A Quebec restaurant has dropped the word “poutine” from some of its branding because the famous dish shares a name with Russia’s president.
Drummondville, Que., diner Le Roy Jucep announced last week on Facebook it was temporarily removing the word “poutine” from some of its online branding to express its “deep dismay” over Russian aggression in Ukraine.
In French, Vladimir Putin’s last name is written and pronounced “Poutine,” exactly like Quebec’s signature dish.
The restaurant has since deleted the post, but its Facebook page still describes it as the inventor of the “Fries cheese gravy” rather than poutine.
Poutine was invented in Quebec in the 1950s or 1960s, and the founder of Le Roy Jucep is among those who claim to have invented the fast-food staple.
The diner also shared a video on its Facebook page of a Ukrainian woman who appeared on Radio-Canada and thanked the restaurant for the gesture.
“If we were able to make someone smile over there, it’s already a win!” the restaurant wrote on Facebook.
“We are with you with all our hearts.”