The exact origin of the name is unknown, but some believe it is derived from the English word "pudding", used in the slang sense of "a mess" or in the sense of "dessert".
Poutine is a fast-food staple in Quebec, and is sold by nearly all fast-food chains in the province, as well as by smaller diners. International chains like McDonalds, A&W and Burger King sell poutine in (and increasingly outside of) Quebec, but their product is scorned by many as being an inferior reproduction. A common variation, Italian poutine, substitutes gravy with spaghetti sauce. Some restaurants boast a dozen or more variations of poutine.
When ordering a fast-food trio or combo in Québec, you can almost always pay a small extra to get your french fries replaced by a poutine.
In 2000, comedian Rick Mercer persuaded then-presidential candidate George W. Bush to congratulate his "good friend Jean Poutine" on his reelection as Prime Minister of Canada. The then-prime minister's name was Jean Chrétien. The segment aired as a Talking To Americans sketch on the political satire show This Hour Has 22 Minutes.