Dear Switzerland, Let Me Explain Poutine...
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a drunk Canadian in possession of a large appetite must be in search of poutine.
This is poutine:
(Photo by Shankar S. Licensed through Creative Commons)
According to the legends, poutine was invented by a crazed French Canadian, who, after portaging across the country, fighting beavers and sasquatches, found himself in a restaurant in Quebec with a strange craving for both cheese curds and french fries. Unfortunately--or fortunately, as gastronomy would prove--he could carry only one take-out container with him on his journey back into the vast Canadian wilderness.
And so a delicacy was born.
Traditional poutine consists of three basic ingredients:
1: French Fries - Hot Fresh-cut-deep-fried-crispy-on-the-outside-fluffy-on-the-inside-french-fries
2: Fresh Cheddar Cheese Curds - Important note: These are not orange.
**Shredded cheese is NOT a reasonable substitute!**
3: Gravy - Thick, dark brown and hot enough to melt the cheese.
The young lads from Epic Meal Time do an “international” version that could, with generosity, be regarded as somewhat related to poutine.
True poutine, however, must be made with the original ingredients by naked 40-year-olds drunk on maple syrup, while they chant hockey stats and pray to the gods of congealment--so, it’s easily available in Quebec and Toronto.
Try it next time you're in Canada.
It can't be any worse for you than cheese fondue.