Tag Archives: Canada
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Nova Scotia = Seafood Paradise

by emma on 2011/01/13 in Featured Article, Food and Travel, North America

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Going to university provided me with the chance to live in a different part of Canada for four years. As such, I spent my university days on Canada’s East Coast, in a little town called Wolfville, only an hour from Halifax. I had never been a big seafood or fish fan, but this quickly changed during my time out east. Eastern Canada is just gorgeous, as is the produce (example: mussels, haddock, lobsters, and scallops) that comes out of there. Now that I’m back in Toronto, I constantly find myself craving fresh East Coast mussels. They just don’t compare when they have to travel before they are served up!

Seafood can be tricky to learn to love, and many think that seafood is too fishy for them. This was the best part about learning to love seafood on Canada’s East Coast… all the seafood out east is incredibly fresh, and doesn’t have any hint of “fishiness” or slime that many associate with seafood. As Nova Scotia is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, they are a leader in high quality seafood, with great retailers serving up over 50 different types of seafood. After spending four years there I became quite familiar with my favourite products and places.

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My favorite mussels are from Indian Point. Indian Point Marine Farm Limited is where the mussels come from, collected from the waters of Nova Scotia’s beautiful Mahone Bay. The great part about Indian Point is their strong commitment to practicing sustainable mussel cultivation. The crew at Indian Point goes the extra mile to ensure that they are harvesting the seafood at high quality standards, by cleaning, inspecting, and grading them before sending them out for purchase. Haddock is always line caught in Nova Scotia. Line-catching is a more selective fishing method compared to the traditional “bottom-trawling,” a destructive process where large nets weighted with chains tear up the oceans seabed’s, catching unwanted sea creatures. The line catching method uses hooks on a long line to catch the fish, which in turn does not disrupt the ocean’s other creatures. The lobsters are always Fundy Lobsters, meaning they come from the Bay of Fundy, a northern point in Nova Scotia. Fundy Lobsters are incredibly popular as they have the largest average size at maturity, due to their colder habitat waters. The cold water also contributes to the high quality of meat, and their diet on the bay contributes to a delicious flavour. Digby scallops are always talked about, and indeed, are the only ones to get in all of Nova Scotia. They are incredibly sweet and fresh, due to quick fishing trips and efficient processing at the plant, and customers can be assured a quick turn around from ocean to land.

My two suggestions for seafood in Nova Scotia are in both Wolfville (where my school Acadia University is located) and Halifax (the capital of Nova Scotia, and only an hour from Wolfville!). Halifax is an extremely important historical city in Canada, as it is the city where all immigrants coming into Canada first landed in, going through the famous “Pier 21” customs once off the boats.

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For the freshest and most wonderful mussels and scallops head to the Tempest (117 Front Street, 902-542-0588) in Wolfville. Their mussels are my favourite: Indian Point, flavoured with Spanish chorizo, parsley, garlic, and white wine. (Approx $12 cad). The scallops are generally dressed differently month-to-month! A few of my favourite were the simple flavours, like a lovely beurre blanc. For lobster, McKelvie’s in Halifax, (1680 Lower Water Street, 902-421-6161) serves whole lobster with succulent melted butter (in my opinion, the perfect companion to lobster!)
I hope in reading this post your mouth is watering for East Coast seafood and that you’ve put Nova Scotia down as place to food trot to! They do seafood so well; it is some of the world’s freshest and the flavours and textures are incredible. I loved living there and am grateful for the ability to have been so close to fresh seafood.

For more information on dining at the Tempest visit http://www.tempest.ca/ and for McKelvie’s visit http://mckelvies.com/ . Food trotters, have you tried any of the bountiful wonders the East Coast ocean has to offer? Or can you suggest somewhere an enthusiastic seafood lover like me might find something equally delicious to satisfy my cravings?!

[Pictures courtesy of Indian Point, ..shazza.., Much Music, and jjphotos.ca]

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Poutine Around the World

by Samantha Wong on 2010/11/18 in Featured Article, Food and Travel, Foodie Guide, North America

Something about November always leads me to poutine. I think it’s the forgiving layers of clothing I don, because the deliciousness I manage to resist during the summer months, I begin to crave come cold weather! But WHAT is poutine you ask? Honestly, I feel a bit like a “fake” here since Poutine is a Quebecois Canadian dish (and I hail from Vancouver! — At least I have experience with East Coast poutines!). Poutine means Mess in French, because that’s what it is: a mess of Fries, Cheese Curds, and Gravy. It sounds simple but with Zero Exceptions, ALL travellers to Canada must sample this quintessentially Canadian dish.

All suggestions are listed in order of personal preference

VANCOUVER
Fritz
Great for late night (after a night out, this stuff is my panacea of choice against hangovers), Fritz is located on 718 Davie Street. It’s right near Granville Street (the Vancouver night life street) and well worth the five minute trek (in heels). This place closes at ungodly hours (230AM on weeknights and 4AM on weekends) yet manages to constantly have a lineup. The service is sub par (actually, the man manning the till is quite friendly but the people serving the poutine are harassed and liable to be less than amused with inebriated shenanigans), and the poutine is really pricey (on the website they lie.. their poutine prices are more like $10 for a bucket and go down in $1.50 increments for increasingly smaller sizes) but DAMN. It’s worth it. Their prime location, well timed hours, and generosity with gravy and curds (nothing worse than disappointing fry to gravy and curd ratio) make me a repeat customer. This is not necessary at all and doesn’t add to my poutine experience, but if you want a dip to sample, I recommend Parmesan Peppercorn, Jalapeno Mustard, and Sundried Tomato Pesto. Their dips are definitely more creamy, with mayonnaise as the base.

http://www.fritzeuropeanfryhouse.com

New York Fries
How lame, recommending a chain store as a top poutine favourite! However, they’re everywhere (from Canada to Hong Kong to United Arab Emirates) for a reason. They are conveniently located in malls throughout the Greater Vancouver Area (as well as most everywhere in Canada) and if you are a student, you can use your handy SPC (Student Price Card) to get a deal on french fry deliciousness! If you buy any size and style of fries and drink, you receive a second same style size and style of fries, free! Can’t beat that. I take full advantage of their (free!) condiment stand, and pour a mini-cup full of California seasoning and Cajun seasoning, which I later dredge my fries through.

Belgium Fries
Located on “the drive” (1803 Commercial Drive to be exact), a trendster up-and-coming area of Vancouver, Belgium Fries is decently good but a bit disappointing. They are touted as Vancouver’s #1 fries, and I was ready to splurge after doing the Grouse Grind. (Hikers, Vancouver welcomes you). The fry portion is awesome (I ordered the Large and for about $10, you get double the portion Fritz gives you… I actually took mine home and made it into two meals) but the gravy and curds ratio is disappointing and somehow don’t melt together in that perfect gooey way. Their servings are a bit like a cupcake really, where the top part is fantastic but the bottom is just… the rest of the dish. They offer toppings of sausage, meat, red peppers… whatever your heart desires pretty much, but don’t have inflated expectations as their sausage used is a thin, sad looking little wiener, and the beef sort of detracts from the poutine. I guess I just have to keep going to find out my favourite combos!

KINGSTON
Pita Grill
My BFF favoured Bubbas, but I was ALL about P-Grill. Yes, it’s disgusting, and yes, it’s a far walk (-40, 7 minutes in heels, inebriation… no thanks!) but common! I was in University! And let’s be truthful, poutine isn’t really something you need to have an awesome palate for to distinguish between the salts and sauces… it’s pure Canadian comfort food. I would get this during the day too though (sober) and that probably is what added to my hips and thighs during university… ohhh no…..!!!! Also, this sounds disgusting, but I was a fan of the ranch sauce and Hot sauce… you have to request the poutine half full, then ranch and hot sauce, more fries, then more ranch and hot sauce on the top. Mmmmmm.

Smokey’s — Alright, I graduated before sampling this place, but DANG. This makes me want to visit Kingston again, now.

MONTREAL
I love poutine but I have a bit of prejudice against the French (Sorry, okay, I know, you don’t like me either) and never became fully acquainted with Poutine in it’s hometown. Here’s a list of the best I found: http://www.montrealpoutine.com/reviews.html

Closing Notes: even though Poutine is a comfort food, it is also a dish you can fancy up. A bit of duck confit, pulled pork, or smoked meat is a welcome addition to your homemade poutine. Poutine is not a hard recipe to follow through with, as long as you have your fresh cheese curds (can be bought at Whole Foods), light gravy (If you can’t find poutine gravy, think chicken rather than beef) and thick cut fries. Also, if reading about poutine makes you feel fat (writing about it certainly does) it’s best to remember that cheese is dairy and dairy is good for you, and the thick cut fries are healthier than thin cut fries because they absorb less oil (and are hence “fluffy” in the middle), so really, all the gravy is negated by the thick cut fries. Cheers to you and your healthy meal of poutine!!!

Food Trotters, do you have any suggestions for poutine places to check out, whether in Canada or abroad? EH?

[Pictures courtesy of Globe and Mail, Carrie@My Several Worlds, open rice, Ulrike Rodrigues,and sashamd]

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More Soup Please – A Brief on Soup and Soup Locations in Toronto Canada

by Wei Su on 2010/11/02 in Featured Article, Food and Travel, North America

A few weekends ago, I sipped, slurped, and savoured my way through dozens of delicious soups made by local chefs at Toronto’s first annual Soupalicious. As a celebration of the harvest, thirty-five of Toronto’s top chefs utilized freshly sourced and local ingredients to create an array of tantalizing, fragrant, and delicious soups. I will definitely be going back next year, and if you are in Toronto I strongly urge you to make an appearance. Your taste buddies will not be disappointed!

Since Soupalicious and in part because of dropping temperature, resulting in my hibernation at home, I’ve been batch cooking and freezing various stews and soups in preparation for the gloomy winter ahead, when fresh produce is not as readily available. I am grudgingly anticipating the bitterly frigid winter days and nights, but at least I know happiness will come in the form of a warm bowl of soup.

Soup is always a comfort, a luxury, a warm hug, and a reminder of home.

Soup has been around a long long time, with some of the first types of soup dating back to 6,000BC. Our ancestors, realizing that boiling water can contact and submerge food fully (versus other methods of cooking), understood that boiling allowed food to cook quicker, extract additional flavours, utilize nutrients, and enabled a mash up of foods to produce new exciting tastes. Not surprisingly, many cultures turned to soup and incorporated it as main component of their meals and every region has a traditional soup, whether it be Russian Borsht, French Bisque, England’s Clam Chowder, Japanese Miso, or Italian Minestrone.

Soup can be anything, from a simple, affordable, and filling meal to a more luxurious first course. Soup is a satisfying option for everyone as it is easily digested and can be incredibly nutritious. The famous Stone Soup Story shows us how the simple dish can bring entire communities together. Even our modern word for a place where meals are served and enjoyed, restaurant, originates partially due to soup. A “restaurer”, was a 16th century French street vendors who sold inexpensive soup which was said to combat physical exhaustion. In 1765, a shop with many restaurers was opened and eventually, our modern word for restaurant was born, all thanks to soup! Next time you visit a restaurant, why not order a soup to start?

If you are in the Toronto area and are on the hunt for soup, visit Le Papillon on the Park located at 1001 Eastern Ave for some to-die-for Soupe a l’Oignon Gratinee topped with an abundance of Swiss Cheese (my guilty pleasure).  Le Papillon on the Park’s signature French Onion Soup also comes in two mouth-watering sizes:  La Petite ($7.50 CAD), perfect as starter and La Grande Soupe ($12.50 CAD) which is also served with a house salad. Crush Wine Bar’s Soupalicious contribution, a Cauliflower Puree with Crispy Pancetta & Brown Butter Cauliflower Florets, was a bowl of heaven on earth – the matrimony of bacon and cauliflower was rich and smooth and the cauliflower soaked up just the right amount of flavor. Crush Wine Bar, a French bistro style restaurant which has been recently revamped to serve comfort English fare, serves a varying Soup of the Day ($9 CAD), so pay them a visit at 455 King St. West for a taste of what’s on their daily soup menu. More, IMHO you can never go wrong with a steaming bowl of melt in your mouth Kam Ja Tang/Pork Bone Soup ($6.95 CAD) at any of Ka-Chi’s downtown locations, or Soon Tofu Korean Restaurant’s  still bubbling (literally) soft and delectably spicy Soon Tofu soup (approx $7.95 CAD, 5445 Yonge St. or 691 Bloor Street West). A bowl of Kam Ja Tang or Soon Tofu soup will leave you with warm fuzzys, a full belly, and an added bonus of being easy on the wallet.

So, for all you Food Trotters trotting around the globe, if you ever miss home, I promise, a piping hot bowl of soup will bring you a little piece of home, even if just for a moment.

[Photos courtesy of: Southern Living, Becky Luigart-Stayner, Emma Christensen, and ilmungo]

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Mexico’s Day of the Dead – Dia de Los Muertos, ¿Que es eso?

by Samantha Wong on 2010/10/21 in Featured Article, Global Food Events, North America

My favourite holiday is, hands down, Halloween. It’s the one holiday that revolves around partying, dressing up in something OTHER than your typical “nice” clothes, and eating candy! From young to old, everyone can enjoy the spooky celebrations. If you’re like me, you’ll do your best to prolong the holiday, from having themed costume parties weeks in advance to adopting other cultures analogous halloweens. Myself, I like to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, a two day Mexican holiday akin to Halloween. (Aside, I actually like to celebrate all Mexican holidays but that’s another story).

I was initially thrown by this holiday: “What is this holiday where they celebrate death? Why do they eat candied skulls and make “Bread of the Dead” pan de muerto? And what’s up with the decorative skulls everywhere?” However, IMHO, the holiday isn’t that odd when you consider that the whole thing is a celebration of departed loved ones. They once loved to eat and drink, now that they have gone onto another stage of their life, life after death, it stands that they would like to occasionally return and celebrate the earthly joys they once enjoyed. I know that no matter how much I food trot, I like to return to my hometown and just relax for a few days; likewise, I can imagine food trotting to earth posthumously! It’s really just a bigger journey, right? The candied skulls and Bread of the Dead are foods for the dead as well as the living to savour! Pan de Muerto is a traditional Mexican sweet dessert bread served in the time leading up to and during Dia de los Muertos. It is typically decorated with bones (to bring good luck, so run Mexican beliefs). And what of the “creepy” skulls? In Aztec culture, skulls were viewed as a symbol of death and rebirth, a way to honour the dearly departed. Truly, the Day of the Dead, is not a horrible macabre holiday, but a celebration of life! After all, what would life be without death? The holiday falls right after halloween, on All Souls and All Saints Day: Nov 1st and 2nd. It lasts two days because the first day is for remembering loved children while the second day is dedicated to honouring departed adults. It is also socially acceptable to remember people that are not personal acquaintences, such as those killed in disasters or catastrophes during the year.

It is one of my travel goals to visit Mexico during Dias de los Muertos. If you can’t book that plane ticket either, I highly recommend celebrating this holiday with a few decorative skulls, perhaps a bread of the dead, or maybe even partaking in your city’s adapted Day of the Dead!

In San Francisco, you can join the Mission St. Procession or listen to the Dia de los Muertos symphony.

In Vancouver, you can attend the Parade of Lost Souls: Secret Souls Walk or taste test Zocolo which is offering a Dia de los Muertos special menu: $25 for 3 courses from Nov 1st until Nov 15th.

If you are travelling to Los Angeles or Texas around halloween-time, these cities have vast Mexican populations. I can only imagine how incredible it would be to be a part of the Dia de los Muertos festivities!

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How I Ended Up Eating Hot Dogs with Instant Noodles in the Canadian Rockies

by Nancy Huynh on 2010/09/23 in Food and Travel, North America

A couple of weeks ago I went camping at Lake Louise.  I’ve never been camping before and my boyfriend has only been camping once in his entire life. Hence, we knew nothing about how to set up a tent, make a fire, cook without a kitchen, or what to do if we saw a bear!

In some respects the beauty of the Canadian Rockies was a good enough reward for our budget-friendly accommodations… if you can call a tent an accommodation.  I think we both wanted to see what an ‘authentic’ Canadian camping trip would be like so instead of eating at the small town restaurants that are scattered about the Rockies, we got our food supply from a grocery store in Calgary.  It seemed like we were going to have ham sandwiches seasoned with Safeway brand mustard, and Nutella on cold bread for 4 days.  After two weeks of gastronomic decadence in Vancouver, this was an abrupt turn of events.  Good thing we also bought two cans of soup; the only issue was: could we even start a fire?

After a breath-taking drive into Banff, we managed to gracefully set up camp and learned that a fire was indeed possible.  Because the weather was cool enough for us to store food in the trunk of our rental car, we spent a small fortune at the overpriced grocery store in Lake Louise. (Note: buy your supplies while you’re still in town!)

The first night quickly turned cold, below zero cold.  We didn’t have a fire that night, and our clothes and sleeping bags were inadequate.  I woke up with a sore back, I was cold all the way to the marrow of my bones, and my toes were replaced with ice cubes.  Getting up to go to the washroom seemed as difficult as scaling a mountain.  First thing that morning, we made a fire (it took us over half an hour!) and made some soup.  Campbell’s chunky chicken noodle at the time tasted like childhood dreams coming true in a can.

After an afternoon hike around Lake Louise we hurried back to get a fire started before the weather turned cold again.  Dinner that night was hotdog sandwiches. After consuming my quota of hotdogs, I thought to myself, “I’m never having a hot dog again.”

Unfortunately, on our final night, all we had left were hotdogs, two slices of ham, and instant noodles.  It really was genius at the time.  How would we make instant noodles taste better? With hot dogs of course!  Where would we eat the instant noodles out of?  In these empty soup cans!

On that last day we saw retreating glaciers, clear blue lakes, terrifying river rapids and bottomless canyons.  We took some of trail paths that lead us to ever-changing natural wonders, but in the end I think we could have skipped the instant noodles with hot dogs.

Leaving Lake Louise, I said good bye to camping forever (or at least for a long while).  It made me appreciate good food a little bit more, because the next morning, bacon and eggs at the Mountain Restaurant never tasted so delicious before.

Eating and Traveling through the Rockies

Sleep: Lake Louise Campground (Bear-Fenced)

Eat: Safeway Supermarket in Calgary, Lake Louise Groceries, Lake Louise Village, Mountain Restaurant, Lake Louise

Things to See and Do: Lake Louise has numerous beautiful hiking trails of varying length and difficulty.  Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge are definitely worth taking a stop at.  Many of the lakes are great for canoeing since they’re very still, just don’t fall in as they are extremely cold!  There are a few natural hot springs to choose from, but the Banff one is conveniently off of Highway 1; I highly recommend unwinding at one of the springs, especially if you’ve spent the last few days sleeping on hard ground.

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Oyster Love

by Samantha Wong on 2010/08/12 in Food and Travel, North America


Oysters are one of those foods people either love or hate. Clearly, as the title of my post is oyster LOVE, I am on the love side. But no worries… if you haven’t yet been converted, let me share my top five reasons to love oysters!

1) What other foods yield precious accessories? A chicken burger? pfft.
2) Oysters are incredibly healthy: they are low in fat, cholesterol and calories (a dozen oysters are around 75 cals!) and high in essential minerals. Further, oysters are a great source of vitamins… A, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), C (ascorbic acid), and D (calciferol) to name a few!
3) Oysters are an aphrodisiac! Actually, there is little evidence of oysters imparting sexual powers, but IMHO sexual prowess is in the mind. Eating a few oysters with someone you are trying to flirt with will certainly allow you (or him… or her!) to nudge the conversation in that direction…
4) They can be enjoyed in a panoply of ways: do you like them best roasted, rockafeller style, in soups, motoyaki style, or raw?
5) They just taste so darn good! You know how when you were eleven and had your first sip of wine, how disgusting it was? I hope that you appreciate wine now, so you can get my parallel example here (and so you can enjoy life a little bit more), but yes… back to my example: If you weren’t an immediate oyster lover, after a bit of perseverance, I have no doubt you will become an oyster lover!

If I’ve managed to pique your interest, jump for some oyster types to try out and location recommendations (Vancouver and San Fran) to taste test them!

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Seven days in the Canadian maritimes on a Chinese bus tour: Day One

by Jing on 2010/08/11 in Food and Travel, North America

On day one of my seven day trip around the Canadian Maritimes, I had the opportunity to see how potato chips were made, and I walked along the longest covered bridge in the world. Unfortunately, no one told me there would be such excessive amounts of travel time involved and thankfully the bus driver stayed awake to drive the entire time. (Note: I’ve been known to pass out while driving.)

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Seven days in the Canadian Maritimes on a Chinese Tour Bus

by Jing on 2010/08/09 in Food and Travel, North America

It’s a little embarrassing to say this, but I’ve spent seven days on a Chinese bus tour visiting the sites and scenes beautiful Atlantic Canada has to offer. Chinese bus tours are notorious for quick stops at popular tourist locations, with just enough time for a few hurried pictures before scurrying back onto the bus to head for the next site. This entire experience can be summed up as an incredibly rushed tour ideal for those who don’t care about anything besides garnering a few monumental photos at a budget-friendly price. It’s not for the adventurous or the explorer, and truthfully, I would avoid doing this again at any cost. My mother (who is very Chinese — Cantonese to be specific), however, loves this shit. As long as she’s seen the place and has annectodal evidence she has a great time. I, on the other hand, prefer to venture off the beaten path and discover more beyond the simple and naive tourist facade. Alas, my mother invited me on this trip (she paid, fine, I’ll go) so I decided to make the best of it.

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Global Food Events Around the World, July 2010

by Jing on 2010/07/01 in Global Food Events

As a global foodie, the world is but a grazing menu. Food is celebrated not only at home, neighborhood, or city, but all around the world. So let’s embark on a gastronomic adventure and explore world food events, be they once in a lifetime pilgrimages or during opportunistic moments abroad. This list is but a sample of what’s out there for you to taste, savor, buy, and discuss. For those lucky enough to attend, let us know how it was! And for everyone else, let’s celebrate jealously at home.

1) Le Marche Aux Fruit Rouges, Noyon, Northern France [July 4, 2010]
On the first Sunday of each July, farmers from the city of Noyon gather at the market to sell all things round, red, and fruity! Since 1883, the opening bell marked the beginning of the celebration where vendors would showcase their fruits: strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, black currents, and cherries just to name a few. You’ll also find local artisans selling their goods, from jams, sauces, and syrups, all the way to beers and ice cream, all made with, you guessed it, red round fruits. [Click here for details, if you can read French!]

Le Marche Aux Fruit Rouges

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Quest for the Perfect Sandwich Pt 1

by Samantha Wong on 2010/06/26 in International, North America

Trust me; I am no sandwich lover. As someone who for a long long time couldn’t be bothered to cook, I lumped sandwiches in an inglorious category of an “easy to make and somewhat healthy” staple of home food, consisting of deli meat, cheese, maybe a tomato if I was feeling fancy. Ordering a sandwich at a restaurant, on the other hand, is typically a calorie-laden overstuffed affair of Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and regardless of how much mayonnaise and ketchup there is, the sandwich always seems so dry and unsatisfying. I also dislike the hands on approach necessary to eating a sandwich… it’s just too darn messy; yet, eating a sandwich with a fork and knife seems so she she la la that I judge myself for eating in such a fashion. Who needs that stigmatism, even if it is all merely taking place in my imagination?

pictured: a Ba Le banh mi.... yummy!

Enter Bánh mì. Thanks to years of french rule, vietnamese subs perfectly combine european and asian elements: a wonderfully crusty baguette stuffed with some sort of meat — pork, vietnamese sausage or chicken are popular choices — and pickled carrots, daikon, cucumbers, cilantro and chili peppers.

Really though, waxing poetic about vietnamese subs isn’t going to make you understand the poetry of this sandwich. Some MmMmmGood wisdom for enjoying this delicacy:
- these are best enjoyed at specialty VIETNAMESE SANDWICH shops; don’t compromise your experience eating this at a pho place, i implore you.
- price-wise, these should be under $5 CND. Many places also offer specials such as buy ten, get one free. The most authentic (and best) Vietnamese restaurants are typically cash only.
- it’s best to visit the restaurant early in the morning… before the sandwiches sell out! You want your pick of the bunch, don’t you?
- many of the places serving the BEST vietnamese subs (I find, at least) you’ll want to drive to the location. Sorry, but IMHO hoofing it to the best sandwich shops in Vancouver and San Francisco is scary.
- eat them toasted!

and now, for some restaurant recommendations:
In Vancouver:
My favourite, Ba-Le serves up $2.75CND sandwiches. They have tried to bilk people out of their free 11th sub, so ask when you pay. Ask for “the regular” (pork). I like to do half spicy, half non spicy, or alternatively you can ask for peppers in a bag, where you put peppers on at your own daring. Other than that, do not expect any atmosphere of any kind as they have maybe, one rickety table? Take their subs home and devour… 20 seconds in the microwave then toasted in the toaster oven… amazing amazing amazing.

Located: 633 Main Street #121, Vancouver, BC V6A2V4
(604) 662-8108‎
you can also check out some photos of Ba-Le here

look at all those fillings!

Au Petit Cafe is a bit more upscale and diverse. Their location isn’t hard or scary to get to, but I would rank them down for poor service (family run and you know those kids don’t want to work there), the hoards of crowds who already know about this place, and their, quite simply, not-as-delicious subs! They serve pho, spring rolls, and other Vietnamese dishes and you can visit them online here. That said, Au Petit Cafe is still very good; they would take my top spot if not for Ba-Le.

Located: 4851 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V3R9
(604) 873-3328

In San Francisco:
Saigon Sandwiches has 4.5 stars and 1196 reviews on yelp. That’s pretty consistently good, wouldn’t you say? I travelled on foot from Union Square (Downtown) and was a bit terrified of the people we encountered (think homeless crazy people… as much as I bluff, I have minimal to no street cred). The sandwiches are around $3.25-3.50USD. I felt the daikon/ vegetable ratio overpowered the meat/ bread ratio, but if I was living in SF for an extended period of time, the sandwiches from this hole-in-the-wall hit the spot. Again, if they aren’t that busy, you can nicely request that they heat the sandwich up.

560 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 474-5698
you can read more reviews here

Saigon Sandwich

At Home:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/vietnamese-style-sandwich-banh-mi-recipe/index.html

this recipe seems rather easy and authentic… I haven’t yet had reason to try it but as soon as I do, I’ll review how it compares to the above recommended restaurants.

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