The Vancouver Foodster 5th annual Poutine Challenge was a great success featuring unique creations at restaurants around Vancouver and Maple Ridge. Each restaurant featured their creation on their menu from February 4-28, 2016. and their customers voted for their favourites daily throughout the challenge.
Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Sonia Beeksma, Sherman Chan and James Chung.
The Winners are:
1st Place:
Q Shi Q Japanese BBQ

Kushi Q-Tine
Description: Grilled Foie Gras, Cheese Curd Infused Korokke Skewers, Duck & Dashi Gravy
Price: $11.00
Created by: Collaborative effort by Owner Duane McGaw, Chef Hiro Amano & Sous Chef Alvin Su
Offered: Dinner Service, Monday-Saturday 5PM onwards
Q Shi Q Japanese BBQ
159 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Tel: 604-428-7744
Twitter @QshiQJapanBBQ
Instagram: qshiqjapanbbq

Chef Hiro Amano & Sous Chef Alvin Su and Owner Duane McGaw
2nd Place:
La Brasserie

Truffled Poutine
Price: $9
Description: Kennebec Frites, Cheese Curds, Chicken Gravy, Truffle Oil
Created by: Chef Kai Sengewitz
Offered: Dinner, Late Night
La Brasserie
1091 Davie Street, Vancouver
Tel: (778) 379-5400
Web: http://www.labrasserievancouver.com/
Twitter: @La_Brasserie
Instagram: labrasserievancouver
3rd Place:
Thai Confusion

Thai Poutine 2.0 with soft shell crab
Description: the mix of thai traditional curry flavour and the pacific ocean.
Price: $13
Created by: Tai Keattivanichvily
Offered: All the time.
Thai Confusion
117 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 559-8385
Web: http://www.thaiconfusion.com/
Twitter @ThaiConfusion
Instagram: thaiconfusion

Tai, Jessica, Mun, Joe and Stephen
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Poutine Creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
La Brasserie
Truffled Poutine
Price: $9
Description: Kennebec Frites, Cheese Curds, Chicken Gravy, Truffle Oil
Created by: Chef Kai Sengewitz
Offered: Dinner, Late Night
La Brasserie
1091 Davie Street, Vancouver
Tel: (778) 379-5400
Web: http://www.labrasserievancouver.com/
Twitter: @La_Brasserie
Instagram: labrasserievancouver
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Q Shi Q Japanese BBQ
Kushi Q-Tine
Description: Grilled Foie Gras, Cheese Curd Infused Korokke Skewers, Duck & Dashi Gravy
Price: $11.00
Created by: Collaborative effort by Owner Duane McGaw, Chef Hiro Amano & Sous Chef Alvin Su
Offered: Dinner Service, Monday-Saturday 5PM onwards
Q Shi Q Japanese BBQ
159 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Tel: 604-428-7744
Twitter @QshiQJapanBBQ
Instagram: qshiqjapanbbq
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Golden Ears Cheescrafters

Farmers Feast Poutine
Price: $10.95
Description: Fresh Baked Fries with Bacon, Roasted Corn, Fresh made Chipotle Cheddar Curds, smothered in 48-hour Wheat Free Beef Gravy and topped with Green Onions.
Created by: Chef Chelsea Ferguson
Offered: All the time
Golden Ears Cheescrafters
22270 128th Avenue, Maple Ridge
Tel: (604) 467-0004
Web: http://cheesecrafters.ca/
Twitter: @goldenearscheez
Instagram: goldenearscheesecrafters
Thank you to all the chefs and restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured the Poutine Challenge on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning restaurants to try their Poutine creations! See all the 10 Poutine Challenge entries here.
By: Richard Wolak