Signature, heart-stopping Canadian dish could be coming to an artery near you

Canada's unofficial signature dish, the artery-clogging indulgence Canucks know as poutine, is becoming an international fried phenomenon.

Take a heaping plate of fries, smother it in cheese curds and then blanket the whole thing with a generous ladle of beef gravy and you get the French-Canadian fare popular in both diners and gastro restaurants. It's also a favorite after-clubbing, late-night snack in Quebec as it's thought to sop up alcohol.

The poutine phenomenon has been slowly making its way across the US. New York's Inn LW12, for example, serves it four ways: classic; topped with spiced pork belly; braised beef, Stilton and red wine sauce; and tomato and cheese curds.

The wintry, carb-loaded plate of fries has also traveled even further abroad to be featured on a menu at Café Mocha in Mumbai's Juhu Beach.

"It's gross, it's messy and it's delicious," reads the menu.

The chain has also taken creative license with the dish - in both culinary and linguistic interpretations. According to the menu, poutine is pronounced "Foo Tayn," and diners can also choose add-ons like pineapple and corn and sliced chicken Frankfurters.

Poutine is actually pronounced as it's spelled, poo-teen.

In a posting on group blog Boing Boing, meanwhile, diner 'Cory Doctorow' points out that poutine has come full circle. While he found poutine in India, he also spotted an Indian version of poutine at a Toronto, Canada restaurant Burger Bar, which offers Saag Poutine: paneer cheese simmered in spices, cream and spinach and served over fries.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs in Washington D.C. also borrowed the idea of a mobile poutine truck - particularly popular in Toronto - to sell the Canadian dish in the US capital.

Eat Wonky Food Truck offers 'Wonky Fries' for $5.50 (4 euros) and describes their version as fresh-cut fries topped with "squeaky cheese and gravy."

Last year, Toronto hosted the first ever World Poutine Eating Championships. Organizers are hosting another event this year but details are scarce.

Fast-food chains Harvey's, New York Fries and Burger King in Canada also offer poutine on their menu.

Visit Food Network Canada for everything from standard poutine to foie gras and dessert poutine recipes.

This site also provides poutine recipes à la Italy, mole sauce and barbecue.

http://www.montrealpoutine.com/recipes.html

http://www.foodnetwork.ca/search/results.html?q=poutine

http://www.mocha.co.in

http://www.theburgerbar.ca/index1.html

http://eatwonky.com/

http://www.theinnlw12.com/dinner.htm