Dear Wendy's

[gsdx]

Dear Wendy's

There is no bacon in poutine. Nor is there pulled pork. In fact, there is no meat in poutine whatsoever. Also, there is no such thing as 'poutine sauce' except for whatever that stuff is that you pour on the fries.

Poutine is French fries, gravy, and cheese curds. No bacon. No pulled pork. No 'sauce'.

See?

Signed,
A concerned poutine-o-holic

 

[Cormac135]

^ That looks disgusting.

 

[FPNY]

Don't diss Wendy's they are only trying to add their own "stink" if you will, to a dish.

 

[vidarr]

I like my fries crispy. Never having poutine before, wouldn't it all just become a pile of mush when you add the gravy?

 

[medic1]

Poutine!.....................

 

[peeonme]

What is the base of the gravy? Is it pork? Just curious.

 

[ronboy]

I am American by birth, but when visiting in Canada, I love to eat poutine!
What's not to love about french fried potatoes, cheese curds, and brown gravy?
It is probably mega-calories, heavy in salt, and fat content, and absolutely delicious!

My only guess it that Wendy's (which is part of Wendy's/Arby's Group, and is headquartered in the Columbus, Ohio suburb of Dublin) is trying to expand poutine sales by offering variations with pulled pork and bacon (which, I have to agree with Neil, seems excessive). Why mess with what works?

 

[JohnnyAnger]

Poutine!.....................

Oh come on, like you wouldn't have it!

I am always amazed its not more of a thing in the North of England - they separately put gravy and cheese on their chips, all they need it a Canadian to come tell them to do that together pretty much.

 

[gsdx]

I like my fries crispy. Never having poutine before, wouldn't it all just become a pile of mush when you add the gravy?

Surprisingly, not. The fries may go soggy, but not mushy.

It isn't soaking in gravy. Just enough to flavour the fries, and the gravy has to be hot in order for the cheese curds to melt.

What is the base of the gravy? Is it pork? Just curious.

I would say chicken gravy is most popular. It's mild enough not to overpower the flavour of the fries and curds.

 

[medic1]

Oh come on, like you wouldn't have it!

I am always amazed its not more of a thing in the North of England - they separately put gravy and cheese on their chips, all they need it a Canadian to come tell them to do that together pretty much.

Trust me Johnny, my feelings about poutine are well known on here...........

 

[Vannie]

*pushes life alert button*

 

[gsdx]

Bacon poutine:

Pulled pork poutine:

 

[FPNY]

What does the cheese curd taste like? Is it cottage cheesy? I imagine the potatoes and gravy are delish...adding bacon even more delish..pulled pork delish as well..all those combos go well together

 

[gsdx]

What does the cheese curd taste like? Is it cottage cheesy?

Pretty much. Cottage cheese is just curd bits with the whey included. Cheese curds are bite-sized pieces which, when fresh, squeak when you chew them. They come in yellow and white. (White is used in poutine.)

 

[ClevelandTodd]

I've had it in Toronto, but have never seen it for sale in Florida. I like it.

 

[FPNY]

sounds like poontang to me..which is something entirely different, but may or may not share the curd ingredient..

 

[NotHardUp1]

I think Wendy's is basically serving smothered fries. They are probably happy to call it poutine to allow gravy as it's the cheapest possible thing they could put on fries.

My sympathies are with the Canucks. Regional cuisine is a thing of pride, and heaven knows I've tasted some shitty fried chicken in Alaska and bad cornbread just about everywhere.

We should leave Tim Horton's to our neighbors to the north and their poutine with them. I don't like the amalgamation of regional foods. Some of the worst BBQ sauce I had in my life was last summer near Toronto and in TWO different local favorites. Words fail.

On the other hand, some of the best was to be had at Rochester. DonQuixote, I am still in your debt for that wonderful meal, and the cheesecake place as well. Thank you again, dear friend.

 

[zoltanspawn]

1) Would this be a problem if a Canadian added bacon to her poutine?

2) What if it was delicious?

 

[SaskGuy]

That's because bacon is a huge fad right now. People literally worship it! Restaurants know that in order to get sheeple in the doors, all they have to do is introduce something with bacon on it.

I love poutine though, but it's surprising just how many non-Canadians will say it looks disgusting without even knowing what it is, and then they'll say "CURDS? EEEW!!!!!!", when in fact, curds are what cheese is before it's pressed into blocks and aged. How could someone be that ignorant to where their food comes from?
I've also been told that gravy on fries sounds disgusting and it probably ruins the fries... that baffled me since fries and gravy are extremely popular here... in the west anyway.

(I saw a CBC archive video from the '80s about poutine becoming popular in Quebec, and one woman basically said she wasn't sure about it at first because it looked like snot! ). So even Quebecers weren't sure at first because of the appearance, and now look how serious they are about it now! )
I'm so glad poutine has exploded in popularity outside Quebec, because when I was a kid, it was almost unheard of here... I can't remember when exactly it started becoming more widely available in the west, maybe late '90s or early 2000s give or take? And even then, it took a long time after that for people to start using cheese curds instead of shredded cheese!

Also, poutine is pronounced almost like putain, which basically means "whore" in French.

 

[gsdx]

1) Would this be a problem if a Canadian added bacon to her poutine?

It would never cross our minds to do such a thing. It would be like topping an apple pie with Brussels sprouts and mustard.