Sabor PGH...

Small Business Saturday: Cop Out Pierogies

2014-01-23T18:51:00.000-05:00

Pierogies are a pain.

Being both Slovak and Polish, I remember for years, a few weeks before Christmas, my mom, grandma, and aunt slaving at the dining room table, covered in flour and cursing at dough. They roped me in after awhile...and I hated it.

Then came the dough-rolling machine - well, not automatic, but hand-cranked. That made the rolling process much easier - and to this day, I am AWFUL with a rolling pin.

The filling of the pierogies was my weak point. I could never figure out how much filling to put in so that it would still close, yet not be a lame-o pierogie.

Once I learned to drive, I tried not to be home on pierogie-making day.

But who doesn't love a good pierogie in Pittsburgh? My brother and I ventured to the 1st Annual Pittsburgh Pierogie Festival in the South Side Works back in October - and it was awful. The venue was not big enough for the event, and lines were stretching up steep hillsides. I'm sure next year they will plan accordingly, but we tried pierogies from 2 different places and had to get out of there before we either fell on our faces or had anxiety attacks.

Unfortunately, one of the places that we could not get near was Cop Out Pierogies, which was featured in an article previewing the event. My brother wanted to try their Buffalo Chicken Pierogies, as he is a major Buffalo Chicken fan.

So a few weeks later, coincidentally on Small Business Saturday, my brother and I had nothing to do, so we went to the zoo (we both have memberships). Then we figured that Etna wasn't too far from the zoo, so it was the perfect excuse to check out Cop Out Pierogies, since they're only open on Fridays and Saturdays.

Cop Out Pierogies

The place is basically a counter, with visible freezers and an open view into the kitchen. We were greeted warmly, and we told them that we had heard about their pierogies and came to check out the place. Carl, the owner, immediately went to the back to get some samples. When he returned, we tried the Pilgrim, a turkey dinner encased in a pierogie. Holy crap was it good! Turkey, stuffing, corn - we were already sold! We also tried a Breakfast Pierogie with egg and bacon. Wow. These were fantastic!

Pilgrim and Breakfast Pierogie samples

We each bought some frozen pierogies - knowing that I would be sharing mine with a vegetarian, I bought the Spinach & Feta, Jalapeno Cheddar, and Cottage Cheese & Chive. My brother went for his beloved Buffalo Chicken, Mac 'N Cheese, and Sweet Potato.

I made some at home, according the the instructions provided by Cop Out, and had awesome results! My brother liked his as well, so we convinced our family to let us get the pierogies from Cop Out for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

I mean, it would save time, right?

I called in the middle of the week to place a VERY large order to pick up that Saturday (other people knew we were going and asked us to get them some, too), and we drove out to Etna again the Saturday before Christmas to pick them up.

I had ordered Jalapeno Cheddar, Mac 'N Cheese, and Pilgrim for myself - I really wanted to order some dessert pierogies, too, but...I held back. I was eating enough goodies at that time of year, but I plan on getting some in the future, for sure!

On Christmas Eve, my family enjoyed the traditional pierogies - sauerkraut, potato cheddar, and lekvar (my grandma's favorite). I tried a lekvar myself, and actually liked it, too!

Pilgrim Pierogies

I still have some pierogies in my freezer to this day - I didn't make any over the holidays, but it's nice to have them as a meal option here and there now that it's January and I'm not going out quite as much. The Pilgrim ones are gone, as they were fantastic, but I recently just tried the Mac 'N Cheese - I have to say, they are SO GOOD! It may seem weird to have pasta-within-pasta, but I think maybe that's what makes it so good (you know...carbs).

Mac 'N Cheese Pierogies

There are other "different" pierogies flavors besides the ones that we bought - anything from Cheeseburger to Chicken Spring Roll to Hot Sausage. They come in "cop dozens", which means that you get 14 instead of 12 (a good deal, I say). Prices per cop dozen range from $7.25-$12.75 depending on the filling - and if you don't see something you like, they will even create a filling for you (with advance notice, of course).

Etna isn't close to where I live, but I will definitely make a trip out there occasionally for Cop Out Pierogies - they're frozen, so I can stock up!

Cop Out Pierogies
350 Butler St.
Etna, PA 15223

Website: http://www.copoutpierogies.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cop-Out-Pierogies/518136931550843

Kitchen Experiment: Pupusas

2013-12-28T14:12:00.000-05:00

I miss cooking.

One thing that I am resolving to do in 2014 is cook more for myself (again, as I had done that in the past and got away from it). I definitely need to eat healthier, and cooking for oneself can help with that.

However, I also want to learn how to make some authentic Latino/Hispanic recipes for myself, as I feel that just appreciating what those cook for me is a bit...selfish, I suppose? What kind of teacher would I be if I didn't learn how to do some things on my own (and then pass on that knowledge to others).

I had first learned of Pupusas on a visit to Smoke BBQ Taqueria. Nelda, one of the owners, brought up making Pupusas with one of the waitresses, then asked if I knew what they were.

Um, no.

Basically, they are like corn tortilla dough, stuffed. Stuffed with what - that's up to you. A few weeks later, I found a recipe on Pinterest, pinned it...and like so many other pins, it was forgotten about.

Until now.

I knew that I had leftover masa harina from something I made awhile ago (and honestly, I couldn't tell you what that was at this point!). Salt, water...always on hand. When I went grocery shopping, I picked up 2 kinds of Hispanic cheeses - queso fresco and chihuahua. I figured keeping it simple on the first attempt was smart.

I crumbled the cheeses together, and figuring that they would be pretty bland (the original recipe called for pepper jack cheese), I added some tabasco sauce.

Queso fresco, chihuahua cheese, tabasco sauce

I then made the dough. I did have to add more water than the recipe called for, but I finally got a decent consistency.

Dough. Easy to make - 3 ingredients!

Now, the hard part. Assembly. I figured that it would take some time to develop a technique, as it does with pierogies. Making the right size indentation and adding the right amount of filling took some practice, but I started to get the hang of it. I probably should have flattened them a little more consistently (as some parts of most of them were much darker in some places than others), but I'll remember that for next time.

Pupusas on a griddle

This one probably turned out the best...

Bottom line - these weren't that difficult to make, and they're delicious.

I ate some with some salsa, and they were a great lunch. AND I have leftovers for tomorrow (and probably the next day, too).

Pupusa & salsa

Mmm, cheesy!

Would I make these again? Absolutely, and I can't wait to try other fillings!

But first - please get on my case until I try the tortilla and empanada recipes that I have been putting off FOREVER! Peer pressure, come on!

For the pupusa recipe, click here.

The Holidays are here...

2013-11-24T14:27:00.001-05:00

We all have horror stories of shopping nightmares, gifts impossible to find, and shopping mishaps that ended in anger, frustration, and/or tears. The holidays can be so stressful, which is why I choose to online shop as much as possible.

But the holidays are more than just tangible gifts.

Last Christmas was probably one of the worst, as shopping was difficult because my grandfather was so sick. I got everyone a gift, but thoughtfulness was not a priority. Gift cards (which I personally don't mind, but many of my recipients have the mindset that you have to "open something") were the gift of choice for many of my recipients.

However, there was a lot of generosity given to my family at this time. When I needed to leave work at Kennywood because we weren't sure what was going to happen to my grandfather that night, my co-workers stepped up without complaint, filling in on a whim. When he eventually passed away (5 days before Christmas), I was given the time off of Kennywood and school without issue. When we needed pierogies for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner, and no one in the family had time to make them, friends stepped in with dozens of their own - in addition to other foods, such as cookies upon cookies upon cookies. When we needed friends and other family members for comfort after his passing, they were there.

Christmas wasn't the same, but it could have been much, much worse.

Knowing that there are people out there who deserve nice things when bad things happen, I decided to do something nice for someone else. A "pay-it-forward" of sorts, I felt compelled to do this one thing for a very dear friend:

Part of Matt's Facebook message to me, where I found out about his wish.

Matt is the nicest guy you'll ever meet - with bad luck of his own. I won't put his personal business out there for the world to see, but he deserves better in his life. Not that he doesn't have wonderful people in his life already, but...to put it simply, I think he should have everything that he desires, because he deserves it so much due to the passion, creativity, and talent that he has. I felt like I was destined to get what he wanted so, so badly.

This wasn't going to be easy for me, personally. I HATE crowds and traffic, and Light-Up Night in Pittsburgh is a madhouse. I had a game plan - go downtown right after school (2:30), park, and explore the city until a line started to form. I even called the downtown Macy's to be sure that I wasn't going to get kicked out of the store before the autograph signing (they said that I wouldn't).

My plan started off well - I parked in the garage on the Boulevard of the Allies across from Point Park University, found an awesome spot on the 3rd floor right by the elevator, and set off to Macy's. I found where the autograph signing would take place, then left to go out into the city.

The entire time I was out-and-about, I took short video clips of what I was doing. You'll see why in a bit.

I needed to eat (otherwise, there was no way I was going to make it), so I stopped at Chipotle in Market Square to fuel up. This killed some time.

I went back to Macy's to make sure that there were no crazy Gloria Gaynor Stalkers in line already (there weren't), and explored the city some more.

After awhile, and since it was raining, I decided to contain my exploration to Macy's. I played "Musical Chairs" among the seats on different floors so I didn't seem crazy for sitting in one place for too long. While I sat, I edited the video clips together (again, you'll see the result soon). Around 6:00pm, an announcement was made that Rick Sebak was on the 5th floor, so I went to visit him for a bit. When I came back down to the 1st floor where the autograph signing would be taking place, there was a man in line.

It was about 6:30pm by this point, and I figured I could stand there for 45 minutes. I asked the woman at the register what I needed to do to get the autograph, and she pointed out the CDs on the table. I bought one, and got in line - I was #2.

More people got in line shortly after, and then after Ms. Gaynor's performance, a rush of people came through the doors and formed a much longer line very quickly. Promptly at 7:15, Ms. Gaynor arrived.

She didn't say much besides "Hello", but I informed her that this autograph was for a friend who was going to be ecstatic about receiving it. Not only did she sign the CD, but also an 8x10, which read:

"To Matt ********, You will survive! Love, Gloria Gaynor."

(******** being his last name, of course)

I failed on the "Hey! Hey!" part, but I took what I could get.

I thanked her and her security personnel profusely, then finished editing the video and uploaded it to Facebook (thank you, free Macy's Wi-Fi). I mentioned Matt in a comment, hoping he would see it.

Other people did - including Rick Sebak - and started to comment...but not Matt. I had to take matters into my own hands, so I called him as I drove home.

I told him to check Facebook - and this is what he saw:

The reaction? Priceless. Besides feeling like this was something that I was destined to do, I knew that hearing that reaction out of him would be worth more than any issues that I had obtaining the autograph - yet, I had NO issues. It was actually fun! I saw things I probably would not have seen otherwise (as I have never been to Light-Up Night before), and I made my dear friend happier than I have ever seen him before.

Maybe I WAS destined to do this. I'm so glad I did.

I stopped by his house and gave him both the autographed CD and picture. The elation on his face was amazing. Seeing him so happy made me even happier.

All worth it.

The moral of the story? If you have the chance to do something nice for someone - do it. The reward to yourself is as big as the reward for that person.

Although, I don't know how I'll ever top this...

You, however, have the opportunity to "pay-it-forward" by helping children have a Merry Christmas of their own. Many of them would not receive any gift - not one - otherwise; even just one gift would seem like the best gift in the world to them because someone was thoughtful enough to think of them during the holiday season. To learn more about the CHS: Holiday Gift Project and how you can get involved visit: http://bit.ly/CHSHoliday2013

This post was written from a prompt by Community Human Services Holiday Gift Drive in partnership with Pittsburgh Tweetup.

"Where did you go?"

2013-11-14T17:58:00.000-05:00

The question of the summer/fall.

Well, I've been busy - but not busy eating out or even making food myself, unfortunately. I took on a supplemental position as an assistant band director for the school at which I teach (yes, I do have musical background, but I assisted with more non-musical roles - uniforms, attendance, etc.), and it took up a LOT of my time. In addition, I went from teaching ESL and 2 levels of Spanish, to teaching ESL and 4 levels of Spanish - only 1 of which I had taught before. So, my summer and fall have been filled with lesson planning, football games, band festivals, and parades.

And let's not forget my other job at your favorite Pittsburgh amusement park. That's not over until Christmas.

I don't regret any of it one bit.

However, you know I like to stay busy, and all of the band stuff is slowing down now that football season is over, so it'll be time to tackle some new restaurants, try some new recipes, and make some Hispanic/Latino foods that I have been dying to try out making myself (Empanadas? Arepas?...) I'll be looking for some other ideas as well, and I'm hoping to see more of what the Hispanic community in Pittsburgh has to offer. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please do not hesitate to let me know via email (senoritacibulka@gmail.com), Facebook, or Twitter!

I hope to hear from you soon, and watch for more posts!

Kennywood Latino Day 2013

2013-09-23T17:57:00.001-04:00

Finally. A nationality day for Latinos!

I adore every nationality day at Kennywood, as you well know from previous posts - however, I have always been disappointed that there was not a Latino Day. I am aware that Latinos only make up about 2.3% of the population in Pittsburgh, but that is all the more reason for people to know that yes, there are Latinos here, and yes, they make GREAT food.

Thankfully, Alberto Benzaquen of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce answered my cries and organized this entire event, with some of the best entertainment from Latinos that Pittsburgh has to offer.

And - some of the best food.

I was so excited to hear that La Palapa (of Pittsburgh Public Market fame), Las Palmas (the BEST street tacos in Pittsburgh), AJ's Peruvian (never been, but excited to try it), and Casa Rasta (who have been nothing but good to me in so many ways) would be the vendors.

La Palapa's setup

The offerings from Casa Rasta

I knew I had to get something from every single one of them.

I ventured back to Pavilion 4 on my break to find the vendors in high-gear, cooking food and setting up their assembly lines. My first stop - Casa Rasta for some elote: grilled corn, slathered in mayonnaise (yes, mayonnaise), sprinkled with queso fresco and chile powder, and accompanied by a lime for squeezing. Sound familiar? See my recipe for esquites, which is essentially the same thing, but off the cob.

Half-eaten elote (I couldn't help myself!)

Next - AJ's. They had a big spread, but knowing that I was going to be eating from every vendor, I went small and tried two of their empanadas - one pollo (chicken), and one spinach. I also purchased an Inca Cola, one of the few "pops" I will drink in non-diet version (since there isn't one). I've had it before from Las Palmas and Chicken Latino, so I knew I liked it (it tastes like cream soda):

Inca Cola

Spinach and chicken empanadas from AJ's Peruvian

My last stop was La Palapa, because unfortunately, Las Palmas was still in the process of setting up. I LOVE La Palapa's pineapple tamale, so I went with that.

Pineapple Tamale from La Palapa

I carried my haul of food back to the office in a stack, worried that perhaps I would be too full to eat it all.

My stack of food!

Wait...do I not know myself? I ate it all. Every last bite. The pineapple tamale was divine, as always; the empanadas...I've had better, sorry to say; and the elote - OH, THE ELOTE! It was fantastic. Superb. A mess to eat, yes, but worth every wipe of the napkin. I just wish people had told me about the charred corn in my teeth and on my face sooner....

AND...my savior, Jay, our IT guy, was going back to Pavilion 4 for his lunch, so I asked him to grab me a taco if Las Palmas was set up at that time. And you know what? They were. He got me a chicken taco, which was just as tasty as the ones I get on Brookline Blvd. in front of their store:

A beautiful chicken taco from Las Palmas (watch out for that glob of hot sauce on top, though!)

BUT - I could have knocked Jay out for putting the HOT salsa on that taco. HOLY MOUTH-ON-FIRE! I survived, but I know he got a secret thrill out of watching me sweat it out (grrrrr...).

Because I was working, I missed the entertainment, but I could hear the sounds of Choro No Vinho playing while I purchased my food - they are EXCELLENT, and I am proud to have worked with Abby Gross of this fantastic band at school last year.

I may be biased, but the food for Latino Day won over every other ethnic day this year. I didn't write about them again this year, as the vendors hadn't changed (plus I missed my second-favorite - Greek Day - because I was on vacation), but Latino Day NEEDS to be an annual event - and I'm sure Alberto will make sure of it.

Kennywood Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15122

Website: http://www.kennywood.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kennywoodpark
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Kenny_Kangaroo

Barcelona & Madrid, Spain, June 2013

2013-07-18T14:10:00.001-04:00

Barcelona & Madrid, Spain, June 2013, a set on Flickr.

From June 24-July 1, 2013, four of my students, my brother, and I traveled to Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. I had never been to Europe (none of us had), and it was quite an adventure.

And 2 years in the making, We couldn't have done it without help, especially from the Pittsburgh restaurant industry. You. Are. Awesome.

I would like to thank everyone who helped us along the way:

- Alma Pan-Latin Kitchen, for donating the proceeds of their Father's Day brunch to the trip, as well as selling City Dining Cards on our behalf. You are so generous!

- YADA YADA Empanada, for your awesome fundraiser!

- Casa Rasta, for holding a benefit dinner and donating the proceeds to the trip. Gracias!

- PGH Taco Truck, for donating drink sales on several occasions.

- The countless people who bought flower bulbs, coffee, cookie dough, bears, dining cards, beanies, and much, much more to help out our cause!

- The teachers, staff, and administrators of the West Mifflin Area School District, who have been SO supportive of having our students experience other cultures!

- A special thanks to Meg A., who handles student activity accounts for the district, for putting up with my many deposits and check requests! You rock!

I am also happy to announce that I am planning another trip for 2 years from now - to COSTA RICA! This will be an exciting one, with zip-lining, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and horseback riding! See this link for details, and let me know if you're interested:

http://www.eftours.com/educational-tours/tour-detail.aspx?code=COB&year=2015

I hope you enjoy looking at our pictures from the trip! Please let me know if you have questions or feedback!

The Pittsburgh Marathon: 5K & Half Marathon 2013

2013-05-06T12:20:00.000-04:00

I did it again.

People said I was crazy. Doing the 5K and half marathon events as part of The Pittsburgh Marathon again this year, like I did last year. What was I thinking?

My 5K and half marathon bibs for 2013

I think I was thinking I was the same as last year.

Truth is, I'm not. I've been very, VERY undisciplined over the past year - with both working out and eating, but mostly the eating. This food blogging thing makes you want to eat EVERYTHING, no matter what the calorie-count. Not to mention also eating irresponsibly at home, due to the number of ingredients on hand that may not be the healthiest, in addition to a lack of planning time for meals.

What happened to me?

I remember starting Weight Watchers 2 1/2 years ago, and being PSYCHO about it. I could not go over my daily points target, or I'd feel like a failure. I lost so much weight (92 pounds!), slowly and steadily.

Now the thought of tracking everything that goes in my mouth seems like a daunting task. There have been days when I've tried, and by dinner time, it all went out the window. Breakfast and lunch are easy when I'm working, but once I get home - forget it.

And weekends? Ha.

So needless to say, my training for this year's marathon events was lackluster. I made sure to get my long runs in when I needed to, but as for shorter runs in between - they were few and far between. I did a 5K in North Park three weeks earlier, and my time was god-awful (it was quite hilly, though), and I was SUPER sore afterwards. I almost thought that doing the half-marathon wasn't going to happen.

But, I said I was going to do it, so I persevered.

The 5K didn't seem like such a big deal, since I had been doing long runs for my training. It was CHILLY that morning, so I went with long sleeves, which I hate doing when I know I'm going to run. All of my training runs, with the exception of my 10-mile run the week before, were cold, but it was going to warm up quickly this day.

5K Start Line

My Aunt Marie and her friends Theresa and Tina were running/walking the 5K as well, so we carpooled (with Theresa driving us to the North Shore, while Marie drove Tina and I to a garage near the finish line downtown).

The course was different from last year's, and I have to say, this year's was better. A bit flatter, with enough sights and motivation to keep me moving at a decent pace.

My 5K Results, 2013

My time was 34:39 - about 3 minutes faster than the 5K three weeks earlier, and only 1 minute, 2 seconds slower than the year before - definitely better than I thought I would do.

A look back at the finish line - which I would see again the next day.

My idea of carb-loading for the next day - free cotton candy from Pittsburgh Candy Buffet Co. What is wrong with me?!

I got more exercise later that day by attending the expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (which I had also attended the day before, to pick up the packets and do some shopping). The expo is one of the best events of the year, with hundreds of organizations showing off their products and services. I got myself a new phone case for running (which I LOVE) and a few other items, like more running socks, at great prices.

Water Walls at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

My name on The Wall of Runners

The next morning, when I got up at 4 AM, I was nervous. Nervous that I wouldn't finish. Nervous that I would hurt myself. Nervous that I would fail.

But I had to try.

My cousin, Tommy, was running the full marathon, so we met up with the rest of my family at my aunt's house in Munhall to take one vehicle downtown. We said our goodbyes in PPG Plaza, used the Port-O-John's before the lines got crazy, and headed to our corrals - I was in Corral E, while he was in Corral A.

Port-O-John's all over Pittsburgh for the marathon. These ones were in Shadyside.

There was no way I was finishing the half before he was finishing the full. He's that good.

I waited in Corral E for over an hour before we started moving toward the start line. We heard the National Anthem, God Bless America, and some other music, but the announcements were impossible to understand until we got closer to the start. Ryan Clark from the Steelers was doing some announcing, as he had for the last 3 years that I have done marathon events (he's awesome at it, too!) We got closer, and closer - and then we crossed the start.

And we were off.

Luckily, I spotted my family not long after the starting line on Liberty Avenue, and called out to them. They spotted me trotting by, yelled and waved, and then I was off toward the Strip District, one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh.

I ran down Liberty, and thought, "I can make it to the 1-mile marker without walking." And I did! I felt good, being on the flat road, so I kept going as long as I could without walking. We made it to the turn-around to get on Penn Ave., and I figured we were approaching the 2-mile marker soon. My goal was to make it there without walking.

And I did. I have never, EVER ran 2 miles straight without walking. Yay for firsts!

I walked for awhile, then ran until the 16th Street Bridge. There are 5 bridges on the half-marathon course, and they are KILLER when you first get on them. I learned last year, though, that walking uphill and running downhill is the way for me to go.

We ran into the North Side, then back over the 9th Street Bridge (Rachel Carson Bridge), then back to the North Side over the 7th Street Bridge (Andy Warhol Bridge). Only 2 more bridges to go.

Last year, when I ran with my cousin Nicole, she had to stop to pee - and I had a feeling that I might need to do the same this year. I didn't want to, but I had the urge - I just kept telling myself to sweat it off. I refused to stop.

I knew that my Twitter buddies, Mike and Kelly Pound, were working the water station at the 6-mile marker on the North Side. As I approached, I looked for the red bucket hat Mike said he'd be wearing, and spotted it easily. I ran over to him, and after a fist bump, words of encouragement, and a cup of water, I continued the course (sorry I missed Kelly, though!)

I was amazed by mile 7 at how quickly the miles were coming up - training and a race are totally different, especially when there are THOUSANDS upon thousands of people along the race course as motivation.

I like motivation.

The West End Bridge always seems like the longest, but with the best view. As much as I wanted to take a picture, I didn't want my time to suffer. We continued into the West End Village Shoppes, where it was like a huge block party. Running without walking was easy to do there.

And then - West Carson Street. Ugh. Uphill most of the way, so lots of walking was done there. I was losing steam, and feeling blah.

Luckily, as we got into the South Side, there was Gu. I have never tried Gu before, but I needed something to help out my stamina. I had some, then passed through another fluid station where I took both Gatorade and water, then finished the Gu.

Gu got me through. That stuff works!

I got a second wind as I ran (and walked) through the South Side. I spotted Julia Thrower near Nakama, and we exchanged "hi's" and she shouted a "Looking good!" I was surprised at how fast the South Side seemed, and the Birmingham Bridge was just ahead.

Another fluid station and a relatively flat bridge, along with the 11-mile marker, made me realize that I was indeed going to be able to finish this race. The course rule is that you must be over the bridge by 11:00 AM, or you have to board the sweep - I checked my time on my phone: 9:39 AM.

Thank goodness.

And then the worst part of the course - Forbes Avenue. A highly-graded road, this is the most dreaded part of the half-marathon course. A man was on the side, shouting, "You're halfway up the LAST hill!" I thought, that's not true, but it helps.

We turned onto Jumonville with the realization that there was ANOTHER hill going toward Duquesne University, with the 12-mile marker and another fluid station, with many encouraging people letting us know that this was indeed the LAST hill, and it was all downhill from there.

And it was, with the exception of a slight hill near the finish line.

I spotted my mom, who took my picture and ran to get to the finish line (I walked up the last hill and told her I'd let her catch up). Then I ran to the finish as hard as I could.

My time was 2:44:24 - almost 11 minutes off of last year's time of 2:55:17. I got my finisher's medal, got my picture taken, took every provided food imaginable (water, banana, Eat 'N Park Smiley Cookie...), then ran into Jennie Roth, who had also just finished. We congratulated each other, then it was off to find my family.

My 2013 half marathon finisher medal

I spotted my mom heading into Point State Park, but getting to her was not easy. Dodging a barrage of people, I finally caught up to her, and then it was a matter of finding my aunt, uncle, and cousin Tommy. Text messaging was failing (as I'm sure everyone was trying to find each other), but luckily my aunt called my mom, and we were able to reunite.

Tommy did in fact finish the full marathon before I finished the half - with a time of 2:37:30! He was 14th out of the men, and 3rd in his age division. That speed is also what made him finish the Boston Marathon 3 weeks earlier - long before the tragedy occurred. Thank goodness for that speed.

Many, MANY of my friends and co-workers did either the half, full, or relay - everyone that I tracked finished, and with awesome times! I'm so proud of all of them!

I could feel the soreness start to set in as we walked back to the parking garage - then once we drove home, and I tried to get out of the back of the van, it REALLY set in. I went home to shower and get ready for lunch at Red Robin (my aunt's choice), and then - something was wrong.

My stomach was absolutely killing me. I was getting stomach cramps, like I did when I first developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which hasn't been much of a problem lately. I know not to eat pork, which is a trigger, and I hadn't. We went to Red Robin, and I felt so horrible that I ended up taking my entire salad (minus maybe 3 bites) home.

I spent the rest of the afternoon doubled-over in pain at my parents' house, with cramps coming and going. I was ok by dinnertime, and was sure to eat (as I knew I had burned at lot of calories and HAD to eat).

Do I regret doing these races? Absolutely not. Even as I am in pain today and walking...funny...I don't regret doing them. What I do regret, and what I have learned, is that I need to start taking better care of myself again. I weighed myself this morning - and the scale says that I have lost 6 pounds in the last 2 days. Good that I've lost weight, but that'st not very healthy - and I'm sure that will be different tomorrow.

This year's races would have been easier if I hadn't weighed over 20 pounds more than I did last year. So, Weight Watchers, you need to become my friend again. Food is controlling me, and I need to control it. Even if it means that my blog stats suffer, I need to do this. I am tracking my food today, and I will be doing so from now on. If I say I will, then I will.

I'm saying it. Motivate me, people - it got me through the races, and it will help me get through this.

Remember this?

Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon
UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon
Fed Ex Ground Pittsburgh Marathon Relay
UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine Pittsburgh 5K Run

Website: http://www.pittsburghmarathon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSGPM
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PGHMarathon

Esquites!

2013-04-30T19:05:00.000-04:00

I haven't tried a new recipe in quite sometime.

Odd, since I tend to cook more in the winter; however, the adventurousness in me has been lacking of late, but I'm ready to start exploring for more cooking adventures.

You know, when I'm about to start working 2 jobs again. Perfect timing [sarcasm].

One recipe that had been stored away for "future cooking" was a recipe from my favorite Latino cooking site, Flaming Tortillas. With the advent of the Pittsburgh food truck scene, street food has become increasingly popular, from the trucks themselves to the many vendors along Penn Avenue in the Strip District (especially on weekends), including the PGH Crepes Cart.

The recipe? Esquites.

On my visit to Round Corner Cantina, esquites was on the menu, but I didn't order them because of the many, MANY tacos I ate that night. In addition, I wanted to try this recipe before I ate someone else's version.

To describe equites simply, I would call it "spicy corn", because it is exactly that, yet so much more. Typically served in cups, this Mexican dish is right up there with tacos in terms of it's ease of portability and tastiness. The heat level? That's up to you, but I totally made mine SPICY (note the emphasis).

I'm so glad that I finally tried this recipe! I will make these often - but I'm sure if I made them for other people, I would have to adjust the heat level (slightly).

For the complete recipe, click here.

You're not from Pittsburgh until you've husked corn into a Giant Eagle bag

Husked corn rock star

The hard part: Getting the corn off of the cob (there's a Pampered Chef tool for that, which I don't own!)

The main heat-maker: Serrano pepper

Serrano and piquin peppers in butter

Add the corn and salt

Mix with mayo, then top with queso fresco, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and lime juice!
Ta-da! Buen provecho!

Easy! Let me know what you think!

Flaming Tortillas

Website: http://www.flamingtortillas.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flaming-Tortillas/170204376367118

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FTortillas

PGH Crepes

2013-04-29T17:37:00.003-04:00

Ohhhh, crepes. You are the taco of the French.

Well, sort of.

Crepes do serve the purpose of holding together a variety of ingredients like a taco does, but crepes can be either savory or sweet. I haven't had many crepes in my life, as I've never really had "real" French cuisine, but I have had some. When the French students had crepes for class (which doesn't happen anymore, as French was CUT from our course of studies 4 years ago due to budgetary reasons), we Spanish (and German) teachers were always invited to partake.

I miss those days. A lot.

I think the only other place I have had crepes was at a local diner in Ocean City, MD - not to mention the ones that I made myself at home. The batter was easy to make, and a crepe pan is a definite necessity to get the correct thin consistency of the crepe (they also make great taco-warmers, by the way).

Now Pittsburgh has an easy way to obtain these foldable, portable gems - at the PGH Crepe Cart. I saw it one day in the Strip District, and became curious, but did not check it out. Wow, did I regret that, because about a week later, EVERYONE was talking about it!

Ilmir Akhm is the owner of the PGH Crepes Cart and Crepes Catering Services, and he is definitely doing something right - portable cart, simple ingredients, and a product that doesn't take long to make. He has his city permit, and he is vending in the heart of the Strip District on weekends, while taking advantage of the hustle-and-bustle of the city during the work week. On one occasion, he even popped up in the North Hills at The Coffee Buddha to join PGH Taco Truck and The Steer and Wheel for a Friday midday service.

On Saturday, after my last long, 10-mile training run to prepare for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, I was tired and sore - but I had to venture into The Strip to drop off another Pittsburgh Popcorn Company fundraising order. One block away, the cart sat - and I had to try it out.

Given that I had just run 10 miles, I felt guilty about wanting to indulge in a crepe smeared with Nutella (as you may know, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Nutella!), but I went...uh..."healthy", and instead ordered the Spinach, Tomato, and Cheese crepe.

Ilmir works on my crepe

Ilmir was very nice, asking how my day was. I introduced myself to him, and he was extremely friendly and personable. I thanked him for my crepe and walked down 20th street to enjoy my lunch.

The folded crepe

Spinach, tomato, and cheese peeking through.

Oh, crepe. You are so light, yet strong in your holding of ingredients. If I liked the...uh..."healthy" crepe, I can only imagine what one with Nutella would be like...

...I'll find out soon, no doubt! See you again soon, Ilmir (and have a JAR of Nutella waiting for me!)!

PGH Crepes
Mobile Food Cart (weekends at 20th & Penn Ave. in the Strip District, most weekdays downtown)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pghcrepes

Stoke's Grill

2013-04-20T11:00:00.001-04:00

I'm getting a bit nervous.

I really haven't run as much as I should to prepare for the 1/2 marathon on May 5th. I mostly blame the weather, because I HATE to run in cold weather. As a matter of fact, as I write this post, I am waiting for the temperature to hit 50 degrees before I go out and do my 6 miles today.

I'm a wimp.

However, I couldn't avoid running in cold weather for the Ole 5K on April 13th. I signed up for this race MONTHS ago, figuring it was for a great cause, and the weather would be spot-on at this point. No. Not at all. It was SO COLD and windy!

In addition, it was quite hilly. I finished WAY over my typical 5K time, and was really just happy that I had finished, period. Luckily, I didn't get any more blisters (another reason I haven't run as much as I should).

After the race, there was a Mexican buffet - but, Food Collage, her husband (R., who had also ran the 5K), and I decided not to partake for 2 reasons: 1.) It was from a catering company that obviously had no real ties to what "Mexican food" really is, and 2.) The line extended for several hundred feet, and we were cold and hungry.

I'm not too familiar with the North Hills, but Food Collage is, and she decided that Stoke's Grill would be a great place for lunch. R. and I just wanted some warm soup as part of the meal, so it sounded like a do-able option.

Stoke's Grill

The menus are on a sign post as you walk in. Soups are listed on the chalkboard menu, and specials are listed on a paper attached to the sign post. If you're not familiar with the menu already, you stand in the (large) entryway, making your decision. Then, you go to the counter, place your order, and you are given a number to put on your table for the server to bring you your food when it is ready.

Order at the counter, take a seat, place your number on the table

I knew I wanted soup, of course, so I chose the best-sounding one - crab bisque:

Crab Bisque

It was good - a little salty, but good. I've had many crab bisques in Maryland, and nothing can compare to the crab soups there, but this was definitely noteworthy.

Pretzel sandwiches caught my eye immediately. I love soft pretzels, and anything in between two soft pretzels is an absolute bonus. "The Hitch" was really my only pork-free option: turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and honey mustard. I ordered it as a combo with a drink and French fries:

"The Hitch" Combo

Meat view, "The Hitch"

Oh. Yum. Fantastic. The honey mustard was the most dominant flavor of the sandwich, and I loved it. The only complaint I would have is the structure of the sandwich itself - the pretzels are fairly thin and spread out, so as soon as you take a bite, it feels like it's falling apart...

...but even if it does, it still tastes the same, right?

The fries were good, but nothing to write home about. I've had better, I've had worse.

I may have ordered too much food, because I was SUPER full - I even offered my fries to Food Collage and R., and he did take some (thank goodness).

A great lunch with great people - and I could definitely tell that I had run when I tried to stand up from the table. Ow. Now to try to run 6 miles today...

Stoke's Grill
4771 McKnight Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Website: http://www.eatatstokes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stokes-Grill/261434401242
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eatatstokes

Aseoma...then Razzy Fresh

2013-04-06T19:05:00.000-04:00

Latino/Asian fusion can be done well. Or not.

Take Tamari. I haven't been back in quite awhile...but I need to go back. They do fusion so, so well. Sushi? Ok. Tostones? Sure. Combine the two? Whoa. But it's amazing!

Aseoma on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill is another one of those Latino/Asian fusion restaurants that seeks to combine the two cuisines; however, they seem to lean more toward the Korean/Thai end of Asian food, rather than Japanese and Chinese. Food Collage joined me for dinner there, since our friends, Nancy and Tom, talked it up to us.

Aseoma (bad lighting!)

I arrived at 5:55PM - the restaurant was empty. The host (who I believe is also the owner) was on the phone at the host desk in the BACK of the restaurant...so I awkwardly waited for him to finish his conversation while I waited near the entrance. When he was done, he asked if I was a party of 1, and I told him no, there will be 2 of us. He told me to sit wherever I like.

I picked a 4-top so we'd have room. Doubt that would be a problem.

Food Collage arrived not long after, and we looked over the menu, fighting the urge to keep our voices down because it was so, so quiet. And dark. So if my pictures look terrible...well, there's not much I could do about it.

The menu was quite diverse, and we had a hard time choosing our meals, but one thing we both agreed upon was the Deep-fried Taro, which we decided to split. Food Collage is the one who got me hooked on taro, after all:

Deep-fried Taro

These were awesome! Like french fries, with a subtle difference in flavor and a larger difference in texture, they were served with a condiment: sweet chili sauce. Mmmm, love that stuff.

Unfortunately, that's about as good as it got.

I also had the Coconut Soup:

Coconut Soup

All I could taste in this soup, for the most part, was coconut and onion - and the flavors were subtle. That was the whole problem with it - it needed more FLAVOR. I've had thai food at The Smiling Banana Leaf, and that place has no lack of flavor whatsoever. This soup was disappointing.

Being the Mexican food-fan that I am, a burrito sounded like something I should order, right? I chose the Fire Meat Burrito, which was served with french fries:

Fire Meat Burrito and French Fries

This had more flavor - but the flavors were....weird. The rice was Mexican-style, the red and green peppers were very large and prominent, and...kimchi. According to the menu, this is caramelized kimchi, but it did not work well with the flavors of the peppers and rice. As I sit here eating the leftovers, I can't help but think this was one of the worst burritos I've ever had - and I'm someone who likes unusual flavors and new combinations.

Inside of Fire Meat Burrito

The french fries? Bad. I'm pretty sure they were frozen fries. I should've paid the $2.50 more to upgrade to (more) taro fries.

I probably will not return to Aseoma, unless I have a hankering for deep-fried taro. I don't post bad reviews often, but I can't deny that this meal wasn't great.

Food Collage and I hung around talking so much after we finished our sub-par meal that we developed a hankering for something else, knowing that it was nearby - fro' yo'. Razzy Fresh, here we come.

It's undeniable to notice how many frozen yogurt places have popped up around town lately, but it's the best concept ever - fill your dish, pay by weight. There are healthy options, along with unhealthier ones. Who doesn't love fro' yo'?

Great concept of Razzy Fresh

Well, perhaps the lactose-intolerant, I guess.

My fro' yo' was taro. SHOCKING. I added popping pearls (which are fruity and fun), yogurt chips, raspberries, and blackberries:

Taro Frozen Yogurt & toppings

A perfect end to a not-so-perfect meal with fantastic company. Fro' yo' saves the day!

Aseoma
2018 Murray Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (Squirrel Hill)

Website: http://www.aseoma.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aseoma/133104136789595
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aseoma

Razzy Fresh
1717 Murray Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Website: http://www.razzyfresh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Razzy-Fresh/117733734917057

Home Cooked by Donna

2013-03-29T13:44:00.000-04:00

You know how you go out looking for something, find it, then realize you had something just as good RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE?

Yeah, that just happened.

Having time off for spring break means a few things for me: 1.) Time to clean my house - like REALLY clean - not just get it "clean enough" to not be gross, 2.) Time to like, sit, relax, and do enjoyable things, and most importantly, 3.) Time to try restaurants that close early.

My plan, actually, was to try out the Braddock Community Cafe; however, on Holy Thursday, they were closed due to some work being done on the building (which includes the Community Center, housed in the old First Presbyterian Church of Braddock). So, I turned around, and headed to Homestead to try another restaurant that I had been meaning to get to: Home Cooked by Donna.

I pass this place SO MANY TIMES in a week - any time I have to travel across the Homestead Grays Bridge, eat at Smoke BBQ Taqueria, or eat at the Tin Front Cafe, I pass it. I always say to myself, "I need to try that place sometime."

Well, here we are.

Home Cooked by Donna To-Go Menu

I parked at a metered space right in front of the restaurant (cheapest metered parking anywhere around - 1 quarter - 30 minutes!). I entered - and realized I was going to be their only customer at the time. The host was seated at a booth toward the back, asked if it was "for here or to go", then told me to sit anywhere when I said I'd eat in.

View of the entrance and counter from my booth

Well, ok, then.

I ordered a water, and he presented me with the menu. It was almost 11:00 AM, so I was faced with the breakfast-or-lunch conundrum. Donna herself came out and said hi, and I asked if she had any suggestions - and, of course, it was all good, so that didn't help.

Gorgeous (fake) flowers, but I feel bad for the bear

Finally, I decided upon the French toast, 2 eggs my way (over easy, of course), bacon, and home fries.

As I waited for my food, another customer came in, then another. The first seemed as if he was there for his first time, while the other seemed to be a repeat customer. As Donna cooked the food in the back, the aromas permeated the restaurant, only making me more eager to see how this food turned out.

And turn out it did. Wow.

Italian Bread French Toast

After being cut and drenched in syrupy goodness

This French toast is AWESOME! 2 THICK slices of Italian bread, with what seems like some cinnamon added it, and way more syrup than I would ever need (presented on the side, so I didn't have to use all of it). This French toast was the smell that made me salivate, and rightfully so.

Eggs over easy, bacon, homefries

The eggs, bacon, and homefries were all well-prepared, yummy - and much like home-made. The bacon was crispy, the homefries had flavor, and the eggs were nice and dippy. I could feel myself getting full about halfway through my meal, but there was no way I was letting ANY of that food go to waste! The serving size was fairly large, though, but a great value at $9.10 with tax.

When Donna came to ask how my food was, I made sure to tell her that I didn't want to NOT finish it. She then went to the table of the gentleman that came in after me to see how his was, and he replied "EXCELLENT!" very enthusiastically.

So, about 5 minutes from my house, is a fantastic, local restaurant with many yummy breakfast options - AND they do take-out? I guess I'm going to have to go back for lunch and dinner sometime.

It's just too convenient. And it's been right under my nose this whole time.

Home Cooked by Donna
406 E. 8th Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homecookedbydonna
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomeCookedDonna

Farm to Table Pittsburgh Local Food Tasting 2013

2013-03-27T17:42:00.001-04:00

I looooooove trying new things.

You all know I'll try any food once - if I like it, great; if I don't, never again. That's how I've come to appreciate foods like ox tail, octopus, and even grasshoppers. I'm sure there are things that I'll try that will gross me out, but...it's all a part of the learning process, right?

At this year's Farm to Table Pittsburgh Local Food Tasting, I had the opportunity to try many foods from a variety of vendors. Many of the same vendors were there from last year; however, there were many additional vendors this year, which was fantastic to see!

I could go on about every single thing that I tried, but...no. I won't. Instead, here are some of my favorites:

Restaurant Echo is proving to make me into a beet-eater, as that is one of the foods that I avoid most often. They offered smoked trout with beets and creme fraiche on endive. This dish was delish! I need to try them on one of my adventures up north someday.

Restaurant Echo's offering

A gourmet ice cream caterer? YES! Kleido Kone Creamery does this - and it's BRILLIANT! The ice cream was rich, creamy, and...well, if you had them cater your party, you had better invite me...

Kleido Kone Creamery's gourmet ice cream catering

I love Regina Koetters, and Marty's Market, but I couldn't try what they had because...you know, pork. They did run out of samples very quickly, so they must have been great!:

Regina Koetters of Marty's Market dishes out the pork!

One of my best discoveries of the night - shrub, a fruit syrup made with vinegar that tastes AMAZING (don't be put off by the vinegar!). I bought 3 bottles, because I loved each beverage that I tried with the shrub in it. Not to mention that it's also made near my alma mater, Penn State. I can't wait to experiment.

Tait Farms Schrub (available in lemon, lime, ginger, cherry, and raspberry)

Wow, my hands must have been pretty full the whole night, because I didn't take many pictures...but, I can tell you that I also purchased my favorite hummus in the whole world from The Greek Gourmet (although I missed Michael himself), in addition to bread from Mediterra. I sampled great Buffalo Dip from Schneider's Dairy, as well as wonderful pesto from E2. I can't complain about anything that I tried, and I was very happy to make some new discoveries (some of which I can't comment on, since students read this). Overall, the Farm to Table event was successful and left me feeling inspired. Also, big thanks to my friend Cara for being my "date" that night (since the taco truck was pumping out tacos!!)

My breakfast the next morning, which included Mediterra bread and The Greek Gourmet Smoked White Bean Hummus

I can't wait until the fall for another food tasting!

Farm to Table Pittsburgh

Website: http://farmtotablepa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Farm-to-Table-Pittsburgh/274070585830
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FTT_Pittsburgh

Up Modern Kitchen

2013-03-20T20:01:00.003-04:00

Who doesn't love a good view?

People think I bought my house because it overlooks Kennywood. Uh, no. I bought my house because it was in my price range and not far from the rest of my family, thank you very much (not to mention that it takes me 2 minutes to drive to work - but that was a bonus, because I didn't get hired until after I had put a bid on the house).

A restaurant with a great view often receives accolades - but the food will speak for itself. It doesn't matter if the scenery is good, the food is what matters.

Up Modern Kitchen

Up Modern Kitchen (or ^Up Modern Kitchen - I'm supposed to work an arrow in there, somewhere) has a great space, on the 2nd level of the popular shops on Walnut Street in Shadyside. The space itself is awesome - the view of Walnut Street below, the double-sided space (dining room to the left, bar area to the right), the dark colors - you couldn't ask for a better space for a restaurant.

But how is the food?

James and I went for their Sunday brunch, mostly because our friend David Roth has taken his jazz stylings to that location. He formerly tickled the ivories (well, the keyboard "ivories") at Bar Marco, where we had also gone before for their brunch:

David Roth, Jazz Man/architect

Looking over the menu, I could see that there were many pork-ridden dishes. Knowing that my body would hate them, I tried to find something that wasn't going to kill me later. However, James and I met the chef, and James decided to let him choose our fate, forgetting to tell him about my pork problem.

Uh oh.

Every dish that was sent out had pork in it - Eggs Benedict with ciabatta, poached eggs, hollandaise, and...capicola; Dippy Eggs with crispy potatoes, onions, and....kielbasa; and the Giant Meatball Sandwich on brioche with mozzarella...and the meatball was beef and pork.

Eggs Benedict

Dippy Eggs

Giant Meatball Sandwich with potato salad

I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to enjoy the full meal - which was not the fault of the chef or restaurant itself - but I will say that what I COULD eat was delicious! I had both types of eggs, the ciabatta, the potato salad, and the potatoes, and they all made for a very satisfying meal. In addition, David's jazz music blended in PERFECTLY with the atmosphere - laid back, relaxing, and not at all intrusive. In fact, one woman sitting near us returned from the restroom, looked at David, then returned to her seat, exclaiming to her dining partner, "I didn't even realize someone was playing that music live!"

Oh, but wait - what MORE than made up for the abundance of pork was...dessert. Upon hearing that there were cannoli, we had to place an order:

Cannoli

Ohhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyy goodnesssssssssssss. Talk about an indulgence. I could have eaten these alone and been completely elated. Sooooooo yummyyyyyyyy.

I will go back to Up Modern Kitchen, for brunch, lunch, or dinner - not for the view, but for the food - and know to order for myself...

Up Modern Kitchen
5500 Walnut Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Website: http://www.upkitchen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpModernKitchen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eatupshadyside

Ritter's Diner

2013-03-14T19:13:00.000-04:00

Obviously, I've been on a diner kick lately.

I can't help it. I never used to get up early on weekends. EVER. Now that my weekday wake-up time has been 4:30 AM (yes, I know - it sucks), and James is often up early on weekends to get the taco truck ready - well, I'm up early. And, as you know from my previous post, I need breakfast. So, "diner" is an obvious choice.

On one of these crazy weekend mornings, James had asked me if I had ever been Ritter's (which isn't far at all from his place). I told him no, and the deal was sealed - that was where we were going to have breakfast.

Ritter's Diner Sign. The building itself has "PITT" on the side.

Talk about an old-fashioned diner - the place opened in 1951, and doesn't look like it changed much since. Not that everything looks old and worn-out (because it certainly doesn't), but each booth was equipped with a jukebox to spin your favorite tunes while you eat:

Jukebox at our booth. Opened to "Toby Keith", but I would never listen to him.

Since Ritter's is a 24-hour establishment, the menu was big, but I only paid attention to the breakfast options. Without question, the one thing that stuck out as my menu choice was the Peanut Butter Pancakes:

Peanut Butter Pancakes *drool*

Feeling guilty about the enormous amount of carbs, I also ordered a side of eggs and bacon (protein, you know):

Eggs (over easy) and Bacon. Not pictured: Toast

I really feel horrible for people with nut allergies - these pancakes were AWESOME! So much peanut butter flavor in pancake-form. The bacon was crisp, and the eggs were made to runny perfection (just the way I like them). My toast dipped nicely into the yolk, and the dishwashers were probably singing my praises, because that was one clean plate!

James ordered the Greek Hobo Omelette with homefries, which is apparently a popular item:

Greek Hobo Omelette

I tasted it, and it was a decent omelette - James actually had to ask for more tzatziki sauce, because he couldn't stop eating it...but to me, nothing could beat my Peanut Butter Pancakes.

I'm sure I'll end up at Ritters another time, at some point - the charm of the place is enough to keep me coming back...

Ritter's Diner
5221 Baum Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 (Bloomfield)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ritters-Diner/117314791681582

Kelly O's Diner

2013-03-12T20:04:00.000-04:00

I find it funny that breakfast has become a priority in my life.

Growing up, I rarely ate breakfast. There was no time. Breakfast meant getting up earlier - something I was NEVER willing to do, especially given that if I didn't HAVE to get up, I'd be in bed half of the day. My students come to school and complain that they're hungry, and I ask, "Didn't you eat breakfast?"

No. Of course not. They feel the same way I did when I was their age - no way am I getting up any earlier than I have to.

When I started dieting, skipping breakfast wasn't an option. I had to have SOMETHING for breakfast. And you know what? I came to love breakfast time, and moreover, I FELT so much better eating breakfast - I had more energy, I was more awake, and I didn't feel like taking a nap by noon.

So on Saturday morning, when I found myself in the Strip District super early (because James had to get moving on the taco truck), I needed to find someplace to have my breakfast. I left it up to Twitter to seal my fate, and the perfect suggestion came from one of my followers - Kelly O's.

Kelly O's Diner

The diner was once featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, a popular Food Network program, and it's easy to see why - quaint, traditional, and even more importantly, FRIENDLY. Because I was solo, I sat at the counter, and was immediately offered a menu and a chance to order a beverage.

Coffee. No doubt.

I searched the menu for the perfect item to get me through my shopping - I didn't want to be weighed down by pancakes or French toast, so I went the omelette route - but which to choose? I was then inspired by another diner aficionado from Pittsburgh - Rick Sebak - and a conversation we had recently (of which I will not divulge the details) - I chose the Crab and Asparagus Omelette.

Crab and Asparagus Omelette (lots of hollandaise)

A closer look inside the Crab and Asparagus Omelette

Don't ask. I won't tell.

The omelette was served with a side of homefries (which I chose over the shredded potatoes) and thick, toasted Mancini's Italian bread. The potatoes were slightly garlicky, and I did not opt to add peppers and onions to them. It was a lot of food, indeed - so much that I couldn't even finish all of my toast nor potatoes (this is rare, by the way). This was, by far, typical diner food. I certainly see why this diner was featured on a national TV program - it is an American classic, with tradition in mind. Funny, quirky signs, bright colors, and most importantly - a very, VERY friendly staff (definitely friendlier than the Hot Metal Diner staff - they come off a bit "rough around the edges"), catering to your food needs as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Great sign in my line of sight

By the time I left, the place was packed, and there was a wait for a table. Most (good) diners have a line, and this was no exception. Get there before 9 AM if you want to guarantee a seat on a weekend, for sure.

But - even if you do have to wait for a table, the food is worth that wait.

And take this advice - get up "early" (for a weekend, at least), have a fantastic breakfast, and you'll have the whole rest of your day to enjoy (and the Strip District is an ideal place to enjoy the day!)

Kelly O's Diner
100 24th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (Strip District)

Website: http://www.kellyos.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Os-Diner/131821080195295

Polish Pierogi Truck

2013-03-10T20:58:00.000-04:00

Don't you love it when things turn out BETTER than you imagined?

When James planned the first Food Truck Round-Up at Coffee Buddha, he knew it was going to be big. Just from the Facebook invites alone, we could tell lots of people were going to show up.

We never expected people to wait patiently for tacos for 2 HOURS. But they did. Pittsburgh, you are awesome.

So many people waiting in line. You can't see the pierogi truck (it's off to the right, behind Oh My Grill)

Having eaten tacos from PGH Taco Truck on many, MANY occasions (and sometimes not even from the truck itself), I saw this as an opportunity to FINALLY try food from one food truck that had escaped me until now - the Polish Pierogi Truck.

I grew up with pierogis, stuffed cabbage (aka "halupki"), and haluski, as my family is, for the most part, Slovak and Polish. Polish Day and Slovak Day are two of my favorite nationality days at Kennywood, simply because of the food offerings those days. A food truck that serves all three of these dietary staples?

I had to try their food. It's in my blood.

Large selection of frozen pierogies to enjoy any time!

My first trip to the truck wasn't for me - a man in a wheelchair wanted to get some pierogies, but he would have never made it through the thick crowd. I checked out the menu and prices for him, came back to ask for his order, and stood in line for him. No way was I letting him leave without what he came for.

If it were you, you'd do the same, right? Right.

I dressed up for the occasion. There were many, MANY more pictures of me taken by others this day!

Once the crowd started to disperse, I left my post as the line controller, as it no longer needed controlled, and waited in line for my own food. Being a taco/line controller sure works up an appetite, and I had a hankering for haluski and halupki.

Hot Food Offerings from the truck

The truck had run out of haluski (*sigh*), so I went for their other offerings - potato and cheese pierogies and halupki (stuffed cabbage):

Pierogies and Halupki

I've had both of these from churches. I've had both of these made by family members. I'll tell you, the truck's pierogies and halupki are just as good as either. A truck that travels to different places in Pittsburgh and serves the native food of many Pittsburghers? It's actually not too good to be true.

I'm sure I'll see the Polish Pierogi Truck at many other events (including the North Hills Food Truck Roundup 2.0 at Coffee Buddha on March 30th)....and I'll get in line early for haluski next time. For sure.

Polish Pierogi Truck
Follow on Facebook and Twitter for locations.

Website: http://polishpierogi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PghPierogiTruck
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PGHPierogiTruck

Everyday Noodles

2013-03-05T18:04:00.001-05:00

When did noodles become such a "thing" in Pittsburgh?

I'll never forget the day James brought over a DVD of "Tampopo". Not knowing what it was about, and knowing that James was all about watching it, I sat on my couch and took it all in. Basically, the movie is about how a woman is coached into making her noodle-based restaurant a bigger success (with a romantic side-story, of course). It wasn't a terrible movie at all, and it was kind of uplifting.

Almost makes you want to start a noodle business.

Noodles, all of a sudden, are becoming huge in Pittsburgh, thanks to ramen at Salt of the Earth, then Station Street Hot Dogs, then at Fukuda. For whatever reason, the craze is hitting Squirrel Hill - Ramen Bar just opened on Forbes Avenue, as well as Everyday Noodles...which seems to be making an even bigger impact on noodle-lovers in Pittsburgh.

James went to Everyday Noodles for lunch last Saturday, and while dining there, he sent me a text, "We're coming here tomorrow." It's unusual for James to want to eat at the same place two days in a row, so I knew this place had to be exceptionally good.

Everyday Noodles

We went to the gym the next day, and arrived at the restaurant right in the midst of lunchtime. There was a wait, so we added our name to the list, and watched as the noodle-makers worked their magic:

Dumplings

Making Dumplings

We were seated after about 15 minutes, and I already knew what I was ordering to drink - TARO BUBBLE TEA! I also added mango and coconut lychee jelly:

Taro Bubble Tea with Mango Custard and Coconut Lychee Jelly

Mmmm, taro. You are my obsession.

I had no idea what to order, and James suggested the Jellyfish Salad. Of course, I'll try anything that sounds out-of-the-ordinary, so I went for it:

Jellyfish Salad

James told me that it was "crunchy", but I wouldn't use that word. Not chewy, but more..."al dente"? I liked it a lot, but if you have issues with texture, you may not be able to get past it. Personally, I would order it again!

I had to get some sort of noodles, so I chose the Dan Dan Noodles, Szechuan Style:

Dan Dan Noodles, Szechuan-style

I chose well. Peanut, soy sauce, scallions, noodles - I'm sure there was some other magic worked into that recipe to make it as awesome as it was. I slurped them down with the aid of my chopsticks (at which I'm getting much better, I must say).

The soup dumplings have been all the rage at this restaurant, but almost all of them have pork in them (which I can't eat). I chose the Vegetable Dumplings:

Vegetable Dumplings

Despite my pork-limitations, James insisted that I at least try his Crab-Pork Dumplings, or as he calls them, "little purses of heaven". He was right. They were heavenly. I'm glad I tried one...

...ok, TWO.

The owner came around to each table to deliver food, ask how things were, etc. James engaged him in some conversation - his name was Mike Chen, and his son, Allen Chen, is the owner of Tamari. I LOVE TAMARI!

This family sure does know how to please Pittsburghers.

Get yourselves to Everyday Noodles. Everyone else is. And get a taro bubble tea while you wait for your table (I'm positive there will be a wait).

Bubble Teas are available while you wait.

Everyday Noodles
5875 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (Squirrel Hill)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EverydayNoodles

Thin Man Sandwich Shop

2013-02-25T17:48:00.000-05:00

The taco truck has introduced James and I to some awesome people.

On the truck's opening night, when I was helping and we were just going with the flow of what was happening, two people introduced themselves to James - they were Dan and Sherri, the owners of what would soon be Thin Man Sandwich Shop, the restaurant that was taking over the former 21st Street Coffee space (since they moved down a block). We had heard about the shop and excited that there was going to be something "different" coming to The Strip. Dan and Sherri were super-duper nice, and we vowed to visit the shop soon after it had opened.

Dan and Sherri, working on our orders!

And that we did. On a cold-but-not-too-cold Saturday afternoon, James and I had made some of our usual stops in The Strip - Marty's Market and the Pittsburgh Public Market, among others - and decided to make Thin Man Sandwich Shop our lunch stop.

Menu, Part 1

Menu, Part 2

The chalkboard menu was bright, colorful...and made me so indecisive. However, one thing I knew I was getting was the Pumpkin Soup, which is made with the Strip District's own Wigle Whiskey:

Pumpkin Soup

This soup was great - and not made sweet, like most pumpkin soups, which might as well be called "Pumpkin Pie Soup" since it is often doused with nutmeg and cinnamon. This soup was simply winter comfort food. I'm not sure what the whiskey adds to the soup - but whatever it is, I like it. A lot.

I finally decided that the Lamb Kofta Pita sounded the most appealing to me - lamb meatballs (sourced locally by Jameson Farms), cilantro, jalapeno, and a creamy tomato-yogurt sauce:

Lamb Kofta Pita

I love flavor, and this was a packed with it. Spicy and savory, this was definitely a great choice!

James picked the Braised Local Beef Shank, with shaved celery & fennel, whole grain mustard, and horseradish mayo, served on a baguette:

Braised Local Beef Shank

I thought it was ok, but not as good as my pita! James liked it a lot, though.

This sandwich shop focuses on local and delicious ingredients, so I definitely want to go back to try more of the menu. This is no Subway, folks, and the orders take a little time (ours took about 5 minutes - frankly, I've spent more time ordering at Subway), and they are worth it!

The downside - now another place to add to my list of "places totally worth eating at in The Strip"...so any time I go down there, it's a struggle. I need 5 stomachs....

Thin Man Sandwich Shop
50 21st Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Website: http://thinmansandwichshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thin-Man-Sandwich-Shop/393008334104443
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinmansandwich

YADA YADA Empanada

2013-02-19T19:23:00.002-05:00

I have been on a fundraising whirlwind this school year.

I have been planning a trip to Spain for students through EF Tours since last school year, and only got one kid on board. I hate admitting defeat, so I pushed and pushed for kids to sign up - and got 3 more. I still need ONE MORE KID to make it a "complete" trip (and it's this summer, so...I'm getting pretty worried), but since kids signed up late, I had to find lots of ways for them to raise the $3,000.

Hence - many, MANY fundraisers.

We've been selling City Dining Cards, West Mifflin beanies with ear flaps, flower bulbs, West Mifflin teddy bears...now we're selling Smencils and Pittsburgh Popcorn Company popcorn through March 8th (contact me if you want to order any!).

But perhaps my favorite fundraiser has been...EMPANADAS! An empanada is what I like to describe as a "Latino pierogie", so that Pittsburghers understand. A filling, usually meat (but not always), wrapped and sealed in a flaky pastry dough. They're awesome, and I was so excited when Natasha Reyna, the owner of the company, contacted me about doing the fundraiser. She had heard about me at the Hatch Chile Festival (which I'm so upset that I couldn't attend, as I had another commitment that day), and had been wanting to do fundraisers as part of her business.

Of course I couldn't say no! We arranged a tasting at Shadow/Ava Lounge in East Liberty, where I tried a Traditional (with ground beef & capers), Buffalo Turkey, and Spinach and Cheese empanada - I was instantly enamored, so we decided to have the students try the empanadas at the Spanish Club Christmas party, then hold the fundraiser over Christmas break and the beginning of the year.

Empanadas can add a smile to your plate!

My students are, for whatever reason, obsessed with buffalo chicken dip, so I had them try the Buffalo Turkey empanadas, plus I wanted to have the Traditional ones, as I thought they had a lot of flavor. The kids loved them - even the Traditional ones - and had no problem agreeing to sell them as a fundraiser.

Mmm, Traditional and Buffalo Turkey Empanadas!

I've commented before on how my particular area of Pittsburgh seems a bit sheltered from the outside world, and this fundraiser proved it. People didn't seem to understand what an empanada was (or how good they are, even when the kids told them), so we didn't sell as many as we had originally hoped. As a result, instead of Natasha coming to school and having the kids help her make the empanadas, she was able to handle the orders on her own. I picked them up from her, and when I did, I was SO glad that I had ordered 2 dozen for myself, as my car smelled DELICIOUS.

Regardless of our expectations, we still made REALLY good money from this fundraiser! I hope that people in Pittsburgh (especially my area) try empanadas and fall in love with them as I have, because any time anyone sells them as a fundraiser, I WILL buy - they freeze for up to 6 months and reheat BEAUTIFULLY, even in the microwave, so they are the perfect food to have on hand at all times. Whether as a snack or part of a full meal, I could eat YADA YADA empanadas ANY time!

Several people with whom I work, including other teachers and a security guard, also ordered the empanadas - and all I got from them was high praise. They thought that the empanadas were FANTASTIC! AND, not only did they get a great meal, but they helped out some students as well.

Top: Whole empadada Bottom: Buffalo Turkey Empanada filling

If you're looking to get your hands on some of these scrumptious empanadas for yourself, try AVA Lounge (for immediate satisfaction), or contact YADA YADA Empanada about fundraising and catering options...

...and let me know that you're doing it, because I will need to re-stock!

YADA YADA Empanada
Phone: 412-295-0598
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YadaYadaEmpanada

Penn Avenue Fish Company Lenten Friday Night Dinners

2013-02-16T17:42:00.001-05:00

Fresh fish does NOT come from the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh.

Popular fishing spot on the Monongahela River across from The Waterfront in Homestead

I'm not hating on "The Mon". I have a fabulous view of it from my own house, not to mention that it was named Pennsylvania's "2013 River of the Year" by popular vote. However, we all know that the steel industry did a number on the river, and the fish in it aren't necessarily the ones you want to eat.

View of "The Mon" from my house (its right there, behind Kennywood)

But, somehow, fresh fish is available in Pittsburgh - thanks to the Penn Avenue Fish Company.

I ranted and raved about Penn Avenue Fish Company in a previous post, and since that visit, James has become quite the regular there, often stopping for "breakfast" before a marathon taco-slinging session at PGH Taco Truck.

It does stink for me, though, that this location (Strip District) is only open during lunch hours during the week, since I have a typical Monday-Friday job...BUT LUCKILY during lent they do special fish dinners! WOO HOO!

James booked us a reservation the very first week. Smart man.

And those Penn Avenue Fish Company ladies that you normally see during regular hours sure do dress up for the occasion - in sailor outfits. Cute, yes, but...not entirely necessary. Not their fault, though, I'm sure.

The menu was simple - "Hook" (appetizers) for $12, and "Line" & "Sinker" (entrees and sides) for $30. The hard part was deciding what to pick, because ALL of it sounded so, so good.

James and I went back and forth quite a few times on our choices, but we each settled upon different "Hooks" - for me, the Smoked Salmon Plate, with mimolette cheese, wasabi creme fraiche, Ikura, and fresh bisquit:

Smoked Salmon Plate

For James, the Duo of Dips: blue crab smoothie, chunky guacamole, gulf shrimp, sour cocktail, and grilled flatbread:

Duo of Dips

Both were great choices, but that Smoked Salmon Plate was nothing short of infinitely amazing! I loved it. I love love LOVED it. Everything on the plate went so well together, and the salmon itself MELTED in my mouth - in fact, the only time I ever had anything close was at Russ & Daughters in New York City. My favorite part of the Duo of Dips was definitely the blue crab smoothie, along with the flatbread - this was SUCH a great way to start off our meal!

Our entrees came, and...wow. Wow wow wow. I chose well, and Susan, our waitress (who was so helpful, by the way!), agreed that the Cobia was a fiiiiiiiine choice:

Cobia, Lobster Rigatoni, Spinach salad

It was ancho-dusted, with grilled plantains, along with my "sinker" of lobster rigatoni and spinach salad, I was in seafood heaven. I've been to restaurants right on the ocean in many states (and even in Mexico), and this was one of the finest fish dinners I have ever had. In Pittsburgh. Near a river.

James's entree was also superb - Chilean Seabass:

Chilean Seabass, Sticky Rice, Green Olive & Fennel Salad

His "sinker" was the sticky rice & green olive & fennel salad, a fine compliment to such a fish. The fish was glazed in a chili-citrus hony mix, which made its flavor stand out. I liked mine better, but I would order this dish otherwise.

Then - dessert. We couldn't resist. James called dibs on what sounded like the most incredible Ice Cream Sandwich EVER:

It may not look like it, but THAT is an Ice Cream Sandwich!!!

AND IT WAS. HUGE oatmeal cookies, with vanilla ice cream, rolled in chopped pistachios, drizzled with chocolate and raspberry...it was outstanding.

I chose a Chocolate-Peanut Butter Brownie with raspberry sauce:

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Brownie

Warm brownie AND peanut butter? Yes. Raspberry sauce? I could've done without that. The brownie itself was rich and gooey, and for me, that's enough.

So, if you want to make your reservation (and I know you do), call (412) 434-7200 (from 9am-4pm Monday through Saturday) are at 6:00/6:30/8:00/8:30, and they run every Friday through Good Friday (March 22nd) - so there's only 6 more weeks to go. Don't procrastinate.

You'll regret it if you do. That's a promise.

Penn Avenue Fish Company
2208 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (Strip District)

Website: http://pennavefishcompany.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Penn-Avenue-Fish-Company/154213384593409
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PennAveFish

PGH Taco Truck

2013-02-15T17:47:00.000-05:00

You'll probably think this post is biased. I don't care.

About 10 months ago, when James told me that he had bought a truck from someone in Denver to turn into a taco truck, I'll admit, I thought he was crazy. But, it was his dream, one that he had talked about since we had met - and I do believe in people following their dreams and DOING instead of WISHING, so I supported him 100%.

The truck, when it first arrived in my driveway from Denver.

Having a big, red truck in my driveway for almost that entire time wasn't a big deal to me, but it was hard to see all of the planning and preparation that goes in to opening such an unusual business (for Pittsburgh, at least). We did summer events at The Coffee Buddha, The Mattress Factory, and elsewhere. Things looked great, things went wrong, discouragement set in...then hope sprang eternal...then the dream finally became a reality on January 18th.

Thank god.

I have tried so many different tacos from the truck and from the events that we did in the summer from a cart that I couldn't possibly share how I feel about all of them. BUT, I can say this:

They're phenomenal.

Not only that, but flavorful, creative, and...honestly, I dont know how he comes up with some of this stuff. However, don't start the "authentic" argument with me. James uses corn tortillas (gluten-free, by the way), which are more typical in traditional Mexican tacos, but what is placed on those tortillas may not be considered "authentic".

Potato Taco at an event at Coffee Buddha in the summer (pre-truck opening)

The pickled onions ALONE on this taco are amazing. Usually on pork, but chicken for me (can't eat pork).

Venison taco. Doesn't look like much, but...I loved it. And it's deer. DEER.

Who cares? They're D-E-L-I-C-I-O-S-O.

From the many comments on Facebook, mentions on Twitter, and overall feedback from people as they ate their tacos right in front of the truck, I know that I'm NOT the only person who feels this way. Check out the comments for yourself, and maybe you'll think that my opinion is not quite as biased as you might think it is.

I had a chance to help out on that first night, and I was so overwhelmed by how willing people were to wait A.) in 28-degree weather, B.) in a long line, and C.) to tell us how they felt about the food (and to even come back for seconds!). Some people even just hung out after eating for fun.

My "Muppet Face" inside of the truck on opening night. It was COLD!

It was inspiring.

Dreams do come true. They have come true. They will come true. BUT - only if you MAKE them come true. Talking is not doing.

Zucchini-Mushroom-Kale taco with Greek Gourmet jalapeno-cilantro hummus. One of my all-time favorites!

Ceviche from Bar Marco's "No Menu Monday" on Feb. 11. I HOPE THIS BECOMES A REGULAR THING!

So, now I want to do something that I've dreamed of doing. I've always wanted to participate in La Tomatina in Bunol, Spain. You know, a bucket-list item.

Unfortunately, because it's held on the last Wednesday of August, and I'm a teacher who starts school within the last 2 weeks of August, that may never happen. What's the best solution?

Have one here in Pittsburgh.

I mean, Heinz ketchup is headquartered here (I know, it was just sold to investors, but it WILL be headquartered here even after the sale is finalized), so what better place to have such a tomato-y mess occur?

If you agree with me, follow La Tomatina PGH on Twitter and Facebook.

AND go buy tacos from a truck. More specifically, buy them from PGH Taco Truck.

PGH Taco Truck
Follow on Facebook and Twitter for locations.

Website: http://www.pghtacotruck.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pghtacotruck
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PghTacoTruck

Domino's "Big Game" Deliveries

2013-02-13T18:27:00.002-05:00

Yinz guys like pizza.

Especially Domino's pizza. A recent press release revealed that Domino's stores in Pittsburgh delivered 48,000 slices of pizza to homes during this year's "Big Game" on February 3rd. 48,000 slices of pizza. AND, this was more than were delivered in both San Francisco AND Baltimore, from where both "Big Game" teams hailed.

Is this why I have to fight you about eating tacos?

I love pizza. I do. Domino's became a regular delivery option for us back in State College, when we were worn out on Papa John's after so long. Back then, Domino's gave something free with an order of 2 pizzas - breadsticks, Cinnastix, etc. - and we took advantage for sure. I never minded Domino's at all, especially being a poor college student. Their crust didn't serve as a grease sponge, as some other competitors' crusts do, and the cheese...yes, the cheese had to be what made it. Magical, magical cheese.

Cheese. Queso. The best part of any pizza. Mmmm.

What if tacos could be delivered with such ease? Probably not feasible, but pizza...you are so easy to make. Your leftovers - unmatched in quality. And Domino's just started doing two fantastic things: 1.) Debuting its Handmade Pan Pizza with fresh, never-frozen dough (good stuff!), and 2.) using a digital-ordering system, where getting a pizza delivered is as easy as using an app or website. Having great pizza delivered is just too easy, so...why not?

Maybe someday, such a system will be invented for delivering fabulous tacos straight to your door. via a website or app...48,000 of them, ordered through an app within a 5-hour span. Then again, soggy tortillas are not my thing - so maybe the traditional way of "make-and-eat immediately" is best!

But, for all of you Spanish-speakers, or those who want to practice your Spanish in a real-life setting - the website is also in Spanish! I think that may be why online ordering was so popular - English, Spanish, doesn't matter - you can get what you want, no matter which you speak!

Domino's Website - IN SPANISH!

Good way to expand your market, wouldn't you say?

Just don't get mad if you're "practicing" and get the wrong thing. Not their fault. Study the language better, and live and learn.

Pittsburgh - you need to eat tacos. Lots of them. But, on occasions where cooking and immediate-eating aren't possible...Domino's Pizza is the next best thing (but considering how much you bought during the "Big Game", I probably don't need to tell you that...)

Coffee & Cookie Day 2013

2013-02-09T20:37:00.003-05:00

Coffee & Cookie Day has come and gone. I am exhausted from it.

Less students are in our Spanish classes this year - and with the changes in my own schedule, we had far fewer students between mine and Mr. McMonagle's classes. We weren't sure if we'd beat last year's total of $957, which was our goal. The odds were against us, but we didn't want to let Make-A-Wish down.

Some of the cookies on the counter - I couldn't get everything in one photo!

Student brought in TONS of cookies, brownies, milk, hot chocolate, etc. We even had some students bring in donuts, Eat 'N Park Smiley Cookies, and one student even MADE chocolate-covered strawberries (they looked professionally-made, too!)! Dozen Bake Shop donated a spectacular tray of goodies and cake pops, and The Greek Gourmet donated their fabulous hummus packs again (you'd better believe that I bought one for my lunch!). I spent a lot of time running around Costco and baking cookies myself (which you'll get to learn about a bit later...)

The cookies I baked - stay tuned for more on these in a future post...

I loved my hummus so much, I finished it through a stir straw. The Greek Gourmet makes the BEST and most ORIGINAL hummus! I think I grossed out the student who took this picture, though. Sorry, Sara!

We should've just propped the door of D101 open, for as many times as it opened and closed throughout the day. Students, teachers, teacher aides, security guards...that door withstood a lot of swinging. In addition, most people were overly generous, often telling us to "keep the change" or just donating money without buying any goodies.

UPDATE: Our final total was $1072!!! You guys are AMAZING! We BEAT last year's total by $115 - and we were afraid we wouldn't get anywhere near that with less students participating!!!

Thanks to all who bought cookies, and a very special thanks to Dozen Bake Shop and The Greek Gourmet for their donations. Your generosity is very much appreciated by me and everyone who enjoyed your food!

Cookies-on-a-Stick, brownies, blondies, & ginger cookies from Dozen Bake Shop in Lawrenceville

Cake pops from Dozen Bake Shop - these were gone within 10 minutes!

Pretzel & hummus packs from The Greek Gourmet in Squirrel Hill. These also didn't last long, and they were only offered to teachers!

I could not be more proud of my students & our staff for making this happen, despite the odds. Mucho amor a todos.

Dozen Bake Shop
3511 Butler St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (Lawrenceville)

Website: http://dozenbakeshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dozen-Bake-Shop-Dozen-Cupcakes/25721167653
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dozenbakeshop

The Greek Gourmet Marketplace
2130 Murray Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (Squirrel Hill)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greek-Gourmet-Marketplace/193575232586
Twitter: https://twitter.com/greekgourmet

Meat & Potatoes

2013-02-04T19:13:00.001-05:00

I never go out late. Like, ever.

I'm not THAT old - I just never enjoyed being out at all hours of the night and then feeling like poo the next day. Especially when I have to work the next day. I get up at 4:30am every day during the school year - do you REALLY think I want to be awake past 10:00pm? Or even 9:00pm?

Nope. I need to function.

But, every once in awhile, I have the urge to get out and do something late - more often on a weekend. So, when James asked me if I wanted to go see John McIntire's show at the Cabaret Theater on Saturday, I really had no problem saying "yes".

Plus, it was the perfect excuse to go to Meat & Potatoes, like we mentioned last time we went to one of John's shows.

Meat & Potatoes (the rug, at least)

The restaurant has gotten great reviews, but we rarely end up near its location in the Cultural District. Maybe I'm not "cultured" enough, but I'll take any excuse to go to a great restaurant.

Getting a reservation was not easy - 3 days before, I was only able to secure a 9:30pm reservation, which was pushing the time. However, we left quite early due to the snow that had been falling all day, and arrived about 40 minutes early. After waiting about 10 minutes, they were able to seat us around 9:00.

It was great timing.

I had perused the menu ahead of time, but I was a bit iffy on my choice of food. The restaurant name is "Meat & Potatoes", and they aren't kidding - a lot of meat-based dishes, but enough other items for the typical vegetarian to not go hungry. James and I each chose an appetizer - mine was the fried brussels:

Fried Brussels

I give all credit to Keith Fuller from Root 174 for turning me on to brussels sprouts, and I can't thank him enough for doing so. These brussels were great - a little greasy, but enough so that they reminded me of less-guilty french fries. Even a die-hard hater of brussels sprouts would find these palatable.

James went with the fried pickles, which were recommended to him from many of his Twitter followers:

Fried Pickles

I had never had fried pickles before, and I wasn't disappointed - but I think my fried brussels were better. These had a typical fried outer crust, like frozen chicken nuggets do. The taste wasn't bad, but they weren't my favorite part of the meal.

For my entree, I wanted something different. Challenging, even. Tacos, of course, are one of my favorite diet staples, but...the only kind of tacos that Meat & Potatoes serves is Sweetbread Tacos:

Sweetbread Tacos

And if you're not familiar with what "sweetbreads" are, or if you're picturing a danish in my tortillas - sweetbreads are the thymus glands of animals. Glands. Typically, unwanted parts of an animal.

Close-up of Sweetbread Tacos

In this dish, however, you would have never known the different between a gland and any commonly-eaten animal part. The coco chile-crusted sweetbreads were crispy, slightly spicy, and unlike anything I had had before. Combined with avocado, cabbage, jalapeno, corn, and crema, I was smitten.

James had the Fish and chips, which he enjoyed. I took a bite of his fish, and it was good, but I was much happier with my tacos.

We left quite satisfied, and went on to John McIntire's show to be entertained - and indeed we were. By the time we got home, I didn't even feel like I had been out later than usual.

John McIntire & Dr. Cyril Wecht

Although I was quite glad that I got to sleep in the next day...

Meat & Potatoes
649 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Website: http://meatandpotatoespgh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeatAndPotatoesPgh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/4meatnpotatoes