Saturday, June 11, 2005
Samosa Snack
Other larger posts are in the works, but here's the perfect little tidbit to tie you over 'til the next big meal: samosas! Many of you will know that one can find wonderful fresh samosas in the shops around Main St. and 49th, an area sometimes referred to as Little India. When I went to explore the area, I bought veggie samosa at four for a dollar! A yummy treat. How on earth does the shop owner make any money on that? Another wonderful (yet illegal) way to enjoy a samosa in Vancouver is Wreck Beach. Having a strange, naked man bring you a samosa and squeeze a blob of chutney onto it for you while you're lying in the sun at the beach adds something to the whole samosa experience, don't you think? He probably acquires them from Little India, and the extra cost (three for $5 I think) seems quite reasonable from the vantage point of a beach towel in that beautiful place. Sure, everyone talks about the naked bodies at Wreck (the only legally clothing optional beach in Vancouver), but did you know what a great foodie experience it can be? The only beach in Vancouver where you can purchase lovely mixed drinks (how about a sangria or an icy Mojito made with fresh mint) served right to your little plot of beach, from a little tray, complete with bendy straw. All manner of snacks are available, just a nod or wave away, as the vendors call out their wares ("Co-co-nut Bun!"..."Jello Shooters"..."Cold Beer!"). It's a very interesting place. Watch all that unlicensed, roaming food and drink magically vanish as the police make their obligatory rounds every so often. So the question is this - does an illicitly sold samosa taste better than a legit one?
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2 comments:
Hmmm. There's a small E. Indian shop on Fraser just a few doors south of the Church's Chicken (E.41st) that sells 5 samosas for a buck ! They're not bad in terms of greasiness and seasoning, though there's a bit more potatoes in the filling that I'd like. But with the right condiment (I use straight HP sauce) they're great snacks especially for large parties/picnics or potlucks.
I suspect that some of the better sources of samosas are generally in places where you wouldn't expect to see them. Back in my university days, I'd sometimes grab samosas from FM Classic Pizza, one of the 99-cent pizza places at Pender and Seymour that services the late-night student crowd. While they weren't the greatest samosas I've ever had (and the pizza at the neighbouring pizza place was way better for the 10 cents extra per slice...but that place closed earlier), they were one of the more edible and interesting things one could consume during the 15-minute break in a 3-hour class at Harbour Centre. This is probably no longer the case, now that there's so much else in that block as a result of all the new ESL schools in the area.
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