Florida Poutine Co.

If you’ve never tried poutine, the ultimate in Canadian comfort food, then you’re missing out.

It’s a side-dish combination of french fries with fresh cheese curds and beef gravy. Originally from Quebec, it’s popular enough that even McDonald’s locations in Canada serve poutine (pronounced puts-in).

If you’re not heading to the Great White North soon, you’re still in luck. Florida Poutine Co. makes authentic, delicious poutine, and it’s coming to somewhere near you.

The food-truck-based business is operated by Canada native Eric Primeau, a longtime IT worker who moved from Montreal to Myakka City in 2013 because he married a local gal.

Surprised by the lack of poutine in the area, he started experimenting with recipes for it. Friends told him it was good enough to sell. As he considered his business prospects he approached Dakin Dairy Farm, not far from his home, to ask if he could make his squeaky cheese curds there. When they said they were impressed enough with his cheese that was welcome to make it there, he took it as a sign that he was on the right path.

In September 2021, Florida Poutine Co. was born. Primeau and his food truck make the rounds at markets, events, local breweries, and food truck rallies. Although poutine is the main item he sells, he also offers Montreal-style steamed hot dogs.

The real fun is to watch people’s reactions when they try poutine. Longtime Canadians express shock and delight after trying it. Some customers test his Canadian authenticity, and he’ll respond in Quebec French. “Then their eyes are just wide open,” he says.

Wisconsin natives will inquire about the cheese curds until they try them and realize they’re as fresh as what they ate in America’s Dairyland.

Dogs who show up with their owners wag their tongues to try a cheese curd offered by Primeau.

There’s one customer who drives a few hours from their home in Jacksonville to purchase poutine. “Poutine has that effect on people,” Primeau says.

If you’re still wondering if that fries/gravy/cheese curd combination is going to taste good, stop questioning and just try it. “There’s no way to make it sound sexy. You just have to taste it,” Primeau says.

Primeau will serve special events like private parties or weddings, where the prospect of carb-heavy food like poutine sounds just right after some drinking and partying.

Primeau also used his business to help those affected by Hurricane Ian around Dakin Dairy Farm by providing meals and raising funds to help them.

Follow Florida Poutine Co.’s Facebook page to find out where the food truck will be each week.

> Florida Poutine Co.: facebook.com/FloridaPoutineCo