Original Joes Test Kitchen

Lots to like in this spacious sports bar, and I'm not talking about the sports bar features (since I'm really not a sports fan, and all those TVs really don't impress me). In no particular order, here are some things that stood out for me:

It doesn't cost you extra to get a gluten-free bun.
They are big into giving back to the community, with two main programs: Community Pint, and MealShare.
Good spacing between tables.
Hockey night game! -- Even if you're not a hockey fan, your table could still win. They let you randomly draw a hockey puck, and if the player whose name is on your puck scores during the game on the TVs, you get something! (Uh, what exactly, I'm not sure -- #27 Hutton didn't score during the first period while we were there tonight).
Daily Features, such as $2-off burgers Tuesday nights.

I went tonight specifically for their Mealshare item, which rotates from time to time, Until March 2nd, they are featuring two items from their "test kitchen" -- basically, things that they are trying out on you and considering adding to the menu. In fact, lots of items on their menu are marked "TK" for Test Kitchen.

Pot of tea ($2.25) Higgins & Burke tea

2016-Mar-1 Original Joes (Robson) - pot of tea

Quinoa Mushroom Burger ($15). Test Kitchen item. Quinoa mushroom patty with melted swiss; served on toasted brioche with mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion. Comes with 2 sides.

A very simple burger. Maybe too simple for $15, but you do get to clearly taste the patty. (Does that mean the tomato was tasteless? Hmm...)
That $15 (only $13 on burger nights) comes with two sides that are worth maybe $2 each, so it's really around $11. Which is steep for a very basic lettuce-and-tomato burger of regulation size. Go during their $2-off burger nights.
Quinoa mushroom patty is apparently held together by swiss cheese inside the patty itself. Thankfully not crumbly at all.
I opted for the gluten-free bun and was not charged extra for it. The bun itself was OK. Just firmer and drier than most burger buns. Some odd white stuff on the top of the bun, though. I forgot to ask the server about it.

Coleslaw

My other side that comes included in the price of my burger.
I found the veggies here cut a bit too long, with increases the risk of sauce flinging about or making a mess around your mouth. Keep a clean napkin handy!
More sour than creamy, which I rather liked since richly creamy coleslaw plus fries plus gravy could have made for a heavy-feeling meal.

2016-Mar-1 Original Joes (Robson) - quinoa mushroom burger

2016-Mar-1 Original Joes (Robson) - gluten free bun top

2016-Mar-1 Original Joes (Robson) - quinoa mushroom burger patty closeup

Homecut Fries - gravy or dill dip

One of the sides I chose. As fries go, these were sadly sub-par.
Not particularly crispy (or hot, for that matter).
Mostly short bits. Either they are using short potatoes or I got bottom-of-the-tray scraps.
Gravy seemed thin and not very flavourful (maybe because I couldn't get a good amount to stay on the fry). Go for the dill dip. Way better, plus the sharp flavour helps keep the appetite whetted.

2016-Mar-1 Original Joes (Robson) - gravy for fries

2016-Mar-1 Original Joes (Robson) - fries

Prompt service, friendly servers. They didn't automatically bring water, though.

2016-Mar-1 Original Joes (Robson) - hockey game night

Trafalgar's European Explorer 2006 memoirs part 3

A picture from my 2006 trip, a Trafalgar 's bus tour, on an itinerary called the European Explorer. I can't remember why I had this couple in the picture, but I do vaguely remember this to be in London, on the first official day of the tour group getting together. Their insistence on my helping them take a picture caused the three of us to be late getting back to the bus. The local tour guide had a "rule" about lateness, that we had to buy chocolate to share with everyone. As it turned out, later in the trip, on at least two occasions, we were stuck on the highway on either a long commute or a traffic jam, and I had chocolate and chocolate-covered marzipan to share. About the chocolate-covered marzipan -- Apparently we were in Austria just as they were celebrating Mozart's birthday with special marzipans wrapped in foil with the famous composer's picture. I'm pretty sure it was Mirabell Mozartkugeln . Anyway, there were enough to go around the en

Trafalgar's European Explorer 2006 memoirs part 10

The last of my pictures (at least the ones that survived the cheesy disposable cameras) from my 2006 trip, a Trafalgar 's bus tour, on an itinerary called the European Explorer. Below is the obligatory group photo. Not sure everyone's in it, actually. I'm pretty sure this one was taken by the tour director, Mike Scrimshire as I'm in the back row, on the right side.

Trafalgar's European Explorer 2006 memoirs part 9

More assorted couples on my 2006 trip, a Trafalgar 's bus tour, on an itinerary called the European Explorer. An American couple who joked about being from "the land of the giants" -- and with good reason, because both of them were really tall! A cute Jewish mother-daughter pair who ducked out part-way to divert to Israel. I vaguely remember the issue of the daughter being an orthodox Jew was highlighted in France when, to make things easy, she just declared herself vegetarian for the wait staff. I also remember there was some logistics error in France because our party size was way underestimated or simply relayed incorrectly, and there was a shortage of food at dinner. Dessert came as an unopened can of yogurt. It did not seem like they tried to make it up to us later, either. Plus there was smoking every which way in France, and I had a helluva time with that. We were also in a hotel that seemed tucked away in the burbs, and not walking distance from anythin

Life in the Lower Mainland (BC, Canada)

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