The food of the gods. Very fat gods with heart trouble, mind, but GODS.

April 24, 2006 5:57 AM

"Ça va faire une maudite poutine."
posted by docgonzo (39 comments total)

In england we call it chips, cheese and baked beans.... mmmmm
posted by Meccabilly at 6:00 AM on April 24, 2006

A number of diners around here (US northeast) have "gravy cheese fries" on the menu. Excellent, and it contributed directly to my "Freshman fifteen eighty".
posted by Plutor at 6:04 AM on April 24, 2006

Here is one of my favourite poutines. Nice and pretentious. (You'll have to scroll down a bit)
posted by LunaticFringe at 6:09 AM on April 24, 2006

With a large serving clocking in at 500 grams of fat, its just the thing to keep you warm at 30 degrees below zero.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:15 AM on April 24, 2006

It's not tragic to die doing eating what you love.
posted by slimepuppy at 6:21 AM on April 24, 2006

Poutine already had a previous post on Mefi (that I can find). But this was before I moved to Montreal. I just thought it was anecdotical.
Man, how wrong I was. The stuff is everywhere, and is definitely part of Quebec gastronomy.
Quite a shock.
posted by denpo at 6:37 AM on April 24, 2006

/me looks glumly at his tub of celery and carrot sticks. cries.
posted by Fezboy! at 6:46 AM on April 24, 2006

Poutine already had a previous post on Mefi

Previous poutinefilter here and here. The first linked thread contains info about (drum roll, please) The World's Biggest Poutine.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 6:58 AM on April 24, 2006

How about the other side of the river from Ottawa? I've been brought up on poutine from "Chez Carlo", and now that I've moved to the Hull sector I'm obviously at "La Pataterie Hulloise". Any good suggestions near there?

I love poutine much more than is healthy, and probably more than is sane, really.
posted by splice at 7:53 AM on April 24, 2006

Not to be confused with Poteen, also spelled as Poitin or potcheen. But they probably would go pretty well together, provided the consumer is not overwhelmed by international palate confusion.
posted by leapfrog at 7:54 AM on April 24, 2006

i still find it so funny that Putin translates to Poutine.
makes for good headlines.
posted by zenzizi at 7:59 AM on April 24, 2006

How is it pronounced, now? Poo-teen?
posted by Baby_Balrog at 8:09 AM on April 24, 2006

Real French Canadians tend to say poo-TSEEN.
posted by languagehat at 8:18 AM on April 24, 2006

Er, I should have just said "French Canadians tend..."; god knows I don't want to be claiming French Canadians who don't affricate their t's aren't "real."
posted by languagehat at 8:19 AM on April 24, 2006

languagehat: The French Canadian I was on the phone with as you posted said "sounds right," but when she says it I hear more

"poo-TSIN"

and she said the French say it differently, but I'm horrible at putting what she said into phonic spelling.
posted by ?! at 8:27 AM on April 24, 2006

Heh...Poutine was never the same after endorsing Dubya.
posted by runningdogofcapitalism at 8:34 AM on April 24, 2006

Mmmm, poutine. Not something you want every day or it would kill you. But very yummy on a cold day...
posted by Zinger at 8:57 AM on April 24, 2006

Anybody knows where I can get a good veggie poutine? With gravy made out of vegetables? In Montreal, so that would make it easy, you'd think.
posted by kika at 9:11 AM on April 24, 2006

Terrible poutine in restaurants in Ottawa. OTOH, excellent poutine from chip carts all over town.
posted by dreamsign at 9:12 AM on April 24, 2006

Kika, go to Le Banquise, corner of Parc Le-Fontaine and Rachel. Open 24 hours.
posted by jon_kill at 9:34 AM on April 24, 2006 [1 favorite]

C'est bon!

*grabs chest*
posted by Smedleyman at 9:44 AM on April 24, 2006

Ahh, le Baunquise. I thought I knew the plateau well, having lived there for about 10 years, before I discovered this wonderful den of iniquity. Another favourite was Mamma's on Pins- the poutine itself was among the worst in the city, but it's available 24 hours, and at 3am you can't go wrong with "Buy 2 get 1 free".
posted by simra at 10:01 AM on April 24, 2006

Dang, I wish they had poutine around here! I'm dying to try some.

So...never been to Canada, but if I want to pick a Canadian city for a walking tour in the wintertime, to work off all that poutine-caloric goodness, the thing to do is eat poutine from a sidewalk cart? Is Montreal the place to do this? What about Toronto, maybe? (Or should I be posting this over in AskMeFi?)
posted by pax digita at 10:02 AM on April 24, 2006

Ah, fond memories of trying to sound cool with the French kids on a summer exchange in high school andsaying poo-tain instead of poo-teen. Not quite the same thing I quickly learned.

Also, "maudite"? Like, Maudite?
posted by GuyZero at 10:09 AM on April 24, 2006

?! got it, although thanks Languagehat for introducing me to the term affricate, spot on!

It can be rather grating on the nerves to hear anglos say poo-TEEN.
posted by furtive at 10:10 AM on April 24, 2006

Sidewalk carts are officially forbidden in Montreal because a previous mayor thought eating on the street was not done. Don't know if they even have Poutine in Toronto, in Quebec City you might have a better chance.

O, and I'll check out Le Baunquise, thanks. Fun to have a 'local' thread on the blue.
posted by kika at 10:12 AM on April 24, 2006

pax digita: Montreal doesn't allow food vendors on the streets. There are plenty of good places to get poutine though, either the ones listed in the FPP or the ubiquitous La Belle Province, where a poutine, 2 hot dogs (steamé) and a pepsi (guy!) will cost you about $5.99.

GuyZero: yeah, maudite like damned good, or méchant like mean.
posted by furtive at 10:15 AM on April 24, 2006

This culinary masterpiece and other mostly French Canadian cultural items are amusingly described in an older booklet called *The Anglo Survival Guide to Quebec.* It is overdone of course, but pretty funny in a good-natured way.
posted by impuls at 10:18 AM on April 24, 2006

Don't know if they even have Poutine in Toronto

you can get fake poutine at Harvey's.
posted by chococat at 10:34 AM on April 24, 2006

you can get fake poutine at Harvey's.

The standards for poutine aren't that high. With the old fries, Harvey's made a mean poutine because their gravy (thanks Swiss Chalet) was of a high quality. Here's a short list of qualities that are worth comparing:

Cheese curds:
-If it's not a cheese curd, then it's not a poutine. If the cheese is grated, it will melt too easily.
-the cheese should squeak when chewed. Soft on the outside, firm on the inside.
-the cheese should not be at the bottom of the poutine, but rather at the top or top and middle if poutine is in a plastic container.

Gravy:
-has to taste good and usually be darker rather than lighter.
-should be of a decent thickness, not runny at all...the gravy should be able to sit on the poutine while still flowing through it, without accumulating all at the bottom.
-should have a bit of spice

Fries:
-peanut oil is best
-thicker than McDonalds, chip truck size is about right.
-skins optional
-potatoes should have a sweet flavour to them.
-no salt please.

That's about it.
posted by furtive at 11:09 AM on April 24, 2006

When I worked at New York Fries in HS, we used to make a reasonably not-horrible immitation poutine. I used to let the fries sit in the last stage a little longer, and add a sprinkle of the house cajun spice on top.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 11:22 AM on April 24, 2006

For a lil' twist, KFC makes a pretty yummy poutine, but Larry's Chips in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario....Cest Magnifique!!!
posted by Shfishp at 2:02 PM on April 24, 2006

Until you can tell us west coast USians where to find poutine, please stop taunting us with its obvious deliciousness!
posted by team lowkey at 3:50 PM on April 24, 2006

Plutor: I feel you. I laugh and shake my head wistfully when people talk about their freshmen 15. 160 - 210 in 4 years, all fueled by 8 month winters and gravy fries.
posted by absalom at 4:37 PM on April 24, 2006

I prefer putain. Probably.
posted by Decani at 7:08 PM on April 24, 2006

Anyone else from southern Ontario want to drive to Montreal with me this weekend for poutine, really excellent smoked meat sandwiches and some bagels? Poutine tastes better in Quebec because of the fresh curds, nothing I've had anywhere else compares. Mmmmmm!
posted by Cyrie at 7:34 PM on April 24, 2006

Don't know if they even have Poutine in Toronto

never had poutine in montreal for comparison's sake, but on st. george street in front of U of T's robarts library is every day parked the "hot dog & fries $3.50" truck that has some seriously killer poutine. meets all of furtive's requirements at least. contributing to my own grad school equivalent of the freshman fifty.
posted by sergeant sandwich at 5:10 AM on April 25, 2006

sorry, i meant in front of sid smith, not robarts.
posted by sergeant sandwich at 5:17 AM on April 25, 2006

Oh, there's plenty of poutine in Toronto. For a taste of Montreal, try Mel's Montreal Delicatessen. But if you really want to punish your arteries, Dangerous Dan's is the place you want to be. Try a Quadruple C: "Collosal Colon Clogger Combo." 24oz burger served with a quarter pound of cheese, a quarter pound of bacon, and 2 fried eggs. Also comes with a large shake (flavor of your choice) and a small poutine.
$ 21.99 (Royale 25.74) With the Royale option, you also get a deep fried mars bar with whipped cream for dessert.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 3:48 PM on April 28, 2006