Tag: sly

Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes*

Canteen
November 5th, 2016

124th Street in Edmonton is peppered with a variety of trendy, new, local, casual, and quaint eateries. One such place is Canteen and Sly had, despite living nearby, never visited the restaurant. So, when smoonie and Suz made the brunch call Sly dropped what she was doing to meet them for a most welcome Saturday date.

Sly ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffle with toppings that change from week to week. We’ll get to that.

The waffle had a good sweet/savory balance of flavour and the interior was light, fluffy, even cloud-like in texture. This made for a agreeable brunch, not too heavy, so one could carry on with busy Saturday activities. The exterior, however, lacked that golden crisp that Sly loves from a waffle. Please note, that crispy and crunchy are entirely different qualifiers. A crunchy waffle would be a burnt disaster, Sly imagines. Much preferred is that oh-so thin and delicate golden crisp.

Let’s talk toppings.

Wow! Coconut carrot yogurt drizzled on top with almonds were so flavourful and mouth-wateringly good. The juicy chicken combined with the sauce and waffle was quite the treat. Chicken and waffles seem to be appearing on dozens of menus but Sly can say with confidence that Canteen has a unique take on the dish elevating the flavours beyond the sum of their parts.

smoonie ordered the Huevos Rancheros and revelled in the tasty meal. Suz got the flapjacks. Sly silently judged the pancakes but Suz said they were delicious. 

Ratings:
3.5/5

*I was unable to enter an establishment called Canteen without humming this…

The Admission of Reliability

Simplicity sticks.

Place: Albert’s on 99th Street (again)
When: Summer 2015

The International Supreme Council of Waffles (ISCoW) believes in the quest for the best waffle but as we are only human we acknowledge, for the love of waffles, that sometimes when the craving strikes it is best to satisfy the craving with a reliable source.

Sly and Bill returned to Albert’s on 99th in hope of recreating the simple golden crisp yet fluffy waffle they enjoyed before (with generous serving of bacon). However, Bill and Sly were left somewhat disappointed. The Council recognizes these collective comments, “the inside was soft, too moist.” An important lesson was gleaned; consistency is an essential attribute in the quest for the best waffle.

And Critical Bill made the closing remarks,

“why is the middle of my waffle so soft when the rest of my life is so hard.”

Rating:
Bill & Sly agreed: 3/5

A Diner Delight

The Founding Council Reconvenes and Commits

Place: Albert’s on 99th Street, Edmonton AB
Wafflers: founding members Critical Bill and Sly
When: Mid-March 2015

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Sly and Bill met during Sly’s staycation for a much deserved mid-week-waffle-Wednesday meeting of the International Supreme Council of Waffles. The experience opened with classic diner décor, the ironic impersonal but friendly wait staff, and shitty drip coffee that no diner should be without. Based on the agreed merits of the waffle*, this meeting of the council was simple, quiet, and pleasant. Critical Bill reports, “no complaints, light and crispy waffle” and Sly’s remarks were, “whipped butter is always a bonus.” (note: the waffle was served plain, to the council’s approval, with butter and syrup, not as picture above). It was at this meeting that the side of bacon was added to the Waffle order. Though, no proclamation was decreed it was silently understood that the side of bacon would accompany future waffles, permitted by availability. The council would like to note that given the simplicity of the Albert’s waffle it was a bit pricey but the bacon helping was plentiful.

This waffle experience might be reminiscent of the simpler time that Bill longs for.

Ratings:
Critical Bill: 4.5/5
Sly: 4/5