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Food trucks and festivalgoers are seen at Le Grand PoutineFest in Montreal\u2019s Old Port. (Courtesy: Le Grand PoutineFest)<\/p>\nWhen life calls for a little comfort, there\u2019s one dish that always delivers: poutine.<\/p>\n
That Quebec classic is taking centre stage at\u00a0Le Grand PoutineFest, which has transformed Montreal\u2019s Old Port into a celebration of fries, cheese curds and gravy until Aug. 2.<\/p>\n
The festival brings together food, music and family activities, offering visitors a chance to experience poutine in more ways than the traditional version. <\/p>\n
Food trucks and festivalgoers are seen at Le Grand PoutineFest in Montreal\u2019s Old Port. (Courtesy: Le Grand PoutineFest)<\/p>\n
More than 15 gourmet creations are on the menu this year, including smoked meat, pulled pork, General Tao, lobster, mac and cheese, and a new triple-pickle poutine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re kind of celebrating Poutine in every format and every taste,\u201d said Myriam Tardif, marketing director for Le Grand PoutineFest. \u201cThat\u2019s what we do, but we\u2019re also just a festival that I\u2019d like to bring people together, whether it be for food, drinks, or for children to play together.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than just a meal<\/p>\n
The Old Port stop is part of Le Grand PoutineFest\u2019s biggest tour yet, with 21 stops planned across Quebec. After Montreal, the festival will continue to cities including Gatineau, Quebec City and Victoriaville, with new stops added this year.<\/p>\n
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A Le Grand PoutineFest food truck employee hands a poutine to a customer. (Courtesy: Le Grand PoutineFest)<\/p>\n
Tardif said the Montreal location has been a special stop because of the mix of locals and tourists discovering poutine for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in Old Montreal it\u2019s really a fun and nice way for people coming from out of town, especially during the vacation right now,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople are discovering Poutine. We have a lot of people coming from out of the country visiting and kind of tasting their first Poutine.\u201d<\/p>\n
The festival experience goes beyond food, with live performances, DJs, line dancing, family programming and tasting nights. Sunday\u2019s family day includes a free kids\u2019 poutine with the purchase of an adult poutine.<\/p>\n
From classic favourites to bold flavours<\/p>\n
For visitors looking for a traditional taste, some of the most popular choices remain the meat-based poutines.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be either the ribs or the pulled pork. It\u2019s a classic. It\u2019s really good,\u201d said Charlotte Hubert, food truck manager at Le Grand PoutineFest.<\/p>\n
Hubert said the flavour comes from the preparation behind the dish.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has a very deep flavor in terms of the smokiness because we roast the pigs or the piece of meat for long hours in the smoker and they\u2019re really really good,\u201d she said. \u201cWe do take pride in our smokiness in the meat section.\u201d<\/p>\n
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A rib poutine is served at Le Grand PoutineFest in Montreal\u2019s Old Port on July 31, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)<\/p>\n
But the festival menu continues to evolve based on what customers want.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have different cultural Poutines, so we have the General Tao that\u2019s more Asian. We have a Mexican Poutine, we have a mac and cheese Poutine that\u2019s super American,\u201d Tardif said. \u201cWe kind of try to adjust the menu every year based on what people are asking.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
A General Tao poutine, among the gourmet creations available at Le Grand PoutineFest. (Courtesy: Le Grand PoutineFest)<\/p>\n
Visitors come hungry from near and far<\/p>\n
For many festivalgoers, the appeal is trying something new while enjoying the atmosphere of the Old Port.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love poutine. We like the gravy sauce, the cheese, and I think Quebec makes the best poutine in the world,\u201d said one visitor.<\/p>\n
Another first-time attendee said they had heard about the event before making the trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is actually the first time we come here but we\u2019ve heard so much about this event so we thought to come out for the first time and we\u2019re probably gonna get the smoke meat poutine and we\u2019re trying to find out of all the poutines and hopefully it\u2019s gonna be amazing,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Others said the setting is just as much a draw as the food.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks like it\u2019s a beautiful evening so looking forward to enjoying the city, the Old Port is beautiful and I can\u2019t wait to eat my poutine,\u201d one woman expressed.<\/p>\n
Some travelled from outside Quebec to experience the festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is actually our first time in Montreal we\u2019re from Edmonton and we came here for the poutine fest and for the music festival and everything and just took a look at everything it looks amazing now we just have to decide,\u201d one man said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think what one is just like the atmosphere walking around. There\u2019s just so many people, it\u2019s just such a good vibe, like warm weather and just delicious food everywhere, so it\u2019s a great spot,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
For others, it\u2019s the chance to sample different takes on Quebec\u2019s signature dish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to try different sorts of poutine like different flavors I like that a lot,\u201d said another festivalgoer.<\/p>\n
A celebration of Quebec\u2019s signature dish<\/p>\n
After more than a decade of serving up creative takes on poutine, Le Grand PoutineFest continues to grow by listening to its audience and bringing communities together.<\/p>\n
With its final days in Montreal\u2019s Old Port approaching, organizers are inviting visitors to enjoy one last helping of Quebec\u2019s iconic comfort food before the festival moves on to its next stop.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tA Le Grand PoutineFest sign is seen at Montreal\u2019s Old Port on July 31, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews) <\/p>\n
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