Smoked Salmon and Avocado Salad Rolls

I popped into Pho Delight for a quick supper alone a couple of Saturday evenings ago and in addition to the soup I ordered (medium steak, of course), I was intrigued by the smoked salmon and avocado salad rolls advertised as a special. Very refreshing and delicious, each of the four rolls featured a generous amount of avocado and smoked salmon, along with noodles, basil, and other vegetables typically found in a salad roll. It was indeed a unique combination. I found that the peanut sauce, the same which accompanies other kinds of salad rolls, did not really go well with the flavour combination. Hoisin or plain soy sauce would have been a better choice. However, I was impressed that the avocado was of perfect ripeness (over-ripe avocado makes me gag).

Vegetarian Salad Rolls at Ninh Kieu

Vegetarian Salad Rolls, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Ninh Kieu (107 Avenue and 98 Street), one of my favourite Vietnamese restaurants. I love how their menu has expanded inr ecent years to include a variety of vegetarian fare. I also love how some appetizers are available as a half portion. Perfect for when I am dining alone!

The vegetarian salad rolls were packed with lettuce, noddles, and tofu. I would have liked a bit more cilantro - the rolls were a bit bland, making the accompanying peanut sauce all the more important.

Beef Salad Rolls at Pho King

Beef Salad Rolls, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I took my second trip to Pho King in a matter of days as I was on Alberta Avenue this afternoon photographing the Deep Freeze festival. In addition to my usual bowl of rare steak pho, I had two salad rolls with beef. The salad roll choices also include shrimp and tofu.

The rolls were thick and tasted strongly of basil. The beef itself was tender, but plain-tasting. I was expecting it to have the excellent grilled flavour of the beef found in Pho King's vermicelli bowl. Thus, I was a bit disappointed.