Carden Street Cafe

Straying so quickly from my newest of culinary undertakings, I have managed to wow myself in realizing that, after so many months of residence within this fine city, I have yet to post anything about Carden Street Cafe. Granted, it may not be the Thai experiment that I have been working on as of late, but it is a place and an experience that needs to be addressed before this insult of ignorance persists any longer. So without further ado, and procrastination at rest, ladies and gentlemen, I give you The Carden Street Cafe.

It was May of last year, 9 long months ago, that I wandered onto the foreign streets of a city challenging me with cultural, artistic, culinary and adventurous nature. I knew no one, had no clue where to go or what to do, save for the act and passion of being so lost that all I could do was experience firsts at every turn. Lucky for me, when I nested down into my brand new apartment I was given a wonderful home warming package which included tidbits of tasty treats from around the city. The Boathouse, Shakespeare's, The Fat Duck, and, of course, Carden Street, were all on the list of "must dos" as recommended by someone far more Guelph-familiar and travelled than I; and while I touched down in each of the aforementioned establishments, none stuck out so strongly as Carden. Perhaps this was because it was the first of these places I had chosen to go, but better yet, I would say it's because the food and the experience were, and still are, just so good.

On a summer's afternoon I grabbed my seat inside of this seemingly quirky place with bright colours, vibrant music, tropical murals painted across the walls, a small little kitchen off to the side and a bar that drew me in so comfortably. Photographs adorning the walls painted a story of music and laughter and times so obviously well enjoyed by patrons and staff alike; and while I glanced the menu and realized my choice to be difficult, I settled finally on some spicy coconut shrimp dish that the server assured would win me over; I thank her to this day because by no means was she mistaken. Again, that was 9 months ago; 270 days later, nothing about its appeal has changed.

Given its tenure within the community, it would strike me odd if any local readers had not heard of, if not been to the restaurant at some point; but in that off chance you've been wondering whether or not the West African-inspired curry cuisine is for you, then let me put those concerns to rest.

Preparing all of their dishes to order, you are guaranteed fresh. With offerings ranging from mild to spicy, familiar to new, sweet to savory, they are going to find the key to your palette; it seems that is what they are there to do, and they do it so well. In addition to feeding you at a fair price and providing an atmosphere that seems to invoke instant and natural amicability amongst diners, they will also entertain with fairly frequent musical acts stopping by the dining room to liven things up just a little bit more. They serve local, they serve fresh and they should be proud to serve consistently delicious. While I have eaten at my increasingly fair share of restaurants around the city, many of which I would recommend, very few come so quickly to mind as an actual urge to go out and experience all that Carden Street has to offer. Certainly I have my suggestions for the menu choices, but I think it prudent for you to explore this one for yourself; try as I did and go with whatever is recommended by your server, they know what they're talking about.

Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, they have both lunch and dinner menus, deserts you can't resist and a summer patio that boasts so well to a beer in hand. Again, I feel shocked in looking back at the archives that I had not previously written about this place, such great things should never suffer the fall through a crack.

Very, very happy eating

-Phil

Carden Street Cafe

40 Carden Street

Guelph, Ontario

http://www.cardenstreetcafe.ca/

Tonight's Main Event...Has Been Sold Out

So it is with a slightly sad heart that I report the show I had so been looking forward to seeing was actually sold out, which is a rarity I hadn't been counting on. While I do wish I had the opportunity to see some great tunes take shape in the flesh, I also must admit that I was happy to hear that so many happy listeners attended that they actually had to stop selling tickets; a silver lining if you will for the bands and their exposure.

Needless to say, I can give no review of what I have not seen, but rest assured that while they continue their tours across the country I will attempt to make up for the absence. For now, however, I've still got Hillside keeping my musical thoughts parading and this virtual pen flowing...

-Phil










Attack in Black -

http://www.myspace.com/attackinblack









One Hundred Dollars -

http://www.myspace.com/1hundreddollars

Thai Fighters - Tamarind Warrior

Well ladies and gentlemen, it would appear as though I have inadvertently signed myself up for another of Guelph's culinary challenges. See, as I began seeking out my craving for good honest Thai food within the city, it quickly came to light that finding a recommendation was far more debatable than I had anticipated. With opinions running very strong and very different, I understood instantly the road, or rather roads, which lay ahead: to search and crown one restaurant to rule them all. And in this friendly spirit of culinary exploration, so begins my next exciting journey along a path into histories, traditions, fabled story and dining experiences paved with flavour and spice. So begins Thai Fighters.

Chapter One - A Lesson in Choices

First off, with so many restaurants laid out in front of me, I needed to determine a set of rules and guidelines on which to place my judgements and eventual final verdict. After experiencing both the joys and difficulties of Battle Sushi, ground work had been laid and an infrastructure built for the criteria on which these dining establishments will be graded. The difference, however, lays obviously within the food; what dishes am I to pit in the ring? With heavy deliberation and research, my answer was clear, and so with each stop along the way I shall consume potentially unhealthy amounts of Pad That; it is, after all, the most noted, recognized and famous of Thai dishes here in North America. Well, famous, yes, but what is it, what's in it and where did it originally come from? Let's start with the most important factor: the ingredients.

Knowing and understanding the food you eat regularly, or are potentially trying for the first time, is the best way to appreciate what it is and the labours that went into it; Pad Thai is no exception. A wonderful blend of rice noodles, tamarind, egg, fish sauce, bean sprouts, chilies, cilantro, lime and peanuts, the ingredients come together to serve up a very traditional and, needless to say, tasty dish for anyone with a set of chopsticks and an appetite (chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu can also be added to this mix for a heartier fill for those with tanks a little closer to the empty line). So, it sounds like nothing terribly difficult, or even special for that matter, I mean, all of these ingredients seem rather standard stock in our refrigerator or pantry, with the exception perhaps of just one, tamarind. It's an ingredient used more commonly than we might think, but what is it and what purpose does it serve? Good question.

Tamarind - Indigenous to Africa, tamarind is a breed of evergreen, bearing the widely popular fruit used throughout the World. The pods produced by the tree are filled with a pulpy substance that matures with a very sweet, sour and acidic finish. Most commonly the fruit is used in Indian and Asian recipes.

Because one very common rule with any Asian cooking is the harmonious balance of flavours and sensations on the palette, tamarind serves as a perfect ingredient with its natural sugars and acidic qualities, offering a perfect blend of sweet and sour. Now, some Pad Thai recipes out there will likely tell you that you can substitute vinegar for tamarind, but I would challenge any one of these recommendations and state that nothing can really replace the authentic qualities of this fruit; and it's pretty readily available at most grocers these days, if not in its raw form, you should at least be able to find tamarind paste in the international aisle; so, please, if you're making Pad Thai at home, don't skimp on the authenticity.

On such a note, preparing these ingredients is a pretty simple task, one that anybody can very easily experiment with, and one that I aim to perfect by the end of this battle. Do do it yourself, all you need is a large frying pan, fresh, authentic ingredients, and the proper balance of flavours. Of course, there are some distinct differences between what you and I eat here in restaurants and what is traditionally served on the streets of Bangkok, but for that I think we will wait for next time, this is merely our simple introduction. On with the battle.

Operation: Lemongrass

First Impression - At 245 Edinburgh Rd S, Lemongrass is tucked quaintly away in the corner of a plaza, where it sits unsuspecting and simple. I must have driven by this little gem more times than I can count without realizing its existence. With that being said, however, the place was shockingly busy when I entered, and continued a lineup while I waited for my takeout. First impressions: its popularity must speak for something positive.

Atmosphere - Soaking in the atmosphere at Lemongrass is a little different story; which is to say that there's not much in which to wade, save for a lonely fake plastic tree. The walls, floors, tables, chairs, personality, they're all very, very plain and border on drab. This is not to say that it gives off a totally negative vibe to the diners, it's just really simple and stripped down, leaving it in the hands of the guests to create an energy worth dining in.

Food - After a peruse through an impressive menu, I had to stick to my guns, forgo the long list of curry options, and order up my Pad Thai with a spring roll appetizer. It was delivered with the standard ingredients and garnish, and was delicious indeed, filling enough for one, with well balanced flavours, but unfortunately quite pricey, ringing in at over $20 for a dinner barely hearty enough for one. In my mind, if I'm going to drop a twenty on a rather simple dinner, I want to be left wanting more, not needing it. The other thing I will have to dock points for unfortunately, is the fact that while I waited over 20 minutes for my meal, diners who entered and sat after me were already eating their entrees. Hmph, service, well, not so much on the service.

All in all, Lemongrass was a tasty experience, grabbing my curiosity for their other dishes and menu offerings. With nothing to compare it to at this stage in the game, I cannot say that it was or is the best Pad Thai going in Guelph, but it's certainly a great starting point for this competition and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone reading; so long as you are prepared to drop a few notes for flavour without the quantity.

First competitor listed. Until the next round, happy eating.

-Phil

Thai Fighters - The Calm

Earlier this week I promised you all an entry on a singular Thai dining experience at a then undecided location in this city. As a man of my word, I ventured out and quenched my craving for such things; in doing so, however, I have awakened a palette of a culinary magnitude that I could not have foreseen. The result of opening this epicurean box, and in the spirit and adventure of Battle Sushi, will be a new, friendly and fun competitive project, which is currently in the research stage, with plans to post some initial thoughts, experiences and findings this Sunday.

Without wanting to give the impression of forgetting to post on this issue, I wanted to drop in and thank you for your patience in this preliminary stage. Please stay tuned, it's going to be an interesting ride.

Phil