Le Roy Jucep – A Poutine Originator
Written by Jim Bamboulis
Along Drummondville Quebec’s Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Le Roy Jucep sticks out. If cheese-curd, gravy-filled aromas in the air don’t pull you in, its big, brash facade complete with a giant half-sliced orange on the roof will surely do the trick. Inside, checkered tiles, neon lights, and framed black and whites transport diners decades back in time, while the food has spoken for itself since opening in the mid-1960s. So authentically delicious, even Montreal gastronomes are willing to pack their cars and travel an hour east of the city just for the taste.
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Having worked as a Chef in Montreal for seven years, Jean-Paul Roy returned to Drummondville, and by 1964, took over the Orange Jucep dairy bar drive-in, and opened Le Roy Jucep. While the potato was a popular staple, Roy listened to his increasingly loyal customers, and decided to add a ‘special’ sauce (gravy), and fresh cheese curds directly onto a dish he called “cheese, potatoes, sauce”. Waitresses working outside, and waiting on cars at his popular restaurant, decided to better streamline the ordering process, and decided to use the word ‘Putin’ (pudding), a popular term at the time to describe dishes with food combinations. By November 1998, convinced he was the inventor of Poutine, Jean-Paul Roy officially registered the trademark, and became The Inventor of Putin.
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Although pizza and pasta, soups and sandwiches, fish and chips and chicken wraps are on the menu, Le Roy Jucep is, at its core, a poutine lovers dream come true. Secret spices, and the famous “Roy Jucep” sauce keep the quality top notch as fresh, crispy gold pommes frites are smothered with savoury gravy with a slight sweet zing. Bright and squeaky cheese curds purchased daily and kept at room temperature add to the authenticity of flavour.
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More than two-dozen Poutines are available, including the 100% certified, 4oz Wagyu Beef which cooks for 18 hours. For a kick, try the Mexican, served with spicy fries, semi-spicy sauce, ground beef, hot peppers, black olives, and green onions, while for eccentricity-sake, order the Poutine-Pizza, topped with spaghetti sauce, pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms, cheese curds, and mozzarella cheese au gratin.
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Unafraid to transform a classic dish into countless variations, the true pièce de résistance – including and especially for first timers – remains The Original, a must try with all the traditional trimmings, and layered authentically with cheese curds underneath the fries. Have it with a side of “Orange Jucep”, orange juice made on site, for the complete, and unforgettable experience.
National Poutine Day is on April 11, and there’s no better place to celebrate it than here. Will you making the trip to Le Roy Jucep in Drummondville, Quebec for a unique taste of true Canadiana?
