East End Eats XXI: La Sala Restaurant

 

 

Delivery also exists...? A concept this intrepid writer quickly contemplated while slipping through snowy sidewalks with an at-risk pizza box. Determination, combined with precise amounts of madness make a truly genius hey look over there! (heh heh heh).

I ventured out on foot, in seriously not ideal weather, to La Sala Restaurant, very curious about their recent pizza option I'd noticed while walking by. Frankly it's easily forgiven if you've missed noticing La Sala even exists. It certainly took me a while and I've been here in the Beaches several years now.

Queen Street east of the Don River has a bunch of little restaurant gems tucked into their side streets, Completo off Coady Ave being a widely known example of this. La Sala seems like any other large Beaches house until you get a closer look, an actual restaurant appearing out of nowhere. Reminds me of the first time over a decade ago when I discovered the old spots on Markham Street like Victory Cafe or The Central (goddamn developers). La Sala, though obviously just offering takeout currently, reminds me of that: a cozy restaurant/bar squeezed into a large living room. The server's station is in a nook by some stairs, the entranceway is where the debit machine is, etc. Only now these dining room tables and chairs are covered with plastic that hope for patrons again someday again.

The pizza itself! Hmmmm. It's perfectly fine and I'd overall give it a solid grade... well prepared ingredients toppings-wise and a steadily crisp crust. The texture hits a nice spot, dominated by soft dough and cheese which in equal balance is usually a winner. And this pizza could be a real surprise winner, I really want it to be, but it isn't.

They have numerous pizza options (probably too many, some descriptions seem to lean on the verge of experiments) and my selection was fittingly the one they named after the restaurant itself: sauce and cheese with beef tenderloin (interesting), Italian sausage and mushrooms. While waiting (mask on of course) I chatted with the very fellow who made my pie and put it in the oven, perhaps even the owner and or head chef himself. A delightful dude, very confident about his food and eager for a patio season we can hopefully have safely. Man I'm really dawdling with this review my apologizes. 

I'm certain this is a good restaurant, but I also think making pizza is something rather new to this kitchen, and so their attempt at distinctive flavour is way too heavy. The pie I got was far overseasoned: every non-crust bite just hit me with that salty sting in the top of my mouth instantly, despite the tasty ingredients. I really tried to enjoy the rest of it, but this reminded me of making somebody dinner in high school after discovering seasoning salt for the first time. Like somebody just emptied out their spice cabinet onto an unsuspecting pizza. Damn.

I say damn because I can tell there is otherwise some quality here... good cheese, very good sauce (in-house tomato sauce sticks out when you've gone through as many pizzas as I, friends), the sausage and beef tenderloin have marvelous texture... but as a pizza it tries too hard to impress with the seasoning, the little extras, and it strangles this thing. Without those frills this could be a top 50 pizza in Toronto, maybe... but instead it's merely tasty, enjoyable but pricey and singularly flawed. And you'll need to rehydrate after each slice. I'd give La Sala a another chance for usre, but to try something else.

Pizza Quest Grade:  B-

 

 

 

 

 

The Tuesday Taste: Wendy's Daves Single w. Cheese

 

 

 

According to Google, I would've had to walk 159 minutes to burn off the calories of this burger.

Fortunately, I walked about 170 minutes just to get to my closest Wendy's and back. Even so, health-wise I'd call that a draw. At best.

The Tuesday Taste is back! Or rather, continuing! I am serious about keeping this latest bizarre project of mine going. Speaking of bizarre, why does Wendy's put so much ketchup on their burgers? I've noticed this in the past, but now actually reviewing/writing about it, I can't ignore it. It helps add sweetness since the meat is fairly spongy, but I'm also of the view that ketchup only belongs with non-poutine fries (and ideally mixed with mayo).

A relationship with fast food is truly, for most of us, a love or hate relationship. When I think of loving or hating fast food, Wendy's is one always in that middle ground for me. Maybe lacking the constant innovative adaption of menu options like A &W Canada, but also being reliable and consistent with the basics of what they do. Kinda like writing a final test and going for a C+: never an awful result, but it never blows your mind either. Reliable lack of disappointment.

That may sound like a criticism (because it is) but to give this burger credit I do think it's quite tasty: the texture of the patty is generic but just in the precise amount to be a presence but not to dominate, allowing the American Cheese and their nicely sweet pickle slices to shine in. I suspect many people like Wendy's double patty burgers and hey, I can't criticize your choices but personally, that much sheer beef in every bite simply isn't to my taste. 

Dave's Single isn't great, but it satisfies: just a classic American cheeseburger like In-N-Out style... except not anywhere close to that particular amazing level (you need the relishy sauce, toasted buns, better beef, thinner patties with Animal Style and.... uh-oh I've said way too much this review will self destruct in....3, 2, 1...)

......

...what, you're still here? Fine. Wendy's single cheeseburger... it is also fine. Once in a while. The ketchup is too much, the bun is just a soft suitcase but it works in a very solidly unimpressive way. Again, it really aims for that straightforward classic concept of a cheeseburger and does taste like food, which is more than I'll say for some future items I'm sure to ingest on this feature hahah! Oh god no. 

 

Burnt Ends --

 

Lots of other articles in the works! Some more love/hate for Star Trek, an East End Eats or two (one coming later this week so watch for that), and maybe a chapter of a novel if it feels right to share it. That one has been most on the backburner but I need to get back at it. Definitely more food and sci-fi coming on here soon though, without a doubt.

 

Robots After All --

 

Had to mention something about Daft Punk breaking up yesterday. A great, influential 28 year run, even if they averaged seven years per album. I like all of their records in very different ways, so to recommend a specific one would be difficult. One time on a plane to California (I was 13) they showed Interstella 5555 as the in-flight film (seriously, this happened). "One More Time" was still a huge hit and I wonder if somebody put in the wrong tape: thinking this would be a hit music video while the plane took off... instead being a near full length strange (and quite good) animated film. It's likely not on YouTube anymore (I watched it on there back in 2008 probably) but a cool sci-fi anime with the music of Daft Punk? This also happened.

Damn great duo. 

That's it for this Tuesday Taste. Next time there will be..... more! Yes.... MORE... but what? I dunno.... or do I? Question mark.....? Until next time don't spill the mustard.

 

The Tuesday Taste: Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich

 

 

Greetings all, and welcome to this new weekly feature here on WC Street, the Tuesday Taste! Basically every week I'll be trying a different food item and reviewing it on here. This will be slightly different than my ongoing "East End Eats" series as that focuses on smaller, local restaurants. Here on "The Taste" (catch it!) I'll more often be tackling fast food chains or junk food and such, while also providing various other thoughts and updates on stuff I'm working on.

With that intro out of the way, it's time to sink my teeth into this inaugural edition with the Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich, because damnit seven months too late is better than never. 

 

This particular sandwich "arrived" in Canada last summer with notable buzz and excitement, as it seems to have been very popular in the US beforehand (now if they opened up an In-N-Out Burger in Canada, I'd be excited). Anyhow the initial hooplah has fizzled out and the sandwich has settled in as a regular menu item at Popeyes now.

For the record, this is the third time I've tried one of these and I will say it certainly satisfies that fried chicken craving. The dominant presence is the chicken, as it should be, and I like how the portion of the meat doesn't exactly conform to the shape of the bun (as you see with many over-processed fast food chicken sandwiches). The texture is solid, not too dry even in the thicker areas, and the breading gives it that addictive crunch you really want in one of these. Unlike my recent experience with Hero Burger, the chicken itself has some spice (seasoning) to it and while not overwhelming in any way it slots in as an accessible level of heat. 

It has its flaws as well. Beyond the chicken the other elements are very generic: the bun very mushy and fast foody, the sauce hardly a presence and the sliced pickles... well this might be a personal taste thing but I would've much preferred a thicker, juicier pickle with some presence to it, instead of a thin watery trio of slices that just sog into the bottom bun. Something creamy or with some crunch, like a coleslaw, would really improve this thing a lot and make a good contrast with the greasiness of the breading. 

Overall... I'd say it's pretty ok. 6/10? Not great, but not disappointing. It's a shame at the lack of creativity though, since the chicken is fairly tasty. The supporting elements just don't meet that same standard. 

 

Anyhow, that does it for now. Tune in next week for another one! By then I'm sure I'll add some new quirks and or segments to this format. I am working on a couple of bigger, non-food related writing projects, perhaps I'll reveal some more details next time? Until then, support your locals and don't spill your mustard! 

(sorry, couldn't think of a better sendoff).    

The Hero Burger Spicy Chicken Sandwich

 

 

If you've been a long time reader of the food reviewing corner here at West C Street, first off thank you and please keep reading! Secondly, you will also notice that I don't often give too much attention to chain restaurants. There are a few exceptions, such as my review of Toronto pizza chains (really just an excuse to bash Pizza Pizza and in retrospect... why'd I need an excuse?). I've been notably kind to places like Pizza Nova in the past, though through my recent ground level recon it seems they've ditched their phenomenal walk-in special, which drops them several dozens of pegs in the eyes of this reviewer.

Anyhow we (me) is a small scale operation, and while I've been jobless for long enough now that I wouldn't exactly refuse the opportunity to subtly promote a tasty product for financial gain, this I assure you is not that. If I did, I'd want to be fair to you dear reader and as such the secret codeword in that situation is "Picard's Earl Grey". I'll work that in somehow if my biases are under particular influence and so everybody wins! I guess. 

Okay! Lets actually talk about actual reality and get into this. I do love a good fried chicken sandwich and hey Toronto has numerous stellar options. PG Clucks... Porchetta & Co is another damn good one... Stockyards (though that was with waffles)... those are just the few I've tried and there are many other great independent spots out there throughout Toronto well worth the extra price if Popeyes is a usual go-to. 

Hero Burger is a franchise and as such I'm not here with the intention of promoting them (because pay me for that), rather I'm curious how their chicken sandwich matches up in terms of quality. I do like to measure by scale and so if Burger King's weirdly flat rectangular item is a 1 (because it's just breading, mayo and pepper surrounding a dry chicken-like texture) and PG Cluck's is a 10 (because it's cheap, huge, crunchy, saucy and bloody amazing)... this Hero spicy chicken offering is a 5, though poking towards 6. 

You want a certain crunch with a fried chicken sandwich and this does have it, though a soft crunch at that. The chicken isn't really special: it tastes good enough in texture and freshness (lacking that chemical/processed taste of McD's and BK) but also has an odd sour/sweetness that reminds me of generic Chinese food. The spice of the sandwich doesn't come from any seasoning of the chicken unfortunately, but that it's loaded with sliced jalapenos. That does work: the peppers are pickled and really juicy with acidic heat, though combined with sliced pickles the acidity and bitter taste tends to overshadow the spice. The bun is fine also: not soggy but not toasty or really noticeable in any way.

It's certainly an odd sandwich: sweet and acidic, with enough heat to appeal to a mass audience but since that rests primarily on those jalapenos... I can't really say it's a unique kind of spicy. Whatever that sweetness is sauced onto the chicken distracts as well, though I am glad it still tastes like real chicken and not something processed to hell. I probably wouldn't get it again, but it's perfectly decent.

Stay tuned! I'm sure I'll get another chicken sandwich sooner than later, friends.