The Pork (banh mi), Railtown Cafe, Vancouver

With a line up out the door on a Friday afternoon and a full on BBQ set up bringing in the Gastown business drifters, I went for the pork sandwich, which turned out to be a very filling option of a banh mi with roasted pork tenderloin.

I've been to Railtown cafe a number of times before, but being way out of the way, and only open on weekdays until 6, it's never a priority. They don't have much in the way of competition, and their food is fresh and flavourful, but they are missing a certain something that keeps me from being too excited. Everything looks good, and tastes good, but there is no wow. For a city like Vancouver, you would think there would be half a dozen of these places, in Gastown alone, but Railtown's anomaly to do a decent lunch is what brings in the hoards, and lining up to get an average lunch is just not good enough for me.

Comments

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.

Madrid Sandwich, Trans-Europe Cafe, Glasgow

Nestled in the heart of Merchant City, the Trans-Europe Cafe is a quiet little spot that boasts a selection of classic gourmet European sandwiches. Stopping in after a meeting a few doors down I felt I needed a pick-me up, and so I went with what I thought would be the spiciest, the Madrid: chorizo with pesto and mozzarella. The sandwich was all right, but not classic or gourmet, though perhaps relatively so to the aforementioned toasties. The flavour was arguably more Italian than Spanish, or worse, it was sort of American, as it was still a hoagie bun, just sliced diagonally and pressed. The accompanying sides of coleslaw, argula salad (which they listed as spinach), and salted crisps were a nice touch, as was my spiced apple tea. Taking a quick look over their menu , I would return to see what Zurich is all about.

Breakfast Sandwich, Avenue (Camden) Diner, Toronto

The Camden Diner, or more generally known as Avenue Open Kitchen on Camden Street, is a classic greasy spoon near my new work place, and already I'm trying to limit my visits to once a week. This classic breakie sandwich of generous proportions of eggs and bacon on white toast came with a couple packets of ketchup, delivered fresh on morning before an early film screening during TIFF. With few and far between options around that festival, this sandwich was a treat and sustenance to carry me through another long day of sitting in dark, windowless rooms.

You Say Sandwich, We Say Yeah!

Search This Blog