Super Bowl Sunday

This city is going crazy over the Seattle Seahawks!  It seems we have 300+ Victoria fans who regularly trek down to Seattle to watch their home games.  Seahawks fever is at such a pitch that our mayor, wearing a Seahawks jersey, raised a flag to them across from the legislature yesterday.  While Tom isn't an NFL fan (a CFL boy!), he says we need to watch the Super Bowl this year to cheer on the 'home' team.

Go, Seahawks, Go!

Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin hoists the Seattle Seahawks’ 12th Man flag in front of the legislature on Friday.  Photograph by: ADRIAN LAM, Times Colonist

It’s clear the 12th Man knows no borders.
The familiar blue flag bearing that number, in honour of Seattle Seahawks fans from Esquimalt to Enumclaw, was raised to the top of the flagpole Friday at the corner of Belleville and Government streets by Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin, who was clad in the No. 3 jersey of quarterback Russell Wilson.
A crowd of fans wearing Seattle jerseys and caps chanted “Sea-Hawks, Sea-Hawks …” as the flag made its way to the top of the pole in the prominent location across from the B.C. legislature.
The Seahawks estimate that more than 10 per cent of the fans who attend their home games are from B.C., including 300 to 500 people who make their way from the Island to Seattle for each game.
Other 12th Man flag raisings were held in Vancouver and West Vancouver in what was dubbed Blue Friday before the Seahawks, looking for their first Super Bowl title, play the Denver Broncos on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
“There is a huge relationship between Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle. … We’re more than just neighbours,” said Fortin, who was presented by the team with a limited-edition Seahawks Super Bowl pin that will be on display at Victoria city hall.
“Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle are the triangle of the Pacific Northwest and it’s fun to get excited about the professional sports teams. Many fans here feel the Seahawks are Victoria’s team.”
The Victoria mayor’s prediction is a 23-17 Seahawks win over the Broncos. It was a popular sentiment among the assembled, many of whom have been lifelong Seahawks fans since the days of the old Kingdome.
Des Rogers, his son, Seth, and friend Ken Graham were among those in Seahawks jerseys watching the flag-raising.
When asked what he did for a living, Des Rogers quipped: “Full-time Seahawks fan.”
Sharon and Wayne Beach of View Royal are passionate Seahawks fans — so much so that friends Pat and Sylvia Smithson came to town from Lethbridge specifically to spend Super Sunday with them in Victoria.
“I go back to the days of the Kingdome. … We try to get to one or two games each season,” said Wayne Beach, who was decked in Seahawks gear down to his electric-green team gloves.
The 12th Man flag that was hoisted was the one signed by Island fans over the summer when receiver Doug Baldwin, the Sea Gal cheerleaders and team mascot Blitz paid a visit to Victoria. It will fly until Monday.
- See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/victoria-embraces-seahawks-nation-ahead-of-super-bowl-1.810149#sthash.wx2Wn8MO.dpuf

Food! Glorious food!

Tom's daughter has been here since last Thursday, and we have had the pleasure of eating out ... a lot.  Mmmmmmm ....

Friday lunch - The Fish Store at Fisherman's Wharf, for the most amazing halibut and chips

Saturday dinner - Cafe Brio, a perennial favourite.  Try the meat-stuffed olives.  They sound outrageously expensive at $3 each, but they are wonderful!  I'm seriously thinking of having a half dozen for dinner next time we're there.

Sunday breakfast - Avalon Restaurant.  A great place to go for bennies.  Love their oaten toast.  After breakfast, go to the inner harbour and watch the Harbour Ferry Ballet. 

Monday dinner - Brown's Social House.  This is a new one for us, but we've been eying that patio for a couple of years.  We went early for dinner and had the patio pretty much to ourselves, because it was kind of cool and blustery.  No matter, we warmed up with martinis and complimentary blankets, and had a great time.

Tuesday lunch - Broughton Street Deli.  We had planned to go to Pagliacci's for soup but, as usual, the place was packed and we would have had to wait for a table.  So we had soup and sandwiches at the Deli instead.  A nice lunch place.

We then had a great afternoon sampling olive oil and balsamic vinegar at Olive the Senses.  What a great place!  We wandered around the store with our little plastic spoons, turning spigots, and oohing and aahing about the most wonderful flavours available.  We ended up buying a six-bottle sampler box with these oil and vinegar pairings: Leccini extra virgin olive oil from Chile and Black Mission Fig balsamic vinegar; Blood Orange infused olive oil and Espresso balsamic vinegar; and Organic Tuscan Herb infused olive oil and Sicilian Lemon white balsamic vinegar.

Wednesday afternoon - Tea at the Empress!  We resisted going here for years, because it was so expensive but, you know, it's really worth it.  Start with a champagne cocktail ...

Back to smaller meals for a few days before heading to New York City and the start of our cruise ... and more food, glorious food!