Penticton poutine to be showcased on Quebec television
When popular French television show hosts were travelling through the Okanagan, their fans demanded they make a stop to Jeffer’s Fryzz in Penticton.
Despite coming from Quebec – a province renowned for its poutine – producers from the show Curieux Bégin were interested in seeing how the dish was done in the Okanagan. When they announced on Facebook that the crew would be travelling to the Okanagan for the wine, fans of the show were asked for recommendations.
“There was an overwhelming response from fans that they had to go to Jeffer’s,” owner Jeff Treadway said.
So a producer phone Jeffer’s and arranged a visit.
“At first I just thought they were going across Canada, I didn’t know much about them,” Treadway said.
“When I asked my French customers about the show, they were well aware of it and said, ‘you’re so lucky he’s coming.’ Then I thought to myself, ‘Oh boy – I better polish things up and get ready.'”
It was Treadway’s French clientele who first introduced him to poutine shortly after he opened his chip truck in 1984. Translated to him as French fries and grated cheese, it seemed like a foreign concept at the time, but quickly proved to be a popular menu item.
READ MORE: Pentictonites keeps their eye on the Fryzz — Jeffers Fryzz, that is +
Having learned the word from native French speakers, he has always pronounced it authentically.
“I teach all my staff to pronounce it correctly. It’s ‘poo – tsin.’ Sin with a T in front.”
Even the hosts of the show were impressed by Treadway’s pronunciation of the word.
“As soon as I say the word they know they’re getting the real McCoy.”
Producers allowed Treadway to showcase his famous poutine while agreeing to protect its trade secrets when filming earlier this week at his Nanaimo Avenue West location. Hosts are filmed walking in downtown Penticton when they pretend to stumble upon the chip truck.
“Oh I’ve heard about this place,” one of them said in French, Treadway recalled.
Treadway described them as genuinely trying to invite the viewer to be part of the journey, and said their delivery was smooth, nice, friendly, and family-oriented. He doesn’t know exactly when the episode featuring Jeffer’s will premier, but said it will be sometime between January and late spring of 2022.
Episodes can be watched for free on the Curieux Bégin website.
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