Canadian Retail Thread

[urbandreamer]

I made a roast chicken for supper tonight, and although it's been a decade since I ate at Swiss Chalet, including the gravy I made really replicated the taste: a wee bit of brown sugar + sea salt, sweet basil and oregano rub on the chicken; beef stock-based gravy with schmaltz and tarragon roasted potatoes. Years ago I worked at Canada Bread and helped make those Swiss Chalet (& Harvey's) buns.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by Loco101

The first McDonald's location that opened in Canada was in Richmond BC in 1967. It was also the first location that opened outside the U.S..

I’m guessing they survived on traffic from Ontarians looking for a taste of home.

Those line-ups at the drive through that snake out to the streets are all rental cars.

[casper]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I made a roast chicken for supper tonight, and although it's been a decade since I ate at Swiss Chalet, including the gravy I made really replicated the taste: a wee bit of brown sugar + sea salt, sweet basil and oregano rub on the chicken; beef stock-based gravy with schmaltz and tarragon roasted potatoes. Years ago I worked at Canada Bread and helped make those Swiss Chalet (& Harvey's) buns.

I always viewed them as Air Canada buns. In the 70s, 80s and 90s the company that did the airline food in Canada eventually decided to open a chain of restaurants and they called it Swiss Chalet.

Perhaps it is my Portuguese heritage, but I don't think it is possible to do chicken without paprika. Trying to imitate Swiss Chalet, I can see why your skipping the Peri-peri sauce, but I am fairly certain Swiss Chalet has paprika.

Nando's is a South African chain. Yes, the peri-peri pepper was first grown by Portuguese in South Africa, Angola and Mozambique. It is both a Portuguese and African flavour.

Unlike Swiss Chalet, Nando's has multiple locations in BC. I think they are also in Ontario. Nando's is flame grilled and not rotisserie.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by theman23

I’m guessing they survived on traffic from Ontarians looking for a taste of home.

Those line-ups at the drive through that snake out to the streets are all rental cars.

It was the Ontario pavilion at the BC Expo 67.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by casper

I always viewed them as Air Canada buns. In the 70s, 80s and 90s the company that did the airline food in Canada eventually decided to open a chain of restaurants and they called it Swiss Chalet.

Perhaps it is my Portuguese heritage, but I don't think it is possible to do chicken without paprika. Trying to imitate Swiss Chalet, I can see why your skipping the Peri-peri sauce, but I am fairly certain Swiss Chalet has paprika.

Nando's is a South African chain. Yes, the peri-peri pepper was first grown by Portuguese in South Africa, Angola and Mozambique. It is both a Portuguese and African flavour.

Unlike Swiss Chalet, Nando's has multiple locations in BC. I think they are also in Ontario. Nando's is flame grilled and not rotisserie.

I'm quite sure that you are correct that Swiss Chalet dipping sauce has paprika.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Loco101

The first McDonald's location that opened in Canada was in Richmond BC in 1967. It was also the first location that opened outside the U.S..

The first McDonald's location that opened in Eastern Canada was in London ON in 1968.

I've been to that one in Richmond... it feels historically significant, haha.

It's actually amazing to me that McDonalds' roots in Canada only go back to 1967. As a kid growing up in the 80s, McDonald's felt like it had been around forever, although I'm assuming that it had only been here in Winnipeg for about 15 years at that time.

I miss the big old McDonald's restaurants... the ones that had a massive space with like 10 cash registers and loads of room for waiting. Now there are usually just two and a horde of people standing in a small space, waiting for their orders.

[casper]

Originally Posted by esquire

I've been to that one in Richmond... it feels historically significant, haha.

It's actually amazing to me that McDonalds' roots in Canada only go back to 1967. As a kid growing up in the 80s, McDonald's felt like it had been around forever, although I'm assuming that it had only been here in Winnipeg for about 15 years at that time.

I miss the big old McDonald's restaurants... the ones that had a massive space with like 10 cash registers and loads of room for waiting. Now there are usually just two and a horde of people standing in a small space, waiting for their orders.

There is this old McDonald's


Source: Wikipedia

[casper]

Originally Posted by esquire

I've been to that one in Richmond... it feels historically significant, haha.

It's actually amazing to me that McDonalds' roots in Canada only go back to 1967. As a kid growing up in the 80s, McDonald's felt like it had been around forever, although I'm assuming that it had only been here in Winnipeg for about 15 years at that time.

I miss the big old McDonald's restaurants... the ones that had a massive space with like 10 cash registers and loads of room for waiting. Now there are usually just two and a horde of people standing in a small space, waiting for their orders.

There is this old McDonald's that was build for Expo 86 in Vancouver. It did not age well.

[manny_santos]

After all this talk of McDonald’s I decided to go there today. What a disappointment - although the coffee was still as good as it ever was, the service was incredibly slow. It wasn’t even busy, but it took them 15 minutes to make a Quarter Pounder and serve a coffee. And the burger was forgettable, it was dry and really bland.

I forgot how painfully slow they are at filling orders after you place the order. Their wait times have got to be the worst in the fast food industry.

A&W, Triple O’s, and Wendy’s are all much better, and all of them have much faster service. Aside from the coffee, I won’t be back there to eat anytime soon.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

After all this talk of McDonald’s I decided to go there today. What a disappointment - although the coffee was still as good as it ever was, the service was incredibly slow. It wasn’t even busy, but it took them 15 minutes to make a Quarter Pounder and serve a coffee. And the burger was forgettable, it was dry and really bland.

I forgot how painfully slow they are at filling orders after you place the order. Their wait times have got to be the worst in the fast food industry.

A&W, Triple O’s, and Wendy’s are all much better, and all of them have much faster service. Aside from the coffee, I won’t be back there to eat anytime soon.

Their USA stores are far superior. They actually have a decent chicken burger in the states- it’s cheaper than the premium chicken burger places but not that far off in quality.

Maybe one day they’ll start serving real meat in Canada.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

After all this talk of McDonald’s I decided to go there today. What a disappointment - although the coffee was still as good as it ever was, the service was incredibly slow. It wasn’t even busy, but it took them 15 minutes to make a Quarter Pounder and serve a coffee. And the burger was forgettable, it was dry and really bland.

I forgot how painfully slow they are at filling orders after you place the order. Their wait times have got to be the worst in the fast food industry.

A&W, Triple O’s, and Wendy’s are all much better, and all of them have much faster service. Aside from the coffee, I won’t be back there to eat anytime soon.

Yeah, I’m surprised at all the supposed love for Rotten Ronnies. Their burgers are the worst. Wendy’s or even Burger King. Shame BK seemingly don’t require franchisees to update the store in a timely manner.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by theman23

Their USA stores are far superior. They actually have a decent chicken burger in the states- it’s cheaper than the premium chicken burger places but not that far off in quality.

Maybe one day they’ll start serving real meat in Canada.

I haven’t had a sandwich at a US location, but I’ve long found the customer service and speed much better at US McDonald’s, regardless of state.

[Djeffery]

This is the Mcdonalds in London on the site of the first location in eastern Canada mentioned above. It was rebuilt to this retro style in 2000 or so.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@42.98394...7i16384!8i8192

[megadude]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

This is the Mcdonalds in London on the site of the first location in eastern Canada mentioned above. It was rebuilt to this retro style in 2000 or so.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@42.98394...7i16384!8i8192

Same as this one in Mississauga. I like those.

[MolsonExport]

McDonald's has gone downhill since the late 80s when I worked there. I still like their breakfast sandwiches (they beat Rim Whoreton's), although A&W has made improvements here.

As for fast food burgers (from best to worst):
Shake Shack (but there are none)
Burger's Priest/5 Guys
A&W/White-Spot/Harveys
Wendy's
Burger King/McDonald's/DQ

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Loco101

I'm quite sure that you are correct that Swiss Chalet dipping sauce has paprika.

And salt, salt, salt.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

I forgot how painfully slow they are at filling orders after you place the order. Their wait times have got to be the worst in the fast food industry.

From what I can tell, they put all their effort into the drive-thru. The people waiting inside they are less fussed about.

I actually kind of miss the days when they had a pile of burgers ready to go at peak periods such that when you ordered, they'd grab a Big Mac from the pile under the warming light, and you'd be on your way

Let's face it, fast food is supposed to be FAST!

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by esquire

From what I can tell, they put all their effort into the drive-thru. The people waiting inside they are less fussed about.

I actually kind of miss the days when they had a pile of burgers ready to go at peak periods such that when you ordered, they'd grab a Big Mac from the pile under the warming light, and you'd be on your way

Let's face it, fast food is supposed to be FAST!

But a Big Mac is gourmet food!!!

[esquire]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

But a Big Mac is gourmet food!!!

I do realize that the McDonald's chefs need some time to work their magic!

[jamincan]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

The vegan burger places don't seem very busy.

This reminds me of something I recently learned: beyond meat-type food is technically not vegan as part of the food safety standards requires that they do animal testing before it is certified for human consumption.