Bear Cuisine

Grand Central Oyster Bar

Grand Central Oyster Bar Restaurant

I can't remember when I first heard of the oyster bar in Grand Central Station. It must have been many years ago because it has been part of my mythic restaurant landscape in New York city for a very long time. On this trip, I realized my desire to eat here. Both Kay and Sue, my traveling adventurers on this day, love sea food as much as I do. So, it didn't take much persuading for us to have lunch and we were all extremely pleased.

It's a cavernous place with tables as far as the eye can see.

I began by toasting the splendid occasion.

Oysters on the half-shell to start with

If I work quickly, maybe no one will notice that I'm eating the lion's share of these things

Such happy diners!

Sue reluctantly agrees to be photographed.

Pan fried Maryland Soft Shell Crabs with Garlic Herb Butter

Here's to the ladies at lunch!

 

Morimoto's in 2011

No trip to Philadelphia is complete without visiting Morimot's. I just love this restaurant and a decade after it first opened, it remains one of the best in the city and, for my money, one of the best in the country. Always creative and always delicious, you can't go wrong with anything that you might like to try.

We took ourselves to center city on a rainy day and spent a beautiful afternoon enjoying the chef's tasting menu.

Tuna Tartare with caviar, crispy shallots and garlic in a soy, dashi, mirin sauce. Paired with proseco.

Whitefish carparcio in a yuzu and ginger infused hot oil. Paired with a Palo Alto Sauvignon Blanc.

Sashimi Salad of yellow tail and salmon with a yuzu citrus vinaigrette. paired with a 2010 Bellevue Rose.

 

Plum Glazed Scallops over sushi rice in a green tea and dashi broth. Paired with an Urban Riesling.

Black Cod marinated in Miso and pan roasted. Paired with  Black Soba Ale.

Sushi and Sake tasting
A torte that looked like one of our New Mexican sunsets.

There may be better ways to spend time, but right now I can't think of any.

Kountry Kitchen

We left Carlisle, PA early in the morning on our way to Philadelphia. We hadn't been too long on the

We left Carlisle, PA early in the morning on our way to Philadelphia. We hadn't been on the turnpike for very long when we realized that we were really hungry. We took the Hershey exit and headed toward Lancaster. I was confident that we would find a place to eat that would be worth our time and our roadtrip dollars. We found exactly what we were looking for in Manheim. The parking lot was jammed with locals who also wanted breakfast. That's always a good sign in deciding where to stop. 

 

Since we were willing to eat at the counter, we were seated quickly and didn't have to join the end of the long line that was snaking out the door. On roadtrips we often treat ourselves to favcorites that we ordinarily don't eat at home. Usually because they are way too caloric or artery clogging. So, Kay ordered Biscuits with Sausage Gravy and I had Creamed Chipped Beef on a waffle. Both of them were outstanding. The gravy was light and tasted of its principal ingredient, not flour. If you find yourself on the Pennslvania Turnpike near Hershey, the Kountry Kitchen is worth the slight detour.

Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

Creamed Chipped Beef on a Waffle

Kountry Kitchen

944 Lebanon Rd.

Manheim, PA

 

Original Hot Dog Shop

Our second roadfood stop on this trip was the original Hot Dog Shop in Pittsburgh. This was another of the Stern's recommendations and given our fondness for hot dogs, we didn't want to miss the chance to have a truly good one.

 

We chose kosher dogs with practically some of everything on them and they were quite tasty. 
Because we didn't know the drill--that fries had to be ordered at another counter--we missed out on what looked to be wonderful french fries.

What the Sterns neglected to tell us is that this shop is smack dab in the middle of the University of Pittsburgh. It is a bustling place with a sometimes noisy clientele. Definitely not for the faint of heart. 

Original Hot Dog Shop

3901 Forbes Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA

412-621-7388