Schwartz's Deli - Montreal

My Death Row Meal When I have my last meal I know what it's going to be: a medium smoked meat sandwich with fries, extra pickles, and a Cott's cherry cola from Schwartz's. Nothing satisfies quite like a meal at Schwartz's.  I've enjoyed a lot of delicious smoked meat in Montreal, and I keep coming back to Schwartz's.  I love the hustle and bustle of the place - the small tables, cramped in next to other customers and sharing smoked meat pleasure with strangers.  I would suggest a medium smoked meat because the regular is a bit too fatty for me and the lean is not moist enough.  Schwartz's secret - everything's made from scratch from a near century old recipe.  Their briskets are brined for ten days, without preservatives, and then slowly smoked.  They now have a takeout store right next to the original.  Sit down, enjoy the best smoked meat you've ever had, then go next store and bring a some home and don't forget your friends.  

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/

Primanti Brothers - Pittsburgh, August, 2009

World's Best Sandwich? I've never eaten a sandwich quite like a Primanti's sandwich.  Picture this: great fresh cut fries, delicious coleslaw, soft and fresh white italian loaf bread, and tender homemade roast beef - all piled in together in one sandwich.  Nothing on the side.  It works.  Does it ever.  I devoured my first Primanti sandwich at a Pirates game at PNC Park.  Get there early and they're fresh and made to order.  Great food and baseball - a piece of Heaven!  The next day we ventured to the original Primanti Bros location in the Strip District.  The Strip is for food lovers; there are food wharehouses on the street parallel to the Strip and some serve food on site.  The Strip itself is full of restaurants, cafes, kitchen supply stores, Pitsburgh Popcorn and sidewalk food stalls - fresh grilled shrimp and crab right on the sidewalk were availble that day!  We saved our appetites for Primanti and boy did we need them.  We ordered the classic roast beef, (2nd pic from bottom) the pastrami and the corned beef (bottom pic) - each only $6.29.  Adults could easily share a sandwich, but it was so good I ate it all myself.  It's a real fun restaurant - laid back, no menus (it's on the wall) and very casual.  There are locations throughout Pittsburgh, though I  highly recommend going to the Strip District.  I know I'm going back.  http://www.primantibrothers.com/