Ah poutine, that's where I'm a viking!
I'm going to start by clarifying some guidelines of what constitutes poutine:
- cheese curds
- poutine style gravy (which doesn't necessarily have to contain meat products)
- french fries that have been twice cooked, meaning first cooking them at a lower temperature to soften the potatoes, then frying them hotter to crisp the outside
That said, adding things like pulled pork, bacon, or whatever else you like is all fine, as long as the above ingredients aren't altered in any way.
Therefore, if we are playing by the rules, Popeye's, McDonald's, or any other place that serves "poutine" without cooking the fries twice is serving fries with cheese curds and gravy. Not poutine.
Smoke's is where I go, though nothing quite stacks up to QC mom 'n pops, or even chains like Chez Ashton.
I have had some "offerings" from other places, which I wouldn't personally classify as poutine. I didn't mind the product McDonald's claims is poutine (it isn't!). I found the cheese curds and gravy to both be quite up to par, though while I don't dislike McFries, they aren't suited to making poutine.
Popeye's fries even less so, as they have cajun seasoning!
Not saying they don't taste great, but let's not pretend Spumante Bambino is Champagne.
End rant.
