Poutine: How listening to patrons can really pay off

The classic Quebecois dish poutine has been highlighted as a great example of how listening to an eatery's patrons can really pay off.

As all Canadians will know, poutine is a comforting dish comprised of French fries and cheese curds topped with light brown gravy that has become popular the world over.

And, as restaurateur Todd Ginsberg - who owns a US restaurant that serves poutine year-round - pointed out to How Stuff Works, the dish probably arose by accident when a patron asked for random ingredients to be combined.

"It's really the restaurateurs and the chefs who are willing to listen to the patrons who help create unique dishes. A chef needs to know when a good idea slaps them across the face," he added.

Natives of Warwick in Quebec insist that poutine came about as a request from a trucker wanting to eat his cheese curds and gravy fries from a bag while at the wheel, but it just goes to show how something great can come from something random - so don't be afraid to take a leap of faith based on requests as a chef! 
 
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