Kim Chau Deli and Kingsway Deli, Vancouver

Anyone who reads this blog with minor frequency will now how much I, J.D. Salami, loves the Vietnamese sandwich. Vancouver is staggering with possibilities, and that doesn't even include the area soon to be known as "Little Saigon." I have heard mixed feelings about renaming the stretch of Kingsway as such, from various sides of the argument, but I personally dislike the idea, especially in Vancouver where Asians are the population majority but still seen as a minority invasion.

Anyhow, I found myself wandering around Kingsway today, and picked up a few offerings to compare and contrast.

On the left is Kim Chau's assorted deli meats. A short wait accompanied the sandwich as it went through the toaster (albeit, the entire sandwich went through rather than before the contents were put in). Coming in at $3 and the lengthiest offering yet to be found in this town.

On the right is Kingsway Deli's assorted coming in at just over $3. Shorter and stout, it was assembled awful fast, but the bread is a soft chewy texture.

There are no losers in this game, but a better comparison strategy is to compare the contents, which will reveal Kingsway Deli (on the right) offers twice as much per bite. However, I am a sucker for the crusty bread Kim Chau's offers.

Someone was telling me about a website of a someone in Scandinavia who ate a Vietnamese sandwich everyday for lunch and scanned it. I want to see this site. Please leave the address as a reply if you know what I'm talking about. (It's not Scanwiches, though there have been some gorgeous specimens on there.)

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.

Kim Anh Subs, Calgary

It's no secret I'm a fan of the Vietnamese sub. Hell, they've prevented my vegetarianism . But I do enjoy the vegetarian option now and again, especially when it's warm marinated soft tofu rather than the shredded fake meat variety. In Calgary one weekend, a friend and I found ourselves stranded in the city due to a snow storm, so lounging around 17th Avenue, cold, tired, hungry, and near broke, we popped our heads into Kim Anh Subs where he had ventured once before. Offering a whole wheat sub bun option, Kim Anh's subs were a bit more expensive than what I'm used to for a sub of this style ($3.50 is my price range), but it's Calgary, so what can you expect.

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.

You Say Sandwich, We Say Yeah!

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