FOOTBALL

well i've been getting my NFL fix the last two weeks. nov.8 i drove to Columbus en route to Pittsburgh. We had drinks and dinner at a really great bar called Frog Bear and Wild Boar. the band was great and there were a lot of nice looking ladies to talk ONLY to. The next day on to Pittsburgh for a stay at the Renaissance. BEAUTIFUL hotel.. the best in Pitt, four diamonds awarded. There are two restaurants, The Bridge Bar and Opus. We had lunch at the bar and I had an awesome crab cake, and a paninni that was cold and was not like the menu said it was. My Yeungling washed it all down. The service was very bad. We went to the game- great stadium, great fans, great music, and above all a great game. Dinner was at the same place as lunch, just sitting in the lobby though. We had a meat pizza, it was good, but the kitchen should let the patron add the red crushed pepper. Service at dinner bordered on bizarre. It has been a long time since i wanted to fight a bartender, but this guy was in the wrong place in the service industry. I almost called the hotel manager to tell them to call Sullivan Institute and fire the fat bartender. Breakfast in Opus "Iron City Style" was bad. the bacon was great and the pancakes were superb because of the syrup, but the potatoes, the Virginia ham, the sausage were bad, and the eggs were inedible. We drove home all day Monday reflecting on the game and life.

Nov. 15 consisted of taking the family to Indianapolis. We stayed at a friend of ours' house off of Whiteland Rd. He is in the car business and is feeling the crush, although he is faring much better than most in that business. He had dinner lined up at Harry and Izzy's, which is the sister restaurant to St. Elmo's Steakhouse. In fact they have the same shrimp cocktail that made them famous- woooooo is it ever hot. The names reflect the original owners of St. Elmos, which has aged 100+ years. The restaurant had a big city feel- very high ceilings with tables spoked around a central circular bar. the bar was rocking. We had 7:45 reservations. we were seated around 8:05. we did not mind waiting, but they sat us in the bat corner. An upstairs room off to itself, about 17 tables. it was full and I'm sure they sat us there because of the youngest diner in the restaurant. I guess I'll forgive them because most 3 year olds don't eat out 4x a week and go to 4 continents at two years old. So we crammed in a booth for 4- and I do mean crammed. The house wines were good, the shrimp was , well, hot- and my filet med rare was excellent for $36. bernaise was unavailable and dessert was passed on. The new Lucas Oil stadium is huge. It is nice, but the fans are better in Pitt. It was a great game, though, and my buddy had tix in a suite and on the goal line. We were living like kings. Another great game.

I'm heading to the west coast early tomorrow morning and I am dining at two 5 star restaurants while there- The French Laundry and The Dining Room. I saw some shots of food this morning that could easily be 5 star form a great restaurant in nyc that just got 4 stars from NY magazine. Congrats Cathy- Really talented chef in photos. AE