Matt’s Patates wins 2026 Canadian Choice Award

Matt’s Patates has been named a 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, recognizing the Gracefield, Quebec, casse-croûte for food quality, customer experience and community impact. The win gives the 2025-founded business a stronger regional profile as it plans facility upgrades and a mobile food truck launch.

Why it matters: - The award gives Matt’s Patates added credibility in the Outaouais region and reinforces the business as a local draw during the spring and summer seasons. - Recognition from the Canadian Choice Award can help small businesses build trust, attract new customers and strengthen their community profile.

What happened: - The Canadian Choice Award named Matt’s Patates a 2026 award winner in the food trucks category. - The Gracefield, Quebec, business was recognized for quality, customer experience and community impact. - Matt’s Patates was founded in 2025 and operates as a seasonal quick-service restaurant.

The details: - Matt’s Patates specializes in classic casse-croûte fare, including fresh-cut fries, poutine, burgers and hot dogs. - The business pairs traditional Québécois flavours with a modern, brand-focused approach. - The company has positioned itself as a lifestyle-oriented food brand rather than a typical roadside stand. - Matt’s Patates emphasizes consistency, speed and atmosphere. - The business has used the phrase “come for the poutine, stay for the vibe” to describe its identity. - Mathieu Higginson-Loyer, president of Matt’s Patates, called the award a validation of work that goes into food quality and customer experience. - Colin Higginson-Loyer, vice-president, said the recognition reinforces the company’s commitment to consistent, high-quality food and raising the standard for a local casse-croûte. - Since receiving the recognition, Matt’s Patates has seen more visibility and engagement from both new visitors and returning customers. - The award has strengthened the brand’s credibility in the region. - Matt’s Patates contributes to the Gracefield economy through job creation and increased regional activity. - The business supports local schools and youth organizations through donations and initiatives. - Matt’s Patates also hosts inclusive events, including a free annual haunted house for families.

Between the lines: - The award is also a branding tool. Matt’s Patates is using it to differentiate itself in a category that often relies on price and convenience. - The company’s emphasis on experience, community events and a strong identity suggests a strategy aimed at turning a seasonal food stop into a destination. - The recognition reflects a broader trend among small restaurants to compete on both product quality and local connection, not food alone.

What's next: - Matt’s Patates plans facility upgrades and new technology to improve efficiency and customer experience. - The company is preparing to expand through a mobile food truck that will serve new locations and events across the region. - The business expects to continue growing while keeping its focus on quality and community.

The bottom line: - Matt’s Patates is turning a local casse-croûte into a regional brand, and the 2026 Canadian Choice Award gives that strategy a public boost.