655626 Mon Sep 28 17:40:25 -0700 2009 0 24 Canada 0 5065333 Not much info on places to dine on the west side of Newfoundland. Visitors will find that most things cost more than on the mainland. For example main courses around $30 are not unusual for ‘finer dining’ (which would probably be considered a bistro elsewhere). In Corner Brook, our research suggested 13 West as the destination – but it had gone; replaced by the Bay Of Islands Bistro. I can’t speak about the food, as the $30 mains were unexciting, so we looked elsewhere. Anne Hardy gives a nod (but no stars) to the Thistledown Florist Café (yes, inside a florist in the Milbrook Mall), so we looked in – and found another restaurant in the back, called Gitanos’. You can enter either through the flower shop, or by another entrance outside the Mall. This advertised a “Tapas” menu, or realistically, appetizer sized servings of multiple dishes. The menu is eclectic. Some Asian dishes; some Greek; lots of seafood; and even some Spanish influenced dishes. Normally I’d be wary of this wide selection in a small place – but the food turned out to be very good, with several hits and no real misses. A very pleasant meal for a fair price. Gros Morne Park was expected to be a challenge for food – essentially a tourist trap. However, there was one great surprise. Neddies Harbour Inn (in Norris Point) is fairly new but definitely deserves a star (or two) for food. My starter was a seafood chowder – and was probably the best I’ve ever had! The ingredients were all fresh and perfectly cooked – it was obvious the dish had been assembled just before serving (e.g. crunchy vegetables; no overcooked fish) and was a delight of textures and flavours and was smoky and piping hot. I commented on this being my best ever to the server, who responded simply with “I could have told you that”. Other dishes didn’t fall into a ‘best ever’ category, but my beef tenderloin with bread pudding and roasted parsnips was perfectly cooked and presented. And different veggies were served with each main (the other being the daily special of salmon) – something I was pleasantly impressed with (even more so when I found out that they only get a grocery delivery once weekly, although local fish is acquired daily from the fisherman). Desserts were acceptable and wine prices were fair (most under $50). We had planned the second night at Java Jack’s (in Rocky Harbour), but the Neddies meal was so good we returned for a second meal the following night, and took in Java Jack’s for lunch. This was competent, but a bit pricy for what we got. And the server bore an astonishing resemblance to the one at Neddies. Yes, indeed – she did double duty. And even triple – we stayed at Neddies and she also served breakfast.[Aside: I began thinking we’d stepped into a Newfie version of Local Hero]. Indeed we had another superb meal at Neddies the next night – I had to repeat the Seafood Chowder (that night was only the second-best I’ve ever had). But the table next to us asked to speak to the chef – they’d tried the chowder and told the chef it was the best they’d ever had!!! And the chef, Amy Scott, is only 24 (although the menu was apparently designed by Jason Lynch, who is the executive chef and works at the Grand Pré winery restaurant in Nova Scotia). And upon returning to Toronto and Googling the destination it transpired that the National Post had also written up the Chowder at Neddies! Oh, the rest of the meal was totally up to standard too. Mon Sep 28 17:40:25 -0700 2009 11134 estufarian