Point Brugge Cafe, Pittsburgh - August 2009

Case in Point We were pleasantly surprised by the great restaurants in Pittsburgh and Point Brugge is a case in, er, a fine example. Point Brugge is located in Point Breeze - a great neighbourhood complete with 1920's era brick homes with comfortable front porches.  And in the middle of it all is a house that has been converted to a great Belgian restaurant.  Of course, it's a place for amazing fries and delicious mussels.  The seafood is also amazing.  I drooled over my seafood waterzooi -  (top left) a bowl of shrimp, mussels, scallops and salmon in a tomato broth scented with fennel and saffron, oh, and it's on delicious polenta.  Awesome!  We loved the mussels (top right) in a white wine cream sauce.  Tender, rich and served with great fresh cut fries.  We loved the service and the comfortable atmosphere and the great wines and beers on tap.  If you love mussels and great seafood then you've got to go to Point Brugge.  Get the...? You know what I mean.

http://www.pointbrugge.com/

Iron Barley - St. Louis - August 2009

Evening on the Patio Our evening at Iron Barley was wonderful.  We ate outside on the back patio.  This restaurant, also covered on an episode of DDD, gets quite busy and we were lucky to get a seat quickly.  A musician sat on a stool  and played elecrtic guitar and sang easy going rock songs, many from the seventies.  He accepted my request to play Neil Young (a taste of Canada) and introduced us as the family from Toronto and the diners welcomed us with hearty applause.  Much of the menu changes daily and is posted on a blackboard out front.  The servers brought us great mixed drinks; they used mint growing in a planter right next to our table to prepare an awesome mojito.  We enjoyed a watermelon salad and we ordered two amazing seafood dishes - yes I could live on seafood alone.  My zarzeula featured shrimp, scallops, large chunks of whitefish and mussels in a rich tomato broth with saffron.  We also  devoured a seafood pasta with lobster, shrimp, mussels and clams in a lovely cream sauce.  Now with multiple types of seafood in each dish it's very difficult to avoid overcooking some of it - not at Iron Barley.  From the tender mussels, to the just right shrimp and flaky whitefish, everything was cooked perfectly.  I was brought to tears from the magical combination of great music, friendly service and amazing food.  And all these delicious offerings are served in a very laid back setting - nothing frou frou here.  Iron Barley is the type of restaurant that inspired me to write a blog - sophisticated food, made from scratch, executed with skill, served kindly to you in a relaxed setting.  St. Louis should be proud.

http://www.ironbarley.com/

Glenn's Diner - Chicago - July 2009

A Different Diner Glenn's Diner is different - they specialize in seafood. And they do it very well. They don't have a fryer and they get their fish delivered six days a week. This diner was also on DDD and it's a great place. The menu is on the chalk board and they had 18 fish/seafood choices that day! Three of us opted for seafood and one chose the pancakes. The chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes were the best I've ever had. The PEI mussels were served with white wine, cream, shallots and garlic. They were steamed to perfection - very tender. I customized my order and got poached eggs with crab cakes and hollandaise on the side. The crab had very little filler - all large pieces of fresh real crab - amazing. The apple jack tilapia (bottom left) was also delicious. That's right - the tilapia was coated with an Apple Jacks cereal crust and the gentle sweetness works very well with tilapia. I told you Glenn's is different. The atmosphere is casual and very friendly. Glenn's is unlike any diner I've eaten at - and it's the best one too.

http://www.glennsdiner.com/

DDD video: www.glennsdiner.com/ddd/

Swan Oyster Depot - San Francisco - July 2008

Fresh out of the Water Best seafood experience on our West Coast trip. (Anchor and Hope in S.F. was a close second - http://www.anchorandhopesf.com/) Both a firefighter and a tow truck driver were in picking up massive orders for their crews at work. They did this every week and I can see why. They offer a vast array of fresh seafood, absolutely delicious chowder,and incredible crab. There is a long narrow counter and slim tables along the other wall. Waited for the men's next to an immense pot of chowder on a single burner outlet. Talked to the chowder cook as he stirred the pot. A short walk from a trolley stop only adds to the flavour of this great spot to eat.