Beans Around The World

Toronto, Ontario
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Bonus points to BATW Ambassador Bill Mezek for once again successfully crossing the Canadian border with the can in tow. Way to go, BJ!


Today, BATW takes you to Toronto, Ontario, with a special look at some of the wonderful things to eat in Canada! And while there is not yet an Iron Chef Canadian (Can you imagine -- "Fukui-san! The Iron Chef Canadian has just added maple syrup to the steamed giant eel!"), the beans did have fun hanging out with their fellow food groups.

First up, the beans stop to pay respect to The Great One himself, Mr. Wayne Gretzky...or at least his restaurant. The former Oilers/Kings/Blues/Rangers All-Star and all-around Hockey God now spends his days slapping burgers into buns instead of pucks. For dessert, you can have "The Stanley Cup of Berries" - loads of juicy sliced strawberries, soft sponge cake and creamy vanilla ice cream topped with strawberry sauce and fresh whipped cream ($6.99 Canadian). The perfect treat to gum on if your front teeth have been knocked out by a Marty McSorley cross-check.

Next, the beans visit CN Tower, which at 1,815 feet high is the world's tallest self-supporting, man-made structure. There are three places to eat up there (including a revolving restaurant), for those of you who like look down on all of the little people below while you dine. Alas, while they do serve Foie gras and chicken liver terrine with sourdough toast and Norfolk county apple chutney ($18 Canadian) and steamed Atlantic Coast lobster with fingerling potatoes, asparagus and tarragon butter ($90 Canadian!), unfortunately there are no black beans on the menu.

Finally, we're off to the SkyDome and a Toronto Blue Jays game. The SkyDome has it all - a retractable roof, a hotel that overlooks the outfield, its own Hard Rock Cafe, and a McDonalds restaurant that serves "McBeer" (price unknown). (Boy, talk about a "Happy Meal"!) Bill said that the ushers wanted to confiscate the beans - they thought he was going to throw it at the visiting N.Y. Yankees. A little convincing and a sample photo of what BATW is all about was enough to convince the ushers that everything is cool, and the beans live on.


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