Calgary
Alberta, Canada
Home of the Stampede! If you're in Calgary in the second week of July and you can find a hotel room (good luck) you should check it out. If you can't check out the Stampede then I highly recommend you check out 17th street. It's where all action is if you're trying to grab a drink and hang out.
If you want more than hanging out though and you're a little hungry then I insist (yes I insist) that you go to Tubby Dog on 17th ave in between 9th and 10th Street. When you have arrived at Tubby Dog then you need to try their most popular item: The A-Bomb. A smorgasbord of bacon, mayo, mustard, ketchup and cheese drizzled over potato chips on your hot dog. If you want to go for the Yam fries, which are similar to sweet potato fries then I say, do it.
I had an extra surprise with a band that was playing in the small restaurant as well. That may be because it was band weekend in Calgary. Lotta fun though and lots of people flock to this place at all hours of the evening whether its band weekend of not. Make sure to ask for extra napkins as these dogs end up all over your hands and face and anything else nearby that is within striking distance.
Two-Bomb Blowing It Up
Edmonton
Alberta, Canada
Edmonton was a tough nut to crack. Its not really known for a whole hell of a lot in the winter other than the Oilers. It is known for being a great testing ground for potential franchise restaurants. Sorentino's, Earl's and Boston Pizza all started in Edmonton. The reason for this is the amount of times people in Edmonton go out to eat, more than any other city in North America, so its a good place to try out a franchise.
This doesn't however solve my issue of what is unique there. I asked many people who said there was nothing in Edmonton, but i didn't let that stop me, as usual. I found a place called Uncle Ed's Ukrainian Restaurant. They serve a sausage there that has their own special recipe to it. I was only in Edmonton for 12 hours so I wasn't fortunate enough to try it but this is the only thing that I have found that is unique to Edmonton. It makes sense because of the huge Ukrainian population. If I go back, i'll check it out for you so i can expand this a bit.
Two sausages for U at the Two
Hamilton
Ontario, Canada
A somewhat small, city, if you will, originally a steel town. Home to half a million people and the capital of waterfalls in the world with 176. The amount of variety of waterfalls here is enormous from niagara, which is about an hour away to dribbles of water cascading off a cliff. However when you are looking at these waterfalls you may need to eat something.
I recommend a specialty of Hamilton. The pickle. Its not a late night food but if you are staring at a waterfall and need a bite, the local dill might do it for ya. The local dill tastes nothing like a dill at all, it's almost sour, pickled with garlic and a number of other things. It's a real surprise.
Now onto the late nighter. I had to try this heart clogger called the bacon burger. I know what you're thinking, you've had a bacon burger. Oh but you haven't, not this way anyway. Its bacon only. Bits of bacon put on the grill put into a patty. I wasn't brave enough to try the large, so I had a slider version.
I know what you're asking, where can I attempt this destroyer of arteries. Chuck's Burger Bar. He has other stuff that's decent too if you're just up for a sampling and not a full on scorcher. Chuck is located just west of the heart of town on Locke street south of Main. Get on down there whilst you can walk and steel yourself a good time.
Steel here at the two.
London
Ontario, Canada
London Ontario is a mite bit smaller than London England, but it does have a thames river, a blackfriars and many other simular names but its just not the same. Fish and chips are at a minimal as well, however I have found something that was incredible. It's called a Panzerotti,very simular to a calzone but so much better, at least the one I had.
They do have a take out only option as well as a dine in section. They close at 11 Thurs-Sat so you might have to make your way over here a little earlier than you thought. However it is totally worth the trip! The Place is called Tony's. The one I went to (the original) is at 980 Dundas St.
The Panzerotti that I had is the Meat lovers, there is also the Deluxe which has a few veggies in it. The pie crust though is what makes this cheesey meaty creation incredible. It has a flakey almost buttery taste to it but its not overpowering. In fact none of it is overpowering, it's all just right. By the way, Tony was there to watch us eat his amazing creation too. Thanks Tony!
Arrivederci from the Two, eh
Montreal
Quebec, Canada
Montreal or Mon-twre-ahhhhhl has a fantastic history and is a great place to visit for any occasion. Winters though are bone chillingly cold, just a warning. A place known apparently for its strip clubs. You notice this right away because there are strip clubs on the main road just trying to fit in with everyone else. I didn't get a chance to visit one but apparently the entertainment value is very high, shall we say.
Lets focus on why we're here though. Where do you go to eat late night? I have two places for you that truly represent Montreal. The two foods that are staples of late night Montreal would be the smoked meat and the poutine.
Let's start with the smoked meat shall we. Schwartz's is a little outside of downtown up St. Laurent Blvd. with really only one go to menu item, Medium fat sandwich slathered in French's mustard with a side of fries, slaw, pickle and a dark cherry soda or pop if you will. Schwartz's has been around since 1928 and has been killin it ever since. A true establishment, thank you Reuben Schwartz.
Most of you may have heard of the poutine. A solid poutine would be fries and fresh cheese curd smothered in brown gravy. It's kinda hard to make a bad one but i'm sure it can be done somewhere. Where i'm sending you though, will be THE place to get a poutine. La Banquise has 25 different versions of the poutine at any time. I had had the regular before so I wanted to branch out a little and try some new varieties knowing their classique poutine would be solid. I tried the Rachel; take the regular and then add green peppers, onions and mushrooms. I felt as though another was in order even though the small Rachel had come pretty close to filling me up. WARNING: the T-Rex should only be attempted if you feel like you haven't been in touch with the rabid bear inside of you in ages. My God. Bacon, ground beef, Pepperoni, hot dog and instant death await you with this monster.
La Banquise is also a little outside of town, at the west corner of Parc La Fountaine, but well worth the 30-45 minute walk or 5 min cab ride. It started off as a mom and pop shop that sold hot dogs but transformed into the place we see today, I believe, about 25 years ago. It's open 24 hours, cash only, and after 8pm you have to pay first before you receive your deliciousness.
p.s. Don't forget to pack you french
Enjoy you again at the deux
Ottawa
Ontario, Canada
I will say that I had a great time in Canada. Canada’s Capital has lots to offer including parliament, lots of hotels, most likely snow, hidden prohibition bars, Canadians, and a pretty awesome canal. The Canal is frozen in the winter and offers hot chocolate and snacks.
This brings us to our words of the day: Beaver Tail. Fear not vegetarians this is something for you as well! While skating the Canal, you can snag a Beaver Tail. Beaver Tails are flat dough that look like beaver tails. Fry that puppy up and spread some chocolate or sugar cinnamon on it and it’s a go. I went for halvesies and I must say they are both delicious.
Sit on a bench on the frozen canal in freezing conditions and enjoy one of these bad buoys to warm you up. Throw in some hot chocolate and you are good to go. After you have one of these guys may I make a suggestion to hit up Union 613. A great prohibition style bar with a hidden entrance downstairs. The drinks and food are fantastic.
Unfrozen at the Two, eh
Saskatoon
Saskatchewan, Canada
All I can say is, Saskatoon berries anyone?
Struggling at the two
Toronto
Ontario, Canada
Toronto, likely named after the Iroquois word tkaronto, which means "place where trees stand in the water", is tough on unique later night food. I'm going to say it's under development because I have found THE perfect drinking food. Why this has not been turned into an establishment already I have no idea. The unique food of Toronto is the Peameal Bacon Sandwich.
The Peameal Bacon Sandwich is the perfect late night food. It's made from a kaiser roll thats soaks up some of the flavor from the "canadian bacon" or bacon back from the loin of the pig. The edges are rolled in cornmeal to give it a little bit of a crunch. The reason I term this a food as "in development," is because you can't get one of the best ones past 5pm! Carousel at St. Lawrence Market has one of the best and the other top two spots, Paddington's Pump and Sausage King, come from the St. Lawrence Market as well which shuts at 5pm.
Shuts at 5pm? Why on Earth would you have a perfect drinking food not be available to you after midnight? To stay sane, I'm going to have to term this food as "under construction." For the love of the Dark Side, someone get out there and build a stand that only sells these things. You would make a fortune!
Praying at the two spot, till next time.