Let me preface this post by saying I enjoyed a lovely risotto this evening, so I do have some culinary taste. And ask matt_mcl about my Saltimbocca. 
I say “Bill 101” because it was the original French-language law on Quebec, which also affected commercial signs. (Things have since changed a bit.)
Poutine. Our national treasure. I hate to say “national” since Quebec isn’t a nation, although many here think it is.
Before you tell me this is gross, let me state that I’ve seen many an American eating “cheese fries” or “chili cheese fries,” which are french fries with melted Cheez-Whiz on them, and/or with bad chili.
Poutine. Food of the Gods. French fries, cheese curds, and gravy. (Well, the gravy is more often than not “BBQ chicken sauce,” which here is not goopy ketchup stuff, but just a spicy kind of gravy.) The french fries must be just crisp enough on the outside, and just tender enough on the inside. The cheese curds must be well-chilled, so that they won’t melt too much when the sauce is poured over. That way, the cheese curds still squeak when you bite into them. And it must be eaten with the plastic fork you got with your order.
Junk food, yes, but a hearty (albeit unbalanced) meal, and the best thing to prevent a hangover. Long live poutine!
(Do a Google search if you want more info.)
The first time I had poutine was on a road trip with my parents in the Gaspé. I was immediately addicted.
There’s a diner right around the corner where I can get a huge poutine to go for about $4, plus tip. Hits the spot in a pinch. On top of that, all of the fast-food restaurants in Quebec (and in other parts of Canada) feature poutine on their menus. Surprisingly, McDonald’s poutine is pretty good, but definitely not the best.
If poutine were more readily available in North America, I think office absenteeism would decrease substantially.
- s.e.
