Aree's Dawg House- Broadway and Pine, Vancouver

THIS IS A REVIEW:
Okay, confession time: I've been here twice, but I never noted the name of the stand. I figured "I'll just google 'hot dog stand vancouver broadway pine' and it'll be no problem." But while I found many people talking about the hot dog stand, nobody mentioned its name. I'll have to find it out later. Anyway, as you can see it's located outside the Future Shop on W. Broadway near the intersection with Pine. Can't miss it.

I thought the prices were a little expensive for street food... $4 for a regular hot dog, $4.75 for jumbo and $5.50 for, um, extra-jumbo, and $6.50~$8 for European-style sausages with different kinds of meats such as pork, lamb and turkey. However they claim to make all their own stuff and I can believe it after tasting it.


They've got about a bajillion different kinds of toppings... the requisite mustard comes in 3 or 4 varieties, they have sauerkraut, sliced black olives, corn relish, pomegranate bbq (? don't ask me, my boyfriend liked it), garlic mayo, on and on. This picture is from my second time stopping by the stand, a spur of the moment decision. Both times I was there I noticed everyone putting mayo on their sausages or hot dogs, which perplexed me. Last minute I decided to give it a tentative try, hence the thin line of mayo across the top of the sauerkraut, lol.

Underneath the piles of sauerkraut (yep, I'm a German-American) is black olives, dijon mustard, grilled onions, and finally the turkey sausage ($6.50 tax incl.). Delicious!

My previous go, I had gotten a pork sausage with just yellow mustard and sauerkraut, and my boyfriend had, I think, a spicy sausage with all kinds of crazy toppings like aforementioned pomegranate bbq, the corn relish, and I don't know what else.

The stand also sells cold drinks but the prices are even more outrageous. Just go into the nearby Shoppers Drug Mart and buy a drink there.

Service was prompt and friendly, even though the second time the guy who made my sausage was apparently a trainee. The stand had a steady flow of customers both times, but neither time was there a long line or anything like that.

THIS IS A SUMMARY:
Name: Aree's Dawg House
Location: 1700 block of W. Broadway near Pine, in front of Future Shop
Prices: <$10
Service: Friendly and prompt.
Food: Tasty grilled meat in tube form and plenty of toppings.
Recommended?: Yes :D

Edit: When I first made this post, I didn't know the name of the place, so here it is. :)

Grandma Nitti's Kitchen - Taipower Building Station Area, Taipei

THIS IS A REVIEW:
Oh Taipei. I miss you so much and long to return to you, city of cheap dining out. You can do anything--anything!--except make good Indian food.

Mexican food, however, is within your grasp.

Grandma Nitti's Kitchen, located within the Shida Night Market area of Taipei, is something of an expat hub. Any given evening, you're likely to see at least as many foreigners as Taiwanese. Maybe it's because they sell canned Chef Boyardee, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and other things that people far from home crave. Maybe it's the AWESOME used stuff sale that goes on every Sunday to benefit Animals in Taiwan, an animal welfare organization with a lot of expat members. Maybe it's because of its location, a university area. Or maybe the food is just delicious. :3

This is not authentic Mexican-from-Mexico food; it's stuff like quesadillas and fajitas, the kind of food you'd get at Chili's in the States. They also offer other Western fare like meat loaf and lamb chops. The emphasis is on homey, unpretentious food.

The homeyness and unpretentiousness extends to a extent that many Westerners may not be comfortable with: Grandma Nitti's has cats.



Yes, I took that picture from our table.



Not effecting the popularity of the place, as you can see.



Portion sizes are small and prices are higher than most other Western places. The trio platter above cost NT$760 (~US$23). I split it with two of my roommates, and on our way home we grabbed some baozi to fill our stomachs. Part of this is because imported ingredients, particularly cheese, are expensive. The food is tasty, but IMHO Grandma Nitti's should be saved for Mexican cravings only. There are other Western restaurants with better prices for other kinds of food.

You can add on dessert and coffee to your meal for NT$100 (~US$3).

Grandma Nitti's also serves breakfast. The omelets in particular are good, Western-style omelets, instead of the Japanese-style which is so common in Taipei. However you're still gonna find the same tiny portions and high prices as dinner.

The menu is bilingual and the waiters speak English well. Credit cards are taken. Free Wi-fi.

To get there, ride the MRT to Taipower Building Station, get out at exit 3, and walk up until you get to Lane 93 (it's the second alley I think). Turn right, and you'll see it on the right hand side of the street.

THIS IS A SUMMARY:
Name: Grandma Nitti's Kitchen
Location: 8, Lane 93, Shida Rd., Taipei (台北市師大路93巷8號). (02) 3365-3448
Prices: NT$400~1000 (US$12~30) for dinner (meal + drink). Brunch is NT$200 on weekdays and NT$300 on weekends ($6/$9), tea or coffee not incl.
Service: Typical for Taipei re: the waiters. The ambiance is comfortable and you won't be rushed out if you go there, order coffee, and sit playing on your laptop. There is a service charge (aka an enforced tip), unusual for Taipei. The service should really be better than it is, with the service charge. Most places in Taipei, you don't tip at all.
Food: Tasty but small and expensive portions of Western style food, especially TexMex and breakfast.
Recommended?: Expats should hit Grandma Nitti's at least once, if only to say they've been there. If your time in Taipei is at all limited, however, there are better options.