Poutine originated in rural Quebec in the late 1950s. In the basic recipe, the fries are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They’re topped with fresh cheese curds and drenched in either in a light chicken, veal or turkey gravy that is mildly spiced with a dash of pepper; or in a sauce brune, which is a combination of beef and chicken stock. The fresh cheese curds and the gravy are added just before serving, to keep the fries crunchy.