When I was in Montreal in the summer of 2021 the downtown core was a shadow of its former self when I was there in 2008. It was wayyyy more rundown than downtown van etc. had been through Covid. Although I do think French Canadians have more of a food culture than the west coast or even Toronto really

With that said, I wonder if rent prices stimulate more of that smaller mid-high end dining. I’m sure you have a better handle on it than I, but from the outside it seems like you have these smaller places that kinda ground out an existence and made somthing of themselves in your savio volpes, St.Lawrence, kissa tanto etc. and then it’s chains or places operated by backers with $$$, cactus, keg, Hy’s, etc.

There is a huge missing middle but also a huge missing bottom end in what you see in Italy etc. with little cafes, bars, and restaurants, that only have standing room for 10-12 people, places like those can’t feesibly exist anywhere in the lower mainland

I think for sure that's a big part of it. Lower rent means better margins. Better margins means more room for creativity and ingredient quality, and better staff retention. I didn't see a single earls, cactus, or joeys either. That's part of it. Vancouver is so full of basic bitches (that includes men for clarity) that when 90% of the population that goes out just wants to eat chicken fingies and have a pink angeltini there's a lot of the economy being funnelled into keeping shit places open.

I don't like most of those chains either... but dang if I don't like the creole blackened chicken at Cactus... I legit think about it sometimes when I'm hungry.

That’s their best dish no doubt and I’m -never- one to order a chicken entree

I thought Kintaro Ramen was already around in the mid 00's? I remember eating there in high school or fresh out of high school on the way down from Cypress night skiing with my family and friends.

how's it compare to earl's blackened chicken?

both are too salty in my opinion.

It's literally IDENTICAL. It's the same recipe.

I don't like the earl's one because they choose different sides that I don't like that much

I was at my friend's place yesterday with our wives and for whatever reason they came up with Sammy J's to order on skip and I got the blackened chicken. The amount of seasoning on that fucking thing was disgusting there was probably an 1/8" all around caked on the whole breast.

i found most of the blackened chicken are typically coated with wayyy too much seasoning

You're just racist

that's good to know, earls increased their price on it again where it's over $30, cactus is still slightly under $30.

what are the sides at cactus? earl's i think has coleslaw and mash potatoes IIRC, i do like their mash

Cactus does it with "seasonal veg" and apparently asparagus season is going on 20 years now.

Whoever came up with the recipe is a fucking genius.

Easier for inept cooks to overcook it than to risk sending it undercooked.

CAN'T SAY IT'S BURNT IF ITS ALREADY BLACKENED!

Blackened creole chicken is the only chicken breast dish that I'll order outside, lol. It's actually amazing.

They aren't the EXACT same recipe.

Cactus also puts the "creole" butter on their blackened chicken, Earls doesn't.

As for sides, Earls does the warm potato salad, coleslaw. Cactus does the seasonal veg and mashed potatoes.

I find the Cactus version is slightly sweet, where as the Earls version is less sweet, more salty/spice.

They're both good, the butter on the Cactus version is best, I prefer the Earls sides though.

Recipe if anyone is curious:
https://maryinvancity.com/2019/06/10...hicken-recipe/

How many times have I said to myself "Mike is my favourite RS user"?

If u want the mandingo you can just DM him. You guys can borrow Honda's glory hole.

FR tho yah I agree Mike seems like a cool hang.

I can listen to our resident black user differentiate chicken all day long

That’s racist !!!

In Mike we Trust.


Amen

lol just jokes don't beat me up Mike

Am I doing this right

https://i.ibb.co/FhnBr9m/PXL-20231007-013448029.jpg