Priory Hospitality Group : The Priory Hotel Pittsburgh's Grand Hall Priory Fine Pastries

Avenue B Redux Redux

2012-01-13T12:02:00.001-05:00

I had a chance to review the Shadyside restaurant Avenue B last year, and returned recently. Avenue B still offers excellent, inventive food with friendly, professional service. It's atmosphere is still casual (exposed brick walls, coarse paper over tablecloths on the tables, menu in chalk on the wall). Here's a link to my previous post.

The menu changes daily, with fresh and seasonal ingredients emphasized. While the dishes are typically no fussy, they do typically combine ingredients which look mismatched but which come together nicely. For instance, during my recent visit there was a foie gras appetizer offered with a quail's egg and maple syrup reduction. Other entrees which we encountered including a fresh sea bass with a saffron and vanilla cream sauce, and a flank steak with an excellent red wine demi glace.

The trick with Avenue B is that they are striving to offer an experience you won't see elsewhere -- crabcakes and grilled salmon are not the usual fare. Avenue B is well worth a look in Pittsburgh. Note that Avenue B is a BYOB, so if you'd like a glass of wine, bring your own bottle.

For Your Good Health Valentine's Fundraiser February 10

2012-01-11T12:07:00.005-05:00

We're pleased to host "Valentine's Enchanted Evening" on February 10, 2012 for For Your Good Health. FYGH is a Pittsburgh area non-profit organization which aims to strengthen children and families through health education and structured physical activities. The Valentine's Enchanted Evening event is aimed at raising funds to provide free sports clinics and camps to children with asthma and allergy-related health conditions.

Valentine's Enchanted Evening promises to be a night of great music, great food and great fun. Music is provided by Pittsburgh Jazz legend Etta Cox and the FAB Rock Band. FYGH is also offering a fabulous and fun auction. We are offering discounted overnight accommodations at our Priory Hotel as well.

Date: February 10, 2012 (Friday)

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Food and Beverage: Buffet dinner opens at 7:00 p.m.; Cash bar is available; Valentine candy and roses will be available for purchase throughout the evening.

Tickets: $75 per person. Call 724 822-9742 or 412 350-8808 for information or to make reservations.

Priory in Pennsylvania Magazine

2012-01-09T11:19:00.001-05:00

The Priory was recently featured in Pennsylvania magazine, a publication which celebrates the rich fabric of Pennsylvania's history and its present. In "Anchoring a Pittsburgh Neighborhood: Visionaries Transform Run-down Church Properties into Elegant Inn and Banquet Hall," author Bette McDevitt tells the story of the Priory Hotel, the Grand Hall, and the recent expansion of the Priory. It's an interesting and well written story, not available on the web but the hard copy is the November/December issue of Pennsylvania magazine.

Views and Voices Magazine Covers the Priory

2012-01-07T11:11:00.001-05:00

Views and Voices magazine, a lifestyle publication, covers the story of the Priory Hotel and Grand Hall in its January issue. Hilary Daninhirsch (by coincidence, a long lost law school classmate), is the author.

Winter Specials!

2012-01-04T10:55:00.006-05:00

If you're thinking of coming to Pittsburgh for a quick look around (we are one of National Geographic's 20 destinations to see before you die!), or you'd like to see what our Priory Hotel is about, January and February are a good time to do it. We are offering specials both on room rates and packages for the winter month. It's well worth checking out our website, whether you're looking for a quick trip to get rid of the winter blahs or planning a special getaway with your someone special! You can see our Specials here and our Packages here.

New Wine List is Here

2011-12-08T15:23:00.001-05:00

We've just unveiled our new wine list, featuring a wide variety of wines by the bottle and half-bottle at our Monks' Bar. We will also be featuring a rotating list of wines by the glass with different varietals at the Bar. Ask your mixologist for the new list!

Priory Banquet Staff Appearance on "Consumer Sense" Television Show

2011-12-05T15:01:00.001-05:00

I had the privilege of appearing on the television show "Consumer $ense" recently with our Grand Hall general manager Walt Czapliewicz, wedding sales specialist Heather McDowell, and Gene Lucente, our corporate and group sales manager. The show, hosted by Audrey Guskey, Ph.D of Duquesne University, focused on wedding reception trends and helpful money saving tips for brides. Dr. Guskey is a professor of marketing at Duquesne, and, in addition to hosting her own show, is a frequent guest on many Pittsburgh talk and news shows on radio and television. Consumer $ense airs on WPXI, our local NBC affiliate, and PCNC, its cable news sister station.

My role was to give some background on our facility and our business philosophy, and Walt and Heather talked about industry trends (Hint: in are chair covers and specialty linens, as well as candy tables).

You can view the program here.

Dr. Guskey was a very gracious host, and make Walt, Heather and Gene feel right at home on camera. We're pleased to have had a chance to chat with her.

Aji Picante - Peruvian on Murray Street

2011-12-02T12:53:00.001-05:00

Aji Picante is a new restaurant which recently opened in Squirrel Hill. It features Peruvian cuisine, and is truly a delight. Located in what had been a Panera Bread (is this a sign of a swing from national chains to locally owned restaurants), Aji Picante has a relatively small and tight menu, but it is very well executed. I recently stopped by with a group, and had a seared pork shank which was delicious; the menu also featured a variety of the Peruvian version of traditional seafood dishes such as paella and bouillabaise. One interesting dish is Lomo Saltado, which has strips of steak stir fried with onions and peppers Chinese style. There's also a number of vegetarian options.

The service was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Aji Picante is BYOB, but does not charge a corkage fee. It's well worth a try.

Read China Millman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's recent review of the Aji Picante here.

Nutcracker Package

2011-11-30T14:27:00.004-05:00

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater has the classic Christmastime ballet "The Nutcracker" down to an art. With its Victorian era Pittsburgh setting, and stunning sets, the PBT's version of the Nutcracker is a memorable one, not to mention a holiday tradition. The Priory Hotel is proud to offer a package with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater featuring two tickets to the Nutcracker at Pittsburgh's downtown Benedum Center, along with dinner at the fabulous Carlton Restaurant. After you enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in the Theater District, circle back to the Priory for a quiet glass of champagne in your room. Your stay includes:

* One overnight stay in a Priory Hotel Standard Queen or Deluxe King room;

* Complimentary bottle of champagne in your room upon check in (or later if you prefer);

* $75 dinner voucher to the Carlton Restaurant, downtown.

Rates: $314 per night for a Standard Queen room; $344 per night for a Deluxe King. All rates are exclusive of occupancy and sales tax.

See the Nutcracker schedule here.

Please note that your dinner at the Carlton includes complimentary parking in the One Mellon Center garage and limousine service to and from the restaurant. Please also note that the Nutcracker is playing on weekends only from December 2-22, and that this package is subject to availability of tickets for the show. Please note that the Carlton restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Eleven Eleven Mississippi - St. Louis

2011-11-28T13:14:00.001-05:00

I happened to be in St. Louis a few weeks back for the World Series (Game Six -- the 11 inning historic thriller I might add), and had a chance to have an excellent meal at one of their locally owned bistros, Eleven Eleven Mississippi (so named for its address). Located about a 10 minute drive from downtown, Eleven Eleven Mississippi is casual and comfortable restaurant specializing in locally raised produce and meats. They have an extensive, but well priced, wine list. The menu is broad, and seems to focus on country-style cooking (braised rabbit is on the menu).

I had a rib-eye, dry rubbed, while my 16 year old son had a pork loin with a bacon wrap. Both were fabulous, though I will say that I was especially pleased with my rib-eye, which crushed steaks that I've had in nationally renowned steakhouses. We also got to taste an excellent serving of charcuterie as well as a succulent selection of locally produced pates.

Service was professional and unobtrusive. The menu prices were extremely reasonable, making EEM surprisingly affordable, even for a Pittsburgh boy. The atmosphere was dark and hushed, though the dining room was very busy.

If in St. Louis, by all means look up Eleven Eleven Mississippi. You'll be pleased with the wholesome menu, professional execution and intimate surroundings.

Pittsburgh Chosen as Top Destination Worldwide by National Geographic

2011-11-25T12:58:00.001-05:00

What Pittsburghers have known for years is finally being reflected in the national and international media: that Pittsburgh is a unique destination, and one which is competitive on the world stage. This conclusion was trumpeted by National Geographic magazine this month, which named Pittsburgh as one of the top destinations in the world (along with Greece, London and many other exotic spots). According to Nat Geo: "[T]he Steel City's transformation over the past quarter century qualifies as revolutionary."

Read the National Geographic piece on top travel destinations here.

Interestingly, the Priory was the only hotel mentioned in a Nat Geo piece from a couple of years back which lauded Pittsburgh as a great "adventure city." ("Your Kind of Town: Pittsburgh). Read the story here.

Teutonia Mannerchor -- Here in Deutschtown

2011-11-20T14:26:00.001-05:00

The Teutonia Mannerchor has been an anchor of our Deutschtown neighborhood for more than 150 years. Located just a few blocks to the east of the Priory, the Mannerchor has served as a social club, bastion of Germanic culture, and home to a renowned Men's Choir (thus the name "Mannerchor" since its founding in 1854.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently profiled the Teutonia Mannerchor, which is thriving (it has in excess of 2,500 members) after these many years. The club plays host to many German cultural events, including concerts by its Men's and Women's Choirs, and German dancing by its Shuplattlers corps.

Read the Post-Gazette story here.

Priory Featured in Miami Herald

2011-11-18T14:30:00.001-05:00

The Priory was recently featured in a story in the Miami Herald, "Pittsburgh's Happy to Show Off Its Riches," by Eleanor Berman. Ms. Berman calls Pittsburgh the "Cinderella City," and chronicles its rise from the wreckage of a decimated steel industry to a world class destination.

The Priory is one of four hotels featured in the article, and was the only independently owned hotel mentioned. Ms. Berman referred to the Priory as a "42 room boutique hotel with charm."

Read the Miami Herald story here.

Deutschtown House Tour

2011-11-16T12:59:00.002-05:00

Our Deutschtown neighborhood put itself on display recently, with a house tour featuring seven homes. The tour was a smashing success with more than 800 visitors wandering through the neighborhood on a warm Sunday afternoon. The Priory was the starting point for the tour, and we were proud to show off our new addition and new guestrooms. We also hosted a wine sampling in our courtyard after the tour, which was well attended. All in all, the tour featured seven spectacular homes, including one that was renovated from a shell and completed just this year.

Click here for a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story on Al DiPasquale's transformation of this townhouse across the street from the back gate of the Priory. And kudos to Al for such a lovely renovation.

Please note that the home photos are from the Post-Gazette; the photos featuring tour-goers are courtesy of Jen Saffron.

Chuck Noll Way Dedicated

2011-11-14T12:32:00.004-05:00

We had the honor of being present for the dedication of a new street near Heinz Field, just down the way from us. The street was named for legendary Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll, Hall of Famer and winner of four superbowls. Here are few shots from the event, which featured current Steelers president Art Rooney II, his father Dan Rooney (Steelers owner and present U.S. Ambassador to Ireland), former Steeler cornerback Mel Blount, former Steeler linebacker Andy Russell, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and County Executive Dan Onorato. It was a fun event bringing back many memories of those Superbowl years, and an opportunity to honor a fine coach and finer Pittsburgher.

One Day Package for "Last Lecture" Co-Author

2011-10-12T14:12:00.004-04:00

Prime Stage Theater group, which performs at the nearby New Hazlett Theater, is hosting Jeffrey Zaslow, the co-author of the Last Lecture with the late Carnegie Mellon University Professor Randy Pausch. Mr. Zaslow, a noted author and columnist for the Wall Street Journal, will be appearing at the New Hazlett on Monday November 7 at 7:30 p.m.; excerpts from the book will be performed by actor Justin Fortunato.

In honor of having Mr. Zaslow in Pittsburgh, the Priory is offering a special package for November 7:

* An overnight for two in one of our new Deluxe King suites;

* A $50 dinner voucher to Max's Allegheny Tavern;

* Two tickets to the "Last Lecture" presentation at the New Hazlett Theater.

Package price: $179 plus tax, per double occupancy. This package is available for the night of Monday, November 7 only.

This promises to be an inspiring and moving night. Please contact our Front Desk at (412) 231-3338 or at (866) 3PRIORY to book this package.

Around the Boot with Vin du Pays

2011-10-07T12:54:00.002-04:00

Our last Wine Tasting of the season is this Thursday, October 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. If it's warm we'll be in the courtyard! Our theme is "Wines from around the Boot," with four wines from four different wine regions in Italy. We're featuring some obscure varietals, and you can compare and contrast the varietals from these different appellations. Our wine host is Joe Barsotti of Barsotti Wines. The price on this one is $55 per person. As always, we feature live entertainment and we pair these special wines with heavy hors d'oeuvres from our chefs Pete & Mike. And as always, we give you the three finger pour and more!

Here's our wines:

Cantine Lenotti de Veneizie
(Veneto 2010)

Cantine Sampietrana Negroamaro (Puglia 2008)

Cantine Ippolito Classico Superiore Reserva Ciro (Calabria 2007)

Donato D'Angelo Vitis Divina Rosso (Basilicata 2008)

We'll also be tasting two Italian "liquori," Gazio Amaretto and Latinae Sambuca.

E-mail or call Gene Lucente for tickets: gene@thepriory.com or (412) 224-6300. Hope you can make it!

Priory Banquet Staff on Television Next Week

2011-10-06T16:44:00.007-04:00

Our Priory Grand Hall banquet management team will be featured on the "Consumer Sense" program on Tuesday, October 11th. The show airs at 7:30 p.m. on PCNC, the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. PCNC is Channel 35 on Comcast and Channel 9 on Verizon here in Pittsburgh. The show is hosted by Duquesne University marketing professor Audrey Guskey, who is really delightful and who made our staffers feel comfortable while being interviewed for television. Look for our Grand Hall GM Walter Czapliewicz, Heather McDowell, our wedding sales specialist, and Gene Lucente, who does our corporate sales. Tune in on Tuesday! And if you miss it, keep your eyes opened for repeats.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Consumer-Sense/134373836641990?sk=wall

Consumer Sense

Consumer $en$e helps consumers save time and money while getting the inside scoop on consumer trends and marketing tricks. Explore DRAUDREYGUSKEY.COM for consumer reports on a broad range of topics, and don’t forget to tune in to ¢on$umer $en$e on PCNC!

Winter White Wedding Giveaway Coverage

2011-10-05T13:34:00.001-04:00

I was recently on KDKA TV's Pittsburgh Live television program to discuss our Winter White Wedding giveaway to a military member who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan. The contest, now in its fourth year, gives away a full wedding reception completely free of charge. The winner is drawn at random from among couples who have submitted an application. The criteria only are that one member of the couple be from the seven county Pittsburgh region and that one member of the couple served in Iraq or Afghanistan as a member of a branch of the military.

You can see the interview here.

Our winners for 2011-12 were Brian Collins and Heather Shearer. Brian, a former Marine sergeant, had served in Iraq.

Night for Tassy II Report

2011-10-03T12:58:00.001-04:00

We recently hosted "A Night for Tassy II," a fundraiser to assist in bringing to young Haitian children to Pittsburgh for much needed surgery and medical care. The original Night for Tassy was held last year, and raised funds to bring Tassy Filsaime, a 19 year old from Haiti who was suffering from a massive tumor on his mouth, to Pittsburgh. He had a successful surgery at Allegheny General Hospital here on the North Side and is now attending school here in the Pittsburgh area. The Night for Tassy II was a rousing success, raising more than $20,000 to bring two young children to Pittsburgh from Port au Prince.

Above, from the left, are Priory co-owner Suzanne Graf, former Survivor star and event organizer Ian Rosenberger, Sally Wiggin of WTAE TV, me, Randy Baumann of the WDVE morning show, and Tassy Filsaime.

For a WTAE TV story on the event, click here.

The event was sponsored by Team Tassy, an ad hoc organization founded by Rosenberger and a group of friends, which is dedicated to providing medical aid to individual youths in Haiti, with the goal of using medical care to leverage assisting the whole family. For more information, or to donate, point your browser to www.teamtassy.org.

Toonseum to Expand

2011-09-30T12:35:00.001-04:00

The Toonseum, downtown, is expanding as of November. The Toonseum is a museum located on Liberty Avenue in the Cultural District dedicated to the art of cartoons and comics. Founded in 2007, it moved to its storefront location in 2009. The Toonseum is expanding due to growing interest in its offerings, sparked in part by increased development downtown. The Toonseum is a little gem of an attraction located not far from the Priory, and is well worth a look.

Here is a Post-Gazette story on the expansion of the Toonseum.

Head of the Ohio is October 1!

2011-09-27T17:32:00.003-04:00

The Head of the Ohio crew race, which is always held the first Saturday in October, takes place this Saturday, October 1. Races start at about 8:00 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. This is a great fall event, and really showcases the beauty of the sport and the conditioning of these athletes. Rowers of all classifications compete, from "Masters" who are well into late adulthood, to Juniors who are just in eighth grade. The event takes place on Washington's Landing, overlooking the Allegheny River, which is only a mile or so from the Priory. It's an easy walk or bike ride. You will need to park by the Heinz Loft apartments and take a shuttle, as Washington's Landing is an island with limited parking and ingress/ egress.

The event is sponsored and run by the Three Rivers Rowing Association.

If you're curious, stop by and check it out. It's a great day out!

Post Deutschtown House Tour Wine Sampling

2011-09-22T14:45:00.005-04:00

The Historic Deutschtown House Tour launches this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. from the Priory's courtyard. After the tasting, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., come back to the courtyard for our special wine sampling courtesy of our hotel's Monk's Bar.

We'll be pouring flights (three ounce servings) of your choice of four of six of our favorite wines from our monthly Priory wine tastings in our peaceful courtyard. The cost is $15.00 per flight. We will also be serving a full bar from the Monks’ Bar, and light food will be available.

Date: Sunday, September 25, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Monks’ Bar will be open from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. as well.

None of the wines we are serving are available in state Wine & Spirits stores. Se Selections for Sunday's sampling are:

Winemakers 45 RPM (Paso Robles 2009): This wine was featured by the winemaker himself, Ross Outon. Ross was the winner of PBS’s inaugural season of “The Winemakers,” a television program which pits aspiring winemakers of a variety of backgrounds in a series of “Top Chef” type competitions. The winner is awarded the chance to create and bottle the wine of his or her choice. The result of season one was Ross’s “45 RPM,” a blend of grenache, petit syrah, zinfandel and mourvedre grapes. Upon drinking, one picks up cherry, vanilla, licorice and black pepper on the nose. Medium bodied and fruit forward, the middle part of the wine shows cherry and other soft red fruit. With subtle tannins, this is an easy drinking wine. It is not available at all in Pennsylvania; we had to special order it for the tasting.

Altura 1024 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina 2007): This is a medium-bodied, easy-drinking Cab with a very with a bold thrust of plum and blackberry fruit flavor, followed by a slight note of acidity upon the finish.

James Mitchell Cabernet (Lodi 2009): Robust and flavorful, and with a touch of oak, this meaty Cab is all about lush fruit – black cherry, black currant and spice notes.

Kunde Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma 2009): 91% Sauv Blanc, 6% Semillon, and 3% Vignonier, the blending grapes of this wine add subtle complexities and body. The main body of the Sauvignon Blanc features grapefruit, pineapple and a hint of Mexican guava.

Hahn GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend) (Central Valley 2009): This deep hued blend opens with intense aromas of dark fruit and berries, vanilla and cloves. Flavors of black cherry cola, blackberry, fig and pepper are supported by a refreshing acidity and structured tannins.

Hahn Pinot Gris (Monterey 2009): Full bodied and rich, this wine is pale straw colored and crystal clear. It offers waves of Bosc pear, green apple and Jamaican banana on the nose.

We hope that you can make it!

Alfresco Wine Tasting - Jack London Explores Four Continents

2011-08-11T11:36:00.004-04:00

Please join us on Thursday, August 18th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for an Alfresco Wine Tasting - Jack London Explores Four Continents - in The Courtyard at The Priory, with wine host Reid Vogel from Capital Wine & Spirits. Enjoy four wines from all over the world.

La Marca Prosecco, Italy

Conquista Torrontes, Argentina

Aramis Shiraz/Cabernet, Australia

Kenwood Jack London Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma

Wines will be paired with a light hors d'oeuvres from Priory Executive Chefs Mike Henney and Pete Philipy.

Tickets are $50. To purchase, contact Gene Lucente at 412.323.9394 or gene@thepriory.com, or visit The Priory Website. Call for information on our overnight package too!

A Night for Tassy Part II

2011-07-26T17:35:00.003-04:00

It's our privilege to be hosting "A Night for Tassy 2" at our Grand Hall at the Priory on Thursday, August 4, 2011. The event is “A Night for Tassy 2,” and is a fundraiser to bring over a young man from Haiti for much needed surgery. Last year’s event, the brainchild of former Survivor star Ian Rosenberger and his friends, raised more than $30,000 to transport 19 year old Tassy Filsaime to Pittsburgh’s Allegheny General Hospital for life saving surgery. Tassy, whom Ian had met in Haiti after last year’s earthquake, suffered from a massive tumor on his jaw. Following the successful fundraiser, Tassy underwent surgery successfully and will be enrolling in school in the Pittsburgh area this fall.

You can find more information at http://www.teamtassy.org/.

It’s our honor to be working with Team Tassy on this event, which aims to save one life through the generosity of Pittsburghers. Team Tassy has identified another Haitian youngster in need of life saving medical care, and, with the help of AGH, will bring him to Pittsburgh for treatment.

The event is a lot of fun, with music from the Penn State gospel choir, food from our Grand Hall chefs, and a selection of excellent wines. Please consider attending.

Tickets are $50 in advance. You can order tickets through www.teamtassy.org.