Newton tavern fundraises with fries during four-day Poutine Festival

Baramor is celebrating its new poutine menu with four nights of charity collaborations.

Baramor's Northender poutine is hand-cut fries, house gravy, and cheddar curds, topped with house-made meatballs, ricotta, and basil. Photo courtesy of Baramor Newton

By Jacqueline Cain

1 minute to read

To traditionalists, poutine is nothing more — and nothing less — than a pile of hand-cut, russet potato French fries drenched in rich brown gravy and topped with squeaky cheese curds. A Canadian comfort food and a late-night staple in Québec, its name is slang for “mess.”

In American taverns, poutine is a canvas primed for interpretation. Head to Baramor in Newton Centre for a new menu section of poutine, with five creations of fries and cheese curds topped with everything from chili and pico de gallo to North End style-meatballs or shrimp scampi. During the last week of March, Baramor is bringing in nonprofit partners and beverage brand pop-ups to help celebrate the new poutine menu.

The Baramor Poutine Festival runs from Monday, March 28, through Thursday, March 31, with $3 from each poutine sold, earmarked for a daily-rotating non-profit. Each night, a different local distillery or brewery will be in the house with drink specials, giveaways, and raffles.

Check out the lineup of Poutine Festival guests:

Monday, March 28: Jr’s Paws for a Cause and Bully Boy Distillers

Tuesday, March 29: New England Hemophilia Association and True North Ale Company

Wednesday, March 30: Shultz’s Guest House and Berkshire Brewing Company

Thursday, March 31: Project Citizenship and Carlson Orchards Cidery

Baramor hosts charity fundraisers frequently, including a monthly “Pull for Charity” draft special, which donates to rotating organizations $3 for every pint poured.

Spotlighting poutine to further their fundraising is a sure bet, says Baramor owner Arpit Patel: “We have been testing several recipes for months as specials at our restaurant and they have consecutively sold out.”

Reservations are recommended. Baramor’s kitchen is open daily from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.