One of my favorite things to do in a new place is find out what is local to that area, especially when it comes to food and drink. I believe that doing things “as the locals do” is the best way to experience a location as well as being an exercise in global citizenship. For me, eating is an intimate experience and when one opens oneself up to trying new foods and customs surrounding food, I believe it is an exercise in adaptability. Participating in other customs make us more fluid in our ability to relate to others very different from ourselves. 

So as part of this experiment, a group of us ordered a gigantic bowel of poutine one night. 

Poutine is a Canadian dish comprised of french fries, gravy and cheese curds. Though it might not look very appetizing I must say, is delicious. We ordered it at le PUB on campus, just inside Universit� Laval’s social/business hub. The place looks like a nightclub on the inside and has this beautiful large outside seating area.

Another thing the Canadians seem to love is good beer. We went to La Barberie, a cooperative microbrewery and ordered some sangria-bi�re. At 9%, a “pichet” shared among friends leads to warm conversations. 

Bi�re is a staple it seems for the Quebecois, and often it consumed socially. I had this Cheval Blanc (White Horse) a more commercialized Canadian beer while watching a football (soccer) game on the television.

Granted, there are drawbacks to enjoying this excellent food and beer. Taxes for such items are around 15.5%. For example, a pitcher of the sangria-bi�re is $24 CAD plus tip. The language intensive students get a discount on the pitchers at le PUB ($9) with our blue/red/yellow bracelets (Normally $14).

Even though the food and beer tends to be on the pricey side, the quality is clear. So while it is expensive, it is definitely worth getting a glass or two and having good conversations with the local patrons and waitstaff. So as they say here, “Gulu, gulu, gulu” …in moderation of course!

Location: Université Laval et around