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

Black Bean Burger at the Brick and Whiskey

Black bean burger at #brickandwhiskey - likely the best veggie burger I have had lately. #yegfood #yeg #yegeats #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 3, 2018 at 3:20pm PST

I arrived at the Brick and Whiskey (8937 82 Ave.) just too late for brunch on a Saturday afternoon, so I had to order off of the regular menu instead. My black bean burger was amazing - one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had. The patty itself is a flavourful blend of black beans and chickpeas, full of protein. The bun had an excellent spread and lots of cilantro - I love cilantro and it added to the burger's flavour profile.

Veggie Burger at State and Main

Post-church veggie burger. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Mar 26, 2017 at 12:35pm PDT

I was asked to speak at a downtown church this past weekend, and after the service I went out for lunch at State and Main with a friend. I liked the complex flavours of my veggie burger, which included guacamole, hummus, and bruschetta - it made my tastebuds feel like they went on tour in the Mediterranean. My fries were lukewarm to cold, however, and this really soured the experience. I loved the dill dip that went with them, however.

Vegging Out: Veggie Burger at Original Joe's

I ended up at Original Joe's for supper (on 125 Street and 102 Avenue) the other night and ordered a veggie burger. The patty was dense and soy-based, with a rather complex flavour profile coming from the guacamole on the top part of the bun and the hummus on the bottom. As well, a hearty portion of bruschetta was on top. I held the cheese (vegans be aware) and had fries and coleslaw as my two sides. The gravy is also vegetarian, which is just awesome. The coleslaw was very fresh and added some lightness to the meal. A win overall.

Veggie Burger at Blue Plate Diner

Veggie burger at Blue Plate Diner #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

A quick lunch was in order on the way to an event on Sunday, so Blue Plate Diner it was. I had a veggie burger with fries - I usually love house made veggie burgers, which differ greatly from the commercially available ones.

The fresh, crunch grain bun was a delight. The condiments and veggies were ice cold, which affected the temperature of the burger. I could also have stood to be cooked longer - it was quite soft and the outside should have been crispier. Flavour wise, the dijon mustard dominated, although I could sense a lot of seasonings going on within the burger too.

The house made fries were wonderful - hot, fresh, and plentiful.

I think with some tweaking and better preparation, Blue Plate's veggie burger could be a lot better than it is, or at least it was when I had it.

Veggie Burger at Highlevel Diner

Veggie burger #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Highlevel Diner has one of the city's best veggie burgers. The crispy patty of grains and seeds is filling and delicious. Served on a large, whole wheat bun with tomatoes, sprouts, mayo, and lettuce, it is almost impossible for one person to finish - especially if you have the hand cut fries on the side. Oh, and the ketchup is also house made and tastes like salsa without the chunks. This is definitely one of Highlevel Diner's signature dishes.

Vegan Burger at The Pourhouse

Vegan Burger, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I ventured to The Pourhouse Bier Bistro after the International Women's Day March and Rally. The Pourhouse describes itself as a "gastropub," which means the emphasis is as much on food quality as good libations.

I was very impressed with the beer selection, which included special brews for the establishment, as well as seasonal or temporary specials. After picking my beer (a microbrew called Original 16 from Saskatoon) I opted for the vegan burger. After all, I was still in activist mode.

I was faced with one of the biggest veggie burgers of my life. The enormous patty was made from soy, chickpeas, peas, corn, and grains. Served on a fresh and crispy while wheat kaiser bun, it was topped with roasted peppers and caramelized onions. There could have been pesto, but the pesto was not vegan so I held it (I am not a strict vegan, but don't care for parmesan).

The Pourhouse boasts that it does not have a deep fryer. Sides include coleslaw, salad, soup, and smashed potatoes. I opted for the latter. It looked like at least two large potatoes had met their demise upon my plate. A bit of cream and the scallions on top replicated the flavour of a baked potato with sour cream and onions, with a healthy dose of garlic.

I thought at first the prices at The Pourhouse were a little steep, but for $13, the size of the portion and quality of the food definitely justifies the cost.