Over the last few years there has been a notable rise in the food truck scene of Stamford. From fancy grilled sandwiches to authentic Hawaiian-Asian fusion, a wide variety of fare is now available.    Positioned in popular night life areas, such as Bedford Street or Alive at Five, the trucks have established themselves well in the Stamford cultural setting. This time we tried out the Poutine King, a food truck specializing in the traditional Canadian comfort food dish of poutine.

Originally a staple in the Canadian province of Quebec, poutine has been gaining popularity and recognition throughout Canada and its southern neighbor, the U.S.A. Poutine is composed of thick-cut French fries, topped with cheddar cheese curds, and smothered in rich brown gravy. However, this is just the original recipe; in certain areas people will cover poutine in a wide variety of toppings. From bacon and maple syrup to fried chicken, there is no end to the list of toppings you can add to poutine.

Because of the truck’s growing popularity, you may have to wait about five to 10 minutes.  However, once ordered, the food is out pretty quickly. At the Poutine King there are six different toppings available, but we only tried the original. Sometimes classic is better than anything. Composed of fresh cut French fries, cheddar cheese curds and their signature house gravy, the Poutine King’s poutine is the real deal. Handed to you in a plastic foam container still steaming from the fresh hot fries, the dish is ready to go where ever you are.  The crunchy French fries and chewy cheese curds create a delicious textural contrast, and the savory brown gravy helps to create a truly delicious dish. Great as a late-night snack or a mid-day meal, the Poutine King’s poutine will always excite the tongue.

The genius behind the now very successful food truck idea is Tom Mele. Mele was first introduced to poutine during his frequent visits to Canada. He said, “My boys played hockey up in Canada and this is all we ate.” Mele now takes orders at his thriving food truck during the late hours from Thursday to Sunday, after his day job. The Poutine King is open Thursdays through Sundays from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. often on Bedford Street in Stamford. However the food truck is constantly on the move and customers can find out the truck’s location or request new locations on the food truck’s twitter, @thepoutineking1, or on their Facebook page. For further information or if you want the Poutine King to cater an event, customers can call them at 347-245-1089.