Shis thsue: (Y Sci-fi and fantasy celebrities invade Vancouver And more! Poutine on the ritz » Serving up delicious variations all across Vancouver Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer outine is a delicious Canadian treat we've all experienced at one point or another. It’s not just for tourists anymore; practically every restaurant has poutine available. The standard “gravy, fries, and cheese curds” isn’t even where the line is drawn. Many places, especially in Vancouver, serve several forms of poutine. Sure, you can just go to White Spot or even McDonald’s to get your poutine fix—or you can try out a specialty place. The Lower Mainland features many spots to expand your poutine horizons. Belgian Fries: Located on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. This place serves over a dozen types of poutine— everything from pulled pork to butter chicken. They also feature a wide selection of alcohol, other meals, and even deep-fried Mars chocolate bars! The portions are huge, and the restaurant’s specialty in fries ensures this is some of the most delicious poutine : on the list. As a bonus, all the : gravy used is vegetarian. Spud Shack: Steps away : from the New Westminster : SkyTrain station and popular : with Douglas College students, : this one is a fun place to hang : out and also features a great : selection of food, drinks, and : alcohol as well as 10 different : types of poutine. The specialty : poutines vary, but the original : is always pleasing. On Mondays : : all the poutines are 50 per : : cent off—allowing a delicious, : inexpensive, and gut-busting : meal experience. Smoke’s Poutinerie: : complain. They have meat- : lovers, vegetarian, and other : exotic types of poutine—all : : hot, fast, and freshly made. The : : Perogy Poutine is one of the : most delicious meals I’ve ever : had. If the quality of the food : isn’t enough, they’re open until : 4.a.m. on weekends. It’s heaven : after a night out downtown. La Belle Patate: Found on Davie Street in the West : End. This restaurant has an : authentic Montreal-style ; poutine atmosphere, with a : menu also featuring delicious (¥ DIY Beauty: Make your own foundation powder (Y Meatless Monday: Vegetarian sloppy joes : smoked meat sandwiches and : hot dogs. Twenty-six kinds of : poutine are available, including : odd, but no less delicious : ones such as breakfast, donair, : and hot dog. Perhaps the : closest you can get to having a : Quebec poutine experience in : Vancouver. And if you're really : hungry and enthusiastic, they : have an all-you-can-eat option. : It’s a real heart-stopping experience! Mean Poutine: Serving : upa fine, very good poutine on : Nelson Street, downtown. This : one “only” has seven types on : : the menu, plus a build-your- : Right in the heart of downtown : : on Granville Street. They only own option. They also have : an assortment of specialty hot : serve one type of food, but with : : around 20 variations you can't dogs such as the mac-and- : cheese dog, and are open until : 4a.m. for all those late-night : munchies. It’s sort of a no-frills : poutine option. It’s not the best poutine ever, but it’s delicious, : and it’s there when you crave it. Costco: Sure, it’s not as fancy as any of the other : options on this list. But you get : a big slab of fries, gravy, and : cheese curds in that cafeteria : for less than five bucks. Why : not add ona hot dog and drink : if you're really hungry? It’s not : glamorous, but it’s good food, : and the price is right. www.theotherpress.ca Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Brittney MacDonald, Life & Style Editor Mlifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca Image from Thinkstock Relic’s reason to celebrate » Local video game design studio has a belated party to celebrate its newest release : the studio, HR to artists, to let : loose and converge on Venue : nightclub on Granville Street. Brittney MacDonald Life & Style Editor M lifeandstyle @theotherpress.ca L°2 video game design studio Relic Entertainment finally had its wrap party for to their award-winning game, Company of Heroes 2, a real- time strategy game for the PC. The expansion, which takes place during the Battle of the Bulge, came out in November of last year to mixed consumer price tag. But the quality of the game play was never in debate. Febuary 20 saw a break from all that, allowing employees from all sides of No expense was spared as : employees were treated to a : free raffle and complimentary : drink tickets. Though free drink tickets : were limited for most staff, Ardennes Assault, an expansion : Jead designers were given : bracelets to grant them access : to free booze the entire night— : : and they certainly weren't stingy when it came to sharing! : Venue was decorated for : the occasion, featuring large : banners depicting World War reviews, mainly due to the high : I] era battle scenes (Company : of Heroes 2 takes place during : WWII), and balloons and : lights in yellow and black, : which are the signature Relic : colours. Venue also catered : the event, breaking out its : signature pulled pork sliders, : a definite fan favourite of the : crowd; and “sushi bites” which : were actually closer to onigiri : (traditional Japanese rice : balls) than they were to sushi. : Nevertheless, they were very : good and featured a number of : delicious combinations such as : avocado and lime, and smoked salmon and cream cheese for : the true Vancouverites. For those a little wary of the dance floor, one of the : lounges was converted into : a game room, complete with Street Fighter 3 tournament. Altogether it was a wonderful send-off to a project : that all the Relic staff can be : proud of. PTAA TI, Pre oe ee ARDENNES *ASSAULT Image by Relic Entertainment