Skip to main content

Banh Mi Ba Le, Toronto Edition


Always on the look out for Banh Mi's wherever I go, I literally did a 180 on Spadina Avenue when I overheard some folks speaking about "sandwiches . . . further ahead." I was in a pinch for time and only had 15 minutes, but I followed my gut and came across this place on Dundas

Being familiar (if not intimate) with Ba Le in Vancouver, I wondered if there was any connection between the two. As it goes, it does not appear to share any recipe overlaps, as the assorted meats differed in grade. The guys ahead of me in line were basically drooling while they waited, having ordered something that visibly looked like spam, and which one guy said to the other, it looks and tastes like spam, which is probably why I like it so much . . . 

I have never eaten spam, I don't think, but maybe the liverwurst in this version was just spam spread thin. Sigh. It was three bucks, so I would probably eat there again.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Marché Hung Phat, Montréal,

  I was suspicious when a vegetarian friend told me that Montréal did Vietnamese food better, and not just because she was vegetarian. I had tried first hand for myself years ago, and what I remember tasting was bland, watery, and a cruel joke. However, time moves on, and I am willing to try again, and I am glad I did.  Taken a stroll up to Saint Denis, there was no shortage of banh mi options, but Carla B led me directly to Hung Phat, and being ravenous and greedy, we each ordered a tofu banh mi AND an order of salad rolls. Normally that combination should be no problem, but I was unfamiliar with the heft of Hung Phat's servings, which had a weight and density that did not compromise its deliciousness. A substantial sandwich if I ever saw one, I could barely finish the salad rolls, but of course I did. Carla B saved the rest of her sandwich for later and passed on the rolls, and I hope she does not mind me saying this publicly. Our early friendship may have been fo...

Monty’s Bakehouse wrap, Air Canada

I’d rate this wrap as strange. Its packaging created expectations of a more appetizing experience, which it was not. After a vastly superior egg salad sandwich from London Heathrow, I could not greet this airplane freebie with serious interest, but at least it was hot, and  at least I could review it for this blog. Steaming contents were oozy and largely undistinguishable, but suggested some kind of red pepper or sundried tomato origins.

Pretzel Bagel Sandwich, Tim Horton's

It was not quite 5am on a Saturday morning when I ordered my breakfast bagel sandwich from Tim Horton's and noticed a pretzel bagel option. So be it, I thought. I don't ever go near a Tim Horton's unless I'm on the road, but you know what? This was pretty good. I love me a pretzel, and most street vendor pretzels are as dry as hell. This was at least moist and chewy, and came in a sandwich form!