Chow Poutine on the Ritz
posted by July 2 at 10:33 AM
onSo I was camping last week—did I miss anything?—and returned to Seattle just in time for some delightful Sunday afternoon bar-hopping. Firstly, I wholeheartedly second the lovely Ms. Clement’s adoration of Cafe Presse. Everyone should try the cheap wine and the frites, although the croque monsieur, basically a ham sandwich covered in gruyere and then baked, is what will inspire me to return again sometime this week. After Presse, we headed up to Smith.
Which is what I’m talking at you about.
A few months back, I wrote about the Steelhead Diner’s poutine. As there weren’t too many places in Seattle to get poutine—French fries covered with cheese curds and brown gravy, a French Canadian cheap-ass delicacy—I was particularly excited about the Steelhead’s poutine. Let me amend that earlier review: Smith’s poutine blows the Steelhead Diner’s poutine out of the water. The cheese curds are chewy and sour, the gravy isn’t superheavy, and the fries are great on their own. Don’t get me wrong: I don’t think that the Steelhead is serving bad poutine, but they are serving very diner poutine: the curds are watery and more cheesy than curd and the gravy is thick. It’s true to the idea of diner-fied poutine, and anyone who wants to get all gourmandier-than-thou about poutine is missing the point of French Canadian food entirely. But Smith makes the best plate of poutine in town: if you’re only ever going to eat one plate of cheese curds on fries with gravy, do it at Smith. Me, I’m glad there’s both.
Comments
Warning: this comment is not poutine-centric.
I was at Smith Sat. night and was irritated by both the slow and apathetic service and the fact that they don't let you know on the menu that gee, those fried olives? They're stuffed with BRAISED PORK. Luckily I am that variety of quasi-vegetarian that is stoked at the opportunity to devour meat mostly-guilt-free (because I didn't ask for it! see?), but still. That seems like an annoying omission.
I think you win the award for most genius SLOG post headline.
I have no idea what poutine is, but it definitely sounds like something that should not be associated with a mouth.
The best poutine is in Vancouver, they even have it at Burger King (dont' get it there).
I'm glad Smith is doing a pretty good job with it but it needs WAY more gravy and it's really weird that they melt the cheese curds. They should be cold and squeaky and they melt a little in the hot fries and gravy. Real poutine is the best hangover food, je me souviens.
@ Lauern: The location where Smith's is at is possessed by evil spirits. It will close in less than a year. The poor service is just the beginning of it (I was there Saturday) and the service was okay, not great, not bad. Had a couple of drinks though and no food. It is nice but it just did not reach out and grab me like a hot hung horny stud who wants to take me on the table.
@1: Funny, I was there near the opening and the waiter took great pains to warn us of the meat. Maybe you have to look like a vegetarian? (I have no idea what that means.) In any case, the olives are not very good. Stick to the devils on horseback (not veggie) and the poutine (veggie enough).
enough with the vegans, vegetarian complaints already. you have the slop food they serve at the globe - what more do you want? if you choose to starve yourself, take the responsibility to ask what's in the food so that we can all be annoyed at the same time :)
All I have to say is:
Devils On Horseback = Crack On A Toothpick
Comments Closed
In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 14 days old).