VanEats, a dining package deal website that’s offered a variety of culinary dining passes over the years, has recently partnered with American-based Saladworks (in Yaletown) for a pretty sweet three-course deal, on now though January 10, 2015.
The VanEats ordering system is pretty straightforward: just visit the website and purchase the dining pass, and print it out or show the server a confirmation on your smart phone.
The promotion serves two people for $22 and includes a choice of Carvery salad, gourmet sandwich, and two glasses of either wine, beer, soups of the day, or fountain, bottled, and canned drinks.
On the day of my visit, there were two soups offered as the local lunch crowd began to trickle in: Tomato roasted corn and a Southwestern chicken tortilla soup. I chose the tomato soup, served up with roasted corn, parmesan, garlic, and basil. Tasty, with no one ingredient overpowering another. The soup and sandwich together make for a perfect meal that’s not too heavy but satisfying.
Normally three homemade soups are on offer and rotate on a weekly basis.
[Chicken Ranch sandwich (hold the mayo), tomato roasted corn soup]
On to the sandwiches. Here you can choose from one of the following:
Mediterranean Chicken:
Free-range lemon-herb chicken, tzatziki, diced tomato, marinated red onions, feta cheese, olives
Garlic Roasted Porchetta:
Oven-roasted BC free-range natural pork loin seasoned with herbs and garlic, sriracha mayo drizzle, pickled carrot, red onion and fennel, hot banana peppers
Marinated Asian Steak:
Grilled AAA Alberta sirloin steak, matchstick carrots, red and green onions, sesame seeds, nori, nutty sesame dressing
Spicy Cajun Chicken Ranch:
Ranch dressing, sriracha mayo, bacon, tomato
I chose the Chicken Ranch sandwich, substituting lemon herb chicken for spicy Cajun. As every sandwich and salad is made to order, it’s easy to customize ingredients. If there was one thing I could change on the sandwich menu, it would be a whole grain/whole wheat bread option in addition to white.
Salads are filling and fresh. Choose from the following:
Grilled Chicken Caesar:
Free-range chicken breast, parmesan cheese, focaccia croutons, home made crispy bacon bits, Caesar dressing
Grilled Napa Steak:
Marinated AAA Alberta steak, grapes, tomatoes, red onion, sunflower seeds, balsamic dijon dressing
Maple Glazed Salmon:
Grilled wild BC salmon, almonds, dried cranberries, roasted yams, sliced green apple, maple syrup glaze, balsamic vinaigrette dressing
Grilled Malibu Chicken:
Free-range lemon herb chicken, strawberries, grapes, sunflower seeds, avocado, shredded carrots, avocado vinaigrette dressing
Asian Steak:
Marinated AAA Alberta Steak, marinated chow mein, matchstick carrots, edamame, snap peas, red onions, bean sprouts, sesame seeds, nori, sriracha mayo drizzle, nutty sesame dressing
Grilled Tandoori Shrimp:
Artichoke hearts, chickpeas, dried okra, matchstick carrots, red cabbage, buttermilk ranch dressing
Grilled Mandarin Chicken:
Mandarin oranges, cucumber, matchstick carrots, dried cranberries, avocado vinaigrette dressing
Thai Chicken:
Cucumber, snap peas, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, peanuts, nutty sesame dressing
[Maple Glazed Salmon salad]
It’s an easy bet than when I’m offered from a list like the one above, I’ll go with wild BC salmon. I was not disappointed. The range of ingredients and combinations in the Maple Glazed Salmon salad made for my favourite of the two dishes hands-down.
The roasted yams are cubed and meld perfectly into the maple syrup glaze that in turn compliments the balsamic vinaigrette, while the salmon is cooked just right, and served with herbed bread and lemon. This is the sole gluten-free salad on the menu, if you’re considering a gluten-free option. Saladworks also takes pride in offering a variety of superfoods on their menu, from kale to salmon.
In addition to wine, bottles of Steamworks Pilsner, Steamworks Pale Ale, and Parallel 49 Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale and Hoparazzi West coast lager are valid for the VanEats package. If you’re interested in pop or water, it’s there too. I noticed that their Boylans soda fountain was out of order. Hopefully it’s back up and running soon.
Saladworks is located at 1025 Mainland Street in Yaletown, Vancouver.
My meal was compliments of VanEats and Saladworks for the purpose of experiencing the dining-for-two package.
