Atlanta etc.: Marilyn Wolf's Food Blog and Restaurant Blog

Justin's halibut from his Alaskan fishing trip emerged from the freezer for dinner. I butter-basted it in a combination of butter and olive oil. Served with green beans, home fried potatoes, and cornbread. The fish was delicious and the sides made great complements.

Justin gave me some salmon from his summer Alaskan fishing trip. Beautiful, isn't it? I butter-basted the salmon in butter and olive oil. I paired it with carrot souffle and buttermilk biscuits. Delicious and pretty healthy, too.

A night flight out of ATL, combined with lack of time to catch dinner before getting in the car, gave me the chance to revisit Phillips in D. I always enjoy Phillips whether in Atlanta or Maryland. For a change, I ordered blackened salmon. Everything was nicely done and the fish was very nourishing. The hush puppies were a great treat.

Smack Shack has received excellent attention for its outstanding seafood. The fact that they are located in the northern Great Plains just adds bonus interest points. A new location at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, directly in the center mall area, gives travelers like me the chance to try their food. I went with the classic Connecticut lobster roll. The lobster was outstanding: tender with just a bit of tug, moist, sweet. The bun was akin to a large, very high quality hot dog bun. The roll comes unsauced, allowing me to add my own toppings without worrying about a pre-applied topping drowning out the food. The slaw was also excellent. The meal wasn't cheap but it was well worth the price. And the service was very fast, an excellent option for a transfer.

Cathy and I enjoyed great food and fun atmosphere at The Waterman. The restaurant is located in a renovated former industrial neighborhood. We sat inside but the rooftop outside seating looked to be fun. We started with these great fries drizzled with crayfish gravy. The effect reminded me of poutine but with a much more flavorful gravy. My seafood boil was both delicious and huge. I only increased the size by adding on some oysters. The seasoning gave just the right amount of bite to the seafood. This bowl kept me busy for quite some time.

I visited Piedmont Bistro for a Friday night bistro. The upscale restaurant was hopping was activity. I received very gracious service at the bar for my meal. My salmon was rich and nicely cooked. The vegetables gave a good contrast in both texture and taste.

My trip back to Anchorage required a full day in a van. By the time I arrived, I was ready for a good piece of salmon. Gwennie's is an old-fashioned, somewhat touristy restaurant that provided me with a very satisfying meal and friendly service. The exterior looked to me as if it had formerly been a Chinese restaurant but I have been assured that it has always been Gwennie's. The wall is adorned with some very interesting old photographs. I started with a big iceberg salad. This is my smoked salmon, something that you almost never see as a main course in the lower 48. The salmon was rich. The smoking intensified the flavors and firmed up the texture. I really enjoyed my meal and went back to my hotel satisfied.

After arriving at Anchorage, I spent the night near the airport before heading out to the wilderness. I was interested in a tasty, easy sit-down meal and The Granite Lounge gave me what I needed. The service was very friendly and easy-going. Two bears greeted the entrance. Of course I wanted salmon. The fish was fresh and tasty. The sweet potatoes were a big hit. The vegetables were soft and flavorful.

Mastek is located near the water in a former industrial area. The brick building provides high ceilings and a welcoming environment. The staff was superb. I was able to sit at the bar where the kitchen staff welcomed me. Their food was superb. The bread combined a very soft crumb with a nice, crunchy crust. My server highly recommended the lobster, which was an excellent choice. The meat was perfectly tender. I watched the kitchen staff plate it with peas and greens, then whip a foam to finish it off. The greens and peas sparkled with freshness. My dessert combined several elements that show off the best of Nordic ingredients. The strawberries were bright. The ice was made from a green that really popped both for its flavor and its coldness. The cream gave a smooth complement.

The summer evening was a perfect time to walk to the Wharf for a relaxing dinner. The wharf has been developed with new apartments and restaurants but I headed to the traditional end. The fish markets there are huge with an amazing array of fresh fish. They also cook fish, mostly fried but also raw oysters. I ordered this wonderful fried seafood assortment from Jessie's Cooked Seafood. The stands are arranged to be well below sidewalk level, an interesting configuration that I haven't seen before. After a few minutes, the fish emerged from the fryer: red snapper, crab cake, onion rings, corn pudding. The fish was extremely fresh and wonderful to eat. The corn pudding was sweet, almost dessert-like, and very much a treat. I sat near the stand to eat my fish, then moved near the water to enjoy the view and the people.

I enjoyed another superb dinner at Pesche near Dupont Circle. I started with the beet salad. This wonderful Scottish salmon came on a bed of tiny pieces of potato and cucumber. My chocolate tart was filled with a very rich, soft pudding.

I ended up rushing to the airport. I resigned myself to a dinner of almonds and bananas on the airplane. But as I came up the escalator at Terminal D, I found myself at Phillips Seafood with just enough time to eat. My salmon was a welcome respite. The hush puppies gave me that carbohydrate kiss. I was able to fly peacefully and get up the next morning, ready for work.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at George's in downtown La Jolla. The location was outstanding, service excellent, and food delicious. The beautiful sunset made our dinner even more enjoyable. We started with crispy calamari. The coating was wonderful and the calimari was very tender. For my main course, I ordered spaghetti with clams, something that I don't have the chance to eat very often. The clams were fresh, the tomato sauce hit the right balance of sweet and tart, and the pasta was al dente. To finish the evening, we shared this slightly modernized take on tiramisu.

I enjoyed an excellent seafood dinner at Pesche, located in a brownstone just off Dupont Circle. The meal started with very good bread. This beet salad was a delight: bright tastes, smoothly crunchy beets, nice smoothness from the cheese. My salmon was outstanding. The top had a crust that gave an excellent textural contrast to the rest of the fish. The taste was superb, indicating the freshness of the fish.

I enjoyed an excellent seafood dinner at A. R. Valentien. My meal started with this amuse bouche of butternut squash. My soup was rich and nicely balanced between savoriness with a touch of sweetness. The aged balsamic vinegar highlighted the flavors. My main course was sturgeon. As my server pointed out, this is a fish that one doesn't see every day. The fish itself was flavorful without being overwhelming. The preparation was superb.

Water Grill has been a presence in downtown Los Angeles for twenty years. I enjoyed a superb dinner there. The space is one of those rooms that is halfway above the sidewalk, providing a comforting sense of coziness. The staff was extremely gracious. This superb bread got me started. My sea bass was perfectly cooked. The flesh was tender and very moist with a perfect texture. I carefully ate my fish to be sure I savored every bite.

My CU Denver friends took me to the local Ocean Prime, located in Larimer Square, for an evening of discussion and seafood. The meal started with this bread basket. I took an opportunity to order this French onion soup as my appetizer. For my main course, I ordered the salmon minus the standard teriyaki sauce. We also shared a bowl of garlic mashed potatoes. For dessert, I went with this chocolate cake.

Ivar's is an institution on the Seattle waterfront. It started with a small stand but I decided to eat a sit-down meal indoors. The atmosphere was nicely cozy and the service very attentive. My dish paired coho salmon with sausage and roasted potatoes. This combination hit the spot, with the sausage and potatoes making the meal hearty. The salmon was flaky and flavorful.

Once I hit the ground, I headed to the Seattle waterfront for seafood. I quickly settled on Elliott's, a long-standing favorite with a beautiful view of ferries sailing through the mists. Elliott's creates an elegant atmosphere with wonderful service. This tea service is an example of the care bestowed by Elliott's on its food and its customers. My server pointed me to this spicy chowder, which was truly excellent. The elements were perfectly in balance: cream, seafood, corn, spices. Here is my king salmon, the best piece of salmon I have had in a very long time. King salmon has the highest oil content of any salmon, making for both healthy and delicious eating. The taste and texture of this fish were perfect and it was flawlessly prepared. The assortment of accompaniments around the fish added to the pleasure. I missed a photo of my superb flourless chocolate and pistachio cake. The pistachio ice cream served alongside was the perfect pairing---the crea...