"I'm hung over and its Sunday, lets meet at JJ Bean and go to Temple."
"Temple? I didn't know you were Jewish."
"No dude. Its Hindu Temple."
"But you're a lesbian anarchist bike punk. How the hell are you Hindu?"
"Free curry!"
Temple can be a fun novelty or a once-in-a-while free treat... but sometimes, when a paycheque is nowhere in sight and all you've got in the pantry is a can of black beans, Temple can be quite literally a Godsend.
There are two Temples in Vancouver that provide the free food service- The Hindus and The Sikhs. So after years upon years of selflessly and thanklessly preparing hundreds of meals for hundreds of people.... what is the most inappropriate way I could acknowledge their generosity?
Lets rate them against each other!
Hindu Temple
PROS
PROS
- The service can't be beat. Although you initially have to line up cafeteria-style, you will be constantly bombarded with ear-to-ear smiling people coming around with buckets of delicious Masala, rice and naan ladling more onto your plate and informing you to bring empty tupperware containers for next Sunday's meal. Your water cup will never go unfilled.
- Located in the heart of Mt. Pleasant, proximity is key here. If you live in East Vancouver, its likely just blocks from home and a short walk to Main Street where you can digest with a cup of coffee and read Savage Love.
- Hindu Temple commences loosely around 2pm on Sunday afternoons. Its the perfect time in the day to sleep in, wake up, realize that you blew all your money on booze, taxis, and promising young women, and realize that a free lunch sounds like the cure for a mean hangover.
CONS
Hindu Temple takes place once a week, which is hardly enough to suspend your hunger. Its more of a weekend treat and a great place to bump into 7 of your friends who are all in the same boat as you are. That and, although delicious, the food rarely varies in options and the selection gets somewhat tired.
Sikh Temple
PROS
- Takes place every Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday at 7pm SHARP. So when things really get desperate, the Sikh's can basically help you skirt through a whole week of bare bones living (if you use Hindu Temple Sundays as a hub to last you over the weekend).
- The food is EXCEPTIONAL. The spread is varied and selection often changes from day-to-day. There is often too much choice in the food and one can rarely fit everything onto one tray. You'll have to save room for seconds if you want to try that citrus rice, daal, or hot paneer curry. Oh yeah, and did I forget to mention dessert? There's even the choice of what settles your sweet tooth.
- Located at Boundry and Broadway, its distance from Strathcona and Mt Pleasant could be a con... but this blog is being written by a bicyclist! The ride there and back with a friend or two only adds to the experience and turns dinner from a routine into a mission- "If we don't make these next 3 green lights, we're gonna starve till tomorrow. Lets go!"
CONS
- The White Sikh! - If you are a woman wearing a shirt with exposed shoulders, prepare to be berated by an old Scottish Sikh wearing all white garments and sporting a snow-white beard. He'd look sort of like a metrotown santa if it wasn't for his consuming rage and hatred of women. He's often told to cool his jets by his Sikh supervisors, but every now and then he has an... "episode"... He's like a lame incredible hulk.
- The White Sikh aside, his presence at dinner still connotes a sense of professionalism and strictness that is absent at the laid back Hindu Temple. Dinner is at 7 and you better be there by 7... or boy, you're going hungry. But that's really okay, because the food is so damn good!
Both Temples are a beautiful eating tradition in East Vancouver that I'm proud to be a part of. Both Temples never expect a thanks from its patrons and it is, in fact, mostly discouraged. But one thing you better make sure of at any dinner is this - never turn in a tray that still has food. You scrape that bitch clean!
PHOTOS ARE ON THEIR WAY
