Cool

Students do cool things.

Everyone I go to so school with does cool things, at least.

Everyone you go to school with or went to school with probably does or did cool things too, even if you didn’t know about it.

Everyone I go to school with is quickly throwing together a massive fundraising event or offhandedly writing a book or nonchalantly recording an album.

Whatever, right?

Here’s some homework for you, reader. Think of someone who doesn’t do anything cool. Think of someone who doesn’t have any neat thing they like to do or make or play or eat.

If you thought of some sorry sap, go prove yourself wrong. Go talk to them. Talk to them for five minutes and find out what makes them tick.

Are they a ballerina? Are they a musician? An artist? A math whiz? An actual wizard? A toymaker? A sculptor? A blacksmith? A surfer? A bug collector?

I bet you they’re cool.

I bet you real, actual money that they do something cool and you just didn’t know it.

Or.

Maybe they’re boring as hell.

Red River College’s culinary arts students do cool things to. They do cool things in the kitchen – and probably some cool things outside the kitchen – at the Paterson Global Foods Institute.

Every day they whip up an entirely new menu of tasty foods.

Sometimes, they have sandwiches.

Usually, I eat them.

Always, they’re awesome.

Here’s what I had at the Paterson Global Foods Institute:

Banh Mi: Shaved pork char siu with Sriracha mayo, cucumbers, and pickled vegetables with cilantro in a toasted baguette. $8.00

Impressions: The dense, spicy Sriracha mayo was cut cleanly by the vinegary vegetables. The baguettes was totally toasted, but smelled fresh nonetheless.

What made it? Shaved pork char siu. Whatever it is. It’s cool.

Me

Last week I was on the search for a cheap (under 5$) and tasty sandwich.  I found it. Bánh mì.

Weeks ago, Bartley Kives at the Winnipeg Free Press wrote a story about bánh mì, a Vietnamese sandwich that includes a baguette filled with meat, pickled vegetables, butter, mayonnaise, cilantro, more meat, cucumber, cheese, and more meat.

He mentioned a few places to get a bánh mì in the city, but here are a few more (mostly cheaper) places to grab a bánh mì:

Khanh Hoa – 698 Sargent Ave (~$4.00)

No Reservation said Khanh Hoa is a “great little spot for a viet sandwich prob the best I had in the city, and at $4.00 you cant go wrong. I met the owner friendly guy, looking forward to going back and exploring more. Thumbs up!” on urbanspoon.com.

Kim Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant – 888 Notre Dame Ave (~$3.00)

AoTT said that “the French Bread of the Bánh Mì was light and fluffy with a delicately crispy crust and it was a great value at $2.75” on urbanspoon.com.

Phuong Nam Restaurant – 883 William Ave (~$3.00)

OinkOink said that “if you’re looking for a late night joint to eat out I highly recommend this place (of course eating during regular hours suffices as well)” on urbanspoon.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Big

The Winnipeg Free Press News Café at 237 McDermott Ave. represents a major shift in the way newspapers are funded.  As classified ad revenues continue to decrease, newspapers are looking for new ways to not only generate money, but also reach their audience.

While the News Café offers a (rather small but awesome) menu of appetizers, soups, and sandwiches, it also hosts town halls, book launches, lectures and educational seminars, as well as live interviews with newsmakers.

When I was there, Tim Hague Sr. and Tim Hague Jr., the Winnipeg winners of Amazing Race Canada, were arriving and setting up for a filmed interview in the café.

Here’s what I got from the Winnipeg Free Press News Café

Cuban Sandwich: roasted pork loin and ham with pickles and swiss cheese on baguette.    $10.25

Impressions: The toasted bread balanced out the gooey filling of the sandwich.  It was also easy to get the teeth around which is a bonus for little-mouthed me.  There were generous amounts of tender pork, ham, and cheese.  Thick slices of pickles gave most bites an extra crunch.  I will definitely go back for this again.

What Made it? Mustard Seeds.  A layering of these tasty little buds sweetened up the sandwich in a way the old yellow stuff never could.

Don’t believe me? Here’s what other people are saying.

“The sandwiches are generally stellar” – Sir Omnyvore

“[The Pulled Pork Sandwich] was messy but very tasty. The sandwich came with a fresh green salad with a vinegary salad dressing. I would gladly return here for another meal and to hear an interview. Great idea Winnipeg Free Press!” – blacksadegirl

“I love their Manitoba Club ($9.95) Bothwell aged cheddar, Winkler bacon, chicken breast and vine ripened tomato and includes a mixed green salad or potato salad. Probably one of my favourite club sandwiches in the city – real cheddar, mayo and perfect bacon.” – Dineoutgal

The thin slices of flank steak were grilled perfectly and tasted of a delicious Asian-inspired marinade. [The Vietnamese Sandwich] was topped with a crunchy coleslaw that was dominated by cilantro (luckily I like cilantro).”

– slamb

Manypeople

If you haven’t been to ManyFest yet, go.

Why? Food Truck Wars. You can read about the whole event here, but I went only to visit some of Winnipeg’s best food trucks – all on one street.

So, if you haven’t been to ManyFest yet, go.

(Tonight is the last night)

Tickets could be purchased, for 2$, to try the sample item at each of the food trucks and then vote for the street food you liked best. I got to Broadway ready to eat. The plan was to try every sandwich-ish option available and write a comprehensive guide to eating at ManyFest.

So, I found the shortest line and began waiting in front of On A Roll Sandwich Truck.

Two hours and twenty-one minutes later I had a sandwich in my hand. An hour before that I had decided that visiting one food truck was enough. There were too many people at ManyFest.

There were only 12 trucks attempting to feed the thousands that visited the festival. Bartley Kives wrote a great piece for the Winnipeg Free Press about the laws limiting food trucks in Winnipeg that might explain the shortage of creative street food in the city.

Here’s what I got from On A Roll Sandwich Truck:

Caribbean Jerk Chicken: Marinated Jerk Chicken, bell peppers, sweet onion, mixed greens, avocado, tomato, & pineapple cream cheese on a toasted baguette. $9.00

Impressions: I’m not sure if it was because I ordered near the end of the night, but my sandwich had no avocados. But, supply shortage or forgetful chef, this sandwich rocked. The bread was toasted, but soft enough to keep the fillings inside and my hands clean. On A Roll wasn’t shy about their chicken, each bite was full of the chunky pieces.

What Made it? Pineapple cream cheese. This sweet and creamy spread balances the spiciness of the chicken. I’d probably enjoy a slice of old bread with that cream cheese.

Yes, I had two sandwiches.

Thai Shrimp Po Boy: Thai breaded shrimp served with tomato, coleslaw, sriracha mayo, & cilantro on a toasted baguette. $9.00

Impressions: Big Shrimp. Each half of the baguette housed four jumbo shrimp covered in a crispy deep-fried crust. The sriracha mayo was slightly disappointing – undetectable in the sandwich and heatless on its own. The cool coleslaw and sizzling shrimp made for some exciting bites. A Po Boy is a traditional Louisiana submarine sandwich.

What made it? Thai breading. Whatever Thai breading is, it’s good. The crunch gave a texture to the sandwich the Jerk Chicken couldn’t compare with.

Luckily, On A Roll managed to stay open past 7:30 pm. Some other trucks did not…

And my favourite: