Best French Fries in Golden, BC. I love French fries. Let’s get that out of the way. I especially love Golden BC French Fries.
And when someone asks, ‘Would you like fries with that?’ I almost never say no.
While they are known as many different things around the world, to us here in Canada, they are French fries, and more often than not, just fries.
I’ve never classified myself as a potato lover, but I’m all in when it comes to French fries. Whether they’re home-cut fries or frozen fries, I don’t generally discriminate. They’ve gotta be fresh, hot and crispy.
French fries have largely moved out of ‘side dish status’ and into the spotlight.
French fries can be traced back to early France, and many would argue that it is specifically Paris. Historians claim potatoes were fried and sold by street vendors as far back as the early 1600s. French cooking is pretty top-shelf, so I can’t help but wonder how the French might feel about the whole French fry thing today, as it is often considered a cheap side dish.
Poutine, on the other hand, is quite distinctly Canadian. It originated in Quebec in the 1950s or 60s before spreading west across Canada in the 1990s. (So I guess it’s also French.) Poutine is a simple dish of fresh, hot fries topped with cheese curds and drizzled with gravy. It is served on a plate or bowl, with the cheese curds served at room temperature and hot gravy poured over top.
Maclean’s magazine says, “It is simultaneously familiar (everyone knows and loves French fries, with a sauce to dip them in) and new (adding the twist of a seductive squeak against the tooth from that fresh cheese curd). It is also cheap, filling and infinitely adaptable, especially upmarket (well, you can’t very well take it down).”
So, let’s quickly look at some of the local French fry dishes, and I’ll point you to some of my favourites.
• Reuben Poutine – Rockwater Grill
You get a huge plate of fries, cheese curds, gravy, pastrami, and sauerkraut, topped with a house-made dijonnaise drizzle. This is one of six or seven Poutine variations here. I’m finding it hard to try others because I like this one. Make no mistake, this is a meal in itself.
Rockwater Grill is located at 429 9th Ave. N. in Golden, BC.
• Parmesan Truffle Fries – Turning Point
Fresh hot fries with parmesan cheese (and maybe truffle oil?). With a hint of lemon, served with a roasted garlic aioli dip. I want to give an honourable mention to the dip here, it’s a must.
We do justice to our fries and French fry dishes, whether they’re traditional poutine or a chef’s adaptation.
The Turning Point Restaurant is located at 906 11th Ave. S. in Golden, BC.
• Mexi Fries – Bear N Bone Burger Co. (Sorry, they’re now closed permanently)
A dish of hot fries topped with queso cheese sauce, fresh house-made Pico de Gallo, and jalapenos.
Add brisket if you want to make it a meal, because the Bear N Bone brisket is awesome. There’s something about fries and queso cheese sauce, like the nacho cheese sauce you might get at 7-Eleven. The flavours of the fresh onions, tomatoes and cilantro in the pico de gallo come together to take this over the top.
I don’t know the origin of this dish. Was it intended to be a take on poutine or something entirely different? Either way, I love it.
Bear N Bone Burger Co. is located at 1202 Trans-Canada Highway E. in Golden, BC. (again, closed.)
I’ll do Part 2 of this article with some more local French fry opportunities. Give me a shout if you have a favourite that you think I would like.
French fry fun facts:
• The town of Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick in Canada, headquarters of McCain Foods, calls itself “the French fry capital of the world” and hosts a Potato World museum about potatoes.
• McCain Foods is the world’s largest frozen french fries and other potato specialties manufacturer.
• Canada supplies 22% of China’s French Fries
• South Africans prefer theirs hot but soft and soggy rather than crispy and doused in vinegar
• In Saskatchewan, they prefer their poutine with mozzarella instead of cheese curds
Wondering about the best Pizza in Golden BC? Or Golden’s coffee shops? Learn more about the culinary scene in Golden.
