Vegging Out: Beyond Meat Burger at A&W

I finally tried A&W’s Beyond Meat burger. It lived up to what I’ve been reading, that it tastes almost just like a beef burger. The texture is lighter and softer than ground beef. Also, it comes with mayo, so if you’re vegan you’ll want to hold that. #yeg #vegan #vegetarian #a&w #beyondmeat #nofilter #fastfood #yegfood #yegfoodie #yegeats

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jul 28, 2018 at 12:56pm PDT

My Poutine at MyFries

Semi-vegan poutine at My Fries. #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

MyFries is an Edmonton-based fast food/casual restaurant that serves up poutine in many different ways. The fries are baked, not fried, making for a healthier experience. The cheese curds come from Quebec and they make their own gravy. However, customers can top the fries with basically any combination of meat, cheese, sauce, and veggies available, along with being able to choose from some pre-established options like donair, pizza, and pulled pork.

I opted to build my own with fresh guacamole (very fresh and chunky), salsa (medium spiced), sauteed mushrooms (delicious), and homestyle gravy (unique). I did not opt for cheese or a protein. The fries themselves get their flavour from the toppings and taste very bland and starchy on their own - MyFries does offer fries on their own, so I would recommend a dipping sauce. Otherwise, it just felt like I was eating a combination of a lot of different, albeit delicious, ingredients without any real cohesion. The portion is also huge - I could not finish my regular serving.

On the other hand, my dining companion raved about his donair fries, topped with donair meat, sauce, diced tomatoes, and cheese. He had a large and found it very filling - more so than a burger and fries.

MyFries is a really unique concept - the food just did not really "sing" to me. However, people who love poutine should definitely check it out.

Fatburger Single Burger Combo

Fatburger Single Burger Combo, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Once upon a time, there used to be only one location of Fatburger in Edmonton. It was located way on the south side, in an area not easily accessible by me.

Then, one day another location opened up in City Centre Mall downtown. I avoided it for as long as I could, as eating a heavy fast food meal in the middle of the day could prove hazardous to my digestion.

Today, I decided to go for it. I had a single burger combo. The patty was juicy and took most of its flavour from its surrounding condiments, of which there were many. I really like the fresh, untoasted bun (I find toasted buns have a tendency to fall apart).

Besides the indigestion, the only other drawback I find to Fatburger is the price. In fact, several parties entered and then left due to sticker shock. While the quality is high, it is still technically fast food.

If you like burgers, don't overlook Fatburger - even though your budget may hate you for it.

Guilty Pleasures: Festive Special at Swiss Chalet

Festive Special, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Forgive me, but I love Swiss Chalet. I know it's technically fast food, but it's Canadian. And, it's a darn good chicken dinner at a reasonable price. It's that time of year again for the festive special, so I went for it. The stuffing and cranberry sauce really does make the meal seem festive. I saved my chocolates for later.

Bourbon St. Grill

Combo Platter, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Today I discovered the Bourbon St. Grill in West Edmonton Mall. No, it isn't on Bourbon Street - it is in the Phase One food court. This fast food kiosk is Cajun meets Chinese, and makes for an interesting and unique food experience.

Basically, the food is in hot trays and you pick your own combo. Combos consist of rice (chicken fries or gumbo), pasta, or mashed potatoes; one or two veggies; and one or two meats - meats meaning choosing from the many different kinds of chicken or the grilled fish.

I went with the chicken fried rice (excellent), glazed carrots (fresh and sweet), bourbon chicken (grilled chicken cut into small pieces and served in a sweet bourbon sauce), and mango chicken (similar to lemon chicken, but with a slightly different flavour).

The bourbon chicken was the best I have had - there are other Chinese fast food mall places that sell something similar, and this had the freshest taste. The portion overall was huge and at $9 it wasn't cheap, but wasn't unreasonable either.

I highly recommend Bourbon St. Grill to anyone who wants a different kind of food court experience.

Free the Burrito! Burrito Libre

Large Chicken Burrito Bowl, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Mexican is not usually my first choice for fast food. I find most of the choices available to be greasy and heavy, resulting in unpleasant side effects for myself and those around me.

So, it was with some reservations that I entered Burrito Libre. Not reservations in the traditional restaurant sense, as it operates as a fast food place, but I digress. Burrito Libre lets you pick your choice of burrito/bowl/salad, size, protein, fillings, sauces, and pretty much everything else.

I had a large chicken burrito bowl with black beans, corn, rice, roasted potatoes, mild salsa, chipotle sauce, lettuce, and guacamole (which cost a bit extra but was well worth it. Veggie burritos come with guacamole).

The photo here does not do the finished result justice. The mixture was colourful, flavourful, and filling without being too heavy. I added a pop and side of tortilla chips and salsa, which made up for the lack of a burrito wrap (which honestly, I did not miss).

Fresh food that is reasonably priced - I like it!

Burger and Fries - Rodeo Burger

Burger and Fries, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Rodeo Burger (8525B 112 Street) was where I went for supper yesterday evening. I wanted a burger, but not the everyday fast food variety.

The place was filled with students, which is no surprise since it is located a stone's throw away from the U of A campus. Burgers come in singles or doubles, and you get to choose your toppings. Some of the toppings are basics, like tomato and lettuce, while others are ones that anywhere else you would have to pay extra for, like sauteed mushrooms and carmelized onions. Of course, there are a few premium toppings that you do have to pay for, like cheese. The carmelized onions and mushrooms, plus mayo, are what I chose to adorn my patty.

The patty itself is nothing special. It is quite thin and has a spice that dominates the flavour (I think it is black pepper). If I knew how thin the patty would be, I would have ordered a double. There was a decent amount of toppings.

The best part of the meal for me was the fries. They were crispy and perfectly seasoned (you have a choice of seasoned or sea salt).

Rodeo Burger has one veggie burger plus several burgers that come in pre-determined configurations as far as toppings go. My combo, with a pop, cost less than $10 so it was quite economical. I was not blown away by Rodeo Burger, but I would go here again, if only for the fries.