To bee or not to bee, that is the question.

I was driving back from Toronto after a conference and some business meetings. I was swallowing kilometers on the 401 when I realised I was really hungry. Lunch time! I stopped at the Trenton South OnRoute. My choices were Tim Hortons and A&W. As usual, the line-up at Tims was illogically long, so I elected to get some burgers. I hadn’t had A&W onion rings in quite some time, so I thought it would be a good idea to get some to go along with my burgers. Once my order was ready, I ask for some honey, as one is bound to do when getting ready to eat theses delicious golden circles. “We don’t have any honey, sorry.” GASP! – “You don’t have honey???” – “We don’t carry it.” – “You used to.” – “Yes, we used to.” What was I going to do? I sat down and looked at…

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Chipotle has arrived in Ottawa

The rumours started last spring with what appeared to be a job posting. Chipotle was looking for a restaurant general manager… in Ottawa. Even though Chipotle wouldn’t confirm, it seemed obvious. Even more obvious when Cadillac Fairview posted a new floor plan for the Rideau Centre – something folks on reddit shared widely in August: Chipotle had a spot secured in the old Elephant & Castle (followed by the failed The Exchange) location at the Rideau Centre, at the corner of Sussex and Colonel By. Chipotle confirmed on Twitter what every Ottawa Foodie was hoping for and expecting: @CBCOttawa @parkerwags Yep, if all goes according to plan, we’ll open there on January 30th. Don’t beans a stranger. -Dre — Chipotle (@ChipotleTweets) January 10 2017 It didn’t quite go according to plan, as the first Ottawa Chipotle finally opened on February 2nd at 10:45 am. It is now open every day…

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Is a Big Mac with Bacon still a Big Mac?

As most of you Wafflers know, we are Big Fans of the Big Mac in this corner. So when I found out that McDonald’s was adding (temporarily) Bacon to it’s flagship burger, I was intrigued. This is the first change to the sandwich in Canada in 50 years and it is seen by business insiders as a test for making the move in the American market. Nevermind the fact that you always could have asked to get bacon on your Big Mac, the real question is, is a Big Mac with Bacon still a Big Mac? The fast-food chain is confronting us with this deep existential dilemma™, via a Cosette marketing campaign. I headed over to the McDonald’s on Bronson, squeezing this existential dilemma™ between a tv appearance and a curling game. I ordered my Big Mac Bacon meal deal, a little more pricy than the regular Big Mac, and was now on my…

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Spécial saucisse!

Regular wafflers will know that when I go to Québec City, I often make sure to drop by Chez Ashton. And this Thanksgiving week-end was no different. After a morning shopping at Les Galeries de la Capitale, we made our way to Chez Ashton on 1st Avenue for lunch. It might have been the influence of the Waffle Jr., or it might have been the picture, but I ended up ordering a regular poutine with sausage. “Poutine régulière, spécial saucisses!” the cashier announced in her microphone. Ashton has 3 formats of Poutine. Small, Medium and Large would make sense. Nope: Bébé, Mini and Régulière. Go figure. Quickly, the tray was filled with our orders and we made our way to a quiet corner of the location. The poutine saucisse would not resist our assault! Ashton’s fries are really what makes me come back, I think. The potatoes they use are…

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