Just waiting to go in

Located in the heart of downtown Burlington on Church Street is a little bit of France. Leunig’s has an old world ambiance AND great food. I heard from the server there that a lot of Canadians come to Burlington and eat there.

There is this big bar as you enter and the tables are arranged thoughout on various levels.

Jenn and Roberto at our window view table 

It was warmer when I visited and we had this wonderful table by the window that opened to the walk outside. It was charming. The menu features French foods with a Vermont touch added for good measure.

My yummy salad

They serve a weekend brunch and are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a little café menu tucked in the middle for those who drop by between meals for a little somethin’, somethin’. I was also happy to see gluten free additions to the menu. Leunig’s is a member of the Vermont Fresh Network.

We were there for lunch and I am determined to go back repeatedly until I can sample the foods from the different mealtime menus.

Stained glass outside entrance

If you visit their website right now, you can find a recipe for Glug, a Swedish holiday Spiced Hot Wine. Or just stop in for a mug!    www.leunigsbistro.com

One of the highlights of my visit to Pittsburgh for me was to finally take a look at “The Strip”. Growing up, I wasn’t too familiar with this area of Pittsburgh and, for sure, never visited that part of town. But it always sounded so mysterious and exotic in my  imagination as a child.

Now, as an adult going back to visit, and one who also delights in good foods, I have a keen appreciation for this small, one-half mile square in the northeast downtown area of Pittsburgh. Due to its northern border, the Allegheny River, it proved an ideal place for transporting goods in the early 1800’s and later with trains coming through, it led to brisk industrial development. Wholesaler produce merchants lined the streets with their warehouses. Back in the 1800’s the trains stopped at the streets and unloaded right there. Later in the early 1900’s, the rails were removed along Liberty Avenue downtown and the wholesaler merchants moved to the Strip District close to the railroad yards.

There were as many as 71 wholesaler produce dealers at its peak. While now there are somewhat less, some have expanded, adding restaurants, ethnic food stores and cafes. As we trod along the streets in the district, we were assailed by the smells and sights of seafood, fruits and vegetables being prepared right on the streets to tempt passersby. We ventured into some of the food stores, especially the Italian ones, where I was overwhelmed with the bounty of some of my favorite cheeses, meats , pastas and produce. Made me wish I could transport myself there for my weekly marketing trips. To my dismay, there is nothing like that in Ocala.

Yes, we said these things.  Gotta love Western PA!

Along with the warehouses were lots of quaint old churches, gift and art shops and lot of Pittsburgh “stuff” shops.

Mary, Janice and Alice going in to Lidia’s

Chandeliers like clusters of grapes

Then at days end we feasted at one of The Strip’s restaurants, Lidia’s Pittsburgh, where we enjoyed authentic northern Italian cuisine. I watch Lidia’s cooking show on PBS and was so psyched to be able to actually visit one of her restaurants, in of all places, Pittsburgh! A perfect ending to a busy day.

While the menu was extensive, with all the typical Italian courses, we we unable to have them all as we had just nibbled our way through the strip.  Here is what we selected form the menu and, of course, we sampled each others:

(Sorry, the pictures of the delicious food didn’t turn out.)
INSALATE
Insalata Cesare
Shaved Grana Padano and Focaccia Croutons $7.5
 
Insalata di Rucola
Arugula Salad with Bartlett Pear, Walnuts and Gorgonzola Dolce $9

PASTA
Lidia’s Pasta Trio
Our Signature Dish.  Unlimited Daily Pasta selection served tableside $17
with Caesar Salad and choice of Dessert $29

Gnocchi  
Housemade Potato Dumplings with Braised Duck Ragu $17

And a nice expresso to wash it down!

Finally, we can’t leave the “Burgh” without :

Right in the middle of the hustling streets of Pittsburgh, hidden behind a tree lined fence is The Frick. The complex houses an art museum, a car and carriage museum, a playhouse* a greenhouse and the Clayton – the Frick family home.

To give a little background, Henry Clay Frick was a noted industrialist and art collector. While on his honeymoon with new wife Adelaide, he met Andrew Carnegie and from that meeting they formed a partnership between H. C. Frick and Company and Carnegie Steel Company – the forerunner of United States Steel.

He had a daughter, Helen Clay Frick, who left as legacy, the museum and extensive art.

The day we visited The Frick we entered the grounds though an enormous rod iron gate that was surrounded by a red brick, rose-covered wall that encased the complex. The first building was the Car and Carriage Museum which housed the horse-drawn and horseless carriages the Frick family used during the gilded age.

To the left of that was the Frick Art Museum which I am sorry to say we never got to as we took so long seeing the rest of the compound. I hear the paintings, artifacts, and sculptures range from the 12^th to 18^th centuries. Something to go back to see!

Mary and Alice – Ready for lunch!

We had a luncheon reservation at The Café at the Frick outside under the awning facing the gardens. It was a wonderfully refined and girlie thing to do and we had such a good time. Teas and a Sunday brunch can also be enjoyed there.

Lunch-carrot and peach soup, crab melt on brioche and lemon tart

One of the fun things we looked at was this darling playhouse*. It was really a full sized cottage that I would love to live in!! It was the playhouse for little Helen. Now it is a gift and museum shop.

Alice, Mary and Janice in front of playhouse

Adjacent to it is a working greenhouse where flowers and vegetables (served at the Café) are grown. Outside there is also a very interesting garden with some unusual plants.

Janice – are giving a tour of the greenhouse?

Lastly, is the Frick family’s late 19^th century home called the Clayton where 90% of the furnishings are original. It is beyond what I would call a family home. It is a MANSION. It was closed the day we were there but they do have regular tours. We peeked through the windows and were WOWED!!

Family home

In all we spent an entire morning to early afternoon but we also had afternoon plans in a different part of town and had to leave. Could have made a day of it.

The Frick

7227 Reynolds Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15208

TheFrickPittsburgh.org

Montreal, the second largest city in Canada next to Quebec, is almost like two cities in one. There is the modern city vibrant with commerce, technology, industry, culture, sports like ice hockey and two airports- one for passengers and one for cargo.

Then there is Old Montreal where we spent our day. Historic architecture, cathedrals like Notre-Dame de Montreal Basilica (which was closed for a wedding but imposing from the outside nonetheless), cobbled streets and a picturesque riverside known as the Old Port. One of the places that was on my must see list was the wonderful  Auberge Hotel, where Jenn and Roberto had previously spent a romantic holiday – complete with a horse drawn carriage ride. But that is another story.

Anyway, I had to take a few pictures of this spot to share with you. From the looks of it that would be an excellent place for a charming getaway.

We had the best time strolling, sightseeing, shopping and eating our way across the city. We walked and we walked and we walked just enjoying the ambiance of the streets. Good thing; we ate hearty too.

We started with lunch at Jardin Nelson with awesome crepes. It was such a sunny day that we opted for eating outdoors in a garden setting that had an enormous inverted umbrella-like canopy overhead. There was even a string trio playing music while we dined. Tres chic!! We had tasty fruit filled concoctions that just hit the spot. Light but satisfying. I think Roberto would have been happy with a big meaty burger for his man-sized appetite, but he was a good sport.

We left there and continued our explorations down to the waterfront where Cirque du Soleil had set up and we could hear the music from their huge tents as we passed by to watch the “guards” march by and to see the touring boats in the water. Quite a lively place.

As the afternoon progressed I finally got the food that I had been so anxious to try – Poutine. Now I had heard about it from Jenn and Roberto but I needed to see it and experience it for myself. Mine was this HUGE plate of fries, covered in sauteed mushrooms and onions and then covered with the best melted cheese. That and a cold brew was just the best ever and I was a happy camper.

By then is was time for our drive back to Vermont. Tired, but certainly filled – both tummy and sensory- we made our way back to the car. Oh right, we did pass by and have an obligatory ice cream for the trip. Maple. Such creamy goodness. From the looks of Jenn’s cone, she made short work of hers! 

I am so happy we took the time to visit Montreal.

Even though my trip to Vermont was not long, one trip to Stowe just wasn’t enough. Much as I enjoyed rambling through the downtown, Stowe is renown for its skiing and resorts. On the return visit to Stowe we took a wonderful drive UP and UP to see some of the resorts and the scenes of the mountainous terrain. One word for both- WOW. I was actually a little scared winding our way up to Smugglers Notch – and there wasn’t even snow! But Jenn and Roberto forged ahead in their 4-wheel drive truck with nary a care. It was awesome. Steep, raw, windy, amazing, beautiful. And as hot as it was in Vermont during my stay, it was COOL up there too. Ahhhhh.

We even saw a brave couple climbing straight up the side of the mountain. I don’t know how they could not fall off. There were too far up to actually photograph, but trust me, they were doing it.

Here is one of the many ski lift places.

The resorts were one better than the next.

Ever see The Sound of Music? This is the Trapp Family resort in the background.

Here we see condos, privately owned. They have their own lift that crosses the road and up to the slopes. That is how the other half lives…………..

After all that “mountain climbing” that we did, albeit in a truck, we worked up an appetite and needed a good cold one to go with it. We ate at Mr. Pickwick’s down the hill.

It was a wonderful English Pub with tons of atmosphere and good food. I wish I could say I was more adventurous, but for some reason, you say “pub” and I say “fish and chips”. Yum – my!! Light, crisp batter and tender flaky fish. I only had one pint, but Jenn and Roberto said I was fair to singing. But that is just between us, okay?

I think I could visit Stowe again and again. Lively, pretty, and fun.

It isn’t often than when I go out to eat that I would choose a chain restaurant. Recently, however, when I was traveling in South Florida, my friend and I went to explore a new mall area. I really wasn’t too excited to be going to a shopping mall but agreed to go taking her word that I would really enjoy seeing this one. Turns out this was not actually a shopping mall. It was an outdoor, upscale treat for the eyes with high end designer shops, architecturally beautiful with luxurious plantings lining the streets. We just had a few hours to spend so we enjoyed just strolling a bit, soaking up the sites and then, as it was lunch time, decided to lunch at one of the spots there.

Since my friend Margaret has children and a sister leaving in the area, she had been there on other recent trips and was able to suggest the place – Brio Tuscan Grille. I had heard about this place but from another location in the South Florida area and it had gotten enthusiastic reviews. So I thought, what the heck, it is just lunch. So we went.

Brio’s is not just another chain. I can name several other chain spaghetti houses which range from so-so to consistently pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised by this upscale Italian restaurant. It had a quiet elegance. Much attention was placed on detail, from the comfortable seating, to the lavish appointments of draperies, greenery, lighting, wood working. It was just a lovely and inviting place to come in for a meal.

I had Crispy Eggplant Pomodoro, which was lightly Romano-encrusted, then topped with their house Pomodoro sauce. On the side was a generous portion of herb spaghetti with a light toss of Parmesan and fresh Mozzarella. It was perfect. To wash it down, I ordered a berried lemonade, nicely presented with a sugar coated glass rim.

The hostess and wait staff were friendly. The only complaint I might have was that, being a newly opened restaurant, the service was not really up to the par of the establishment. I would be willing to bet that in time it would improve as they become more experienced. However, I felt, that for a place like this, attention to all the details, including the proper basic training of the wait staff, should have been beefed up prior to opening. Still, I would go back to try it again.

Brios Gulfstream Tuscan Grille
600 Silks Run Suite 1205
Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009

All of a sudden Ocala is teaming with new and different eateries. And I am going to make it my personal responsibility to eat at them all. Ah, such a sacrifice.

This time I am going to sample a gourmet pizza at a cute little spot called Pi on Broadway. I like pizza so this was not too tough on me. There are so many pizza places that serve, well, pretty much the same pizza with different names – big globs of dough with big globs of cheese and sometimes double cheese with the usual add-ons. So I was sort of excited to see what they termed gourmet pizzas.

The restaurant is small and intimate with a bar right inside the entrances double doors right off where else Broadway – Ocala style that is. There are micro brews and global craft beers on tap. And for those whose tastes go beyond beer, there are wines and martinis to be had. Beyond the bar are several bar style tables in the center and a few more regular tables along the window with a sofa seating area at the end. The service was friendly and not too intrusive, which goes a long way with me because I like to chat with my dinner partners- a lot and without interruption.

But I have to say, the big star was the pizzas. There were 14 choices – one better than the next and it was hard to pick just one. The pies were priced at only $12 and would be a generous dish for one and plenty for 2 if you added a salad.

My friend had this Tuscan pizza that featured cannelloni puree, tomato, goat cheese, arugula and a balsamic reduction.

And I had the White Pi. Not as adventurous, but it was just something I had a taste for. The crust was thin and crisp and it was topped with ricotta, roasted garlic, EVOO and parsley. I loved it.

There were also tapas on the menu, which if I go back, I think I would just get a few of those to make up my meal. To my knowledge, there are not many other tapas spots in Ocala. So I thought this was cool.

Another big plus is the roof top terrace. It has a bar too and at night, awash with twinkle lights, torches and live music, it is a popular night spot. To view their special events and menu, check them here.

Pi on Broadway

110 SW Broadway

Ocala, FL

Going for the fancy isn’t always the best way to go. There are a lot of little hidden gems out there where one can get the authentic flavor of a locale without falling into the tourist trap. We like to veer off the path now and then and follow the locals to see where they like to eat.

In a little town called Dunnellon, Florida, right along SR 41, we found a spot called The Front Porch. It was about as down home as you could get but I am telling you, finding a parking spot was hard to come by. Hand painted scenes on the walls and colorful rocking chairs gave it character. Even the walls in the restrooms were painted to resemble on old fashioned out house. Kind of a hoot, really.

As crowded as it was, we only had about a five minute wait to be seated. The folks who worked there were about as laid back as you could get. But friendly and courteous and downright neighborly. It was quite a diverse gang of patrons there too from a guy with a mullet and tats to two little old ladies in their Sunday going to the meeting fancy dresses with matching hats.

They had a nice little selection of menu items that I don’t often see these days- like okra and beets. But we’d had heard about the pies, and that was what we had come for. We decided to have the Cubans, not that original- I know. But then came the pies.

Roberto chose the Key Lime. It has been one of his favorites and as they were soon leaving the South, he had his last piece. He liked it.

Jenn went for the coconut cream. It was just full of fresh grated toasted coconut in the filling and the meringue and she dug right in.

Me, I went for the Lemon Meringue. Not as tart as I would have liked but very lemony and the meringue was a mile high.

It was fun exploring and we were glad we took the time out to have lunch there.

I asked for a quiet table for our evening when I called for reservations. To our surprise and delight, they gave us our own private, little room off the main dining room where we could talk and take pictures without disturbing others. It was great!

The décor is fanciful and rustic with little pigs tucked here and there, twinkle lights out front as you come in, bright red walls, but at the same time elegant in its simplicity with chandeliers, white linens and tea lights on the tables.

Food is traditional French cooked by French chefs. To start we are brought a little bite – some crisp French bread with 3 tiny pots of sour cream laced with herbs and spices. With that we had some sparkling water flavored with raspberry for me and blackberry for Jenn.

Then we shared an amazing appetizer tart made with phylo layered with zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes and pesto.

For our main courses, Jenn selected a plate of mussels with a side of Pommes Lyonnaise, thinly cut homemade fried potato crisps.

Roberto ordered Pork Jarret in Honey, a slow cooked, very tender pork shank, meaty and plentiful. As his side he selected Gratin Dauphinois, closely resembling escaloped potatoes.

For me there was Chicken in Dodine, a roasted chicken cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce just loaded with mushrooms. I also had the Pommes Lyonnaise.

To finish, Jenn ordered Oeufs a la Neige, stiffly whisked egg whites, poached, light, not too sweet, and floating in a pool of liquid, vanilla custard.

Roberto wanted something a little chocolate and he found Chocolate fondant, warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and crème anglaise. He asked if they could go light on the cake and add more ice cream. The cake was pre-portioned but the chef indulged him with an extra scoop of ice cream.

I had a Tarte Tatin, warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream. To wash it down we had espresso with whipped cream.

It was a lovely evening and we left satisfied and very, very, full.

“La Cuisine” French Restaurant
48 West 1st Avenue
Ocala, Fl, 34471

How about a dish of gelato! Most times when I am in St. Augustine, that phrase is on the tip of my tongue and Jenn, Roberto and I make haste over the bridge to Casa del Hildalgo on Hypolita Street.

Gelato is one of those rare treats that keep me always craving more. There are not too many places nearby where I can actually get some, discounting the “gelato” in the freezer compartment at the supermarket. It is okay, but not like the fresh, creamy gelato that I enjoy from this little spot in St. Augustine.

First, it is a treat for the eyes where the experience really begins for me. When you walk into Hildalgo your eyes are met with this phenomenal sight of batch after batch of the most beautifully displayed containers of mounded gelato of all colors topped with generous garnishes of fruits and nuts announcing the flavors beneath – the darkest red cherries, peaches, lemons and on and on. At that point, I would just like to go behind the counter with a spoon and just dig in to sample each and every one.

I have to confess though, that even with all the best intentions to sample a different flavor every visit, I always end up with chocolate as one of the two picks I get every time. However, I do try to pair it with something that I think will complement it like cherry or coconut or even lemon. And I always get it in a dish so that not one drop will get away from me from a dripping cone. And lucky for me that Jenn is always willing to trade tastes which I think is just a dandy tradition!!

Gelato is the smoothest, creamiest, most flavorful frozen treat that I can imagine. It is one of life’s little pleasures and just writing and thinking about it makes my mouth water for the next visit!