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| - Pay no attention to China Millman's recent review in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, JT's (as my family has taken to referring to it) is fabulous. My parents were big fans of JT when he was the chef at Franco's, and he has brought his vast skill (in addition to waiter Eddie) with him to Highland Park. I've had two salads at JT's - the first time I had the daily salad (the one that comes with the meal - and let me tell you, as a Chicagoan, I am definitely NOT used to a salad accompanying the meal!), and it was a pleasant mixture of spring greens. The last time I was there, I had the Victoria (named after one of his daughters), which had dark greens, apple slices, gorgonzola cheese, candied pecans, and a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. While only occasionally a salad person, I left no trace of this one on the plate.
We chose to do the pasta course (again included with the meal) before our entrees. My mom and I had the daily pasta - a gemelli-like pasta in a tomato-cream sauce that I quickly devoured, while my sister enjoyed her trenne arrabiata, and my dad loved his linguini with white clams. I've previously had the trenne in tomato basil sauce, and thought those were fantastic as well.
I have been hard pressed to find a chicken marsala that is better than one I had in Toronto more than ten years ago, but I think I've found it here! Perfectly cooked, tender, and delicious, I had to stop myself before I ate too much! When my boyfriend had dinner there with us, he ate every last morsel of his osso buco and is still, three months later, reliving that dinner.
While I haven't had the crab cakes there, we did bring some uncooked ones home to add to our Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes, and I can honestly say that I have never had a better crab cake (including the ones I got in San Francisco in October).
I've never had dessert at JT's, but I hear great things about the butterscotch pound cake, and may have to try it the next time I'm in town. For those of you in Pittsburgh, go to JT's. You won't be disappointed.
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