The Carvery Sandwich Shop

This post has been a long time coming.  In fact, I've had so many people let me know that I HAD to come here to try not only their chicken sammies, but any one of their amazing sandwiches.  Problem being is that their chicken sandwich is only available on Wednesdays and the place is only open during the day.  This wouldn't be much of an issue if I didn't have to be at work...  Hence, while on holidays, I took the chance to head out to White Rock.  Upon arriving at the location, I was surprised to see that it resided in the old location of Sheila's Deli.  I guess they continued with a similar type of restaurant.

Anyways, the main reason I was here had to be their Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich with a fried chicken breast dipped in housemade hot chili oil, Russian dressing, pickled red onion, sweet pickles and slaw on a brioche bun. Yes, it did eat as good as it looked with a low rumbling spice accented by the sweet tang of the pickles and sharpness of the onion.  Bun was on the denser side but it held all of the wet ingredients together.  Chicken breast was moist and the coating was crispy.  A very good sandwich!

Of course, I also had to go for their other chicken sandwich in the Classic Fried Chicken Sandwich with Swiss, pickles, creamy slaw and honey mustard on brioche.  I also added a side of hot honey buffalo sauce.  This ate quite a bit differently than the previous sandwich.  Of course the heat was different as the hot honey was sweet with the classic vinegary tang of buffalo sauce. The Swiss added a layer of texture while the chicken was even more crispy due to the lack of dunking into anything.  Meat was moist and yes, this was also very solid.

We also tried the Cubano with rojo-roasted pork shoulder, smoked country ham, pickles, paprika aioli, Swiss and mustard on a pressed Cuban loaf.  I loved this sandwich due to the fact it was loaded with ingredients and also they stayed very true to the original.  Many times in Vancouver, we have some bastadized version that just doesn't cut it.  I've had the real deal in Miami and this one was delicious.  The pork shoulder was tender and flavourful while the bread choice was critical.  It was crunchy on the outside and soft with a bit of chew on the inside.  Would eat this again.

Something a bit more basic was the West Coast Club sporting roasted turkey breast, smoked bacon, white cheddar, paprika aioli, avocado and tomatoes on lightly toasted sourdough.  What was important here was the real roasted turkey.  It was tender and not wet like that store-bought deli-style type. Furthermore, the bacon was meaty and the avocados were ripe.  Good ingredients = good sandwich, no matter how simple it may be.

Our last sandwich was the Roast Beef French Dip with fresh roasted AAA beef, garlic aioli and sweet caramelized onions on grilled filone bread.  Once again, the key component was the real roast beef.  The tender texture of the super thinly-sliced meat made the sandwich.  Wait, let me rephrase that...  The legit meat combined with the crusty filone bread (think Italian version of French bread) made for a delicious sandwich.  Add in the au jus, which softened the bread, and we have a good beef dip.

I decided to add a cup of soup to 4 of the sandwiches that yielded all of the available daily options including Artichoke Bacon, Chili Con Carne, Tomato Basil and Manhattan Clam Chowder.  For an extra $4.00, these were huge cups of soup.  Wonder how big the bowl is???  So my favourite was the clam chowder as it sported big chunks of clam and the broth was deliciously briny.  Loved the tomato soup as it was tangy and thick.  Enjoyed the croutons soaking in the soup.  The bacon artichoke was smoky and we could really taste the bacon.  Chili was solid with nice spice and loaded with beef and beans.  So I guess you could tell that I was impressed with The Carvery.  Yes, the people were not wrong.  I just wished I could've made it out earlier.

The Good:
- Well-crafted sandwiches with quality and legit ingredients
- Equally good soups
- Reasonably-priced given the quality

The Bad:
- Well, the parking situation in the lot is not the best

Rocco's Deli

*Restaurant is closed*

Usually, I am pretty up-to-date on new movies and generally their story line. However, I had no clue whatsoever as to what Zootopia was about.  It was a kid movie and I vaguely remembered a trailer with animals walking upright and a bunny shooting a fox with a tranquilizer gun.  That was good enough for me as I dragged the kiddies and Viv out to Silvercity.  But it was also a great excuse to grab some quick eats prior to the movie at the nearby Rocco's Deli (and grocery store too).

After a quick scan of the display case, we settled on 3 sammies including the Roast Beef with provolone, roasted onions and horseradish.  As you can clearly see, the thinly shaved beef was house-made which meant the texture was meaty while still super tender.  The onions added a sweet sharpness to the sandwich, but the horseradish was not very apparent.  So much so, my son didn't even notice it!  For my daughter, she quickly picked out the Turkey with spinach, brie, cranberry and mayo (on cranberry bread).  This featured plenty of creamy melted brie and the tartness (and sweet hits) of the cranberries.  We found the turkey on the drier side, but the sammie ate well nonetheless.

For myself, I opted for the spicy Cappicollo with chipotle mayo, roasted red peppers, tomato, arugula and provolone (on ciabatta).  This was my favourite of the bunch as it was spicy and zesty.  There was enough filling that was impactful and varied so that all the different tastes were present.  I felt the choice of bread was spot on too being substantial enough to stand up to the ingredients while not being too dense either.  We also got a side of Penne Pasta with chicken just to change things up.  It turned out to be a bad decision.  As with any pasta that has been sitting in a chaffing tray, it was overdone and a bit hard in spots.  The sauce had been soaked up by the pasta which meant there was some flavour, but it didn't eat very nicely either.  Well, that really didn't matter as the sammies were good and the service was friendly.

The Good:
- Solid sammies
- Lotsa filling
- Reasonably-priced

The Bad:
- Didn't like the pre-prepared pasta   

Soup Plus

With all the available options for food in the GVRD, some spots are often overlooked (except for loyal and local clientele).  So when Big D suggested we eat near Lougheed Mall, I scrambled to find something that resembled a hole-in-the-wall.  I found that place in Soup Plus on Austin at Marmont.  Seemingly nothing more than a typical soup & sandwich joint hidden in the corner of a strip mall, we went in with no expectations.

We got things started with 2 of their homemade soups including the Tomato Soup.  Lightly tangy and silky smooth, the tomato soup was kicked up a notch with the addition of seared bits of ham.  Not only did this break up the monotony of texture and flavours, it added an extra layer of saltiness. With no shortage of mushrooms, the Mushroom Soup was unmistakably woodsy and full-bodied.  It wasn't creamy though, instead the broth was somewhat thin while at the same time well-seasoned.  Being that it wasn't overly thick, it left plenty of room for our sandwiches.

We ended up sharing 3 sammies including the regular portion of the BBQ Beef Po' Boy and Meatloaf Sub.  Served on house-baked bread, the BBQ beef was saucy and spicy.  There was definitely a good amount of Louisana-style hot sauce mixed in as there was a vinegary and sharp spice to the po' boy.  There was enough sweetness from the BBQ sauce for balance.  The beef was a bit dry for my tastes though.  Now the meatloaf was the complete opposite as it appeared dry but was ultimately moist.  I found it to be mildly spiced where I could still taste the meat. Although not particularly sexy, I'd take this sammie over the Subway across the street any day (for the same price really).

Lastly, we had the Clubhouse made with house-baked bread, turkey, lettuce, cheese, tomato, bacon and grilled chicken.  This was quite good as the toasted bread gave way to crispy bacon and moist chicken.  Although nothing mind-blowing, the sandwich was memorable due to the bread and the ample amount of ingredients.  This pretty much summed up our visit to Soup Plus where the food ain't that impressive to look at, but it ultimately did the job and more for a very reasonable price.

The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Good value
- Decent eats

The Bad:
- It's good, but don't expect anything sexy

Breka Bakery & Cafe

After spending 2 hours at One Under, it looked like we were about to call it a night.  Well, that was not until Sweet Tooth spoke out.  You see, she loves desserts (as her name would suggest) and with a limited dessert menu at One Under, she just wasn't satisfied.  Therefore, we ended up traveling a fair distance to Breka Bakery & Cafe out on Fraser near 49th to get our sweet fix.  Strange decision because there are two in Downtown...

For myself, I wasn't done with the savoury items yet and started with a Fresh Tomato & Basil Bisque with a side of pumpernickel bread.  This was loaded with a considerable amount of ingredients including fresh tomatoes, cream, garlic, ginger, caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, celery, carrots, orange peel, crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, dried basil, thyme, nutmeg, sea salt and pepper.  As a result, the flavours were complex and trended towards tart and aromatic.  I liked the chunky texture as well as the viscosity of the soup.  In terms of dessert, I went for the Black Forrest Cake. As much as it didn't look like anything, the cake was good and easy on the sugar.  Hence, the flavours were not super impactful, but the soft texture of the cake with the fresh whipped cream and cherry gel was pleasant enough.

Sweet Tooth ended up with the Mango Mousse Cake which was also conservative with the sweetness level.  That suited us just fine as too many places replace actual flavours with sugar.  The mousse was light and airy where the aroma of mango was present.  Again, there was modest impact, but still okay nonetheless.  Thick, rich and almost like a ganache, the Chocolate Mousse Cake was the opposite of the mango mousse cake.  Where one was light and mildly flavoured, this one was sweeter with hits of slight bitterness.  As mentioned, it was smooth and rich.  These 2 desserts ate better than they looked (not that they were ugly, but they were just unassuming and inexpensive).

I also decided to get a few items to go including the Croissant, which also looked rather ordinary.  However, it was good for what it was.  Now, I'm not saying it can compete with French bakeries such as L'Opera or Beaucoup, but it was still flaky with some laminating.  Inside, it was soft and airy with an appealing chew.  Again, not gonna compete with the big boys, but it did the trick.  Lastly, I got the Carrot Walnut Muffin which was only sufficiently sweet.  It was moist, fluffy, yet still dense in a good way.  There was definitely carrot to be found inside while the crunch of the nuts on top added texture.  Okay, some of you bakery snobs might be wondering why I'm saying nice things about Breka.  Well, for what it is, the stuff is solid and well-priced.  Works for us at 2:00am in the morning.

The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Good for what it is
- Friendly people

The Bad:
- Can't compete with the more ritzy patisseries in town (but wasn't meant to)
- This location could use a refresh

Pepperoni Cafe

*Restaurant is closed permanently*

Alright, I'm not afraid to admit it.  In the early days of this blog, on some occasions, I did not sample enough items at certain restaurants that would give a true sense of the food.  I learned very quickly that not only was that unfair, it was really not that useful of a post.  Case in point, I visited Pepperoni Cafe and only tried their sandwiches but not their signature item - the pizza. So consider this righting a wrong as I ordered 2 pizzas (one specialty and one build-your-own) and the aforementioned sandwich.

Seeing how the place is named Pepperoni Cafe, I had to get their Super Pepperoni with a layer of pepperoni, layer of mozzarella, another layer of pepperoni and Parmesan.  As you can imagine, with all that pepperoni, the pizza was both greasy and salty (but that was to be expected and we didn't mind). The crust was right in the middle of being thick and thin.  It was soft with a light crunch on the outside.  I also got a Ham & Pineapple which sported a good amount of ham and cheese.  Due to the absence of grease (as compared to the previous pizza), the crust was slightly drier, yet still chewy and soft on the inside.  Decent pizzas which are definitely different than the many cheaper ones found along Scott Road.

I did end up getting a sandwich, but I'm going to refer back to a recent visit where I had the Pizza Sub.  The whole wheat bun was nicely toasted being warm and soft with a crunch.  The plethora of meat with only a modest amount of veggies ensured that the sammie would be savoury and flavourful - a good alternative to Subway and/or Quiznos.  So there you have it, a representative post on Pepperoni Cafe.  Sure, it is more expensive than nearly all of the other pizza joints along Scott Road, but at the very least, it appears the ingredients are a notch above.

The Good:
- More quality ingredients that the competition along Scott Road
- Enough meat and cheese

The Bad:
- More pricey than the rest

Bel Cafe

*Restaurant is now closed*

Viv and I are bad parents.  No, we're not letting the kids drive nor have we offered them anything illegal.  Rather, we have failed to teach them any Cantonese despite the fact we are fluent.  Hence, we have resorted to sending them to Chinese school.  Paying someone else solves everything!  Er...  So, with over 2 hours of nothing to do as our kids learn how to order Dim Sum in Chinese (yay!), we decided to get something to eat at Bel Cafe in the Hotel Georgia.

As we weren't overly hungry, we decided to share some items including the Roasted Tomato Soup.  With an immediate and purposeful blast of acidity, the soup was appetizing, delicately thick and not devoid of impact.  Every spoonful yielded hints of basil and the natural sweetness of the roasted tomato. Cute little cheddar gougères accompanied the soup on the side.  Completing the soup & sandwich, we had the House Smoked Turkey with brussel sprout remoulade, cranberry and gruyere.  We liked how the bread was super crunchy and light.  Good thing too as the remoulade was extremely wet and dripped profusely with every bite.  Despite this, the brussel sprouts provided a wonderful crunch to the sandwich while offering up the necessary acidity.  Naturally, the cranberries added sweetness while the gruyere exhibited a creamy nuttiness.  Of note, even with all the ingredients, we could really taste the smoked turkey.

As for some pastries, we started with the Vanilla and Winter Berry Brioche.  This was a little dry, but not incredibly.  I found the fruit to be quite sparse, hence it was really just vanilla-flavoured brioche.  This was a pleasant, if not unremarkable, accompaniment for my green tea.  Next, we ended up sharing the Raspberry Pear Tart since the people beside us ordered the last lemon tart.  I think it worked out quite well because we could hear them complaining it was too sour.  As for our pear tart, we thought it was quite good.  The hard tart shell with chocolate and raspberry encased a slightly dry and semi-sweet frangipane filling.  It was topped with nicely textured slices of pear (not too soft) with a light gelatine glaze.  The flavours were subtle and worked well with each other

Upon leaving, I grabbed some Macarons including dark chocolate, key lime pie, carrot cake, passion fruit and strawberry & lemon.  These passed the test as my daughter loved them (she knows her macarons!).  The exterior were lightly crisp while the inside was soft, possibly needing a bit more chewiness.  I liked how the flavours were unmistakable and purposeful.  What I didn't like was the imperfections in half of the macarons.  2 of which had significant dents which were prior to baking.  Since these were for ourselves, it wasn't a huge deal.  However, if this was a gift for someone else, the imperfections would be unacceptable.

The Good:
- Carefully prepared eats
- Decent macarons

The Bad:
- Expensive
- Not the most comfortable seating

Happy Planet Smoothies and Soups

Quick what do bike lanes and Happy Planet have in common?  If you answered Gregor Robertson, then you get a gold star!  Okay, it's easy to complain about the bike lanes, but it does follow Happy Planet's philosophy of being socially responsible.  Their products feature natural and organic ingredients and yes, they support local farmers and help feed the hungry. With that in mind, I was able to sample some of their new prepackaged soups and of course smoothies as well.

My daughter insisted we try the Fraser Valley Mushroom & Marscapone Soup first.  For a mushroom soup, it was rather light and watery.  However, there was the natural woodsy essence as well as a touch of thyme and a slow rumble pepper.  The most noticeable thing was the conservative use of sodium.  Compared to canned soup, this one contained 1/2 the amount of salt.  Next we tried the Chatham Carrot & Ginger Soup with coconut cream & curry.  Also a touch on the watery side, this soup had a nice balance of flavours.  The ginger was just right where it didn't overwhelm the sweetness of the carrots while the amount of curry provided a mild spice.  It wasn't too creamy despite the use of coconut milk.

Off to the last 2 soups, we tried the Monteregie Potato and Leek with cracked pepper.  As with the other ones, this was not as thick as one would imagine.  However, I guess if it were too creamy, that would be against their "feel good food" slogan on every package.  Despite the lack of creaminess, it was still decent with plenty of ingredients.  It had a nice peppery hit as well as the taste of leek.  Lastly, we tried the Chilliwack Broccoli & Cheddar with fresh cream & garlic.  One taste and the cheddar announced itself.  The freshness of broccoli and fresh cracked pepper appeared with the second layer of flavours.

As for the smoothies, I really liked the Coconut and Pineapple.  Naturally, it tasted like a light tasting pina colada without the booze.  It was refreshing and not heavy.  The Raspberry and Cherry was pretty sweet due to the ingredients and likewise, it was refreshing.  As for the Extreme C+, the guava was quite apparent as it was the dominant flavour.  Lastly, the Blackberry, Boysenberry and Black Currant was a typical berry drink with a light thickness.  As I've had Happy Planet smoothies before, they were pretty much what I expected.  However, the soups were a new thing.  I enjoyed them, but yearned for some naughtiness (I mean more cream and sodium), but in the end, that would counteract what they set out to do.

The Good:
- Nothing feels unhealthy
- Not too much of anything
- Smoothies are always on point

The Bad:
- Soups are a bit watery and light tasting (but they were meant to be)
- Of course healthy and quality ingredients come at a price

Sweet Tomatoes

*Chain is now closed*

Often, whilst on vacation, the likelihood of running into a fresh fruit or vegetable is as good as another meaningful American Pie movie (or a tasteful Miley Cyrus performance).  Hence I was on a mission to rid ourselves of this unhealthy condition.  Enter Sweet Tomatoes.  No, we didn't go down to the nearest grocery store and pick up some raw tomatoes to eat (my son would have an immediate gag reflex in that case).  Rather, we made our way to a unique buffet that could be considered somewhat healthy.  With all the soups, salads and other items you can eat for under $10.00, it was refreshing to find a meal that would not be in a shade of brown.

The first thing to great us was an extensively long line of freshly made salads, veggies and fruit. In fact, the Caesar Salad dressing was somewhat freshly made (the creamy Worcestershire was pre-prepared).  After I loaded up my plate with these strange things called vegetables (really fresh and aesthetically-pleasing), I was pleasantly surprised to see a house-made blue cheese dressing.  It was chunky, fresh-tasting and thick. I also liked how they kept everything stocked all-the-time.

Prominently featured, the 8 different soups available were made from scratch.  I tried the Chicken Noodle and unlike many restaurant versions, it was not yellow with dried parsley floating around.  Instead, it was clear with big chunks of chicken and noodles.  It was not salty at all and had the natural taste of...  wait for it...  chicken.  Novel concept eh?  Chicken soup tasting like real chicken soup! I also thought the Creamy Corn Chowder to be pretty good as well.  It was rich, but not overly so and full of plump sweet corn and tender potatoes.  The Spicy Sausage with Orecchiette was probably my favourite as it was flavourful without being salty and had a definite kick.  The sausage was both plentiful and meaty while the pasta could've been a little less dense.  I liked how they skimmed the grease before serving. In addition to soups and salads, there was a section with some heartier offerings such as Baked Potato, Flatbread and Pastas.

In addtion to some muffins, cornbread, brownies and other breads, there was a dessert section consisting of Chocolate Mousse, Tapioca Pudding, Fruit and Ice Cream. Although none of the food blew us away, we were impressed at the overall quality for the price.  Definitely a good alternative to expensive theme park fare or greasy fast food.

The Good:
- Somewhat healthier alternative
- Well-priced
- Fresh

The Bad:
- Could lack substance for big eaters