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

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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