Welcome to the 3r^d annual Vancouver Foodster Poutine Challenge. Restaurants from all over the city were invited to enter their poutine into this challenge, most of the restaurants have created a special poutine just for this challenge. Each restaurant will be featuring their poutine on their menu from February 7-28, 2014.

How Does this all Work? Well, this is a public challenge, you are invited to go out and order any or all of the poutines in this challenge, then you decide who you think has the best poutine creation.

Share your experiences: Tweet (and don’t forget to tweet or instagram your photos) throughout the challenge, our twitter address is @vanfoodster and the hashtag is #PoutineChallenge please include this hashtag in all your tweets during the challenge.

Voting criteria –  some things to help you judge your favourite poutine’s – keep these things in mind: originality, creativity, uniqueness, traditional, non-traditional, price, value and most importantly taste.

Get some friends together and make a night of it, visit 3 restaurants or more to share and taste the different poutines or go solo or with a friend – just remember to VOTE for your favourites between February 7 – 28, 2014. 

Watch –> Richard Wolak interviewed on CBC News “Poutine Challenge”

Here are the 12 Poutine dishes in this challenge, listed in no particular order other than when they were received by us.

Vij’s Rangoli

Paneer Poutine with Spicy Pulled Pork

Price: $13

Created by: Chef Meeru Dhalwala

Description: Cassava “Mogo” Fries with Spicy Pulled Pork, House-Made Jalapeño Paneer and Bengali Gravy

Offered: Available all day for regular price and during Happy Hour 3 – 6 Mon – Fri $12

Vij’s Rangoli

1488 W 11 Ave, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 736-5711

Web:  http://vijsrangoli.ca/

Twitter: @Vijs_Rangoli

 

American Grille

 

Okonomi Poutine

Price: $12.95

Created by: Chef Ramon Victoria

Description: Fries with teriyaki braised short rib, Japanese mayo, shichimi spice, nori, Bulldog sauce, yellow cheddar and mozzarella cheese, and sliced green onion

Offered: Lunch and dinner

American Grille

7571 Westminster Highway, Richmond

Tel: 604-232-2804

Web: http://americangrille.blogspot.ca/

Twitter: @GrilleYVR

 

Harold’s

Triple Dip Poutine

Price: $12.00

Created by: Chef Tim Vu

Description: Kennebec fries with spinach and artichoke dip, oven dried tomatoes, gravy, and fried spinach

Offered: Lunch and dinner

Harold’s Bistro & Bar

7551 Westminster Hwy, Richmond

Tel: (604) 233-3968

Web: http://www.sheratonvancouverairport.com/harolds-bistro

Twitter: @HaroldsBistro

 

Kingston Taphouse

Red Wine Braised Beef Cheek Poutine

Price: $8

Created by: Chef Simon McLeod and Jay Troop

Description: Merlot braised Albertain beef cheeks, house cut fries, caramelized onions, fresh cheese curds, and pickled mushrooms

Offered: all day

Kingston Taphouse and Grille

755 Richards Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-681-7011

Web: http://kingstontaphouse.com/

Twitter: @TheKingstonPub

 

Pier 73 Restaurant

Steak O Fungi Poutine

Price: $13

Created by: Sous Chef – Dharm Deo

Description: 3oz Grilled Spring Creek Flat Iron Steak, fresh cut kennebec fries, pickled mushrooms, cheese curds, fried buttermilk onions, & red wine jus

Offered: 11am to Midnight daily

Pier 73 Restaurant

3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond

Tel: (604) 276-1954

Web: http://www.pier73.com/

Twitter:@Pier_73

 

Locus Restaurant

Locus Wild Boar, Foie Gras and Crackling Poutine

Price: $18

Created by: Chef Segar Kulasegarampillai

Description: Pulled wild boar poutine with pork cracklings and topped with seared foie gras.

Offered: Dinner (5pm to 10pm Tuesday to Saturday).

Locus Restaurant

4121 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-708-4121

Web: http://www.locusonmain.com/

Twitter: @locusonmain

 

Federico’s Supper Club

Poutine all’Italiano

Price: $14

Created by: a collaborative staff effort

Description: house made fries, Romano bean gravy, melted fontina cheese, local Italian sausage, rosemary

Offered: Wednesday – Sunday evenings from 530pm (closed Mondays & Tuesdays).  Limited availability on Friday & Saturday evenings.

Federico’s Supper Club

1728 Commercial Drive

Web: http://www.federicossupperclub.com/

Twitter: @FedericosClub

 

Buckstop

Buckstop Double Smoked Poutine

Price: $11

Created by: Chef Henry Besser Rosenberg

Description: Smoked PEI grass fed beef brisket, cold smoked cheese curds, horseradish gravy, kennebec fries

Offered: Available 7 days a week from 430 til 2 am- Sunday til midnite

Buckstop

833 Denman Street, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 428-2528

Web: http://buckstop.ca/

Twitter: @BuckstopDenman

 

Catch 122

The Hoppy Hog

Price: $10.00

Created by: Chef Ian Errington

Description: Driftwood beer braised wild boar, crispy rosemary polenta fries, house-smoked Birchwood Dairy cheese curds, Fat Tug IPA wild boar gravy

Offered: all the time including brunch.

Catch 122

122 West Hastings Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-731-3474

Web:  http://catch122.com/

Twitter: @catch122

Calabash Bistro

Pepperpot Poutine

Price: $13

Created by Chef Culin David

Description: Jerk fries smothered in slow cooked Beef cooked in cassareep herbs and spices and finished with crisp jerk pork belly and Brie cheese.

Offered: The poutine will be available every evening.

Calabash Bistro

428 Carrall Street, Vancouver

Web:  http://calabashbistro.com/

Twitter: @calabashbistro

 

Tangent Café

 

Malaysian Poutine

Price: $9

Created by: Chef Parm Bains

Description: Malaysia meets Montreal! Our signature chicken curry sauce, served over our house fries and sprinkled with fresh cheese curds.

Offered: Night menu only, Wednesday – Sunday after 3 PM.

Tangent Café

2095 Commercial Dr, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 558-4641

Web: http://tangentcafe.ca/

Twitter: @TangentCafe

 

Roots Cafe

Butter Chicken Poutine

Price: $9.95

Created by: Chef Simran Virk

Description: Golden crispy fries topped with chunky cheese curds and our house made butter chicken garnished with chopped cilantro, red onion pearls and ground chili sauce.

Offered: All the time.

Roots Cafe

6502 Main St, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 568-8303

Web: http://rootscafe.ca/

Twitter: @RootsCafeVan

Make sure you pick up one of the Poutine Challenge postcards available at each of the participating restaurants and keep a record of your favourite Poutine. Remember to Vote for your favourites daily, all the voting details are at https://vancouverfoodster.com/poutine-challenge/

By: Richard Wolak