4/29/2010

Printemps, Poutine and Le Pont Rouge

We live on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, where the national dish is poutine. Poutine is an ungodly mixture of french fries, topped with cheese curds and smothered in gravy. And it is delicious! I know! I know! Sounds disgusting, but trust me on this...it's the perfect food for a Sunday afternoon drive, sitting at a picnic table with a checkered table cloth, and looking at all things springy.
This aptly named little Chipping Sparrow was right above my head, watching me closely, and calculating how long it would take to dip and dive and return with a chip for him. Forget it! I'm not sharing today!
The picnic table was just outside the chip truck - a converted school bus that's now a fully functioning kitchen on wheels. Only this one had a lovely plastic porch attached so it wasn't actually mobile anymore - not that anyone was asking for their vendor's permit - we were all too busy eating poutine and enjoying the spectacular view...
This beautiful covered bridge sits over the Ottawa River, and enables traffic from the mainland to Calumet Island.
It is the largest covered bridge in Quebec. Built in 1898 it spans 497 feet, for single lane traffic  only.
Fortunately, you can see clearly if anyone else is on the bridge before you commit yourself to its wooden roadway.

Leaves everyone feeling very chipper once they've made the  passage safely. And landed right in front of the chip truck and then it's time for some celebratory poutine!

French lesson for the day:
Printemps = springtime
Le Pont Rouge = The Red Bridge
Poutine = french fries with curds and gravy



Enjoy more scenery at http://skyley.blogspot.com/

11 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

MMMMMmmmm, poutine! It may sound disgusting...but I'm with you: It's GREAT! :)

Dave said...

Pont: oui.
Printemps: oui.
Poutine: merde

(can I say that?)

Felicia said...

Sounds like a glorious day! That poutine photo reminds me of my three years in Vancouver, where I ordered the stuff once in while so I could feel like a native. Not my favorite dish (I'm not into anything that makes fries soggy), but once in a while, it gave me a sense of place. After a long walk on a cold day, it could be good!

Susan Ellis said...

If poutine is properly made (and this was), then the fries aren't soggy at all,the gravy is hot and savoury (not canned), and the cheese curds are fresh and still a tad tangy..helped along with a bit of salt and white vinegar of course. This is not(or shouldn't be) a daily meal...but a tasty little treat...if you have a bit of a hangover it's really good at solving that too !

Hildred said...

Love your covered bridge, - we have one just a mile up river from us (spanning the Similkameen river) - it is not as long as the one you have photographed, but has a wonderful swimming hole beneath it and the bridge makes a great diving spot.

Wolynski said...

I've heard of poutine - never had it. I'll keep an open mind. Must be one of those things when the only stuff left in the kitchen was french fries, cheese curd and gravy and someone was very hungry.

I wonder why they bothered to cover bridges?

jabblog said...

Most enjoyable post though a little too early in my day for such a rich dish as poutine! I like the chipping sparrow - very pretty little bird. The covered bridge is intriguing - 112 years old and still going strong!

faye said...

An order of poutine to go ..please.

DUTA said...

Thanks or the french lesson; it's a nice service for your readers.

Susan Ellis said...

Il ya rien la!

A human kind of human said...

That bridge is beautiful. Just wondering... How do they paint the outside of it?