A&W Canada — Restaurant in Alberta

There is calm under fire and there is calm under fire. I recently ordered a chicken sandwich and couldn’t help but notice that the kitchen was on fire. The staff merrily went about their business filling orders, mopping floors, and serving customers with a smile while three of them were trying to figure out how to put out a fire in the deep fryer. Quite frankly, I have never been more concerned, scared, and oddly amused waiting for a fast order ever before in my life. They tried moving the deep fryer, unplugging the deep fryer, and waving at the deep fryer, but the fire would not go out.

The young girl serving me at the till calmly informed me that I might have to wait a bit for my raspberry turnover because they were having a bit of trouble with the deep fryer. Seeing the ever-rising column of flames, agreeing with her seemed to be the sensible thing to do. She recommended that I consider staying and eating my chicken sandwich and perhaps by the time I was done my turnover would be ready. While enjoying a meal by the firelight may have sounded tempting, I calmly suggested that she serve me an apple turnover instead – true, this wasn’t the most heroic thing I could have done, but I was trying to be helpful in my own little way.

While there seemed to be a growing tone of anxiety in the voices of the kitchen staff, my server never lost her smile and handed me my meal with a genuine sense of accomplishment. I, on the other hand, was never more happy to be ordering take out.

As I drove off down the highway I must confess that I did look back to see if there was a rising column of smoke on the horizon. There wasn’t so I hope...

Stopped by for a quick grab and dash. Im not sure what A&W has changed since I have had the same spicy habanero chicken full combo at 4 different locations in Alberta. Nanton now. Before that Calgary, Airdrie beside Cross Iron Mall at gas station joint, Prince George and Rimbey. Everytime it tasted different. Nanton was fresh and would be called a reasonable taste. Cross Iron locations was the best tasting and had distinct bite from the Habanero which I could feel and enjoyed. Nanton it was missing. Rimbey location was the worst tasting almost to the point of being bland. Prince George was also stale tasting. These guys need to ensure consistency and quality at all locations. May be hire a food quality and tasting inspector. May be hire me to check on the locations. Im a chef myself and my nose and taste buds are at a different level when it comes to differentiating what is what in the same item. There you go. I have rated some locations. Cross Iron stock that particular day had the sting and bite worthy of being called Spicy Habanero Chicken. Nanton location was lesser. Other two were really missing the whole point. A&W are you listening? Ohh I forgot… their Turnovers are as usual a decent and good dessert after...

ALTERNATIVE BREAKFAST PLACE IN CLARESHOLM

So - - I ate at the A & W twice this last trip to Claresholm more out of necessity than a plan. Don't get that statement wrong - - -I usually eat at Roy's except when they close on Wednesdays but this year on my annual trip Roys was also closed the morning that I was returning from visiting My Aunt Daisy (99 yrs. young) and attending the Nelson Road Kings Car Show. ROys was closed the day of my swing through on returning to Saskatoon as they had been at the CCMA (Canadian Country Music Awards) in Calgary the nite before and weren't coming back until later in the morning. Anyway - - meal was served hot eggs over easy perfectly nice toast crispy bacon well done sausage and piping hot great coffee, All was good. This A & W is nice and clean (as are the bathrooms)and the staff is and lotsa locals doing the morning "Tables of Wisdom" routine. That's it for this year - - - will be back again next spring (May long weekend 2020) on the way to the car show in Sand Point ID with friends...