Welcome to "On the Street," my series of food blogs on Edmonton's growing street food scene.
When I think of street food in Edmonton, I think of Fat Franks. For me, spring arrives when I start seeing the company's carts on the street. Munching on a hot dog outside is one of my favourite spring and summer pleasures.
I went for a bike ride this afternoon to the cart on 124 Street and 102 Avenue outside Mountain Equipment Co-op. I was tempted by a new special: turkey sausage. I know I had this once before, last summer, I think at the Folk Fest, but could never find it on anyone's carts since.
The sausage was $5, and slightly larger than the Jumbo Dog, which is what I typically get. Within the crispy casing was ground turkey meat that was light in both texture and taste, with a hint of seasonings. I tried the cranberry mustard as per the cart attendant's suggestion, but was glad I did not put much on - it tasted like cranberry sauce in a squeezable bottle moreso than mustard - a bit too sweet.
Overall, I would say I find the Jumbo Dog more satisfying and also with a stronger taste.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
On the Street: Turkey Sausage
Chicken on a Kaiser Bun
Swiss Chalet was close enough to where I needed to be Friday evening, that I decided to step in for a quick meal. I opted for the pulled chicken sandwich on a kaiser bun.
The sandwich itself was pretty basic: a quarter of Swiss Chalet's famous rotisserie chicken pulled off the bone and served on a fresh, white, soft kaiser bun. Although the skin was also pulled from the chicken, it retained much of its moisture and flavour. I had fries as my side - the fries here are really special as far as fast food goes. They are hand made.
But of course what really makes the meal is the sauce. I don't know what it is, but I love it. I used it on my fries and chicken, ignoring the packet of mayonnaise that I was also brought.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Coffee Break: Espresso Milkshake at Zocalo
What do you get when you combine milk, real vanilla ice cream, and freshly brewed espresso using an old-fashioned milkshake machine?
Something incredibly rich, decadent, and with enough kick to keep you going for the rest of the day.
I am talking about the espresso milkshake, a seasonal treat at Zocalo at 10826 95 Street. Made fresh to order in a tall glass, this is one of the number one signs in Little Italy that summer has arrived.
Get one while you can.
The Pho Files: Pho Ga (Chicken Pho) at Ho Restaurant
I stopped in to the new Ho Restaurant (also known as Pho Ho ) on 97 Street and 107a Avenue. Even though it was quite balmy outside, I was craving a steaming bowl of Pho Ga, which is pho with chicken.
The broth was hot and aromatic, with its flavour coming from typical pho seasonings without any of those awful dried onion flakes some places use. I think the base was chicken instead of beef, as it was light in colour and texture. Noodles were bountiful, as was the amount of chicken which absorbed much of its flavour from the broth but also at times had its own unique flavour, bordering on nutty.
This was one of the best bowls of Pho Ga I have had in quite some time.