People up in Québec aren’t known for beingwarm’n’fuzzy but they sure know how to please the palate. French Canadian fare may be the most creative yet down-home comfort food in the world. Don’t fret–Northeast Floridians can get their fill in Riverside, at The Stuffed Beaver.
Expect the standard items, like piles of poutine, crêpes, beaver tails and more. Then check out the unexpected. The strange-sounding (even by my standards) Hot Chicken Sandwich Plate was unknown to me, so I got it. Shredded chicken, in between two slices of plain white bread, doused in Stuffed Beaver’s house gravy, with peas on top ($12). It was tasty, but if you want texture, it’s too mushy. The chicken was tender, but so much gravy drenched the bread. I’ve been told this is how it’s done up there, so check it out if you’re a saucy lover.
It’s not French without a crêpe. Sweet or savory? Or both? I’ll tell ya, the Plain Jane is your 8-year-old self’s dream food–cheese and a choice of ham or turkey ($9). It was a touch too crispy, but nice and thin with plenty of filling.
Want more bang for your Loonies? (Google it.) Behold the mighty Lobster Roll ($14; with fries $16). Whole chunks of claw meat are nestled in a hot dog bun (a traditional combo I may never get), with minimal dressing. It’s a bite so big, you could share it as an app if you’re hot to try other menu stuff. Note: Lobster rolls are a Friday-only, while-supplies-last deal, so plan ahead.
For some, a burger’s just a burger and a hot dog’s just a hot dog, but I adore both backyard-barbecue standards. I didn’t expect a French Canadian joint to nail American faves, but I’ll gobble the thin, smash-style beaver burger with pepper jack cheese, grilled onions-’n’-peppers and beaver spread (aka garlic aioli) in a heartbeat ($6). The dog is swoon-worthy, too! Go “all-dressed” with mustard, relish, onion and slaw. The slaw was more like a kraut–no complaints here–so the combo is solid. It’s a legit hot dog, no weird ultra-greasy unknown substances here. (Fun fact: Stuffed Beaver is up for Best Hot Dogs in Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax, and it’s worth a taste.) (And a vote!)
Ah, the pièce de résistance: poutine, a mountain of fries oozing with gravy, cheese curds delightfully scattered among the fries … Paradis! Handcut fries are great and, though I’m not a big fan of The Stuffed Beaver’s ubiquitous gravy, the poutine is covered in curds–a dramatic presentation.
One dessert option is castor tail (aka, a pastry resembling beaver tail). The fried confection is like a cross between a croissant and a donut, covered in a variety of delights, like chocolate and peanut butter, cinnamon sauce and Nutella or a maple-ish sauce.
The Stuffed Beaver is open for lunch Monday through Saturday, for dinner Thursday and Friday. So déguédine and fill up on this stuff, eh?
______________________________
If you have a recommendation or know of a new place, shoot me an email at biteclub@folioweekly.com.
FOLIO
Follow FOLIO!