Montreal responds after Boston Red Sox $39 “Lobstah Poutine” sparks outrage in Canada

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Canadians are upset about a new dish at Boston’s Fenway Park: a lobster poutine that many don’t consider a true poutine.

The MLB and Boston Red Sox announced that Lobster Poutine will be available at home games starting in the 2026 season.

They described the ballpark food as a unique offering: crispy fries, lobster, clam chowder, and crispy bacon all served inside a custom-made lobster boat.

Fans are upset about a $39 ballpark snack claiming it’s not authentic poutine, and even the city of Montreal has voiced its opinion.

Boston Red Sox “Lobstah Poutine” panned for not having cheese curds

Poutine, a popular dish from French Canada, isn’t just fries – it’s also made with fresh cheese curds and a savory gravy, typically beef or chicken flavored.

In this case, Quebeckers are baffled by Fenway’s attempt at poutine.

Okay, Boston, you HAVE to hear about this! The Red Sox are selling Lobstah Poutine at Fenway this year, and it sounds amazing. Seriously, picture this: crispy fries loaded with lobster meat, creamy clam chowder, and crispy bacon, all served in a little lobster boat! I’m already planning my trip. (Saw this on Twitter from @Aramark)

— MLB (@MLB) March 24, 2026

One Reddit user on the ‘Poutine crimes’ subreddit reacted to what they called a terrible act and a falsehood by saying people should be sued and then executed.

“This is a crime in Quebec,” another wrote on X.

Vice co-founder Gavin McInnes strongly criticized the practice of topping fries with any cheese and calling it poutine. He clarified that true poutine requires cheese curds and either chicken or beef gravy, distinguishing it from what he called ‘disco fries’.

Some expressed an interest in trying it, but took issue with the poutine label.

“This look tasty as fuck, but it’s absolutely 0% poutine my guy! Straight to jail!”

Montreal’s official social media account responded to the announcement with a straightforward message: “We do not approve of this.”

we do not approve of this

— Montréal (@Montreal) March 24, 2026

The city also replied to the MLB’s announcement, joking, “we’re calling our lawyers.”

While traditional poutine has specific ingredients, some variations exist, like breakfast poutine. This version makes sense because it swaps out the usual fries for hash browns and replaces the gravy with hollandaise sauce.

As one eater noted, it’s not that lobster itself is the problem, but the lack of cheese curds.

They suggested that while lobster poutine is good, it would be even better with actual cheese curds and a lobster bisque sauce. This combination is becoming increasingly popular at poutine restaurants, particularly in the Gaspesie region of Quebec.

Poutine, a popular Canadian dish, has recently become more available in the United States. This year, KFC added it to the menu at its US locations as part of a partnership with chef and actor Matty Matheson, known for his role in the show The Bear.

I still can’t believe what I witnessed last year! Joey Chestnut absolutely crushed the competition at the 2025 World Poutine Eating Championship in Toronto – he ate a whopping 26.5 pounds of poutine to win! It was insane.

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2026-03-25 20:49