Be 'wiched Cafe--Surrey While not in VanCity, I adore this place and hope that everyone eats there if they have the chance. Not only is the food is Feeding-My-Ohana-worthy, the two women who run treat you like family, in the best possible way. I even like that it's unpretentiously tucked away in the corner of a generic office complex in the 'burbs. They just know what to do and they do it well. |
The Cubano, both with and without banana peppers, eggplant, and roast turkey sandwiches are fab. Plus the Nanaimo bar, a regional dessert of graham cracker-coconut, custard and chocolate was the last lovely thing we ate from Canada. More importantly, the two women that run the place are the kind of incredibly 'up' positive people that you just want to be around. They know their customers by first name, sandwich and usually coffee preference. And anyone they don't know is "Handsome" or "Beautiful" I would almost pay money for the validation and genuine human kindness. The whole experience sustained us on an exasperating 2.5+ hour ordeal to cross the border. Please note that you should NOT take oranges from Canada across the border into the US. While it is not an explosive, it is still most definitely banned. |
Meat and Bread--Gastown This is a bustling downtown sandwich store. Food is simple and simply good. There are daily sandwich options. One is always their signature porchetta sandwich. Get that. The second is a meat-variation. Get that too. The day we visited is was lamb shoulder with shaved fennel and artichoke hummus. The third is a grilled cheese variation.There is also one salad and one soup variation daily. My daughter will vouch for the ratatouille soup that she had that day. |
Save room for the Bacon Maple Ice Cream Sandwich. I am not a big fan of the current bacon-in-everything-is-better movement, and especially not in ice cream or dessert. But this one won me over. The bacon stays crunchy but isn't so salty as to fight with the vanilla ice cream and waffle cone. It sounds weird, but it is delicious. Sandwiches are served on little cutting boards with a dollop of mustard, and you eat on long picnic-style tables, rubbing elbows with your new friends. It is a full meal for a teenager or grown man. The line runs out the door consistently but moves very quickly so don't despair. |