Category: Uncategorized

General Dec 19, 2009 The Waffle No Comments The first sporting event of this Buffalo trip was the Sabres taking on the Penguins at theHSBC arena a very nice and modern building.  Opened in 1996, it’s seating capacity is 18 690 persons. They are proposing a makeover, but I actually think no major changes are really needed. We got there using the Buffalo light train, cruising through downtown Buffalo with other hockey-goers. We walked into a grand foyer, welcomed by a gigantic Labatt Blue Zone neon sign. (Labatt Blue is the Official Canadian Import Beer of the Buffalo Sabres! Yay!) We got up to our seats (thank you, Last-Row-Deverow) through very wide corridors. We did not feel cramped anywhere, not even in the Souvenir shop, nicely stocked, and the line-ups at the many concessions were very short. When it’s time to eat, there are many options at HSBC. In fact, Sports…

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Restaurant Dec 19, 2009 The Waffle 2 Comments We were on our way to Buffalo, although this time I was with a different gang – this time, I was with New Democrat colleagues. Lunch time was rapidly approaching, and most of the guys in the car were getting annoyed with Axl’s quality singing. Despite the fact that they have no musical ear, I accepted the proposal to stop in Syracuse for lunch – Michael knew a barbecue joint that would rock our socks more then Axl, apparently. So here we were in downtown Syracuse, pulling in front of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. (Click on the picture to get a feel for the location!!  First Waffle movie ever!) The joint (now with locations in Harlem and Rochester) was opened in 1983 by three bikers, bound together by “the love of good food, a 55 gallon drum cut in half, and a serious case…

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Food experiment, Restaurant Dec 18, 2009 The Waffle No Comments I had to work late, so dinner was also going to be late.  However, the wife was hungry, and she was craving pasta.  Again. “We’ve had pasta all week!!!” I reminded her gently. She would not argue against pizza, she stated.  So off I went on the hunt for a  pizza to satisfy her hunger, and mine. I figured I could get some pizza and maybe surprise her with a side of pasta.  A pizza-ghetti, or something similar to take out. A pizza-ghetti is a combo meal, offered in a lot of family restaurants throughout Quebec, especially but not exclusively in italian-style chains such as Mikes (review), Pacini (review) or Giorgio.  Also very popular in these locations is the pizza-césar Basically, a pizza-ghetti is a personal pizza, sliced in half, with a side of spaghetti, usually with a tomato-based sauce.  It is…

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Restaurant Dec 17, 2009 The Waffle No Comments I was meeting a colleague at Milestones for a business lunch today. They only had room at the bar – not very private, not very comfortable, and not very what we felt like. So we left. And ended up at the Métropolitain. Yes, I know, I talked about the Métropolitain here and here. What can I say?  Milestones was too busy to accomodate us.   And it’s – 25, we were not going to walk around waiting to be inspired.  We went downstairs, hoping there would be space.  And there was. We shared some oysters while waiting for our main course.  I picked a new addition to the Met’s menu – the Veal Milanese, which, incidentally, seemed to have replaced the Pork Milanese on the menu.  It was described as a veal cutlet, breaded and fried, served on a garlic butter toast, topped with bruschetta sauce,…

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Restaurant Dec 1, 2009 The Waffle 1 Comment We were in Gatineau looking for a place to eat after an appointment related to the Waffle jr., and we decided to stop at Madisons. Madisons is a new chain of restaurants which label’s itself a New York City Grill & Bar. It has 12 locations, all in the Montreal area with one exception: the Gatineau establishment, located on the beautiful Maloney boulevard. It is on a prime real estate spot: the parking lot shared by Canadian Tire and Future Shop. The concept is a little more open than Bâton Rouge if you can believe it – not a lot of quiet booths here – the atmosphere is meant for the professional crowd, with a constant buzz of professional chatter. We sat down and peered at the menu sections – salads, pasta, ribs, chicken, fish, sandiwiches and burgers – everything for everyone just as…

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