Weekend Recap: Some Pictures

Friday

Have you ever been in one of those moods where you want to go out but don’t really have anyplace to go? I felt that way on Friday. I just didn’t want to lounge around the homestead. I made some calls but everybody else already had plans or some such shit to do. Well, those who picked up the phone anyway.

With no real direction, I just got in the car and drove. I found myself at Juice’s place. He wasn’t home but I let myself in. I played some pinball, left some graffiti and gave him my copy of the new Counting Crows album. I attempted to raid his fridge but it looked like somebody beat me to it. I’m telling you, these are the contents of his fridge on Friday night: half a stick of butter, some orange-coloured juice (probably some sort of mango concoction), a Brita jug and a part of a sausage. Not even an egg. I tell ya, that guy needed to do some food shopping.

I left his place and went food shopping for myself instead. Looking in his fridge made me realize I was running low on edible supplies. Wow, living it up on Friday night at the local Loblaws.

Shortly after I got home, Juice came by my place unannounced. Pure coincedence. He hadn’t been home and seen what I had left on his wall (he didn’t notice what I wrote until Sunday afternoon). He was in the neighbourhood and decided to spend some time with his little buddy. No, not the one in his pants, I mean me. We played some video games.

Saturday

Recently, Rawbean posted some drawing she made of a guy. I’m convinced that guy is me. Go check out her pic.

Here’s a bad photo of me taken around the time Rawbean dated her drawing:

me at yorkdale

I see some striking similarities.

Worked a bit in the afternoon. Then I had plans to go to some party downtown. It was Bob’s brother’s girlfriend’s birthday or something. “Yeah, happy birthday! I don’t remember your name!”

It was me and Bob and Boston arriving together to one of those thin three storey homes near the annex to find a room full of drunk early twenty-somethings shooting confetti guns at each other in the dark. (Fuck you Earth Hour environazi bullshit mother fucker!) This was one of those parties where at one point, a guy left the washroom, carrying one of those mini Heineken kegs, wearing rubber gloves and his pants barely staying up high enough to cover his wang. Seconds later, another guy left the washroom. Two guys in a washroom together, rubber gloves, beer, very loose fitting pants. I will let you draw your own conclusions. I didn’t ask questions because I really didn’t want answers.

I hate going to parties in those tiny little houses downtown. It’s always a dozen or more people squished into a room smaller than my bedroom. Everything gets everywhere and there is always a cat or dog running around that inevitably gets stepped on or has some booze spilled on the poor animal. I hate being in crowded places.

I could write at length about how there was no good music being played or how parties suck when you’re not drinking. But hey, I throw shitty parties too. Who am I to complain?

Sunday, a.k.a. Burger Day

Basically, I found two places in Toronto claiming to have the best burgers in Toronto. The first place: Mad Monty’s.

mmsign

And their claim:

mmclaim

The second place: Johnny G’s

jgsign

And their claim:

jgclaim

What I really wanted to find out was which place was boasting and which play was right. How can two restaurants in the same city both claim to have the city’s best burgers?

On Sunday, I made a day of it. Bob and the Wonder Twins joined me for an excursion of beefy proportions.

The first stop was Mad Monty’s. I ordered the banquet burger with fries. Big mistake. I should have never ordered the fries. I should have just had the burger. The fries were very good, but it was too much food when I know full well I am about to eat another burger.

The burger itself, well, the patty was a little undercooked for my liking. The cheese was a square slice and the bacon was two whole strips. The bun, sesame seed. Portions were certainly sizable. All in all, a very good burger. Definetely worth eating.

Then off to Johnny G’s. Again, I ordered the banquet burger. This time, I was given an option as to how I would like my patty cooked. I had my burger well done, as is the way I prefer my beef. The cheese was shredded instead of a square slice and the bacon was crispier. Again, this burger was very good.

A little bit more on the Johnny G’s patty. This patty was a homemade style patty. It was not a uniform shape and their was definitely some other food inside the patty, to augment the pure beef flavour. A risky move putting other foods in the patty itself. It is very easy to mess up that beefy goodness. But I enjoyed the patty none-the-less. (I couldn’t actually finish the burger. And I didn’t even touch the fries I had on the side.)

So, two burgers in one afternoon. Both claiming to be Toronto’s best. Which one was better? Bob and the Twins all chose Mad Monty’s. But I disagree. I thought the burger at Johnny G’s was better.

So, now we know what the best burger in Toronto really is. It’s the burgers at Johnny G’s (corner of Parliament and Carlton).

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21 Responses to “Weekend Recap: Some Pictures”

  1. JLee Says:

    I had a burger yesterday too…sirloin burger from the grill. mmmm

    “Toronto’s Best Burger” reminds me of the “World’s Best Cup of Coffee” I think it was in the movie “Big”? I can’t remember, dammit.

  2. Bob Says:

    Wait… I thought we agreed that neither place could actually be the “Best Burger in Toronto”. Suddenly you are not only ignoring the other votes but saying that Johnny G’s is the “Best Burger in Toronto”.

    Meanwhile, JLee, I haven’t seen “Big” in years so I can’t remember but I am pretty sure there was a scene about the “World’s Best Cup of Coffee” in the movie “Elf”.

  3. wiwille Says:

    It’s a pretty tall order to say you’re the city’s best burger. Sort of like saying you’re the best stripper.

  4. BDS Says:

    The search for the best burger is a good one. I tend to like thinner patties, but that is not a hard and fast rule. Typically, the best burger anywhere is the one you eat after you’ve been drinking for most of the night.

  5. Miss Ash Says:

    I checked out your other photos too, nice Transformers photo *snicker*

    As for the burger, did you notice a veggie option? If so I may check it out next time i’m around.

  6. Bob at York Says:

    I remember a veggie option at the first place, I can’t remember at the 2nd place.

  7. whatigotsofar Says:

    JLee - so it was a burger day all around.

    Bob - I said right away, I liked the second burger more, therefore I made my decision. I was the only one who’s palette wasn’t tainted by large amounts of candy. And, I don’t care what you think.

    wiwille - I am the City of Vaughan’s best male stripper.

    BDS - I too prefer thinner patties, and seedless buns. I don’t get why there’s so many sesame seed buns. I think the sesame seed lobby is pretty powerful.

    Miss Ash - 3 months ago, I posted a TF pic on the blog and now you snicker. A little late for Lenny, Miss Ash. And Mad Monty’s provides a veggie burger. My Mother has tried it. She said it was very good. The place is located on Yonge St. north of Eglinton.

  8. Rawbean Says:

    Yea I guess that image does look like you - you should have posted my drawing in your post - make it easier for the folks.

    There is a Johnny G’s in Winnipeg - very yummy.

  9. whatigotsofar Says:

    I tried, but for some reason, the picture just wouldn’t load. So I just threw up (hehe) a link to your blog instead.

  10. Sarebeth Says:

    I want one of T.Dot’s best burgers!

  11. Sparkling Red Says:

    If you’re ever up in North York, you should try Golden Star Burger. It’s at 7123 Yonge St. on the East side, one set of lights north of Steeles. I don’t know if it’s a contender for best burger, but the place has been around since the ’60’s and hasn’t been redecorated since then. The ambiance can really send you back in time. And the burgers and fries are damn good.

  12. whatigotsofar Says:

    Sarebeth - Have you got M&M Meat Shops out east. Their Tasty Burgers are better than either of the burgers I had yesterday.

    Spark - Well, for me, it would be down in North York as I live up in Maple. And I think that Golden Star is located in the Markham side of Thornill. Whatever, either way, I’m well aware of the Golden Star. My parents frequented the place when they were courting. That place is a landmark.

  13. Heff Says:

    I would imagine that Johnny G’s really kicks ass with a medium rare burger (the way I like them).

  14. Jillian Says:

    I love burgers… I like colby jack cheese on mine. I never thought of trying shredded cheese… Hmmm.

    I also like when a place gives you a choice on how they should prepare the meat.

  15. Maxie Says:

    yum for burgers. I had a delicious whopper from BK yesterday. Nothing tops those bad boys.

  16. whatigotsofar Says:

    Heff - If that’s what ya like…

    Jillian - by using shredded cheese, the cheese can be placed in any shape, thus matching the shape of the burger.

    Maxie - would you believe I’ve never ate a Whopper in my entire life.

  17. Grace Says:

    We’ve got a chain here called “The Works”… omg, insane burgers. If anyone ever comes on up to Ottawa, I suggest the “Smokey Mountain”. From the menu, you get to choose the type of patty, the toppings, and the side dish… so you can make all sorts of combinations. Mmmm

  18. sarebeth Says:

    Yes, we have M&M meats.. I don’t shop there very offen just Christmas time. But I’ll be on the look out for those burgers

  19. Random Chick Says:

    Okay, I’m a little late commenting…had a crazy weekend myself.

    I love how you describe Juice’s bachelor pad/refridgerator contents…LOL! So typical!!!

    Have you ever seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s…okay, probably not ‘cuz you are a guy and this is kind of a chick movie, but that’s how I’m imagining the party you went to on Saturday. Not fun unless you are drunk out of your mind…

    Oh man! Now I’m totally craving a burger!!! Damn you!!!

  20. whatigotsofar Says:

    Grace - The Works sounds interesting. It sounds a bit like South St. Burger Co. Which is the New York Fries burger chain.

    Sarebeth - the Tasty Burgers are just that, tasty.

    Random - Describe, I was painting a word picture because I didn’t have my camera on me at the time. All I remember from B@Ts was Mickey Rooney playing a bad stereotype of a Japanese man. Or am I thinking of a different movie?

  21. Wondertwins Says:

    This is really not fair now, I remember I agreed with you about Johnny G patty. But the patty only…

    p.s. Yes Johnny G does offer veggie burger but I doubt it can be any good. I’m sorry it just doesn’t look like a healthy eating place… sorta like a Manchuwok operated by white people.

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