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had a poutine in guelph on teh weekend
January 23, 2008
VIK KIRSCH
MERCURY STAFF
GUELPH
Pierre Lachapelle says he makes the perfect poutine, just the way he used to enjoy the wickedly delicious comfort food in his native Montreal.
Poutine, of course, is made of french fries smothered in cheese curds, gravy and sometimes boasting a choice of other toppings.
"I thought it would be a great idea to bring Montreal to Guelph," said Lachapelle, who recently opened Pierre's Poutine at 71 Macdonell St., featuring poutine, homemade hamburgers and a variety of other dishes he was familiar with growing up in that famous Quebec city.
The scents and flavours remind him of where he grew up.
"I wanted something for me to feel at home."
Lachapelle, 49, got help getting the business launched with expertise from the Guelph-Wellington Business Enterprise Centre, located in St. George's Square.
"He really seemed to have a unique product in mind," business adviser Mike Chuchmach said, adding the downtown location is also ideal to launch such an eatery. "He's been progressing ever since."
Lachapelle is hopeful luck is finally on his side with the venture after a string of unfortunate, but unrelated job-based stresses.
"I was working for Imperial Tobacco for 25 years. They moved to Mexico," Lachapelle said.
He was working for the cigarette maker in Montreal when he transferred to a plant in Joliette, Que. that closed in 2001. He returned to Montreal, only to see that plant close in 2003. He transferred to Guelph, where the plant shut its doors in 2006 to move production south to Mexico.
But Lachapelle wasn't embittered, bouncing back by returning to his roots, in a fashion.
As a teen, Lachapelle worked in his late mother Bernadette Pouchet's family restaurant in Verdun, a part of Montreal. He washed dishes, peeled potatoes and carried out other odd jobs.
"I was gaining experience," he said, hoping one day to have an eatery of his own. "That was a dream for many years to have a restaurant."
Pierre's Poutine, near the corner of Macdonell and Wyndham streets, offers seven varieties of poutine. The dishes are made with fresh-cut, transfat-free fries, cheese curds from Warwick, Que. and soya gravy. Customers have a choice of toppings like the all-dressed version that comes with peppers, mushrooms, onion, pepperoni and Montreal smoked meat.
The restaurant, which is primarily take out but has several tables and some counter space, also offers steamed hot dogs. It features hamburgers that Lachapelle makes with his own patties covered in a "secret sauce." The menu includes sandwiches and salads.
The poutine, however, is the biggest seller. He thinks the location in downtown Guelph is perfect, particularly with so many University of Guelph students visiting the core when they want a break from their studies.
"The university students, they love my poutine," Lachapelle said. "I'm surrounded by bars. That's the best location I could have."
That's why Pierre's Poutine has extended hours some days of the week. It's open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but open until 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
"I'm working 90 hours a week," Lachapelle said, admittedly surprised himself at how well the poutine's taken off. "The reaction of people, it's amazing."
He's had to greatly increase the number of french fries he's cut for a weekend, after a recent Saturday in which he ran out after cutting 200 pounds.
Pierre's Poutine opened Dec. 10 in a space that used to be Gringo's Burritos.
January 23, 2008
VIK KIRSCH
MERCURY STAFF
GUELPH
Pierre Lachapelle says he makes the perfect poutine, just the way he used to enjoy the wickedly delicious comfort food in his native Montreal.
Poutine, of course, is made of french fries smothered in cheese curds, gravy and sometimes boasting a choice of other toppings.
"I thought it would be a great idea to bring Montreal to Guelph," said Lachapelle, who recently opened Pierre's Poutine at 71 Macdonell St., featuring poutine, homemade hamburgers and a variety of other dishes he was familiar with growing up in that famous Quebec city.
The scents and flavours remind him of where he grew up.
"I wanted something for me to feel at home."
Lachapelle, 49, got help getting the business launched with expertise from the Guelph-Wellington Business Enterprise Centre, located in St. George's Square.
"He really seemed to have a unique product in mind," business adviser Mike Chuchmach said, adding the downtown location is also ideal to launch such an eatery. "He's been progressing ever since."
Lachapelle is hopeful luck is finally on his side with the venture after a string of unfortunate, but unrelated job-based stresses.
"I was working for Imperial Tobacco for 25 years. They moved to Mexico," Lachapelle said.
He was working for the cigarette maker in Montreal when he transferred to a plant in Joliette, Que. that closed in 2001. He returned to Montreal, only to see that plant close in 2003. He transferred to Guelph, where the plant shut its doors in 2006 to move production south to Mexico.
But Lachapelle wasn't embittered, bouncing back by returning to his roots, in a fashion.
As a teen, Lachapelle worked in his late mother Bernadette Pouchet's family restaurant in Verdun, a part of Montreal. He washed dishes, peeled potatoes and carried out other odd jobs.
"I was gaining experience," he said, hoping one day to have an eatery of his own. "That was a dream for many years to have a restaurant."
Pierre's Poutine, near the corner of Macdonell and Wyndham streets, offers seven varieties of poutine. The dishes are made with fresh-cut, transfat-free fries, cheese curds from Warwick, Que. and soya gravy. Customers have a choice of toppings like the all-dressed version that comes with peppers, mushrooms, onion, pepperoni and Montreal smoked meat.
The restaurant, which is primarily take out but has several tables and some counter space, also offers steamed hot dogs. It features hamburgers that Lachapelle makes with his own patties covered in a "secret sauce." The menu includes sandwiches and salads.
The poutine, however, is the biggest seller. He thinks the location in downtown Guelph is perfect, particularly with so many University of Guelph students visiting the core when they want a break from their studies.
"The university students, they love my poutine," Lachapelle said. "I'm surrounded by bars. That's the best location I could have."
That's why Pierre's Poutine has extended hours some days of the week. It's open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but open until 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
"I'm working 90 hours a week," Lachapelle said, admittedly surprised himself at how well the poutine's taken off. "The reaction of people, it's amazing."
He's had to greatly increase the number of french fries he's cut for a weekend, after a recent Saturday in which he ran out after cutting 200 pounds.
Pierre's Poutine opened Dec. 10 in a space that used to be Gringo's Burritos.
