NBA 'Sandwich Hunter' Matt Bonner raves about Halifax donair, lobster roll

Two-time NBA champion Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs is weighing in on some of Halifax's trademark foods in his role as 'The Sandwich Hunter,' and he's raving about them,especially the donair.

"Oh my goodness!" Bonner exclaims in a video posted to the NBA's website,as he took his first bite of a donair at Sicilian Pizza, Donairs and Subs atHalifax's pizza corner.

In the video,Bonnergave the staffer who made the donair a high-five, telling his companion: "We need to get this in San Antonio. I don't know about a pre-game meal, but this is wicked good."

Bonner, a former Toronto Raptor who used to take the subway to games and practices, is known for his three-point shooting and hard work. Buthe also blogs about food in cities he visits, mostly in the United States, under the title The Sandwich Hunter.

He wasin Halifax in September to participate inCampus Pass, where NBA players visit universitiesaround North America to promote the game and host skills competitions.

9+ out of 10

"The meat's a little different and the sauce, the sauce just makes it," Bonner said about the donair.

"I give it a nine-plus out of 10 on the sandwich scale and would for sure weigh 500 pounds if I lived here," he said.

Bonner also checked out the Waterfront Warehouse where he had a lobster roll and fries.

"Delicious. The fries are wicked good," he said, adding that he wouldhave liked more lobster meat in the roll, but then questioned whether he was being "nitpicky"because in New England such sandwiches areusually overflowing.

Jared Hochman,a supervisor at Waterfront Warehouse who served Bonner that day, said the business had no idea the NBA star was going to show up and record his visit.

"I'm a basketball fan so I realized it was him right away," Hochman told CBC News.

He said he's not surprised Bonner and his table all ordered the lobster roll because it is a staple of the restaurant.He said the business is happy with the exposure.

Everyone benefits

"Any time we can have good publicity and good reviews for our product, it's really a benefit for us," he said. "When it's a public figure that many people can identify with, sometimes those words resonate more."

Hochman points out it's not just Waterfront Warehouse that's going to benefit from the video.

"Its great for us but it's great for the city," he said. "People get to see who we are. Seeing him come here and enjoy the place can help spur other people to do the same thing."

Hochman said the business will take Bonner's feedback about adding more lobster to the lobster roll seriously, as it does all comments.

The videowas shot on a beautiful, sunny day and highlights the Halifax waterfront boardwalk and shows Theodore Tugboat sailing past GeorgesIsland.