MOUNT VERNON INN

MOUNT VERNON INN

MT. VERNON VIRGINIA

We took a 90 minute boat trip down the Potomac River to the home of our first President, George Washington. The story of Mount Vernon and the man that made it his home is one that every American should know. George Washington was a great man. A true hero that fought for our country (and almost died). He was a General in the Army, Our first President and one of the most beloved Americans in history. His life at Mount Vernon is well documented. There is a museum on the property and tours of his home. 40% of the furnishings in the home are actual pieces from George's life. It is awesome to say the least. On the property in a simple tomb are the bodies of George and Martha Washington. Resting where they were most happy. Mount Vernon. After a few hours of walking the grounds we decided to have lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn. This beautiful restaurant takes you back in time with it's furnishings and the period costumes the waitresses wear. We ordered up the Fried Green Tomatoes ($3.95) and a Caesar Salad ($2.95) as appetizers. The Tomatoes were lightly battered and served with a nice marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese. Delicious. The Caesar Salad was basic and was served with way too much dressing. I opted for the Duck and Sausage Cassoulet ($8.25). This dish was fantastic. Large pieces of pulled duck meat, sausage, white beans and vegetables baked under a light crust. Yummy. We also tried the Mount Vernon Meatloaf ($8.25). Topped with mushroom gravy and served with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes. The piece of meatloaf was huge. There was enough for two people for 8 bucks. It was really good too. Not too dry and very flavorful. The entire meal was good and probably the lowest price we paid for lunch during our visit to Washington. I would definitely recommend Mt Vernon and the Inn to all travelers visiting our Capitol.

MOUNT VERNON INN

THE MOUNT VERNON INN

OUR FIRST TRIP TO THE HOME OF GEORGE WASHINGTON

DUCK AND SAUSAGE CASSOULET

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

LOVED THE OLD WORLD THEME AND FEELING HERE

LEGAL SEAFOODS

LEGAL SEAFOODS

WASHINGTON, DC

Many years ago I spent a week in Boston. Everyday during that one week I ate at Legal Seafoods. It was just that good. I went back each day for a bowl of chowder or some fresh fish. When we saw that Legal Seafood was in Washington, DC, I made it a point to visit this place first. I knew that we would return more than once and we did. Twice in one week. Legal Seafood does it right. Fresh ingredients, great service and reasonable prices. The Oysters here are incredible. Fresh as they come served on a platter of ice. We tried the fresh clams too. These were huge clams that were meaty and delicious. The clams were around 12 bucks for a half dozen. The oysters were $12.95 per half dozen. Our waitress was not happy that the oysters did not come out of the kitchen fast enough so she gave us an additional 6 pieces for free. Turns out we have an Oyster monster living with us. Our daughter can devour a dozen on her own. I have not meant too many eight year olds that love fresh oysters, clams and crawfish. She opted for the kids menu whole main lobster ($16). Yes the kids menu here has lobster on it. The kids meal is a one pound lobster served with corn on the cob and fresh grapes. On another visit our daughter ordered Ravioli filled with cheese ($5.95). These Ravioli were molded into the shape of a fish tossed with cheese with marinara sauce on the side. It was a hit and finished. On our two visits we enjoyed the Seafood Antipasto Salad ($16.95). This is enough for two people and our waitress happily split up the order for our table. The salad includes grilled shrimp, calamari, marinated clams, mussels and huge pieces of provolone cheese and tomatoes. We requested that no mussels be included and they added more clams without a question. Both visits also included Legal's New England Clam Chowder ($6.50). This is some of the best chowder you will ever have. Thick and rich, filled with nice pieces of clams and potatoes. On one visit I just had to try the lobster roll ($22.95). The lobster roll price is not on the menu. I should have asked before ordering. Was a bit surprised when we got the bill. At $22.95 it better be good. And it was......Huge chunks of lobster with a hint of celery and mustard, mayo served on the perfect piece of brioche bun. The bun does not overwhelm the lobster and does not fill you up. All you taste is lobster. Clean, fresh lobster that is heaven. There are many items on the menu here that I would love to try. There is a page of fresh fish options and tons of fried favorites such as clams, calamari and fish and chips. Legal Sea Foods is a gem that should be enjoyed as often as possible. I guarantee if we had more days in DC we would have been back again.

LEGAL SEAFOODS OYSTERS

GREAT LOBSTER ROLL

GREAT SEAFOOD SALAD

OLD EBBITT GRILL - WASHINGTON, DC

OLD EBBITT GRILL

WASHINGTON DC

Old Ebbitt Grill is just steps from the White House in downtown Washington. Established in 1856, it was a favorite of Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Harding and Theodore Roosevelt and is still popular with political insiders and celebrities. We wondered in for lunch and were seated immediately in a nice booth. I looked around at the crowd but did not recognize anyone in the restaurant. Most tables were filled with men in suits talking business. The lunch menu features items such as Pan Seared Alaska Halibut, Jumbo Crab Cakes, New York Steak, Meatloaf, Pasta, Ribs and even some Grilled Calf's Liver. We began lunch with a small house salad ($3.25) and a Caesar Salad (6.50). Both average in taste. The Caesar had perfectly browned bread crumbs that were fantastic.  We tried the Spring Vegetable Pasta ($12.95). Fettuccine pasta with asparagus, arugula, red onions, garlic oil and pecorino Romano cheese. This was a large portion and pretty good in flavor. Our daughter tried the Macaroni and Cheese from the kids menu ($6). We about died when this load of pasta and cheese hit the table. It was a huge portion even for an adult. Loaded with a ton of cheese. Probably too much cheese for our liking. I tried the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes ($15.90). This is the price for one crab cake. If you order two the price is $23.95. The Crab Cake was thick and filled with almost all crab meet. A touch of Old Bay seasoning was noticeable. This dish is served with asparagus and Tom's potatoes with a mustard aioli. The asparagus was grilled to perfection and the two potato wedges were delicious. This was a very nice lunch that I topped off with the Ebbitt Grill Signature Bloody Mary. Served with a spear of celery and a huge piece of shrimp. The glass was rolled in Old Bay Seasoning. ($12).

OLD EBBITT GRILL

OLD EBBITT GRILL - WASHINGTON, DC

LOVED THE MAC N' CHEESE

SPRING VEGETABLE PASTA

OLD EBBITT GRILL LUMP CRAB CAKE

SUPERDAWG DRIVE-IN

SUPERDAWG DRIVE-IN

CHICAGO, IL

After a big dinner and a few too many cocktails we decided to make our way to the world famous Superdawg Drive-In. This place has been featured on The Travel Channel and Food Network. We have always wanted to visit, but never had time or transportation to get us to the place which is about 10 minutes from O'Hare Airport. Our friends in Chicago had a car with GPS so they punched in Superdawg and away we went. It took about a half hour to get there from downtown Chicago. When we drove into the parking lot it seemed spiritual. The hot dog shrine that we just had to visit. We were there.... Superdawg. We drove into one of the stalls and were quickly startled when the speaker inside the menu came to life. They asked for our order right there in the car. We ordered the famous Superdawgs and minutes later a lady appeared at our car with boxes of delight. Each Superdawg is served in it's own box complete with french fries. The dogs are smothered in green relish, onions, mustard and topped with a huge slice of pickle, hot peppers and tomato. I ordered two of these thinking that they would be easy to down. I could barely finish one Superdawg. They are big and quite filling. The flavor is good and the hot peppers are "hot". I mean burning hot. This was truly a treat and a destination to visit when in Chicago.

SUPERDAWG SERVED WITH PICKLES, PEPPERS AND FRENCH FRIES

SUPERDAWG BOX IS OLD SCOOL

LATE NIGHT RUN TO SUPERDAWG IN CHICAGO

WRIGLEY FIELD CHICAGO

WRIGLEY FIELD

CHICAGO, IL

Steeped in history and memories of series lost a visit to Chicago must include a Cubbies game. The stadium is one of the oldest in baseball. It is small by todays standards and filled with history. The hot dogs are good, but I will take a Dodger Dog any day versus a Cub Dog. We tried the foot long Chicago Style. Good but not a lot of flavor. Beer flows freely in the stands here. There is a beer guy in your isle every two minutes. They will never let you go dry. Too bad I could not drink this day. I tried one cold brew and that was enough.

DICK'S LAST RESORT

DICK'S LAST RESORT

CHICAGO, IL

We were looking for a fun and kid friendly place to take our daughter and four friends. While reading a local magazine I saw an add for Dick's Last Resort. I had visit Dick's Last Resort in San Diego many years ago and had a terrific time. When you enter the place it loud and filled with teenagers and 50 year olds all having a good time. The waiters take pride in treating you like crap which is part of the fun. They give you hats with hand written notes and jokes on them which people young and old proudly wear through the duration of the evening. Ours read "Sometimes when I laugh too hard I fart a little". While dining you are hit with napkins thrown from other diners. This gets kind of fun especially when you have a group of ugly ladies that don't want to participate in the festivities. Our table of high school kids next to us bombarded the dogs with everything they had. I joined in and proudly told them to do an all out assault on the ugly girls.While the entire restaurant was having fun, the dogs sat grumping at their table. This was fun.  Now for the food. Dick's is not known for the greatest food, but it really is not that bad. We tried a bit of everything at our table. BBQ Pork Ribs ($18.99), King Crab Legs ($25.99), Rib Eye ($18.99), Bourbon Glazed Salmon ($15.99), Dick's Seafood Platta ($17.99) filled with shrimp, cod fillet and scallops. All fried and served with fries. Throw in some peel and eat shrimp and chicken wings and you have a buffet of food in a crazy atmosphere with live music and kids and grandpas all having a good time. Dick's is located on the water with indoor and outdoor tables overlooking the canal.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & TOWER

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL AND TOWER

CHICAGO, IL

From the moment you drive up to the new Trump International you are transformed into a world of Five Star surroundings and service. When you enter the building there are two entrances. One is for the hotel and the other is for those fortunate few that actually own a unit in this beautiful building that is almost 100 stories high. It is the tallest building in Chicago just ten stories less than the Sears Tower. We arrived early one morning to enjoy breakfast at the Hotels signature restaurant called "16". 16 simply represents the floor that the restaurant is located on. We took the elevator to the 16th floor and when the doors opened we were met by a smiling receptionist and the ever sophisticated Manager Mr. Vito Paran. Vito is a twenty year veteran of the food industry and has served as Maitre D on cruise ships around the world. His passion for service is a rare find. He truly understands what "service" means and does everything possible to make your visit to his restaurant a memorable one. Vito sat us at a window seat overlooking the city. The restaurant features a huge outdoor terrace that will be the "place to be" when the weather allows them to set up tables for service here. The dinning room is split into three sections. A main section and then two smaller rooms that can be used for groups or meetings. All flow nicely and infused with natural light and views that are dramatic. The main dining room has a huge chandelier that falls from what looks like a forty foot ceiling. The morning specialties include your basic omelet, quesadilla, eggs benedict, frittata and eggs with corned beef. One item jumped out at me like a light. It was the Lobster Tostada with Poached Eggs and Bearnaise Sauce ($32). I had to try this. The dish was absolutely fantastic. Huge chunks of fresh lobster topped with a poached egg and covered in Bearnaise. Served on top of a lightly fried tostada shell. This was truly indulgent but one of the best breakfast dishes I have ever enjoyed. We also tried the Vegetable Frittata with crispy zucchini and spicy tomato sauce ($18). My wife said it was really delicious and I agree. My daughter had the French Toast with Berries. This dish not only looked great but tasted equally good. The chef here is good and I would love to try his lunch and dinner menus on another visit. Now back to Vito. Vito took us for a tour of the hotel which included the spa, pool area and rooms. Wow.....this place is first class all the way. And so is Vito. During our tour Vito would always stop and pick up any little item he saw that was on the floor or out of place. He sees everything and is always doing his part to make this a five star property. Our thanks to Vito for his kind and humble personal service.

BICE RISTORANTE - CHICAGO

BICE RISTORANTE

CHICAGO, IL

Italian food and the Windy City go hand in hand. We always try to find time to visit an Italian restaurant or pizzeria when in Chicago. This time we ventured to Bice Ristorante. This is a nice small place just outside the busy Miracle Mile district. We started with Prosciutto E Melone ($15.00) which is traditional Parma Prosciutto & Melon. Must have been good because it was all gone before I could get a bite. Come to think of it, this seems expensive for cantaloupe. Think this was the work of my daughter who loves this stuff. We followed with Selezione Di Affetati Misti, Giardiniera Di Verdure, Moliterno or in english, assorted Italian Cold Cuts, Picked Vegetables and Truffle Cheese ($14.00). Good appetizer.

The Ossubuco ($30) was braised veal shank with saffron risotto was good but the risotto was a a bit gooey. I opted for the Linguine Alle Vongole E Prezzelmolo ($20). Linguine Pasta with Clams in a garlic and white wine sauce. This dish was pretty bland and my daughter devoured all my clams and left me with a plate of dull linguine. Our guest tried the Spaghetti Alla Chitarra Allo Scoglio ($22). Spaghetti with shrimp, calamari, scallops, clams and mussels in a light tomato sauce. This dish was a hit. We all shared the Cioccolatissimo ($9) and Tiramisu Della Bice ($8) for desert. The chocolate molten cake with hazelnut ice cream was delicious. The Tiramisu was good and basic.

ZED 451 - CHICAGO, IL

ZED 451

CHICAGO, IL

When friends recommended a place called ZED 451 I did not know what to expect. We had no clue what type of food or place this was. When they told us that a van would pick us up a our hotel and take us to and from the restaurant for free I was even more interested in finding out what this place was all about. The van arrived on time and we had a driver that was happy to be a tour guide on the way to the restaurant. This was really nice touch. We entered ZED 451 and were quickly greeted with warm smiles and a great welcome. The hostess brought us to the bar area to wait for our guests. A warm fire pit on one side and a beautiful glass enclosed wine cellar set the tone for what turned out to be one of the best meals of my life. The bar area was filled with thirty something men and woman sipping on Martini's and wine. Turns out there is a beautiful rooftop bar here that has dramatic views of the city and is quite the place when the weather is warm. Our guests arrived and we were seated at a large table in a beautiful circular room with two large half round buffet tables in the middle. I still had no clue on what was to be served here. Just saw the tables in the middle filled with salads. O.K. this must be a buffet. Great I am starving. We were lead to the "Harvest Tables" which were filled with salads, cheeses, bread and vegetables. Here are just a few; Turkey Cobb Salad with Mustard Dressing, Red Bliss Potato Salad with Sherry and Whole Grain Vinaigrette, Roasted Beets, Broccoli and Toasted Sesame with Miso, Sauteed Wild Mushrooms, Sweet Corn Salad, Chilled Raviolis with Pesto, Sliced Tomato, Mozzarella and Red Onion, Heirloom Tomato and Asparagus, Spicy Long Bean Salad, Ginger and Cucumber Salad and more and more and more.

The salads were all top quality and I enjoyed them all. After all this I still had no clue on what the main course would be as I do not recall ever looking at a menu. Then they came. The chefs in white coats and hats. Each one carrying a different meat dish on a skewer. One after another they circled our table. Non-stop for what seemed to be hours. As the wine flowed so did the food. I was totally blown away by the flavors of each meat course. They were all unique and bold. The service was impeccable and the company around us was to be enjoyed for a lifetime.

Are you ready for the main course items. Well here you go. All served table side and hand carved by the chefs; Rubbed Tuna Filet with Miso Soy Vinaigrette, Slow Roasted Beef Ribs with Creamy Horseradish, Grilled Bison Loin with Red Wine Chili Glaze, Buttermilk and Herb Marinated Bottom Sirloin (unreal good), Moroccan Marinated Chicken Breast, Oven Roasted Duck with Pistachio Orange Glaze, Whole Roasted Leg of Lamb, Crispy Tempura Mahi Mahi,

Jerk Marinated Pork, St. Louis Style BBQ Ribs, Chili- Rubbed Ribeye, Seasoned Rump Roast,

Citrus Atlantic Salmon, Linguica Pork Sausage with Homemade Honey Mustard (Awesome), Roasted Garlic Steak, Seared Venison and Tropical Seared Wahoo. ALL THIS FOR $49.

I LOVED ZEN 451. THE ATMOSPHERE, SERVICE AND FOOD ARE EXCELLENT. PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICEST AND TASTIEST DINNERS OF MY LIFE.

THE BERGHOFF - CHICAGO, IL

THE BERGHOFF

CHICAGO, IL

The last time we visited The Berghoff was years ago at lunch time during a large convention. The placed was so packed you were lucky to get a table. The waiters didn't really much care about service then. This time we arrived after the lunch crowd and found the place empty. I mean empty. There were only two other tables occupied. The Berghoff is somewhat of an institution in Chicago known for their Bratwurst, Hot Corned Beef, Wiener Schnitzel, Sauerbraten and Whitefish. They also have their own beer which is really good and served ice cold. We started with the Iceberg Lettuce Wedge Salad ($5.95). Crisp Iceberg lettuce topped with Maytag bleu cheese dressing, crispy pancetta, tear dropped tomatoes and a huge crispy parmesan wafer. The salad was delicious. One item on the menu caught my eye. It was the Alsatian Onion and Apple Soup ($4.95). Had to try it. This is a sweet onion and tart apple soup in rich broth topped with melted Muenster Cheese. The soup was very good but I did not like the sweetness of the apples after I ate about half. To finish our meal we tried the Hot Corned Beef Sandwich ($9.95). Hand carved, hot corned beef piled on homemade rye bread. This was a good sandwich but it was very dry corned beef. It was served with some of the best home made potato chips I had ever had. Crispy and delicious.  All meals come with a huge cone stuffed with bread. The lunch was good and not too expensive.

THE BERGHOFF CORNED BEEF SANDWICH

THE BERGHOFF IN CHICAGO

ONION SOUP WITH APPLES

WEDGE SALAD

GARDEN RESTAURANT - ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

GARDEN RESTAURANT

Hidden away in the Art Institute of Chicago is a small restaurant and bar called the Garden Restaurant. This bright space looks like it opens up into the garden during warmer weather. I stopped in for a quick lunch and discovered the food was pretty good. After a nice glass of champagne I enjoyed a steak salad with asparagus. Sliced steak over a bed of greens with vegetables. It was very good but somehow I lost the photo. The best thing about this place is that is just seconds away from some of the greatest paintings on earth. My favorites are the French Impressionism paintings. Dozens of paintings from Boudin, Cezanne, Caillebotte, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Manet, Pissarro, Renoir, Seurat, Lautrec and my favorite Claude Monet. They have dozen of Monet's. This is one of my favorite places on earth. I could spend days here. You must visit the Art Institute whenever you visit Chicago. It is an absolute MUST DO.

KIM AND CARLO'S CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOGS

KIM AND CARLO'S CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOGS

CHICAGO, IL

What is the first thing you do when you arrive in Chicago. Go for the Chicago Dog of course. That is exactly what we did. Walking from our hotel to the Natural History Museum we found a small hot dog cart and ordered up a Chicago Dog. That is a hot dog with all the fixins. Mustard, Green Relish, Hot Peppers and a large pickle. This was a good dog but not the best ever.

KIM AND CARLO'S CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOG

KIM AND CARLO'S IS LOCATED IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT OF CHICAGO

NOW THIS IS A HOT DOG STAND