Shis issue: (Y The Intrepid Gastronomer: The good slice (¥ Unleash your inner diva (Y Stop HIV & Hep C now And more! Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Brittney MacDonald, Life & Style Editor Mlifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca www.theotherpress.ca Meatless Monday: Veggie burgers » What fast-food joint comes out on top? Brittney MacDonald Life & Style Editor M lifeandstyle @theotherpress.ca A: a treat for surviving my semester up until finals, I decided to indulge in a bit of fast-food—but finding that perfect burger and fries when youre a vegetarian can be tough. Most veggie burgers are soggy afterthoughts put out by franchises to appease a demographic they don’t really want to market towards. But don't be disheartened: I have scoured the food courts to bring you the best of the bunch! Starting with White Spot. I thought this would be the best to begin with, because a Triple O’s is conveniently located right in the cafeteria of our own New Westminster campus. With a patty made out of a combination of brown rice, mushrooms, and onions, it : : and actually try Fatburger. : Taste-wise, I loved their veggie : burger. Like with A&W they certainly doesn’t lack in flavour. However, if you're looking to indulge that fatty fast-food craving, this is definitely not the : : preference has anything to : do with your desire to be lean : and fit, and construct their : burgers accordingly. Everything : that’s available on one of their : standard fatburgers or baby burger for you. Whether it is health food or not, it certainly tastes like it is, and to top it off it gets soggy really quickly. Certainly not my definition : of appetizing and also a little : pricey for your average college : student. Next up is an option that’s : maybe a bit more affordable. : When you think of great fast- : food chains, the next restaurant : : may come to mind. A&W has : attempted its own version : of a veggie burger in their : Veggie Deluxe, and it definitely : wasn't what I expected. With : a patty that contains similar : ingredients to the Triple O's : version, I can vouch for the : flavour. What A&W does : better, is they don’t assume : that all vegetarians are health : nuts. They load that burger : up with the works! Cheese, : mayo, pickles—all the good : things about burgers that you : can think of, and best of all, : it’s not soggy! I think for the : price, and for the quality of the : burger, this one is probably my : favourite option. Lastly I decided to get over my revulsion of their name, don't assume that your dietary : fatburgers is also available : on their veggie burger—even : fried eggs and cheese if you : still eat animal byproducts. : Thought they’re a bit secretive : about what’s actually in their : veggie patty, from a taster’s : perspective I can say it’s mostly : mushrooms and soy. I can : definitely say I did enjoy the : burger, though the patty itself “4 ' = 3 ut. - . - athe BA pO, = a a en | D> ae ae es 3 oo ot : After trying all three : I would probably most : was a bit on the salty side, but : | appreciated the fact that it : was chargrilled. The biggest : deterrent for me was the price. : Fora fast food joint, they’rea : little big for their britches, and : way too overpriced to guarantee : a second visit from me anytime : soon. : recommend the one from : A&W, which conveniently also : happens to be the cheapest. So : next time you're in the mood : for something a little indulgent, : why not head over there for a : tasty veggie burger complete : with onion rings and root beer. Fighting Fit: It’s time to duel! » Bringing back the classics at ‘Academie Duello’ Adam Tatelman Staff Writer [° my last article, I extolled the virtues of martial arts practice as a complete form of exercise that addresses all aspects of physical conditioning. I was subsequently bombarded by a gaggle of SportSci students insisting that combat isn’t a weight-bearing exercise. To thee I say nay, for if thou wishest to strength train, try to swing yon hunk of steel for ninety minutes. Enter Academie Duello, your one-stop shop for Renaissance combat training— and I do mean shop. The first thing you will notice when : you walk in the door are the : walls of merchandise: practice : weapons, armour, and books on : : swordplay. Make no mistake, : Duello is a franchise. See also : the method of payment; once : you complete the introductory : Warrior Fundamentals course, : you must pay monthly tuition : to practice a set number of : hours per week, and then : choose which classes fill that : time. The basic fee, $139 a : that entitles you to pay tuition : in the first place, the $99 intro courses and $100-an-hour : personal lessons. Students can : save $20 a month—provided : you sign on to a12-month : contract. So far as finances, crack : is cheaper by a wide margin : and they really, really want : you to buy your own set of : custom armour. Some would : shut the book there, but : : at least the rates and times : month, only nets you two hours : : a week. That isn’t much if you : want to learn quickly or just : enjoy the classes, so you can’t : practice much unless you pay : $219 a month for unlimited : access. That’s not even : including the $75 membership are flexible. The instructors : are also credible and active : in the theatre community, : often choreographing fights : for Bard on the Beach. They : regularly host a stage combat : certification course, so if you're : an actor, your resumé might : benefit from training at Duello. Due to its commercial : nature, I’d have trouble : recommending Duello if not : for its professional reputation, : enthusiastic instructors, : sterling safety, and the plethora : : of weapons to learn. They’ve : got everything; poleaxes, : longswords, rapiers, bows, even : : a Bartitsu cane-fighting course : for the esoteric fighter who : wants to fight like Sherlock : Holmes. In truth, Duello’s greatest virtue is its variety. Aside from : the training courses, there : are callisthenics-focussed : conditioning sessions that : add fun twists to your typical : workout routine—hurling : medicine balls at one another’s : kite shields, for instance. : There’s also a five-day Knight : Camp program for the kids, : so if you've got any children : or siblings who are interested : in medieval history, they might enjoy spending some : time practicing the knightly : virtues—sans steel, of course. In summary, the only : thing Duello is better at than : swordplay is making money : offa brand. Are they quacks? : Hardly. The experience is an : enjoyable one; it just may not : be affordable for the average : college student who's already : struggling to pay tuition. : That said, the training is of : good quality, so if it’s within : your means, drop by 415 West : Hastings Street.