Lentil Curry Soup at Two Rooms

Lentil Curry Soup, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

A warm Saturday afternoon in Edmonton is the perfect time to sit on a cafe patio with beer and people watch.

I met a friend for a late lunch and that is exactly what we did at Two Rooms Cafe (10324 Whyte Avenue). In addition to our beers - of which Two Rooms has quite a selection - we each had a bowl of lentil curry soup.

The portion was quite generous, and as a light lunch, it fit the bill. It was absolutely packed with lentils. I just wish I could have tasted more of the curry. While there was some heat, the flavour was not that distinctive.

Chicken Noodle Soup - Almost a Meal

Chicken Noodle Soup, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I often have meetings at Spinelli's Bar Italia at the north side location of the Italian Centre on 95 Street and 109 Avenue. Now that Spinelli's also serves food in addition to great coffee and treats, I try to get there early to have lunch.

I had a piece of tomato and olive focaccia as I often do, but cycling had made me even more hungry so I ordered a bowl of soup as well. The soups change daily, and today one of my favourites was available.

I love chicken noodle soup, even the generic stuff out of the can. Spinelli's took it to another level. The soup was so thick with pasta and chicken, it was almost a stew. The portion was also quite generous for $5. If the other soups here are similarly delicious, I think I may have to start trying them.

The Pho Files: Brisket and Steak at Pho Huong

Brisket and Steak Pho, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Pho Huong (10531 107 Avenue) is one of my favourite pho restaurants, even though it is slightly out of my way. Yesterday, I made the effort to go here for lunch and had a large steak and brisket pho.

I was not disappointed. While "large" typically just means more brother, here it was the full deal of extra meat and noodles too. The steak was soft and rare, while the brisket was well-done. Brisket in pho can be very fatty and full if gristle, but here it simply melted in my mouth.

As usual, the broth was perfectly seasoned. And the service is great!

Brisket Sandwich at Montana's

Brisket Sandwich, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I owed someone a volunteer appreciation meal, and we headed to the Calgary Trail location of Montana's.

I had a brisket sandwich, which featured either a half or full pound of thinly sliced meat in barbecue sauce, between a light and fluffy bun. I was quite hungry, and my companion wanted to have some also, so I went for the full pound. Wow. It reminded me of some of those sandwiches the hosts dig their faces into on the Food TV Network. The meat was lean and soft, the barbecue sauce was tangy and had a slight kick to it, and if I was not sharing I would never have been able to finish. This is a sandwich for when someone wants some serious meat.