• Everyday, we will post a picture of poutine from an Ottawa restaurant, not necessarily one that will be included in the poutine crawl.
• We will leave hints. We may even be careless enough to leave links to websites or Facebook pages.
• The first person to comment on the post, correctly identifying the eatery where the poutine comes from, will be entered into a draw for the pair of tickets.
• Each day, a different first correct commenter will be chosen.
• If someone submits multiple guesses, the first one submitted will be considered.
• The winner of the tickets will be chosen using random.org Friday afternoon.

There are now four chances to be included in the draw. Here is the 2nd opportunity:

Mystery Poutine

This poutine ($7.99) comes from an Irish Pub that has been open 13 years in downtown Ottawa, ostensibly under the same general manager, Jeff. It features a Guinesss imbued sauce, squeaky fresh cheese curds, and crispy fried thick cut potato fries.

The Irish Pub is named after a father of confederation, whose statue can be found on Parliament Hill. He has the dubious distinction of being the only Canadian victim of political assassination at the federal level.

Inside the pub, you will find booths segregated in separate rooms.

Booths
There are two floors and the pub is licensed for 250 people.

The pub's main bar is a gorgeous piece of darkly stained wood working with friendly bartenders behind it and a multitude of glassware.

Bar

Glassware
Unlike, competing Irish Pub Patty Boland's in the ByWard Market, this pub has local beers on tap, both Beau's and Kichissippi. In fact, after a long shift, you may find Jeff pull up at the bar or at a table to enjoy a pint of Kichissippi blonde himself.

Also on tap, is Kilkenny, Creemore Spring, Alexander Keith's, Guiness, Smithwick's, and Spaten. Spaten happens to be exclusive to the Prime Pubs chain to which the establishment belongs.

The "Tastefully Irish" menu, includes a 2-piece battered haddock fish and chips ($13.99) that has won the hearts of Ottawa locals.

Fish and chips with Veg Slaw, and Dungloe Sauce

The pub holds weekly events that include

• Wednesday Night East Coast Kicthen Party - $4.99 Keith's
• Thursday Unplugged & On Tap - No Cover Live Music with Premium Domestic Draught beer in Pint and Double Pint (40 oz) Sizes
• Friday Two Pint - Two pints of Guinness, Smithwick's, Kilkenny, or Harp for $9.99 + Tax

More after the jump...