A few Canucks Playoff games ago, I found myself in one of the most unlikely of places- out at a Seymour Street Sports bar watching the Hockey game. For the record, I don’t care about Sports. I’ve been to a fair number of Sport Bars in many cities over and the same things remain consistent:
You know you’re in a sports bar when you’re surrounded by people shouting at inanimate objects on the wall, you’re food options are yellowing salad greens, nachos, dehydrated chicken wings and burgers, the wait staff is mucky, and you’re lucky if there’s soap in the washroom.
I passively care about Liverpool FC and my passion for The Red Socks, The Celtics or The Bruins has a faint heartbeat. Now, considering that I don’t give a hoot about my own hometown teams—imagine my enthusiasm for the Canucks.
I figure that if Vancouver wins—that’s great, please don’t trash my neighborhood. Also, if Vancouver loses—again—please don’t trash my neighborhood.* **
Despite my overall (continuing) pessimism, one of the best meals I’ve ever had was served to me at the Red Card Sports Pub (located at 900 Seymour Street). The Vongole at Red Card helped me ignore that I was at a Sports bar, the other crap-tacular mediocre and over-priced dishes we ordered and transported me to some lovely seaside bistro. The pasta was flavorful (as opposed to just oily and salty), the clams were fresh and I could taste every ingredient. It blowed away the other Vongole's I've had at Carderos, Water Street Cafe, Incendios and anything I can make at home. Though the dish had very simple ingredients on paper--the result was like no other. I wonder if the olive oil was an emulsion? In any case, it was worth every penny. Try it.
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$16 "Alla vongole" with clams, white wine, chili and garlic |
*“The [1994] loss was followed by a riot in downtown Vancouver, incited by disappointed fans. Many of the fans were so upset that they couldn’t hold their rage and decided to trash the inner city. The Stanley Cup riots, as they became known caused over $1.1 million in damage to the city.” - Vancouver Canucks
** Wow, a riot, again? This place is a joke
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