Wayfare Tavern's Poutine

Carina Ost

From Wayfare Tavern's new fall menu: Poutine with short rib, truffle Jack cheese, and veal jus, $12.

In case you missed it, last week was Thanksgiving Day in Canada. We can't say we know what Canadians eat on the big day, but we do know what our favorite Canadian dish is: poutine.

The Québécois dish of French fries drenched in gravy and cheese (curds, usually) is popular all over Canada, from greasy spoons to fast food chains, and has found its way into the U.S.A. We believe it is THE perfect drunk food. And though we're kind of dying to try poutine made with perfectly limp McDonald's fries, we've fallen in love with a local version classed up to the umpteenth degree.

Featured on Wayfare Tavern's week-old fall menu is a poutine like no other: braised short rib, French fried potatoes, truffle Jack cheese, and veal jus ($12). It's rich as hell, decadent as can be, and pungent, since the aroma of truffles works its way into your nose. The only version that comes close is the one at Salt House, with short rib gravy and Bravo Farms cheddar, but Wayfare Tavern's is better.

What do you think? Feel free to share tips on other San Francisco poutine-packing establishments in the comments. You can do it, put some poutine into it! We love the poutine.

Wayfare Tavern: 558 Sacramento (at Leidesdorff), 772-9060.