National French Fry Day 2017

Fries That Bind

The

Entertaining facts, yummy recipes, and more inside our jam-packed report on how Canadians think about fries!

We are celebrating our 60th anniversary in the same year as Canada’s 150th. We believe there’s much to celebrate and much to be thankful for.

From humble beginnings in Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick, the McCain brothers’ venture has grown to be the largest French Fry company in the world. Today, one-third of all French fries sold globally are McCain. We believe our success is built on partnership with our farmers, our love of the land, and the family values the McCain brothers founded the business on.

Our Story

Why the survey?

More than

1200Canadians

surveyed

Canada is turning 150 and Canadians are excited. We know that Canada is unique in the world with our cultural mosaic and our celebration of diversity.

Our values are the ties that bind, but we know that we are connected in many ways. Hockey, the great outdoors, tobogganing, days by the lake, food, and complaining about the weather are things we love to engage on. We at McCain know that Canadians have another thing in common: their love of fries.

So in celebrating Canada’s 150th and our 60th birthdays, just in time for National French Fry Day, we commissioned our“The Fries That Bind” study which asked 1200 Canadians about their love of fries.

Some of what we found surprised us. Other findings were truths we knew at McCain all along. We hope you have as much fun reading the findings as we had putting this together.

We also know that French fries are the SUPREME comfort food.

60% of Canadians agree that eating French fries makes them happy.

Canadians French fries!

Over a third of Canadians admit that they are obsessed with French fries.

Serve up something simple! Rosemary fries made with freshly zested lemon are all you need to make your McCain® Superfries sing.

Ingredients• 1 bag (650g) McCain® Superfries Straight Cut• 1 lemon zested• 2 tsp of salt• 2 tbsp of olive oil• A few sprigs of finely chopped rosemary

Directions1. Prepare McCain® Superfries Straight Cut according to package

directions. Remove from oven 3 to 5 minutes before fully cooked.

2. Place cooked Superfries in a large bowl and toss with zest of lemon, salt and olive oil.

3. Place Superfries back on the tray and cook for for the remaining 3 to 5 minutes or until golden colour.

4. Add additional lemon zest and a few sprigs of finely chopped rosemary and serve.

Rosemary fries With Zested Lemon Recipe

Preparation Time: 10 mins | Cooking Time: 25 mins | Servings: 4-6

The gold star in this competition goes to Canadian women!

Canadians are pretty good at sharing overall. 56% of Canadians always offer to share their fries when they have them. Interestingly enough though, is that women are better at sharing than men. 63% of women share versus 49% of men.

Who is the best at

Sharing? of women share their fries

63%

of men share their fries

49%

We asked Canadians where the French Fry Capital of the world is. Here is what they thought: (skip to page 10 to find out the answer)

Where is the

French fry capital of the World?

33%

Portage le Prairie, Manitoba

Chicago Tokyo1%4%8%

Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick

Montréal Paris15% 11%

This is one of the great Canadian debates. Given the choice of a serving of fries or poutine it is really close. We mean REALLY close.

of Canadians prefer Poutine

of Canadians prefer French fries

52%48%

French fries vs Poutine

65%of Canadians

under 35 chose poutine

Things may be changing

though!

French fries vs Poutine

The answer from page 7: Where is the French Fry Capital of the world?

A little about our townFlorenceville-Bristol is home to McCain Foods Head Quarters, and has been since 1957. The town was once known as Buttermilk Creek, but the name was changed in 1855 in honour of Florence Nightingale. The people of this beautiful area have long been farmers, and the soil is particularly suited to growing potatoes.

Meet Florenceville-

BristolNew Brunswick!

of British Columbia chose gravy

24%

United on ToppingsWhen we asked Canadians to pick their favourite topping, ketchup came out on top across the country. Where it got interesting was the secondary choices!

of Quebec chose mayonnaise

27%

Chosen by 2% to 6% of Canadians in other regions

Chosen by 12% to 17% of Canadians in other regions

of Canadians chose ketchup

nationally

34%

Maple Bacon Poutine Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins | Cooking Time: 45 mins | Servings: 4

It’s times like this when you’ll be proud to be Canadian! Maple? Bacon? Bourbon? We didn’t think Poutine could get any better!

Ingredients

• 2 cups white gravy base• 4 ml maple syrup• ½ cup bourbon (optional)• 2 tsp flour• 4 slices of bacon diced• 1 cup cheese curds• 1 bag (650 g) McCain®Superfries

Straight Cut

White gravy base ingredients

• 2 cups cream• 1 cup chicken stock• 1 tsp Dijon mustard• 1 tsp grainy mustard• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ground• 1 shallots diced fine

Directions

Directions for white gravy base

1. In a pot heat up a tsp of oil and cook off shallots until they are translucent.

2. Add in Dijon mustard, grainy mustard and cayenne pepper and cook for 1 minute.

3. Add in chicken stock and cream and reduce mixture by half.

Directions

1. Bake McCain® Straight Cut Fries according to package directions.

2. Heat up frying pan and add a tsp of oil.

3. When pan is hot, add in diced up bacon and cook until it is crispy.

4. Add flour into pan and cook until flour is a golden colour.

5. Add in maple syrup and Bourbon. Cook until liquid has reduced by half.

6. Add in white gravy base and season with salt and pepper to your liking.

7. Pour Maple Bacon gravy over Superfries and cheese curds and enjoy!

Poutine is not French fries with Toppings

choose French fries in Quebec

35%

choose Poutine in Quebec

65%

It should be no surprise that in Quebec Poutine wins the battle over French fries 65% vs 35%.

There actually is a healthy debate around whether poutine is a Quebec dish or a Canadian dish. Many Canadians consider poutine as French fries with cheese curds and gravy. Not so, if you live in Quebec. Poutine is poutine.

Harissa Chicken With Garlic Yogurt & Middle Eastern Superfries

Preparation Time: 15 mins | Cooking Time: 30 mins | Servings: 4

Harissa is a spicy red pepper paste from North Africa made from smoked chilies and aromatic spices; Harissa chicken makes for the perfect complement to tart yogurt and cool mint served over hot McCain® Superfries. So get cooking and enjoy this unique and tasty Harissa chicken recipe for dinner tonight.

Ingredients

• 1 bag (650 g) McCain®Superfries Straight Cut

• 1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground coriander• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) each salt and freshly

ground pepper• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) smoked paprika• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cinnamon• Pinch ground allspice• 1/4 cup (60 mL) coarsely chopped

fresh cilantro

Garlic Yogurt Sauce:

• 3/4 cup (175 mL) 2% plain yogurt• 1/4 cup (60 mL) chopped fresh mint• 1 tsp (5 mL) finely grated lemon zest• 1 small clove garlic, minced• Pinch each salt and freshly ground

pepper

Middle Eastern Salad:

• 1/2 English cucumber, seeded and diced

• 2 tomatoes, seeded and diced• 1/2 small sweet onion, diced• 1/4 cup (60 mL) finely chopped fresh

parsley• 2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice• 1 tbsp (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt

Harissa Chicken Thighs:

• 4 chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 lb/750 g)• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt and freshly

ground pepper• 1 tbsp (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil• 1 onion, diced• 2 cloves garlic, minced• 1/4 cup (60 mL) harissa sauce• 1 cup (250 mL) tomato sauce• 1/2 cup (125 mL) chick peas• 1/4 cup (60 mL) sliced black olives• 1/4 cup (60 mL) chopped fresh

parsley

See the next page for Cooking Directions

Harissa Chicken With Garlic Yogurt & Middle Eastern Superfries (Continued)

Directions1. Garlic Yogurt Sauce:

Stir together yogurt, mint, lemon zest, garlic, salt and pepper until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use or for up to 1 day.

2. Middle Eastern Salad: Toss together cucumber, tomatoes, onion, parsley, lemon juice, oil and salt. Set aside.

3. Harissa Chicken Thighs: Season chicken with salt and pepper. In ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown chicken, skin side down, for five minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Turn thighs over and drain fat from skillet. Add onion, garlic and harissa to skillet; sauté for 3 minutes or until onion is softened. Add tomato sauce, chick peas and olives; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Sprinkle with parsley.

4. Meanwhile, prepare Superfries according to package directions. Before the last 5 minutes of cooking, remove from oven and sprinkle evenly with cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, paprika, cinnamon and allspice; toss until well coated. Return Superfries to the oven for the remaining 5 minutes or until crisp and fully cooked.

5. Transfer Superfries to serving platter; top with Garlic Yogurt sauce and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve with Harissa Chicken Thighs and Middle Eastern Salad.

Tip: Harissa can be found in the international section of most well-stocked grocery stores, boutique kitchen shops or Middle Eastern grocers.

Preparation Time: 15 mins | Cooking Time: 30 mins | Servings: 4

To Canadians, the shape of our fries matter!Overall we like the Straight Cut fries the most. They are the preference of 33% of Canadians.

The Shape of You

Wedge

Crinkle

Shoestring

Straight

9% 15% 16% 33%Top Five Canadian Cuts

Curly

8%

Shoestring was chosen

by 22% in Quebec

Crinkle was chosen

by 24% in Atlantic

Canada

Who is your Favourite? We asked Canadians what their favourite French Fry brand was.

We are happy to share the fact that McCain was the first choice for Canadians in every region of Canada*. Thank you Canada! You have made us #1 in Canada and across the world.

* Based on a national survey of 1200 Canadians

Braised Beef Poutine Made With Superfries®

Preparation Time: 15 mins | Cooking Time: 45 mins | Servings: 4

Poutine for dinner? Why not! This slow-cooked braised beef poutine is a comforting and satisfying dish any night of the week.

Ingredients• 3 to 3 1/2 lb (1.5 to 1.75 kg) beef brisket• 1 tsp salt• 1/2 tsp pepper• 1 tbsp canola oil• 1/3 cup beef stock• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce• 1 onion, chopped• 2 cloves garlic, minced• 2 tsp paprika• 1 bag (650 g) McCain® Superfries® Straight Cut• 1/2 lb (250 g) cheese curds• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Directions1. Season beef brisket all over with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat;

cook brisket for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until well browned. Transfer to slow cooker.

2. Add stock to skillet, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon; pour over brisket along with barbecue sauce. Add onion, garlic and paprika to slow cooker; cover and cook on high for 5 hours, or on low for 10 hours.

3. Transfer beef to cutting board; tent with foil and let rest for 10 minutes. Skim fat from slow cooker juices. Shred brisket with 2 forks; return to slow cooker with juices.

4. Meanwhile, bake McCain® Superfries® Straight Cut according to package directions; divide among 6 dishes. Top with some of the shredded brisket, cheese curds and parsley.

Tip: Freeze any leftover brisket in airtight container for up to 1 month. Use to make another batch of brisket poutine.

In celebrating Canada’s 150 years, at McCain we think we have a multitude of reasons to be thankful. Diversity is a strength and as Canadians we are all connected in countless ways. French fries are just one of the little things that we all enjoy together.

Happy Birthday Canada.

Fries That Bind

The