Foodies...restaurants...Yumminess, It's Pittsburgh Restaurant week folks!

I don't have too many travel horror stories, so while waiting for the next "exciting" trip to happen, we will talk about other things.  Today's topic you ask....Foodies!

I have 2 friends that I make a point of having a meal with once a month.  Sometimes we see each other more, sometimes there are additional friends joining us and sometimes I have additional meals with other friends.  But I love, Love, LOVE trying new restaurants.  There are so many amazing, great restaurants in the Pittsburgh area.  I will try anything, at least once. 

I had one of my nephews in town for a weekend and all he wanted to try was bone marrow.  So - being the fun aunt that I am - I made reservations at Meat and Potatoes  We just ordered appetizers - chicken livers, brussel sprouts, bone marrow and mussels.  Keep in mind that my nephew is 8 years old!  He devoured every morsel of food.  I was a proud aunt that day.  And just as a review on Meat and Potatoes - it is a relatively upscale, fancier restaurant.  The nephew and I had early reservations as I knew it was not the most kid friendly restaurant.  Our waitress and the hostess were - AMAZING.  They could not have been better!  I'm sure some waiters look at a kid at one of their tables and think - ARGH, really?  If our waitress had that feeling, we never saw it.  She was the best - I really appreciated that.  My nephew said "Aunt Jess, this is the fanciest, but best restaurant I have ever been to."  That, right there, tells you how great it was!  Oh - and he loved the bone marrow, but the brussel sprouts were his favorite.

Seriously - look at that excited face!

Next week (Jan 13-19) is Pittsburgh Winter Restaurant week.  Per Bon Appetit Magazine - Pittsburgh is an up and coming "foodie" city!  Andrew Zimmern has also said Pittsburgh is the next big thing.  And I agree. 

This girl agrees, it is the next big foodie city!  Pittsburgh does restaurant week twice a year - the winter (typically January) and the summer (typically August).  Each restaurant participating creates, essentially, a tasting menu for $35 or under of their specialty items.  There are tons of great restaurants on the list!

Next week for restaurant week, so far, I have 2 reservations at restaurants I have not been to yet.  Friday night with Libby (My Iceland travel buddy) is at Notion and Wednesday night is at Butcher and the Rye with 2 friends I knew growing up.   I.can.not.wait.  I hope to add at least one more restaurant into the mix if I can get another group of friends to participate.  

Keep an open mind when it comes to food folks....you never know what your new/next favorite food will be!  That being said - get out and try it - it's all good!