[Ads-l] poutine (1980)

[Amy West]

On 12/16/25 00:00, ADS-L automatic digest system wrote:
> Date:    Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:59:10 -0500
> From:"dave at wilton.net" <dave at WILTON.NET>
> Subject: poutine (1980)
>
>
> OED has March 1982 for English use. The OED says it dates in Canadian French from 1978, but provides no citation.
>   
<snip>
> And this one gives possible hints as to the origin:
>   
> “Poutine Popularity Rivals That of Burgers.” Brandon Sun (Manitoba), 1 February 1982, 12. NewspaperArchive.com.
>   
> "Although nutritionists may shudder at its starch, fat and salt content, a new fast-food snack is gaining on hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza in Quebec snack bars.
>
> "It’s called poutine and it combines french fried potatoes with curds of cheese and hot barbecue sauce.
>
> […]
>
> "Poutine, which has been popular for at least five years in southeastern Quebec, is responsible for almost doubling the sales of fresh curd or fromage en graine over the past two years.
>
> […]
>
> "Whoever originated the Quebec dish 'borrowed' the name, said Harvey Godin, a government restaurant inspector.
>
> "'Don’t confuse it with poutines rapees which is an old Acadian dish,' he said. An Acadian from Rogersville, N.B., Godin has watched the new poutine grow in popularity during his travels as chief of the Industry department’s hotel services.
>
> "The original poutines rapees which he remembers eating as a child, are potato dumplings made with salt pork at the centre.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yep, this. When I worked in Fitchburg, MA, 2019-2022, I heard one of my 
board members (70 years old), who is of French Canadian descent talking 
about this older version of poutine, which her mother made, and 
grumbling about the newfangled version.

Since it's a food word, what has Barry Popik uncovered.

---Amy West

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