Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

@SqueezeBottle: I think even though Vancouver isn't the birthplace of poutine, it's still a fun post since 1) holy crap, so much poutine! and 2) lots of people live in and visit Vancouver—they might find this information useful. The ratings, photos, and massive poutine gorging contributed to my affinity for this post. If someone did a post rating 12 cheesesteaks in Denver, I'd think that's cool too. ;) (Which reminds me of this cheesesteak crawl a group of people did in NYC.)

Yes, you want to go to Montreal to review poutines. It's about 3500 km to the east.

In fact, the poutine you get in New York is probably more like a real Quebec poutine than whatever you found in Vancouver. They probably served it on a platter of barbecued salmon skin, didn't they? Ah, Vancouver.

Of course, it's just fries with gravy and cheese curds on it, so it's maybe foolish to point at regional differences. For example, I think the Cheesesteak sandwich I had in Philadelphia was arguably no better or worse than ones I've had in Toronto.

Your biggest risk of getting a bad poutine is from a restaurant that makes it with cheddar or whatever instead of cheese curds, because that's what they have on hand.

That all being said, I make no apologies for being one Canadian who thinks poutine is generally kinda gross.

@robobby - The article is certainly not void of interest, but the exercise is a bit futile. I'm a lifelong Montrealer and poutine eater and I can tell just by looking at the pictures that those poutines are not the real deal.

I could do a write-up about eating 12 Montreal pizzas in twelve days and it might even be an interesting read, but it wouldn't change that fact that you can't find good pizza in Montreal.

If you want to do an article on the crap that Canadians put on fries, you should look into Newfoundland fries.

Newfoundland fries have gravy, turkey stuffing, peas, onions, beans... and probably nobody in Newfoundland would ever eat such a thing.

I love you, Phyllis and Kris.

Poutine virgins all think I'm super gross when I describe what poutine is...when in fact it is AWESOME! Is it something you have to experience to understand? Need I some new friends? Maybe it's the way I describe it....

I haven't had poutine of any kind in over 20 years so I'll happily take any variation! As long as the critical ingredients are there - cheese curds, gravy and fries - it's all good, no matter where it's made or eaten.

you must try pomme frites in new york city! it's in st. marks. they make their own sauces, and there are tens of them. i would highly recommend the mexican ketchup and the mango chutney (their most popular).

None of those poutines look right......except Brado's. then again, I get to be kinda snobby because I live in Ottawa and make quick day trips into Quebec all the time.

In my opinion, the best poutines always come from chip trucks. I'm not sure why it's so much better to be eating it outside from a paper tray...the fries are always better, the gravy is so much thicker, and the cheese....well, pick a good chip truck and it's great.

I've heard that there aren't that many chip trucks in the states though? I see the cool specialty trucks described on SE here....but you've got to have the regular ol' fry trucks, right?

Having spent a lot of time in Montreal and other parts of Quebec in the past, I can say that Brado's poutine tastes pretty authentic (given the range of styles and preparations for "authentic" poutine.) I haven't sampled much poutine here in Vancouver until fairly recently. (I'm not really that big on poutine, to be honest).

There seems to be a poutine surge - I can probably attribute it to a critical mass of migrants from Quebec here...also there is a growing awareness and curiousity to this dish here in Vancouver and elsewhere (eg NYC). Martin Picard's foie gras poutine at Au Pied de Cochon is probably the most decadent I have ever had.

the thought of fries, gravy and cheese curds does not tickle my fancy. in fact, it challenges my gag reflex. that's my opinion and if that's a problem, that's my problem. however, that did not detract from my enjoyment from reading about phyllis' poutine adventures in vancouver.

the girl loves food; she does not feign to be a poutine expert. she's just sharing her thoughts. good, clean, fun. so, to all you haters, go rain on your own parade. let the girl and other good spirited bloggers do their thing.

Poutine wasn't invented in Montreal -- it's from Warwick or Drummondville, depending on which story you believe. Just sayin'.

mmmmmmmmmm.......Poutine! Makes me feel dirty just thinkin about it! There's a place here in Manch-vegas New Hampshire that does an adequate one, I may have to visit this weekend!