What could be more comforting than a good hot poutine at the end of this end of February? Below, we'll tell you how poutine is also important to local businesses. We are also going to tell you about two novelties, first the arrival of two luxury snack bars and a new address for the BOSSA sandwich restaurant.

So, as mentioned previously, poutine is this comforting dish made from cheese curds, ubiquitous on restaurant and snack menus in Quebec. Several cheese factories in Quebec have been in operation for several decades and supply many establishments, including fast food chains. Some of them have also seen an increase in demand for cheese curds for poutine recipes in restaurants.

Chefs use cheese curd recipes to save on meat while providing an affordable comfort dish. Sales of cheese curds in restaurants are increasing, while sales in grocery stores have stagnated. Companies are now investing in automation to address labor shortages and cheese curd sales figures are steadily rising.

That being said, Poutine Week is now a crucial competition for participating restaurants, with over 900 restaurants from across the country taking part. Restaurant owners compete in imagination each year to surprise connoisseurs and attract online votes, with some offering surprising poutines and others remaining simple and authentic. The competition helps restaurants in February, often a tough month for the industry, with some restaurants planning to deliver up to 300 poutines a day.

Let's head to Quebec, where Yanick Parent is opening two new restaurants, directly in Limoilou, during the coming summer, despite the labor shortage. One of them will specialize in vegan sushi and will be located at the former location of the Stratos pizzeria. Named after Bloom, it will serve plant-based sushi because, according to Yanick Parent, vegan cuisine is gaining popularity due to health concerns.

The other will be an upscale snack bar called Ti-Gus and will feature classic snack bar fare with an emphasis on a family atmosphere and affordable prices. Despite the labor shortage, Parent is optimistic about new ventures and has invested in centralized kitchens and better benefits for his employees to solve the problem.

Finally, BOSSA, a family sandwich shop, will open its third establishment on February 28 at Time Out Market Montreal. The restaurant offers Southern Italian family recipes and Philadelphia-style subs. Created in 2018 by Teresa Vescio and Daniel Lo Manto, BOSSA opened its first restaurant in Verdun before opening a second branch in Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie in 2022. At Time Out Market Montreal, customers will be able to find the signature dishes of Bossa, such as the porchetta sandwich, as well as new recipes, such as the classico sandwich and Italian pastries.