It’s a taste bud expedition in the middle of our town’s coolest event, Jasper in January. Our mission is deliciously clear: out of 14 delectable local contenders, uncover Jasper’s top poutine.
It’s the type of assignment that would be impossible without the help of friends to navigate Jasper’s restaurant scene and savour each unique spin on this Canadian classic. We tried all 14! But which one was your favourite? Add your comments on our social media channels.
A hodgepodge of history
The dish we call poutine actually originated in Quebec back in the 1950s. And, while many might take credit for this messy gravy-and-cheese curd creation, the most widely accepted story attributes the dish to restaurateur Fernand Lachance in the small town of Warwick, north-east of Montréal. According to the legend, a customer requested a combination of fries and cheese curds, and the restaurateur responded by combining both and adding gravy to prevent the dish from cooling too quickly. Voilà!
Since that time, poutine (Québécois slang for “a mess” or “a hodgepodge”, which aptly describes the dish’s appearance) gained popularity in Québec and spread throughout Canada. Inventive chefs and home cooks across the planet have added their own ‘je ne sais quoi’ with variations as broad as your imagination.
And that’s where our group’s adventure begins: tasting the variations available to us during the 2024 Jasper in January Festival. From the more traditional but extravagant BBQ Brisket Poutine at Marmot Basin’s Caribou Lounge, to the vegan Lemongrass Chicken Poutine at the Whistle Stop Pub, and the Savoury East Coast Crab and Lobster Poutine at Fiddle River… we assembled a group of locals to taste-test as many as we could.
We know “our” favorite, but which is yours? Click here to vote now. The winner will be announced at the Jasper in January Street Party this coming Saturday, January 27.
Mad Grizzly: Adobo Poutine Beef Brisket with Coconut Milk.
“Refreshing” isn’t usually the first word that comes to mind when you think of poutine, but that was exactly what we thought of Mad Grizzly’s dish.
The combination of in-house fries, braised beef, coconut milk, and gravy creates a delightful Southeast Asian twist on this classic Canadian dish. The addition of caramelized onions, soy sauce, and cheese curds elevates the dish to new heights.
The dish strikes a perfect balance between indulgent and surprisingly light—making it feel naughty…but healthy at the same time. The creamy, cheesy texture of the coconut milk and gravy adds a luxurious mouthfeel to every bite. The tenderness of the beef brisket and the flavourful sauce create an irresistible harmony of tastes.
$24 ($18 on their JinJ Happy Hour menu) may seem on the higher side for your grand-père’s poutine, but this ain’t that. The distinctive blend of Southeast Asian spices and coconut flavour justifies the extra bucks. The generous portion size and quality of ingredients make it a definite must-try for those looking to explore Jasper’s unique and delicious culinary creations.
Mad Grizzly, located at 616 Patricia Street, offers a family-friendly vibe, adding to the overall enjoyable dining experience. During our visit, the cool, funky, reggae soundtrack enhanced the atmosphere, creating a laid-back and welcoming ambiance. The combination of the unique poutine and the restaurant’s inviting environment makes Mad Grizzly a destination worth checking out for food enthusiasts seeking a fusion of flavors in a relaxed setting.
The Raven Bistro: Wild Game Poutine.
Next we had the pleasure of trying the Wild Game Poutine at The Raven Bistro, and it was certainly an explosion of rich, pleasant flavours! Also priced at $24, theirs is a hearty dish featuring genuinely crispy house-cut Kennebec fries, bocconcini cheese, and pulled elk brisket, all smothered in a luscious wild game gravy. The grilled red onions and peppers on top add a perfect finishing touch.
Happily, The Raven’s Head Chef, Lydia, came out to chat with us, saying she was committed to “upping the game” from last year. It’s clear that her passion runs deep here. In the weeks leading up to the Poutine Showdown, The Raven Bistro crew had a taste-off with the staff to determine the best version. The Wild Game Poutine emerged as the star. It’s obvious why.
Nestled at 504 Patricia Street, The Raven Bistro has a warm, family-friendly vibe open daily from 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. The team’s dedication to excellence shines through in this dish, described by our group as rich, homestyle-comfort food with a sweet and peppery kick. The crispiness of the chips and the unique wild game gravy, crafted from bison, elk, and beef stock, make this poutine a must-try for anyone craving a culinary adventure.
Jasper Pizza Place: Poutine Rogan Josh
“JPP brought the heat”, laughed one of our group of Jasper locals about this dish.
Theirs is certainly a warming and deeply flavourful version of the Canadian poutine—perfect for this year’s Jasper in January winter festival when it got down to -30 degrees Celsius. It combines a fan-favourite Indian dish, Rogan Josh, with crispy shoestring fries, mozzarella stretchy cheese, squeaky curds and a garnish of cilantro.
Jasper Pizza Place Head Chef Tim said he wanted to do something different by adding a spicy lamb curry with warm flavours to contrast the sub-zero temperatures of January.
“Earlier in the year we’d made lamb curry – it was a crowd favourite – and we thought it would make a good poutine,” he told our group.
The Poutine Rogan Josh has a gentle spicy kick—not too hot, but certainly enough to notice. Match that with the perfect salt and pepper seasoning on the bed of fries and it really is a fantastic clash of two iconic dishes from India and Canada.
Jasper Brewing Co: English Breakfast Poutine
Another incredibly surprising, and internationally inspired, culinary masterpiece—this time from the land of our monarch. Jasper Brew Pub’s English Breakfast Poutine delivers exactly what it says, yet manages to exceed expectations in every possible way. The presentation, the comforting flavors of an early morning breakfast, and the top-quality of each ingredient are a foodie’s delight.
Where a typical English Breakfast uses hash-browns, chef John at Jasper Brewing Co has replaced it with hearty, gently-seasoned potato wedges. The cheese sauce is combined with a Jasper The Bear honey beer, the baked beans add a delightfully subtle touch, while the fried egg and crispy bacon bits crown the top of the dish in a visually stunning style.
For $21, this makes for a great brunch at 11:30 a.m. when the doors open at the Jasper Brewing Co., or an amazingly filling and satisfying meal at any time of the day.
Whistle Stop Pub: Lemongrass “Beyond Chicken” Poutine
Vegetarians rejoice: this one’s for you. And it’s gooooooood. Chef Suhas has whipped up a masterpiece with his Lemongrass Beyond Chicken Poutine, complete with chunky pieces of vegan chicken, curds, stretchy mozzarella, homemade sweet & spicy chili sauce—and ranch!— served on crispy fries. It’s topped with a crunchy ninja radish and spring onion garnish which Chef Suhas explains is for a palate-cleanser, between bites.
“We thought: let’s go completely out of the box,” he said. “Usually poutine is all about the meaty gravy, but this dish is about making the gravy in a different way.”
Using the vegan “Beyond Chicken” is the chef’s way of bringing the meat-less trend to the forefront of Jasper palates and plates. It works. It’s also the only completely vegetarian option, and our whole group rated this dish very highly.
“It’s a new trend in the market moving towards vegan”
Try it today for $18.95 at the Whistle Stop Pub, open daily from 11:30 a.m. until late at 105 Miette Avenue.
Northface Pizza: Chicken & Waffle Poutine
Out of all the poutine we tried, this version had the most “traditional” ingredients—but now imagine all of those ingredients manifested in their most young-and-fun variation. The best crispy chicken strips and gravy. The best cheese curds; soft and succulent. All on a base of perfectly-cooked waffle chips. Just when you thought it couldn’t be better, the dish is covered with a hot honey drizzle which brings a delightfully-floral sweetness to the entire occasion.
One of the team-members came up with the idea after eating a waffle and chicken breakfast dish. The Northface Pizza poutine concept evolved from there into an ambrosian unification of some salty, some sweet and just a little bit spice.
At just $13.95, Northface Pizza is one of the less-expensive options of the festival. Plus they deliver! Yes, from their location at 618 Connaught Drive Northface will bring your poutine to you.
Fiddle River: Savory Crab & Lobster Poutine
None of our group had ever experienced a seafood poutine—in fact, none of us had even considered it a possibility. But the seafood combination works remarkably well, and aptly fits with Fiddle River’s reputation. The savoury Kennebec potato fries are topped with a warm crab bisque sauce, then chunky pieces of East Coast crab and lobster meat, then authentic Quebec curds. The texture and level of firmness of both the seafood and the curd is almost identical, making them a charming pair.
It sounds creamy and decadent, because it is. And because it’s on the appetizer menu, it’s just $16. Some of us thought it could easily serve as a main course, but either way it is definitely designed to be shared. Add to this the general up-market “dinner-for-two” vibe of the restaurant, and this would be your winning combination for a poutine date-night soirée. Fiddle River is open from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. and has the best dining view in Jasper, upstairs at 620 Connaught Drive.
D’ed Dog Bar & Grill: The “secret staff favourite” Butter Curry Poutine
Every day from midday to one-o-clock in the morning, the D’ed Dog is serving up cold beers, table soccer and, during Jasper in January, a poutine inspired by the flavours of an authentic Indian curry—without the burn.
The D’ed Dog’s team took this event as a chance to showcase a previously secret, “off-the-menu” curry, a dish that only the staff had ever tried. The chef added it to a base of crispy Yukon gold french fries, and cheese curds, to create a rich, textured, Jasper spin on the taste of Old Delhi.
With a $17 price tag (add chicken for an additional $7) you can try this dish, sip a mocktail and maybe check out some great live music at the D’ed Dog Bar & Grill (404 Connaught Drive).
Coco’s Cafe: Breakfast Poutine
Imagine the umami, earthy taste of a Japanese miso, stirred through a rich hollandaise sauce. This, in itself, is enough of a reason to visit Coco’s Cafe at 608 Patricia Street. If you thought you’d “tried it all”, the owner, Lynn, and her team at Coco’s have brought an entirely new spin to the poutine concept.
“We don’t have a deep fryer so we don’t do french fries. We do breakfast, so this seemed a good fit,” she tells Jasper Local.
Her team replaces the traditional poutine standard of chips with boiled potatoes to create more of an “early morning” feel, rather than the afternoon or evening “soiree” meal. Coco’s mixes in a good quantity of firm and delicious curds, exquisitely scrambled eggs, and a perfect garnish of chives scattered across the top.
Lynn said: “My partner and I really love miso, so I really wanted to play with it. I combined a couple of recipes with miso and brown butter into one, and added eggs.
“This poutine replaces the tried-and-true gravy with “a true hollandaise…with a twist,” she said.
Start your day with a Breakfast Poutine at Coco’s Café, 608-B Patricia St.
Terra: Alberta’s Poutine
Alberta’s Poutine at Terra (200 Connaught Drive) sticks to the restaurant’s style of fare as “locally farmed and foraged.” One member of our group quipped that it felt like the kitchen had sourced the ingredients of this dish in some kind of fantasy forest. The presentation alone is worth the price.
At just $17, the Terra team has created a masterpiece of thick-cut, triple-cooked potato chunks, covered with a decadently-rich mushroom gravy and steak bites, with a subtle sprinkling of dark green kale chips—all stacked to appear like a beautiful campfire. Gather ‘round!
Evil Dave’s Grill: Evil Dave’s Poutine
Rich, decadent, beautifully-soft goat cheese is Evil Dave’s secret weapon in this year’s poutine showdown – replacing the more traditional curds by adding a creamy texture to each bite. This complements the peppercorn gravy sauce superbly. The potatoes are melt-in-your-mouth soft and, as it turns out, are harkening back to a local favourite.
“This poutine was on our menu in 2007 and 2008 when Evil Dave’s was at its original Patricia Street location,” our waitress tells us.
Thankfully, the team has brought it back for this year’s Jasper In January. This incarnation has a tasteful sprinkling of green onions over the top – an ideal accompaniment to slightly cut the earthiness of the goat cheese and the tasty gravy.
Evil Dave’s poutine is just $14.95 and can be ordered as a side-dish in the place of fries at 86 Connaught Drive.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (JPL) – The Great Hall: Poutine a la Canard
“Like a warm hug”, is how one member of our group described this dish—and this winter it pairs exquisitely with another cozy offering: the Fairmont’s house-mulled wine.
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, at 1 Old Lodge Road, has managed to take the standard poutine and up-scale it to new heights. How? With rich, flavourful, duck leg, that’s how. The result is a hearty dish that also manages to retain all of the traditional ‘pure’ poutine elements—opulent but not obnoxious.
“It’s exactly what you would want from a fancy poutine,” our group members agreed.
JPL also “brought the curds.” There is no lack of cheese throughout the decadent gravy. Spiced wine aside, there was no “mulling” about highly recommending the Poutine a la Canard.
Marmot Basin – Caribou Lounge & Eagles Smokehouse: BBQ Brisket Poutine
For more than five decades, winter in Jasper has been about skiing or snowboarding at the Marmot Basin resort. In 2024 it’s also about settling in at the mid-mountain chalet for a short break with this ravishing brisket poutine—all while admiring the majestic views and watching your fellow snow sports enthusiasts fly past on the groomed piste.
The Smokehouse is a fresh concept for Marmot Basin in 2024; the team from Dana Foods uses hickory, alder, cherry and applewood to slow-smoke some of the finest meats and poultry this side of the flatlands. Marmot Basin’s poutine showcases this concept at a premium level, taking their “Show Off” smoked Alberta beef brisket and layering it on a bed of crispy fries and cheese curds, then drizzling it thoroughly with house gravy.
The taste is extravagant and, at just $17, is your perfect ride-break meal when you hit the slopes this January.
Harvest Food & Drink: Brunch Short Rib Poutine
Chef Sean has gone above-and-beyond with this year’s entry—gorgeous to look at and full of flavour. This dish, available from mid-morning, brings together bite-size chunks of soft, roasted potatoes, and combines it with the perfectly-matched taste of pulled short-ribs and mushrooms.
Then he caps it all with two poached eggs and an exquisitely-prepared lemon hollandaise. The colours are bright, the flavours are smokey and creamy and your soul is satisfied.
Crowned with a garnish of watercress, Harvest Food and Drink‘s dish will have you wishing for more—if, that is, you can finish the generous serving.
We know “our” favorite, but which is yours? Click here to vote now. The winner will be announced at the Jasper in January Street Party this coming Saturday, January 27.
Cameron Jackson and Mason Grossman // info@thejasperlocal.com
