Latin Fiesta - Kelowna, BC

I find that if I am in the general vicinity of a Mexican restaurant when I am on the road, I have to try it.  I've had the pleasure of eating at Latin Fiesta a number of times and I have yet to eat there when it wasn't crazy busy.  Be prepared for a wait if you are going to try this place at lunch.  But no matter what the wait is, the food is totally worth it.  And don't show up close to closing time.  They'll be more than happy to help you, but due to the popularity, they may not have all the food left that you want to order.

The staff.
More than friendly.  They are awesome.  All smiles, very helpful.  Don't know what you want to order?  Have questions?  They are more than happy to help.
Now on to the food.
This restaurant is a Mexican/Salvadoran mix. 

It might not be the easiest to read, but they have your regular Mexican fare on here.

Enchiladas, Burritos, Quesadillas, Tacos.

Unfortunately I missed the El Salvadoran menu in my picture.  They also offer Tamales, Pupusas and other delicious foods.

So far, everything I have eaten here has been amazing.  It's a 10-12 hour drive to Kelowna from Lethbridge and I have often had the thought that that isn't too far to go for a meal here.

I love a good tamale and theirs are among the best I have eaten.  I had never had a pupusa before and now they are no longer an option when I eat here.  Honestly, everything is delicious.  

The best part is the price.  Very reasonable.  As seen on the menu above.

Needless to say, if you are in Kelowna, this is a must-try.  

The Best Burgers in Penticton BC - Burger 55

I enjoy a good burger.  Sometimes I enjoy them a little too much.  I always tell myself to eat less burgers, but then I come across a place that is as good as Burger 55.
Fully customizable burgers.  Pick your bun, your sauce, regular toppings, premium toppings.  Make that burger the way you want.
And if you are intimidated by all the choice, there are some options such as the Daily Special, or as they call is 55 Built Burgers.

This place is hidden in downtown Penticton.  Right off Main Street behind the street front, you have to search to find it.

As for the menu, Here it is:

The last time I was here, I decided to have some fun.  I've never had roasted corn on a burger, but now that I have, I won't look back.  Fried egg?  In my opinion, they are mandatory.  Avocado?  Only if you want to enjoy your burger.

Can I just say that I love that they offer potato chips as a topping?

Seriously these burgers are amazing.  Their fries, sweet potato fries are also excellent.

So, if you are ever in Penticton.  Go to Burger 55.  And be adventurous.  You won't regret it.

The Hilltop Diner - Langley, BC

The Hilltop Diner - Langley, BC

A small diner near Aldergrove, BC.  If you want your meal quick at lunchtime, don't eat here.  If you show up between 11:30 and 1, expect to wait.  It's a small diner, but the staff is friendly and the food is great.  The fries are freshly hand-cut, the burgers are great and the pie is AMAZING.

This diner is over 68 years old and the inside takes you back to a friendly diner that we all loved to eat at.

They have the classic glutton burgers available to eat with the promise of your picture on the wall.  The Everest Burger - 3 patties (almost a pound of beef), bacon, mushrooms, onions, ham, 3 kinds of cheese and a LOT of fries.

I haven't been brave enough to try the Everest, but I have had a few of their other burgers.  All the patties are made fresh daily, the toppings are abundant and I have never left this place hungry.

My last visit, I was brave enough to also have the pie.  Great crust, excellent pie.  And warm still.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

They serve breakfast and close daily at 2pm.  So don't be late.  It's right on the Fraser Highway and if you blink, you'll miss it.  And you don't want to miss it.

Louisiana Purchase - Edmonton Alberta

Have you ever eaten at a restaurant numerous times and no matter what you order, it is always amazing?  For me that is Louisiana Purchase in Edmonton.
My first visit to this restaurant was before an Oilers game with a friend.  We happened upon a large banner advertising this place and having nowhere else to go, we thought we would give it a try.
Needless to say, we were not disappointed.
That first night, I ordered the blackened catfish.  I love fish and often order kinds that I have not tried before.  This was excellent fish.  Well cooked and seasoned.
Other dishes I have ordered include the Steamboat Jambalaya (pictured).

A spicy dish that will test the limits of your appetite.  Crab, Mussels, shrimp, sausage and whitefish all make this dish very fulfilling.  The hush puppies add a little flavour as well.

If you really want to try something different, their Shrimp,Crawfish and Salmon Boudin Sausages are well worth it.  They are made in-house, very delicate sausages (as all boudins should be) and served with a lemon-pernod lobster cream sauce.

I've tried Daily Specials and never been disappointed.   Often wishing that they were features on the menu.

The ambiance is great for a Cajun-Creole restaurant.  They have great music playing, friendly staff, a wall of hot sauce.

Its often busy around dinnertime and will take reservations.  The owner himself often is walking around checking up on the patrons, and all of the staff is very friendly.

Honestly, I can't say anything negative about this restaurant.  It is a go-to place for myself in Edmonton and I will drive well out of the way to eat here.

Up next, I explore a little in BC.  The Hilltop Cafe in Langley, BC

The Now Famous Poutine Burger - The Rumrunner, Coleman, Alberta

Up first, The Rumrunner in Coleman, Alberta.

A small restaurant/bar located right on Highway 3 as you enter the town from the west.

I'd heard rumours of a burger in this restaurant that would stop your heart.  The Poutine Burger.  As soon as I heard about it, I knew that I would need to try it.  It was just one of those things that despite the obvious health impact, I had to eat.
How to describe it?
Well, the best words are delicious and filling.

The Poutine Burger is now described on the menu as The Now Famous Poutine Burger.  And it is.  You start with a slice of garlic toast with a half-pound burger on top of it.
Top that with a lot of fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
A steak knife is place in the middle of the burger and onion rings are lined up the handle.

You need to have an appetite to attempt this burger.  Even going in hungry, it might be difficult to finish.
The only critique that I can or would offer would be a slight improvement on the gravy.  It needed a little work on it.  But really, my plate was clean afterwards.

I've often talked this burger up to friends and co-workers.  A nice quiet restaurant at lunchtime and with great food.

Next post - The Louisiana Purchase, Edmonton, Alberta

At long Last - Starting the Exploration of Canadian Cafes and their Cuisine

This has been a long time coming.  I started my current job almost three years ago.  With that career change, came a lot of travel for business reasons.  And a lot of eating in restaurants, diners, cafes, at food trucks, food stands, in bistros, and holes-in-the-wall.
I've found hidden gems, ate some truly terrible food (pierogies at a Chinese buffet) and marveled at some of the creativeness people can concoct when cooking.
This is meant to be a fun blog, highlighting some of the restaurants that I have enjoyed.  The only rule is that these are non-franchise locations, with only a couple of exceptions.  If possible, they are locally owned and run.  They are usually unique and don't exist anywhere else.  Pictures for the first few blogs will be stock images as I don't have a lot of food photos currently, something I plan to remedy as this moves forward.  
I'll give the good and the bad.  What I liked and what I didn't.  Rest assured, my opinion is king.  If I say a place is worth investigating, I promise that you should eat there if you are driving through town. Otherwise skip it.
I'm not trained nor eloquent, my palate isn't as refined as others, but I know what tastes good and what doesn't.  My father-in-law years ago told me that he was too old to waste time and meals on bad food and I feel that in the past couple of years, that this has begun to describe me.  I hate going to a new place and finding out that it was a waste of time, money and belly space, all of which are unfortunately finite.
I have eaten at most of these places at least twice and often more than that.  They are all places that you can enjoy a meal for not too much money, ie no $40 plates.  Most of these places are a lot less expensive than that.  Most will be in the $20 range.

And with that, here we go.