Editing Poutine (section)

==Cultural aspects==
A cultural marker, poutine had long been Quebec's adored junk food before spreading across the rest of Canada and the United States.<ref name="poutinedynamics" /><ref name="BlitzVive" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Vive la Poutine |work=Gastropost |publisher=[[National Post]] |url=http://gastropost.nationalpost.com/vivelapoutine |access-date=5 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205032140/http://gastropost.nationalpost.com/vivelapoutine |archive-date=5 February 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> It had by then made inroads with food critics and established culinary circles, challenging its junk food status.<ref name="poutinedynamics" /> Food critic [[Jacob Richler]] noted in 2012 that Canadian dishes are too similar to their European roots to be considered original, with the exception of poutine, which he credited as the country's most famous culinary creation.<ref name="RichlerIncludes"/> In May 2014, the word "poutine" was added to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'' of the English language.<ref name="foodrepublic.com"/>

In 2007, the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] declared the results of an online survey on the [[The Greatest Canadian Invention|greatest Canadian inventions]], in which poutine ranked at {{abbr|No.|number}}&nbsp;10.<ref name="SekulesStaple"/> ''[[Maclean's]]'' 2017 survey of "favourite iconic Canadian food" placed poutine first with 21% of respondents, ahead of maple syrup with 14%.<ref name="JehaHistory" /> By 2011, media outlets were reporting 11&nbsp;April as National Poutine Day.<ref name="BallaDay" /><ref name="JehaHistory"/><ref name="CiotoliDay"/>

[[File:Canada Day Trafalgar Square poutine.jpg|thumb|A poutine stand sign styled as the [[Flag of Canada]] during [[Canada Day]] celebrations in [[Trafalgar Square]]]]
In March 2016, poutine was served at the White House during the first state dinner hosted by President [[Barack Obama]] and Canada's Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]].<ref name="SietsemaState"/> Poutine has been a highlight of [[Canada Day]] celebrations in Trafalgar Square in London, England, for several years<!--drawing a crowd of about 100k people-->,<ref name="PerreauxCanada"/> and was a [[comfort food]] for the local community after the 2013 [[Lac-Mégantic derailment|Lac-Megantic derailment]].<ref name="LoriggioMegantic"/> It was served at the [[1st Canadian Comedy Awards|inaugural Canadian Comedy Awards]].<ref name="Niester2000">
{{cite web
|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-night-for-the-groucho-glasses/article1038491/
|title=A night for the Groucho glasses
|work=The Globe and Mail
|publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc.
|location=Toronto
|first=Alan
|last=Niester
|date=7 April 2000
|access-date=23 May 2018
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180802143723/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-night-for-the-groucho-glasses/article1038491/
|archive-date=2 August 2018
}}
</ref>

The first poutine festival was held in Warwick, Quebec, in 1993. This annual event expanded to become the largest cheese festival in Canada.<ref name="VermaSticky"/> In 2014, it was moved to the larger town of [[Victoriaville]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.laterre.ca/actualites/le-festival-de-fromages-de-warwick-demenagerait-a-victoriaville.php|title=Le Festival de fromages de Warwick déménagerait à Victoriaville… {{!}} La Terre de Chez Nous|date=25 September 2014|newspaper=La Terre de Chez Nous|language=fr-FR|access-date=23 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202004300/http://www.laterre.ca/actualites/le-festival-de-fromages-de-warwick-demenagerait-a-victoriaville.php|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Montreal has hosted [[La Poutine Week]], an annual festival, food tour, and competition held 1–7&nbsp;February, since 2013.<ref name="GazetteWeek" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Creative chefs offer take on fries, curds and gravy during La Poutine Week |work=Metro News |date=31 January 2015 |url=http://metronews.ca/food/1272370/creative-chefs-offer-take-on-fries-curds-and-gravy-during-la-poutine-week/ |access-date=1 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531225327/http://metronews.ca/food/1272370/creative-chefs-offer-take-on-fries-curds-and-gravy-during-la-poutine-week/ |archive-date=31 May 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="HaldaneWeek" /> It spread across Canada and internationally, and by 2021 had become the largest poutine festival in the world, with over 700 restaurants serving more than 350,000 poutines.<ref name="DemontisLifeline2021"/><ref name="Suburban2021"/><ref name="HumDelivery2021"/> Le Grand Poutinefest is a poutine festival founded in 2015 which tours cities and towns in Quebec, operating most weekends from April to September.{{r|"Chaar2024"|"Renfrew2023"|"Sciola2022"}} Poutine festivals are also held in Drummondville (since 2008),<ref name="JohnstonInventor" /><ref name="GazetteDrummondvilleFestival" /><ref name="LeaderDrummondville" /> Ottawa-Gatineau,<ref name="poutinedynamics" /> Toronto,<ref name="JehaHistory"/> Calgary,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calgarypoutine.com/|title=Victoria Poutine Week Oct 16–22|website=Poutine with purpose|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002064910/http://www.calgarypoutine.com/|archive-date=2 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Vancouver,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/2019/01/11/la-poutine-week-vancouver-bc-2019/ |title=La Poutine Week B.C. Offers a solid 7 days of poutine indulgence |access-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112095102/https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/2019/01/11/la-poutine-week-vancouver-bc-2019/ |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live  |date=11 January 2019 }}</ref> Moncton,<ref name="SeeleyMoncton2025" /> Quebec City and Sherbrooke.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lapoutineweek.com/ |title=Official #LaPoutineWeek – Semaine de La Poutine Week 2014 |publisher=LapoutineWeek.com |access-date=15 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612172542/http://lapoutineweek.com/ |archive-date=12 June 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>  In the US, major festivals have been held in Chicago, Illinois,<ref name="GollnerBest"/><ref name="KnightFest"/> Manchester, New Hampshire,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nhpoutinefest.com/ |title=NH PoutineFest |access-date=21 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326104410/http://www.nhpoutinefest.com/ |archive-date=26 March 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Knoxville, Tennessee, and in Rhode Island.<ref name="foodrepublic.com"/><ref name="BrobeckKnoxville"/><ref name="RhodeIsland"/>

[[File:JoeyChestnutPoutine.jpg|thumb|[[Joey Chestnut]] holds the trophy at the 2012 World Poutine Eating Championship in Toronto.]]
Since 2010, the [[International Federation of Competitive Eating]] (IFCE) has held a world poutine-eating championship sponsored by Toronto-based chain [[Smoke's Poutinerie]]. There was criticism that the inaugural contest was held outside of Quebec and excluded Québécois. The IFCE stated that Montreal poutineries had not expressed any interest in holding the competition. Regulations for contests in Quebec make it difficult to include the province, which is often absent from national contests.<ref name="SchwartzContest"/> Smoke's has since sponsored a cross-Canada poutine eating tour.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/10/world-poutine-eating-championship-crowns-an-american-winner-canadians-heartbroken.html |title=American wins world poutine eating championship, Canadians heartbroken |last=O'Neil |first=Lauren |date=6 October 2014 |work=[[CBC News]] |access-date=27 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111122512/http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/10/world-poutine-eating-championship-crowns-an-american-winner-canadians-heartbroken.html |archive-date=11 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, chef [[Chuck Hughes (chef)|Chuck Hughes]] won on ''[[Iron Chef America]]'' (episode 2 of [[List of Iron Chef America episodes#Season 9: 2010-2011|season 9]]) by beating [[Bobby Flay]] with a plate of lobster poutine.<ref name="CBCIron"/>

[[Jones Soda]] Co., an originally Canadian company now based in the US, created a poutine-flavoured limited-edition soft drink in 2013, which received international [[popular culture|pop culture]] attention.<ref name="SibonneySoda"/> Bacon-poutine was one of four flavours selected as a finalist in the 2014 [[Lay's]] Canada Do Us A Flavour potato chip contest.<ref name="LaysFinalists"/><!--primary source, press release--> Though it did not win,<ref>{{cite news |title=Calgary man wins potato chip contest with 'Jalapeno Mac N' Cheese' flavour |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/calgary-man-wins-potato-chip-contest-with-jalapeno-mac-n-cheese-flavour-1.2063290 |access-date=3 November 2014 |date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029022641/http://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/calgary-man-wins-potato-chip-contest-with-jalapeno-mac-n-cheese-flavour-1.2063290 |archive-date=29 October 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Lay's later added a bacon-poutine variety in its Canada entry for the World Flavourites.<ref name="KwanLays"/> Loblaws' [[President's Choice]] and [[Ruffles (potato chips)|Ruffles]] brands also offer poutine-flavoured potato chips in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |title=PC World of Flavours Poutine Flavour Rippled Potato Chips |publisher=Loblaw Companies Limited |url=http://www.presidentschoice.ca/en_CA/products/productlisting/pc-world-of-flavours-poutine-flavour-rippled-potato-chips12.html |access-date=11 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712210040/http://www.presidentschoice.ca/en_CA/products/productlisting/pc-world-of-flavours-poutine-flavour-rippled-potato-chips12.html |archive-date=12 July 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
Giapos Ice Cream of New Zealand has served a "poutine ice cream" of [[oolong]] [[matcha]] tea, ice cream and caramel sauce over hand-cut fries since 2017.<ref name="RudinIcecream" /> 
In a 2018 promotional campaign for the film ''[[Crazy Rich Asians (film)|Crazy Rich Asians]]'', "the world's richest poutine" was created with [[wagyu]] steak, lobster, truffles, shiitake and chanterelle mushrooms, edible orchids, and gold flakes, priced just under $450.<ref name="RudinRichest" />

[[Joel Edmundson]], of the 2018–19 [[National Hockey League]] [[2018–19 St. Louis Blues season|champion team]] [[St. Louis Blues]], ate poutine from the [[Stanley Cup]] during celebrations attended by over 4,000 fans in his hometown of [[Brandon, Manitoba]].<ref name="KhanBrandon"/><ref name="ThompsonBrandon"/><ref name="CrabbBrandon"/> [[Mathieu Joseph]], a [[Chambly, Quebec]], native who won the Cup with the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] in [[2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning season|2020]] and [[2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning season|2021]], also ate poutine from the Cup during a celebration with the Cup in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Laframboise|first=Kalina|date=16 August 2021|title=Say cheese! Lightning forward Mathieu Joseph eats poutine out of Stanley Cup {{!}} Globalnews.ca|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8115286/tampa-joseph-poutine-stanley-cup/|access-date=18 August 2021|website=Global News|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817234615/https://globalnews.ca/news/8115286/tampa-joseph-poutine-stanley-cup/|url-status=live}}</ref>