My first visit to Pommes Frites dates back almost 10 years. During a typical long weekend in the city, a friend took me there to experience the authentic Belgian fries, which are served in a paper cone along with your choice of sauces from a long and unhealthy (but oh so tasty) list.
The frite shoppe itself is tiny, with two back-to-back booths and a few stools. The reputation, on the other hand, is far larger. As you can see in the photo above, as tourists pose for a photo, it has become a popular destination for foodies the world over.
On my most recent visit to New York City, I made it a point to return, seeing as how it is only a short walk from my brother's East Village apartment. Jodi, the Legal Nomad, had brought to my attention the fact that this Belgian frite shop also offered a popular Canadian dish called poutine.
Take fries, slather them in chicken gravy, throw in some chunks of Canadian cured cheddar cheese, and voila - POUTINE!
My curiosity was piqued, so on a cold Winter's morning, I walked over to Pommes Frites and ordered a heaping, hot cup of poutine before the clock had even struck noon. Fries with gravy I'd eaten before, but the cheese curd sounded like an odd addition to the mix, at least for this American.
The whole combination turned out to be quite tasty, and very filling. It was my lunch that day, and I didn't even finish the small serving I ordered. It's the perfect comfort food, and at only $5, a great (artery-clogging) alternative to the typical NYC hot dogs and pizza.
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Pommes Frites - 123 2nd Avenue, New York City
