Fast Food Poutine: Pizza Point

Just a quickie post today! I've been up at SFU helping my friend with his MSc project almost every day (feeding adorable fluffy caterpillars.... and waiting for them to die) and so I've had some time to reconnect with campus food. The pizza place up there has started doing poutine and they have some of the BEST fries ever, on par with Mean Poutine and` Coscto. For just over $6, you get this glorious piece of work here. Highly recommend.

Yum!!

Fast Food Poutines

• SFU Mackenzie Cafe
• A&W
• Roo's Pub
• New York Fries
• Pizza Point

Check out the rest here:  Vancouver Poutine

Fast Food Poutine: New York Fries

A couple weeks ago, just after another interview, I treated myself and my driver (my stepsister, thank you Sophia!) to some yummy junk food. New York Fries, which is an entirely Canadian company is a fast food place you can find in just about every food court. I used to work there so I know too much and they have this three step process to cook their fries. It's not that great. I often feel like I have this grainy-sandy feeling in the back of my throat after I eat there but that might just be me because they are popular and everybody likes em.

It always looks good and there's nothing to complain about with that gravy and cheese though! I think their other versions of fry toppings (The Works esp!) are more a reason to go than their classic poutine.

Fast Food Poutines

• SFU Mackenzie Cafe
• A&W
• Roo's Pub
• New York Fries

Check out the rest here:  Vancouver Poutine

POUTINE: Firefighter's Club

IT HAS BEEN SO LONG which is really a good thing because I don't have anywhere to work out anymore D:

BUT. You can't keep me away forever. Branden's parents invited us to go with them and his grandparents for Mother's Day. It is his Grandma and Grandad's favourite place to go and they have their usual spot and their usual meal and it's really cute teehee.

I ordered the Firefighter's poutine (duh!). It was a pulled pork poutine and the fries were AMAZING. The cheese curds were good and the gravy was too. Nothing out of the ordinary but ordinary is tempered by the default awesome for poutine, right? ;D But the fries man, they were super good.

Oh no, I have to rank this now, don't I! I forgot about that apart haha... Let's see...

I have a choice here. I think this was actually good enough to not be considered just "fast food" like Roo's Pub... (Sorry Roo's).

Now looking at this list... It's somewhere on par with Club Ilia and Spud Shack... I think...

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Brado Pizza
4. Mean Poutine
5. Smoke's Poutinerie
6. Zako's Deli
7. The Kaboom Box
8. Club Ilia
9. Firefighter's Club
10. The Spud Shack
11. Belgian Fries
12. Frenchies
13. La Poutinerie
14. Fritz
15. La Belle Patate
16. The Cambie
17. The Metropole Community Pub
18. Dougie Dog

The fries were amazingly good, much better than Spud Shack's, but Club Ilia's gravy and beef were a bit better. It's also got a couple other locations, check out their website!

In case you're interested, here's the address: 6515 Bonsor Ave, Burnaby, BC V5H 3E8

Poutine: Smoke's Poutinerie

I'm going to end this year with my favourite food: poutine! I finally got around to trying Smoke's Poutinerie, which is just past Smithe on Granville street in downtown Vancouver. The prices were average (about $8), all poutine was one size and there is a TON of variety!

I opted for the traditional, but some of my friends got a little more adventurous! Hopefully I remember all the names...

Traditional

Chicken Chili

Country Style

Double Pork

That same week I went again and tried the Double Pork, which includes bacon and pulled pork. The menu is quite extensive and though the boxes appear small when you get them, it is definitely a LOT of food!

Now for the breakdown on the traditional... The gravy was pretty good, but nothing special and the cheese was squeaky, though also nothing special. The fries were also average and got soggy pretty fast. The double pork one was considerably better, though that might just be because of bacon... and pulled pork.

As it stands, I think I have to give some bonus points for the variety which puts it right...

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Brado Pizza
4. Mean Poutine
5. Smoke's Poutinerie
6. Zako's Deli
7. The Kaboom Box
8. Club Ilia
9. The Spud Shack
10. Belgian Fries
11. Frenchies
12. La Poutinerie
13. Fritz
14. La Belle Patate
15. The Cambie
16. The Metropole Community Pub
17. Dougie Dog

I had to think really hard about how it stacked against Mean Poutine, but nothing beats those batter Costco-style fries.

Have you guys been to Smoke's before? Where would you rank it?

(Happy new year by the way! See you next year!)

Poutine: The Spud Shack

Well it has been a long time since I had one of these, hasn't it!? My glorious friend Paul graciously introduced me to this fantastic little place, right by New Westminster skytrain station and it was really good! I wish I'd gotten better photos.

I got a medium for $7, and they also serve beer and other things. I forgot to get a photo of the menu! Sorry!

The gravy was really good and the cheese was actually squeaky! Personally, I don't put a lot of weight on squeaky cheese but I know some people want to know things like that. I actually like stronger tasting cheese, honestly, and it wasn't that melty despite the hot, delicious gravy. The fries were also very light and crispy, which was awesome.

I got the regular poutine, but for all you veggies out there, there is a vegan option and that's pretty cool. I might go back to try that one.

SO, how does this stack up?

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Brado Pizza
4. Mean Poutine
5. Zako's Deli
6. The Kaboom Box
7. Club Ilia
8. Spud Shack
9. Belgian Fries
10. Frenchies
11. La Poutinerie
12. Fritz
13. La Belle Patate
14. The Cambie
15. The Metropole Community Pub
16. Dougie Dog

That's not very high, is it? D: It was really really good though. The problem is,  I remember those other ones being better somehow. This definitely beat the Belgian though, which had great cheese, but watery gravy.

Poutine: Club Ilia

SFU, where I just graduated from, finally got a fancier dining establishment to open up there which is where I found myself when I went up to help my friend invigilate the midterm for the class she's teaching (I have really cool friends <3). I saw poutine on the menu and you know how it is...

We split it between us so the photos shown are half the amount you get. Also this was a beef poutine.

The gravy and the beef were freaking delicious, and the fries were amazing! The cheese was good but it wasn't anything special. For the $12 or whatever the full size came to, this was a good meal.

For its ranking, it fits right in above Belgian Fries. Club Ilia's poutine was of much higher quality in my opinion, and omg those fries.

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Brado Pizza
4. Mean Poutine
5. Zako's Deli
6. The Kaboom Box
7. Club Ilia
8. Belgian Fries
9. Frenchies
10. La Poutinerie
11. Fritz
12. La Belle Patate
13. The Cambie
14. The Metropole Community Pub
15. Dougie Dog

Don't forget the full list is HERE.

Have you been following my poutine adventures? Which one looks the best so far?

Poutine: The Metropole Community Pub

Last Saturday I went out to a place called The Metropole Community Pub on 320 Abbott in Gastown (the touristy part of downtown Vancouver). Poutine was on the menu for $6 so I dove right in.

The fries here were really good and so was the gravy. The cheese didn't taste like anything special but it was perfectly melty. This one was a lot smaller than The Cambie's but it was the same price. Because of the enormous size difference, I'm gonna have to put it under the Cambie.

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Brado Pizza
4. Mean Poutine
5. Zako's Deli
6. The Kaboom Box
7. Belgian Fries
8. Frenchies
9. La Poutinerie
10. Fritz
11. La Belle Patate
12. The Cambie
13. The Metropole Community Pub
14. Dougie Dog

The full list here.

Poutine: The Cambie

I have not been out for a long time! Not for me anyway. On Wednesday the 12th, I walked the stage for my graduation from my Bachelor's of Science degree =3 I'm a biologist now! An unemployed one, but it happened. My friends and I went out after to celebrate being graduated and mostly unemployed.

The Cambie is on 300 Cambie St (SURPRISE) in Vancouver. They serve food nice and late so it's a great place to stay at and have a drink. For the record, I had a Bazooka Joe, my first tequila shot, and I think a velociraptor (with pineapple juice chase). And a long island iced tea. It was fun!

That second photo is so you know just how big this thing was. For $7 +tax that's pretty good!

This was the "traditional poutine" but they had other kinds. As poutines go, it was alright. There was nothing special about it and they tried to add spices. I recommend that if you want a spiced poutine you head over to Zako's Deli. Looking at my list here, all the other poutines had something special about them. This one's on par with Dougie Dog which is not to say that it's bad, not at all! It was just regular. If you're looking for some eats in the night, or someplace where you can drink and eat and talk, take your friends to the Cambie. I'm gonna put it above Dougie Dog, because at a base price of $7, this is definitely bigger. Three of us shared it.

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Brado Pizza
4. Mean Poutine
5. Zako's Deli
6. The Kaboom Box
7. Belgian Fries
8. Frenchies
9. La Poutinerie
10. Fritz
11. La Belle Patate
12. The Cambie
13. Dougie Dog

The full list here.

Fast Food Poutine: Roo's Pub

I talk about Vancouver a lot, but in reality, I live in a suburb about an hour's drive away called Coquitlam. There's not a whole lot to do here but we do have some things. One of them being Roo's Pub (2962 Christmas Way). The best thing about them is their student night with the "Douglas College Burger" - Douglas College being the local one.

For $5 you get a huge burger and for an extra dollar or two, you can make the side of fries poutine!

And here's the burger and fries (a different time)

NOMS!

All in all, it wasn't bad poutine. It was pretty good actually, but nothing special as compared to some of the other ones I've eaten (right?). If you're just craving some, Roo's is a good place for you to go if you're in the area =)

Click here for the full list! <3

Check out Roo's website too!

PS: In five days, I'll be bald! If you've got a little bit of extra moolah, consider sending it to BC Children's Hospital via moi! =D

Poutine: The Kaboom Box

Food truck Wednesday happened at SFU last week!! Guess what I found?

THE FREAKING KABOOM BOX! The last two or three times I've tried to find them and eat, they'd run out or been closed and I had been left sad (and in the rain, thanks Vancouver). BUT NOW...

Hells yea, b*tches! And it's vegetarian! I didn't even know! I LOVE MUSHROOMS. (It came to $6.50 after tax.)

Mushroom gravy is the best guys. Seriously. It is AWESOME. And the cheese was really good stuff. I wish there was more (not that they skimped, no way). On top of that, these fries are AWESOME. They're better than they look and they look pretty good at that!

You're lucky I managed to pause to get a pic halfway through. And Kaboom box has heavy duty biodegradable forks! The entire franchise is impressive and I am definitely up for going back.

Now where does it rank? Hmmm...

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Brado Pizza
4. Mean Poutine
5. Zako's Deli
6. The Kaboom Box
7. Belgian Fries
8. Frenchies
9. La Poutinerie
10. Fritz
11. La Belle Patate
12. Dougie Dog

Click here for the full list <3

The Kaboom Box had WAY better fries than Belgian, but it was not as filling or enormous as Zako's Deli. It earned its place next to the greats though, and I definitely recommend it! Any of you tried anything good lately?

Fast Food Poutine: A-ampersand-W

(Note: the title looks like that because "&" isn't allowed in the box... lame)

Herro!! I hope you guys are ready for some greasy good because A&W put out their wonderful new coupons and they included (OMG) POUTINE! My friend had some bad news, so we staged a kidnapping and snoped her right out from coffee with her mother ;)

As you can see, it came in that generic fast food container but dude, this is one of the better ones! The gravy is amazing! It tasted like it could be chicken gravy, and the cheese curds were the real thing (I got so sick after - I'm lactose intolerant, it's how I tell xP). Somehow, the fries even stayed crispy even after a bit of time soaking in that gravy! Me and my posse were totally impressed... Check us out ;)

$5 coupon ;)

BEST FWIENDS FOR EVAR.

What's your favourite fast food poutine? What should I try next?

Drunken Partay(s)

Alright everyone, I promise THIS IS RELEVANT TO THE BLOG. Because guess what? When my friends do drunken partays, they do drunken poutine partays! (I may be slightly intoxicated writing this post - sorry y'all.)

Anyway, I trekked over to my friend's place on the day of Friday and we made lots of great stuff.

McCain fries and delicious cheese curds!

 Our guest of honour and host with 8 cups of gravy. Eight. Cups. (250ml*8 = 1 L of gravy)

The. Best.

 I honestly had three bowls like this. The gravy was fat-free instant stuff that SAID "poutine" on the packet, it was awesome. I forget where he got the cheese curds but I WILL FIND OUT because I personally intend to make these parties a thing. I recommend not using McCain superfries though, and just going to McDick's or A&W and just ordering huge batches. It still wouldn't cost very much (would it?) or you could ask everyone to bring $2 - $3 to cover cost of fries. There was also bacon. It was amazing. I also discovered Galliano in Coca Cola. Pretty freaking awesome.

The second party I went to was fantastic. I'm just gonna post the highlights because you all totes wanna know 'bout mah gangsta lyfe.

Effin' Gangnam Style!

 And then a drunken group rendition of A Whole New World (Disney's Aladdin). That's how cool we are.

There was no puking! Hurrah!

It was fun! I actually met people and stuff, and had poutine! My poutine buddy (the handsome devil making gravy up there) is leaving me though, so I'm taking applications. Feel free to tweet at him (@pio07phga) and tell him that he is heartless for abandoning me so. Also, make him famous (#PhilippeforPM2015).

Submit below your full name and availability for the Poutine Buddy position.

Poutine: Brado Pizza

Today was a good day for food and for walking AKA not-being-a-walrusing-slob. I planned a date with an old coworker (whom I scarred for life on his second day, and he actually came back talking to me of his own free will xP) and invited some of my poutine-friends =D I had to find a vegetarian option and google led me to Brado Pizza on 1399 Commercial Drive - a fifteen minute walk north from the station.

We went in and got a large poutine pizza (IT IS A THING)... (~$15)

 It was massive. Lookit all these attractive people enjoying this shit...

Ooooh yeah, baby...

Paul is ready to attack this nom. (Ain't he cute?)

Rowr! (My mouth was full of delicious fry)

This is an extra large poutine, which we got after the pizza... I know. It was $11 though =O

Soooooo good. The pizza was a good kick. You would never guess it was completely vegetarian! The owner came by - a Montreal native. I think and he was saying it's real Canadian Pizza, since poutine isn't anywhere else in the world xP He was really adorable. He also deserves waaay more business than he's been getting. He attributed it to Canadian attitude, we need to hear that it's good before we go try something ourselves.

SO HERE IT IS FELLOW CANADIANS AND VANCOUVERITES. It's AMAZEBALLS.

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Brado Pizza
4. Mean Poutine
5. Zako's Deli
6. Belgian Fries
7. Frenchies
8. La Poutinerie
9. Fritz
10. La Belle Patate
11. Dougie Dog

It's not beer gravy, or Dunn's, but dang it was good.

Check the full list here <3

Poutine: Belgian Fries!

1885 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

This is a really nice restaurant, I gotta say. I got the large, which was MASSIVE. If you eat in, they give it to you in a bowl. My friend got the medium size, here's the picture of them side by side.

Halfway...

GONE.

Okay, so the fries were light and fluffy which was great starting out, but means they got soggy quickly. The vegetarian gravy wasn't too bad, though a little weak compared to some very salty/fatty gravies I've had. The cheese is the best I've had so far. It was really freaking good, and in huge chunks. Oh migawd, the cheese. I don't know what else to say about this. It didn't have as strong a flavour as the other ones, but the fries and the cheese put it above Frenchies. Zako's Deli was much more flavourful though, so it's not going higher than that.

1. Dunn's Famous
2. Preston's
3. Mean Poutine
4. Zako's Deli
5. Belgian Fries
6. Frenchies
7. La Poutinerie
8. Fritz
9. La Belle Patate
10. Dougie Dog

Check the updated list here <3

Have you tried this? How was it?