New Spuds on the Block

 “ Why is the spud grateful?” I ask Gr8ful Spud chef and proprietor Joshua Klippert, referring to the name of his newly opened restaurant.

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Rick Massie

Fish n’ Chips Photos: Rick Massie

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Rick Massie

Stevenson (left) and Klippert share a dynamic repertoire Photos: Rick Massie

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“ Because it’s kickass comfort food,” he answers. “And people are grateful for good poutine. It’s hard to find.”

The quality of his poutine isn’t up for debate. The Gr8ful Spud got its start six months ago serving Whitehorse from the Towne and Mountain kitchen, where they established its reputation for specialized poutine. No longer at the T&M, the Gr8ful Spud now has its own home.

“ It’s the poutine sauce,” says Klippert, revealing the touch that, I’ve been told, has Quebecers praising his poutine.

“ It’s different than gravy. It’s not like…out of a bag. Chunky. Thick. It’s made with a chef’s special touch.”

The new Gr8ful Spud is open seven days a week for breakfast and dinner, with poutine on both menus. At breakfast it’s dubbed the “Kodiak Attack” and its topped with a fried egg and mushrooms. At dinner there are specialized variations and explorative build-your-own options. They also cater to the Northern vegetarian, offering a vegan mushroom miso in lieu of the poutine sauce , and even vegan cheese.

Their fries are hand cut, the ingredients are all fresh, and everything is made in-house.

The menu extends far beyond their acclaimed poutine. Gr8ful Spud hand-rolls its own pretzels and makes their own pizza dough. Daily soups range from standards like cream of broccoli to more adventurous fare like coconut salmon; specials can be anything from a coconut-crusted catch-of-the-day to a taco bowl.

“ We’re your comfort food experts,” says Klippert.

“ We’re a classy place, but not as classy as the ‘98,” he says, making a joke but also adding a serious note to our conversation. The restaurant makes its home inside the River View Hotel, making the variably-reputed ‘98 bar a close neighbour.

“ Some people are afraid to come here because of ‘98,” Klippert says. “But everyone’s friendly.”

Klippert’s executive chef Rob Stevenson echoes this sentiment.

“ I get hugged to death when I go in there. There’s no one to hide from.”

Both Klippert and Stevenson are thorough Yukoners. Stevenson moved here when he was four-years-old, and Klippert is third generation; his grandparents were gold miners. They’ve both tried living elsewhere — coincidentally, both in Calgary — but continue calling the Yukon home.

And though Klippert is the Gr8ful Spud’s sole owner, he and Stevenson, who additionally owns and runs Word of Mouth Catering, work closely together.

“ We do a lot of dancing on line,” jokes Stevenson, though I get the feeling he isn’t really joking.

“ Now that we have front end staff, we have time to dance again.

“ We’re all full of hugs here,” he says. “If someone’s unhappy we’ll all gather around them in a group hug. Makes everyone happy.”

And with all the hullabaloo that opening of a restaurant requires, it’s easy to imagine a lot of hugs might have been needed.

“ There’s been a lot of 16-hour days,” says Stevenson. “We want things to be quality, so we work hard at what we do.”

Klippert, who lives in a cabin without running water, talks about the joys of coming into town at five a.m. to shower before work.

But they’re both happy to be doing what they’re doing.

“ It’s been a blast,” says Klippert. “It’s a challenge for sure but it’s a lot of fun.”

The pair share such a dynamic repertoire that I’m surprised to learn they weren’t friends before the Gr8ful Spud began.

“ I asked to use their kitchen for catering of my own,” says Stevenson of how he came to work with Klippert. Around the same time , Klippert’s prior partner left the business, so Stevenson stepped in; it was beneficial for both.

“ We were meant to be…partners,” says Stevenson, as Klippert walks past. Both laugh.

The restaurant walls also host work by local artists, all of which is for sale.

“ I just want to help artists out,” says Klippert.

The Gr8ful Spud lives at 102 Wood St. and is open from 8 a . m . through late evening. They are licensed. They have a breakfast menu and a lunch/dinner menu, accompanied by daily specials, which you can always find on their Facebook page.

Saturday features all-day breakfast.

Secret Insider’s Tip: if you find yourself in the men’s washroom, look up. On the ceiling above the stall there are footprints. Ask your server for the story .