Johnny’s Burger Stop
I-5 Exit 212
Stanwood, WA
There are time where I believe I am a glutton for punishment (but in a really bad way). On my way to the US, before crossing the border, I decide to “skip” lunch and hopefully find something on my way to Seattle. However, there are times you are not certain what/when to eat and you skip option after option (of course, these options are usually well known chain restaurants). Now, there is nothing wrong with your McD’s if you are hungry but, you always think “I want to get something ‘better’”.
In a wacky way, that’s what sort of happened to me: I was so darn hungry but was still at least an hour away from Seattle so I decided to take an exit and eat first. However, it was the same usual suspects for several exits and suddenly I gave up and take the very next one. When I did, I realized that, after the exit, I had to drive several Kms before hitting those chain restaurants. Almost admitting defeat, I then look at the other way and see Johnny’s Burger Stop, a place that I have seen everytime I drive through I-5 to Seattle because of a sort of unique feature: that chimney with smoke puffing out. As they say, when there is smoke…
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Tagged as:
Burgers,
Seattle
White Spot
Several locations in Canada
1616 West Georgia Street (Location visited)
Vancouver, BC
A quick reminder of my background: I wasn’t raised in Canada and, as a result, there are a lot of things “Canadian” I didn’t grow up with. One of those things was White Spot’s Pirate Pack (and come to think about it, I didn’t even grow up having Happy Meals). So, when White Spot sent an email (*) to some of us food bloggers about this event, I was enthusiastic. Hey, why not! (After all, it is for a good cause!). So, on that day, I decided to drop by to “experience” it.
(*) As a personal decision, I do not participate in such promotions or events. If I choose to go to a restaurant, it will be on my own.
Now, this post is a bit different compared to the other post – it is more of a photo essay. How come? Because, well, I have been to White Spot previously and, in this case, things weren’t that different. After all, it is a chain!
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Tagged as:
Burgers,
Chain Restaurant,
Vancouver
Friesenburgers
308 East 26th Street
Tacoma, WA
Hmmmmm…. Burger…. That quintessential North American sandwich. And I will be more than willing to admit I am at times guilty to have one too many burgers. Something that can be really cheap (and done well) and something where you can also make it fancy for no other reason just because (and, in my opinion, break its simplicity). Despite its bad rap, if done well, it can be a thing of beauty. And, again, who better than Americans for this creation? So, on my last day in Tacoma, on my way back to Vancouver, I had to do a small stop for lunch and what better place, than, well, a burger shop? And that’s how I ended up in Friesenburgers.
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Tagged as:
Burgers,
Tacoma
Great Bear Pub
175 – 5665 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
Almost a month ago, on my way back from Seattle/Tukwila, I was in delivery mode after crossing the border. I ended up delivering goodies to different people and, knowing that Sherman and his hockey team was playing that night, I decided to bring some stuff for them as well. That’s because, well, they were good to me as well since they let me join them for after game dinners (in this case, Pattaya Thai and Tenhachi). The place they were supposed to meet was Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub. Bear… Bear… For some reason, at first, I thought it was in Kingsway, as in THIS Great Bear Pub, instead, that place was in North Van. OK, it was a long drive but, hey, when you see people with happy faces, that’s what matters the most. But, that “bear” thing stuck in my head and one night, I decided to go to Great Bear Pub…
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Tagged as:
Burgers,
Burnaby,
pub
Fogg N’ Suds
10720 Cambie Road, Richmond, BC
1323 Robson Street (Location visited)
Vancouver, BC
Unless you are living under the rock, or probably an American or Canadian without any too much connection outside of North-America, the Football World Cup is currently going on in South Africa. Yes, football, as in that sports that you actually use your feet to kick a ball 90% of the time, unlike *ahem* American football. Go ahead, we can have a discussion about naming conventions and what not but, unlike, NBA, NFL, MLB or even NHL, where the “championship” is local (read: North-American minus Mexico), the FIFA World Cup is a global event. It is a simple sport and, if you want to play, you only need a team and some open space. Hell, at times you can even “improvise” a ball and some sticks to mark the goal. Rules are quite simple and, unlike the before mentioned sports, what is called on the field sticks. No instant replay, no fancy technology. (Sorry, England, you got your Wimbley Goal 30+ years ago…).
Now, putting all those issues aside, given the time difference and, in part due broadcasting, one of the games were scheduled around noon our time, which means going for lunch to watch the game! Going to a fancy type restaurant for lunch to watch a game sounds a really bad idea so, instead, PO and I went to more adequate places to watch the football games: a pub. In this case, we went to Fogg N’ Suds, located in the same block as Hon’s in Robson. In fact, it is right in front of Dea Bak Bon Ga on the second story!
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Tagged as:
Burgers,
Downtown,
pub,
Vancouver,
West End
Red Mill Burgers
1613 West Dravus Street
312 North 67th Street (Location visited)
Seattle, WA
Just prior to my trip to Seattle, I checked with Mijune and Sherman to ask “Hey, Mijune, Sherman, I will be down in Seattle, what restaurants do you recommend I visit?” While she didn’t really say it, I knew Mijune wanted to say “Bakery Nouveau!” After all, is is one of the few places she has ranked it “6/6″! And, yes, I indeed brought Bakery Nouveau goods on my way back – so much, in fact they threw me a baguette for free! As for Sherman, well, he actually stuck with some new places and, among them, Red Mill Burgers, mainly because he has been there previously. So, no reason why I shouldn’t go!
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Tagged as:
Burgers,
Seattle
Prestons
1177 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC
Here is something I usually don’t like to mention because I do not believe is an issue: I get a lot of invites to events. The reason it is a non-issue is that I seldom, if ever, I go to one. I will admit I have been to them when it is a fellow blogger who ask me to go along or it is not necessarily a restaurant event. Furthermore, I make no promise I will blog about it. For example, just prior to the Olympics, I attended an event organized by Tourism Vancouver Island, which was blogged by fellow bloggers – I was only there to take pictures.
So, it was quite interesting that I received an invite from Kate of Urbanspoon for an opening, rather than the restaurant itself. This is because I am a (somewhat?) active member of Urbanspoon and, well, I thought there is a reason why I was sent that invite. I was borderline choosing not to but I sense a level of obligation to do so, that is, the “why me” factor. Furthermore, when I asked if Sherman or Mijune if they were going, there was a flip-flop going on and, in the end, my decision was sealed when I said “if one of you are going”. So, which restaurant is this opening for? Preston’s.
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Tagged as:
Burgers,
Downtown,
Seafood,
Vancouver
