WVRST Toronto - Queens West - Visit with Family

As previously chronicled, I had a very tough week of travel a few weeks back.  I was in NYC over the weekend, then went to Minneapolis and Toronto during the week on business.  The flights for each of these trips was delayed, between 5 hours and an hour each.  Talk about bad luck.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law and their young child recently moved to Toronto and we had been up to visit them just 3 weeks before.  Since I knew I would be arriving early enough to catch a meal we decided to check out WVRST in Queens West.  It was featured on Layover by Anthony Bourdain and well reviewed on Yelp.  Since my sister-in-law had to work that evening, it turned out to be just the boys.

My nephew is quite a handful, but he is cute as a button, and generally a good kid.  He was very interested with the food.  My brother-in-law and I can both eat and drink, and we did a good amount of that.  We each had two sausages, I had elk and a traditional bratwurst, he had a rabbit and german sausage as well.  My nephew had himself a chicken sausage, unfortunately there was a bit of spice to it, which he abhored.  We shared an order of fries cooked in duck fat that were divine.  We both washed that down with 2-3 beers each and had a great time.  I had a Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel and a couple of local IPAs.

The tables are set up communal, beer hall style and the place was packed for a Wednesday night.  We quickly found a table and were fine though.  I highly recommend checking this place out if you are from Toronto or find yourself there with a hankering for sausage and beer.  Americans, take advantage now as the CAD is quite weak versus the USD.  Prost!

Me and him.

Red Sox Start the Season...Slowly...

Boston Red Sox nation has a lot to fear in 2012.  What with last year's 2-10 start, and the collapse in September, the horrifying disappointment of $175 million dollars being wasted without even tasting the playoffs.  This year brings a lot of questions, most of them regarding pitching, as our commanding offense is set to be one of the stalwarts of the year.  A new manager, who has not exactly been welcomed into the fold, Bobby Valentine is very different from Terry Francona.

Personally, I am excited and hopeful for the season, and I eagerly awaited the first series against the Detroit Tigers.  However, the series did not go as planned, with 2 heart-breaking losses where save opportunities were blown, both by named closer, Alfredo Aceves and Mark Melancon. The other game was just a brutal beat down where our co-ace Josh Beckett gave up five homerun balls.

Luckily, we were able to salvage a win Monday night in Toronto against the Blue Jays who many believe are going to have a solid campaign this year.  Our enemies in New York also started 0-3 against division rivals Tampa Bay.  This means 4 solid teams in the American League East, not the best place to call home.

I predict that the offensive firepower will carry the Red Sox to the playoffs and 90 regular season wins.  I like Bobby V so far, and I think he will do just fine.  As long as the pitching situation doesn't completely unravel, the Sox should be OK in 2012.