在加拿大魁北克省，一場因料理名稱與俄羅斯總統普丁（Vladimir Putin）發音相似而引發的爭議事件，引起廣泛關注。魁北克省的特色料理「Poutine」本為一道以薯條、奶酪與肉汁為主要食材的經典美食，但在俄烏戰爭期間，部分餐廳因「Poutine」與普京發音相近，出於政治立場或抗議而暫時更改菜名。例如，有餐廳將這道招牌菜改名為「la frite fromage sauce」（意指肉汁奶酪薯條），或甚至以烏克蘭總統的名字命名，以示支持烏克蘭。

此次改名事件也引發許多爭議。一家自稱是「Poutine」發明者的魁北克餐廳，由於在社交媒體上發布相關訊息後，收到大量惡意留言與電話騷擾，被迫撤下貼文。海外網民則普遍認為，「Poutine」本身是一道料理的名稱，不應與俄羅斯總統混為一談，批評餐廳改名行為過於政治化。此外，也有人指出，「Poutine」這個名字其實來自法語中的「pudding」，或源自顧客要求將小塊起司與薯條混合並淋上肉汁時，店主開玩笑說的「那豈不是會弄成大雜燴啊！」（Ca va faire une maudite poutine！），與普京毫無關聯。

目前，雖然部分餐廳因名稱爭議暫時改名，但「Poutine」一詞並未被普遍禁止使用，許多餐廳仍然沿用這個名稱，繼續供應這道深受當地人和遊客喜愛的傳統美食。這場事件既反映地緣政治對日常生活的影響，也凸顯出文化符號在不同語境下可能引發的敏感性。

In Quebec, Canada, a controversy arose over the province’s signature dish, “Poutine,” due to its phonetic similarity to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name. Poutine, a classic dish made of French fries, cheese curds, and gravy, became the center of debate during the Russia-Ukraine war. Some restaurants, in a gesture of protest or political stance, temporarily renamed the dish. Examples included calling it “la frite fromage sauce” (literally “cheese fries with gravy”) or even naming it after the Ukrainian president to show support for Ukraine.

The renaming sparked significant backlash. One Quebec restaurant, claiming to be the original creator of Poutine, had to remove posts about the renaming after receiving a flood of malicious messages and harassing phone calls. International observers also criticized the move, pointing out that “Poutine” is the name of a dish and should not be confused with the Russian president. Furthermore, the name “Poutine” actually originates from the French word “pudding,” or, according to another account, from a playful remark by a restaurant owner when customers requested that small cheese pieces be mixed with fries and gravy: “Ca va faire une maudite poutine!”—meaning “That’s going to make a darn mess!”—having no relation to Putin.

Currently, while some restaurants temporarily changed the dish’s name due to the controversy, the term “Poutine” has not been widely banned. Many establishments continue to use the original name, serving this beloved local specialty to both residents and tourists. The incident highlights how geopolitical tensions can influence everyday life and illustrates the sensitivity of cultural symbols in different social and political contexts.