Home Articles posted by The Waffle (Page 15)

This hot chicken is in the Cage

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We were on our way to Poutinefest on Sparks Street. As we got to the Portage bridge, we realized it was closed. I turned left towards the Alexandria bridge, which was completely jam-packed. I kept going, thinking I’d cross on the MacDonald-Cartier bridge. I did. But there was no getting anywhere near Sparks street. “Everything around here is purple,” stated Ms. Waffle after looking at her traffic app. ”What’s going on?” Ms. Waffle looked it up. The CN Cycle for CHEO. Road closures were numerous. So we gave up on Poutinefest. We made our way back across the river. First, I thought we could go to Le BBQ Shop on Fournier. But it was closed. I kept going, and figured we could still get our Poutine fix at GAGA Patate. Also closed. I kept driving around, and Ms. Waffle suggested Routine Poutine. Guess what? Closed. “Well, La Cage aux Sports…

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Spring training ain’t cheap training

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We decided that, since pitchers and catchers had reported a while ago, it might be an opportune time to catch in some good old Spring training baseball. As our trip was nearing its closure, we headed to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies to build the complex, which opened in 2011 as the first Major League Baseball Spring Training facility to be built on Indian land in the United States. The main building is an 11,000-seat capacity ballpark, surrounded by practice fields, batting cages, pitching bullpens and offices for both teams. The complex is spread throughout 140 acres of scenic landscape with views of Camelback Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, Red Mountain, and the Superstition Mountains. We headed to the park for a game between the Cleveland Indians and the Colorado Rockies. It was…

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On the Shore of the Rideau Canal

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I was invited to a dinner meeting at the Shore Club, located in the Westin Ottawa, right in the heart of downtown Ottawa. The restaurant decor is meant to remind us of an art deco ocean liners with contemporary lines.  5 million dollars were invested by the owners into this space.  It is large and spacious, with a high ceiling and a glassed front on the Rideau Canal. They are going for a very chic and elegant look.. The owners were ambitious about the spot.  “We’re trying to create a night-out atmosphere where people come, have fun and feel invigorated —  laughing and talking … It will be more like a New York restaurant, with a bit of a buzz to it,” principal David Aisenstat told the Ottawa Citizen before the opening. But be warned, this steakhouse is not what you might think: “Our market is upscale, the 30-something-plus age group. This will not be…

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An underwhelming National Sandwich Day

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As planned, I headed to Subway on Sparks Street for National Sandwich Day. I expected a busy restaurant, but if there was a lot of customers, it didn’t feel like a special day. Indeed, there was no real signage or advertising for National Sandwich Day at this Sparks Street outlet. Where is the pride? Now, many had seen the TV ad, or read about it online. But many in lines weren’t aware. Subway is the world’s largest submarine sandwich franchise, with more than 42,000 restaurants in over 100 countries and more than 3,000 restaurants in Canada. Yet, they can’t promote their own Holiday! That said, the Sandwich Artist at the order counter was pointing out the promotion to some puzzled customers. Buy a sandwich, get another one free! (Or, buy a footlong for the price of a 6 inch. Not as good of a deal.) I took their currently featured sandwich,…

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It’s National Sandwich Day!

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So it’s National Sandwich Day, a Holiday created by Subway and celebrated by its customers. Here is the deal: Today, buy a sub and a drink and get the second sub of equal or lesser value for free at Subway restaurants in Canada and the United States. Here is Subway’s sandwich selection so you can think about your decision. Which 2 of the 19 will you get? More importantly, which will I get?

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