It's said the word "poutine" comes from French-Canadian slang for "mess." That describes the look of the dish made up of medium-thick fries, topped with squeaky-fresh cheese curds and a light brown chicken or turkey gravy. It tastes so much better than it looks.
Poutine hails from Quebec, where the warming dish is traditionally served at ski resorts and hockey games, as well as at small town restaurants, bars, and diners. Here in D.C. it's strangely popular at English-style taverns, despite its French-Canadian origins. But, to be fair, the dish that likely inspired poutine (cheese, chips, and gravy) does indeed hail from Great Britain.
Poutine purists, beware: D.C. is also home to an impressive number of riffs on the dish that incorporate ingredients like butter chicken, latkes, funnel cakes, tots, and even steak and eggs. Check out these 17 places to find poutine, ranging from traditional to creative versions.
This post has been updated by Eater staff
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