Mapo tofu poutine at Haikan ramen shop. (Photo courtesy of Haikan)

By DCist contributor Emelyn Rude

Dish of the Week: Poutine
Where to Get It: Haikan, DGS Delicatessen, District Distilling, Taco Bamba, Elephant & Castle

Don’t let the recent warm weather fool you. Fall has fallen on D.C. and winter is not far behind. That means it’s time to start hunting for foods that will get us through the colder months ahead.

Of all the hearty dishes out there, poutine is probably the most perfect. Refined at greasy spoons and hockey rinks throughout the great nation of Canada, this heavy combination of French fries, gravy, and cheese curds is popping up in wonderful and unexpected ways in Washington.

For those looking for an Eastern-European twist, DGS Delicatessen (1317 Connecticut Ave, NW and 2985 District Ave, Fairfax) offers a potato latke poutine topped with gravy, farmers’ cheese, and green onion.

Taco fans can munch on La Poutina, a tortilla topped with fries, barbacoa jus, and Cotjia cheese, at Taco Bamba in Virginia (2190 Pimmit Drive, Falls Church or 164 Maple Ave West, Vienna).

Shaw’s new ramen joint Haikan (805 V St NW) also takes the dish in new directions with their Mapo tofu poutine, which is French fries smothered with a mix of Szechuan peppercorn, ground chicken, and mozzarella curds. It’s unusual and also delicious.

For those looking to stick with the classics, the District has got you covered as well. Canadian chain Elephant & Castle (1201 Pennslyvania Ave NW) offers guests a whole “Poutinerie” section on their menu, while the folks at the new District Distilling (1414-1418 U St NW) serve up a late-night pork shoulder poutine with smoked pork shoulder curly fries, bourbon debris gravy, and crispy cheese curds to the hungry bar-goers who happen to stick around after 11 p.m.

The days are getting colder my friends, and there’s no better way to cope with that than a giant plate of French fries, gravy, and cheese.