Meat & Potatoes Review

Recently I was lucky enough to find myself bar side at Meat & Potatoes in downtown Pittsburgh. Anyone who knows anything small about food in Pittsburgh knows that Meat & Potatoes has excellent food. It is impossible to get a table at the restaurant even two weeks in advance. That is how we found ourselves at the door of Meat & Potatoes 15 minutes before they opened hoping to snag three seats at the bar.

Having eaten at Meat & Potatoes newest restaurant Butcher & the Rye two weeks previously, I had high expectations for the meal and only one requirement; brussel sprouts.  Since I had the brussel sprouts at Butcher & the Rye, I had been dreaming about eating them once more. Knowing full well that I needed this smoky fried vegetable, I got anxious and ordered a plate before I even ordered a drink and they were just as good as before. Lightly fried with truffle oil and parmesan cheese, this appetizer quickly changed my negative attitude about the small vegetable.

Of course we couldn't have eaten at a restaurant with potatoes in the name without a plate or two, so we ordered fried taters and Poutine with gravy and local cheese curd. Essentially we ordered two appetizers of french fries, but one came with toppings. While the fries were tasty, I was hoping for more of a home-fried deep south potato, not a french fry.

For dinner I choose the Agnolotti pasta with english peas, fava beans, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, wild mushrooms, and pecorino roma. It was light and flavorful, the perfect size after the million fries I consumed. My father ordered the smoked chop with pastrami, baked beans, and spicy apple slaw while Angela happily ate the Pot Roast braised chuck roast with carrots, celery, horseradish gremolata, and whipped potatoes. Dinner couldn't be complete without dessert. Split amongst the three of us, we quickly spooned the warm pecan and whiskey pudding until the last drop where I happily licked the mason jar clean.

I can definately see why Meat & Potatoes is always packed. They are a solid restaurant and one that I hope to return to many times.... at 4 o'clock on the dot.

Republic Cafe

Last weekend I traveled to New Hampshire for my cousin Jonathan's wedding. The first Perkins wedding I have attended. I spent a few extra days in NH with my Nana shopping, visiting, and of course eating. On my last day my Nana asked me to pick a restaurant in Manchester (where the airport is) for lunch. After extensive googling I settled upon Republic Cafe in the historic district of Manchester. The chic-punk vibe of the restaurant intrigued me along with their Mediterranean inspired dishes.  Their motto "hospitality for all the people" and their emphasis on supporting local farm to table efforts were welcomed and honored within the restaurant and ideas that I value immensely. My Nana had never been introduced to Mediterranean cuisine and since this cuisine was inspired by the region, Republic Cafe was a great introduction for her taste buds. Everything we ordered was plated beautifully and tasted even better. The appetizer of Field Mushrooms was by far my favorite, next to the Pot De Creme of course. My Nana had a fish burger that was delicious and came with french fries and fried capers. 

Field Mushrooms Bolognese with Grilled Polenta and Whipped Ricotta 

Garlic Broccoli and Herbed Ricotta with Eggplant Flatbread

Chocolate Pot De Creme

Trams Kitchen

Located just a few blocks from my house is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant. For weeks I have been nagging my roommate to go with me. Pho is one of my favorite types of soups. Its nourishing to the heart and soul. While I am sure Pho isn't entirely vegetarian I devour it anyways. If you didn't know about Trams Kitchen you would probably miss it, in fact I did the first few weeks I lived in the area. Julia and I finally ventured to Trams on a cold October night and were pleasantly delighted with everything we ate. Trams offers a few vegetarian options for Pho and spring rolls. The tofu spring rolls may be my favorite in the city. There are only a few tables and only one or two waiters. One of which I think owns the restaurant. While the atmosphere is rustic and rushed the food tastes carefully crafted. Trams Kitchen should definitely be on every Pittsburghers list. Little secret, I've heard that if you tell the owner you're sick he will whip up a special soup known to cure any illness.

Rolf and Daughters

For months, Marshall and I have been wanting to try Rolf and Daughters in Germantown. I had only heard that the restaurant took home in an old factory another 5minutes drive past the farmers market and of course that their food was spectacular. Yet, Rolf and Daughters has kept quiet nestled in the outskirts of Germantown where the average Nashvillian has yet to explore.

The exterior of Rolf and Daughters is dimly lit with yellow string lights that surround a wooden porch, that on warm summer night such as this, should be used. Inside tables are nestled alongside one another in a family style fashion. The bar is bustling, even for a Sunday night at 9pm. I love the woodsy feel of the restaurant, the waiters are dressed in similar rustic fashion, the ceiling is lined with wood panelling, and the walls are made from bricks, working alongside with the antique factory charm.

As we take our seat in a private corner of the restaurant, Marshall and I have a chance to glace into the open kitchen. Having seen the beautiful sourdough bread come out, we decide to order some of our own. The homemade sourdough comes paired with seaweed butter and sea salt.

Expecting to not find anything vegetarian on the menu, I had previously decided to eat a salad or a seafood pasta, but I was delightfully informed of the seasonal vegetable plate offered that night. An arrangement of roasted eggplant, zucchini, okra, and white crowder peas laid before me. I often am frustrated with casual-fine dining restaurants only offering a seasonal vegetale platter for vegetarians, but here the vegetables were perfectly grilled and needed little to no seasoning. I could have done without the panco-encrusted eggplant, but it was nice to have a different texture to the other grilled vegetables I was enjoying. 

Per recommendation by our waitress, Marshall ordered the Brook trout with savoy cabbage, crème fraiche, and dill. The trout was delicate and melted right into the delightful creme fraiche sauce.

Although Marshall and I were not intrigued by anything on the dessert menu, we decided to try the Nashville made chocolate, Olive & Sinclair, tart with carmel sauce. Unfortunately, we should have listened to our intuition on this. Olive & Sinclair makes some of the best chocolate bars around, but this tart did not do it justice. Almost tasteless and backed by a poor crust, this tart was a disappointment to the amazing meal we enjoyed. 

I look forward to my return to Rolf and Daughters, where hopefully, I will be able to enjoy the beautiful patio and their large list of cocktails. 

The Perks of Dating a Chef

Last week Marshall and I went to Gulf Shores, Alabama for our one year anniversary trip. I am one lucky girl to have such an incredible boyfriend and of course I am so lucky that he is a chef and cooks incredible dinners for me! I wanted to post a few pictures from our trip to showcase his food!

Grouper with risotto and a white wine beurre blanc

 Left over risotto cakes with a fresh spring salad.

 A German Riesling and a beautiful sunset

Spicy Vodka Marinara Sauce

Husk Nashville

Husk is finally in Nashville! After months of rumors, Chef Sean Brock has brought his world renowned Charleston restaurant to the area. Husk is known for its daily changing menu that uses ingredients specifically from the south. When you walk in the door of Husk, you will see a large blackboard that lists exactly where their ingredients come from. There aren't any secrets at Husk, except what the menu the next day will be. The daily changing menu keeps Husk ahead of the game. In fact, some may say they CHANGED the game.

From the moment I walk up to Husk, I instantly feel like I am in a southern house for a family meal. Of course I already live in the south, but this restaurant looks exactly like a house from Gone with the Wind. There is a stack of firewood at the entrance and a garden that surrounds the entire restaurant.

When Husk opened a lot of people from Marshalls restaurant, Watermark, left to work at the up and coming best restaurant in Nashville. Because of this, when we walked in Marshall knew EVERYONE. It was adorable how he spoke with everyone about the latest changes in the watermark kitchen. As soon as we sat down I realized I was starving. We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese.

With so many amazing choices for lunch, Marshall and I finally made our choice. I choose the Plate of Southern Vegetables. This came with thick  mashed risotto, mushrooms, jalepeno grits, and Anson Mills farro.

Marshall chose the NC catfish, cooked over embers, swiss chard, Anson Mills farro, and tomato-corn meal gravy! 

Feeling like we needed to go big or go home, especially because it was his birthday lunch, Marshall and I orded a variety of desserts to enjoy! We ordered a strawberry and rhubarb shortcake with  homemade vanilla ice cream and a strawberry buttermilk cake! 

 Overall, I think Husk is challenging all of the southern restaurants in Nashville who strive to produce locally sourced foods, but aren't doing it correctly. Husk is setting the bar high and Nashville restaurants will not be able to keep up if they don't take notice. Not only is Chef Brock's menu creative, but he is combining ingredients together in a new and exciting way by putting a spin on southern classics. 

It's Silly how Goose it is: Silly Goose

It's Marshalls birthday week and he has made a list of restaurants he wants to try. Since I work at Jenis Splendid Ice Creams, which is next door to Silly Goose, I always talk with customers about where they ate for dinner and Silly Goose is ALWAYS mentioned. Silly Goose has taken Nashville by storm. They are known for their artisan sandwiches, creative sodas and teas, and their herb garden located in front of their store. We got to the restaurant right when it opened to be sure to get a spot! The restaurant is decorated with Nashville Print work and has a chic country feel about it. With their delicious Rosemary Lemonade to start with, I was already in heaven. The menu is relatively simple, divided into sandwiches, salads and couscous. I can't say no to a great sandwich, no matter how "healthy" I am trying to be. I ordered the Sparky. A sun-dried tomato wrap with turkey breast, basil aioli, dried cranberries, brie, roasted walnuts and baby greens. IT WAS AMAZING. I've had great sandwiches in Nashville, but this was amazing. I really love the warm brie paired with the cranberries and turkey. It was thanksgiving in a wrap, and I can have it all year long. I will definitely return to Silly Goose.... Maybe on my break at work, especially since I get 15% off!

Safire; A Southern Gem in the Historic Franklin Factory

This summer I am interning at a food magazine in Nashville called Relish. I've only be here two days, but I am adjusting quite well to the office flow. It is a lot slower paced than many other places I have worked at, so I attempting to teach myself to sit still longer.... But maybe in the end I will just have to buy an exercise ball to sit on like the editors from Spry, a fitness magazine that is also part of our publishing group, so that I can bounce around while I type. 

One of the nice things about working here is that I get an hour lunch break! Since I don't spend anytime in Cool Springs for various reasons, many of them having to do with the abundance of corporations, traffic, and the lack of trees. However, there are quite a few local 'gems' near my office that are known around Nashville to be exceptionally delicious. Today I ventured to the Factory of Franklin to try a southern restaurant called Safire. 

Nestled inside the historic old factory is Saffie. Decked out with country slangs on wooden panels and large window panes, the restaurant clearly reflects the southern flaire of their food and the historic aspects of the building. The tables are mismatched truly reflecting an old southern charm. Safire also has an open kitchen which is one of my favorite things to see in a restaurant  The lunch menu is relatively simple with a few salad items, sandwiches, grits, and traditional side items. Normally if I see shrimp & grits on a menu I will orden them without thinking, but I went to Cabana, in Hillsboro Village last night and ordered spicy grits there, so I thought it may be time for a change. Instead I ordered the 1/2 size of the safire ribbon salad that came with iceberg and romaine, crumbled bleu cheese and spicy fried walnuts tossed in a white peach and vinaigrette dressing and topped with crispy veggie chips. The salad was simple, sweet, and pretty good! I especially like the seasoned walnuts. They were sweet & spicy! The salad reminded me of my absolute salad from the Loveless Cafe, the blue ribbon. 

For my entree I ordered the daily pasta which was cooked in a brown butter and white wine herb sauce and it came with mushrooms, red peppers, and onions all seasoned to perfection. I loved everything about this dish EXCEPT for the noodles. The dish came with penne which I do not particularly like.... The noodles did not do the sauce any justice. . . I would have preferred a thin and long noodle like angel hair. Marshall ordered the cajun sandwich with a side of Mac n Cheese. Both were to his liking and he happily ate all of them. 

All and all I would definitely return, especially to try the shrimp and grits!

But, if you're in Franklin and looking for some classic southern food, I recommend Mack and Kate's Cafe. It is the best! 

Franktuary: A gourmet hotdog restaurant not just for meat eaters anymore

Yesterday I met with a very good friend for hot dogs. For a vegetarian like my self, eating at a hot dog joint almost seems comical. Yet, vegetarians are becoming increasingly popular across the country and Pittsburgh has made great strides to providing equally creative foods for the non-meat eaters such as myself.
That being said, Franktuary in Lawrenceville has appeals to all types of eaters vegan, vegetarian  and classic meat eaters. Aside from food, Franktuary has a great beer selection and creative cocktails. The cocktail menu is decided into four categories; sweet, savory, strong, and sour. Everyone who knows me, knows that I always drift towards savory flavored items, be it food or drink. With that in mind, I choose the Holy Cow cocktail specifically for its feature of pickle juice.
I ordered two different styles of veggie dogs vastly different from one another. One with an asian style flaire and then the classic chicago toppings. Both were equally worth ranting about. I particularly like that you can dress up a veggie dog with any toppings you like including a vegetarian chili.
In typical Pittsburgh fashion, Franktuary sells perogies of different varieties and of course, salads decked with french fries!

Worth going to if you like hot dogs of any kind!

Pictured: Holy Cow & Chicago Impostor Dog

http://franktuary.com/lawrenceville/menu-lawrenceville-2/

Drinks:

Holy Cow: Boyd & Blair vodka, pickle
juice, beef bouillon, caper berry, pepper

Food:
Veggie dog with Negishi sesame seaweed, sushi ginger, and wasabi mayo
Veggie dog with chicago impostor relish, onion, banana pepper, pickle,
tomato, yellow mustard, celery salt, poppy seed

Springing into break with a delicious meal in Birmingham

For the past ten days I have been in the south (my homeland) adventuring around and enjoying my spring break. It all started with a road trip from Pennsylvania to Tennessee then from Tennessee to Florida stopping in Birmingham to eat at Frank Stitts restaurant, Chez Fon Fon.

http://www.fonfonbham.com/

Of course Chez Fon Fon was as good as it always is. We were seated outside on a back porch beside a bache court where my Father and Step-Mother played throughout the meal. I, on the other hand, sipped hastily on my Pimms Cup and admired the sunshine I had sense forgotten in snowy Pittsburgh. 

Our meal began with a Charcuterie platter for two with housemade pâté, rillettes, and cured meats, Duck pâté wrapped in bacon with local watercress, and Salade Fonfon, a risée, cress, rocket and walnuts with bleu de causses. I must admit, the bleu de causses was one of the most extravagant and rich blue cheeses I have ever had. It was so delicious, that for desert we ordered two more servings on our cheese plate. 

Brianna with our Charcuterie 

For entrees we all split several plates consisting of, Moules et frites the “Normandy style," Gulf fish with sugar snaps, potatoes, and crawfish aïoli, a Coq au vin of chicken thighs simmered in red wine, and the fish special of the day, and of course two extra orders of frites. While the meal was beautifully prepared and tasted marvelous, I did not realize my chicken entree was more or less a breast of chicken on a bed of salad. Had I not ordered a salad for my appetizer it would have been a wonderful addition to the meal, but alas my family enjoyed the greens and all was well. 

For desert we had a Pot de Creme (MY FAVORITE), a cheese plate with two Bleu de Causses and the waitresses choice, a Abbaye de Bel’loc (sheep) cheese, and we paired these with Sauternes Château Villefranches and a Moscato Vietti. Both of which were sweet, light, and paired well with the cheeses and Pot de Creme. 

After our four hour meal in the sun we returned to the car for another five hours in the car until we reached our destination in Florida. Happily full and a tad bit tipsy, I settled into my seat in the back of the truck and dreamt of many more meals at Frank Stitts Restaurant. 

Alma- Pan Latin Kitchen Pittsburgh

                It’s officially restaurant week in Pittsburgh! This is one of my favorite weeks of the year because many of my favorite local food spots participate. It’s a really great way for a college girl, such as myself, with a refined palate and expensive appetite to eat at restaurants around the city for a discounted price. With all the wonderful options set before me I chose to return to Alma, a Pan-Latin American restaurant located in Point Breeze. Alma does an excellent job of incorporating food from a wide range of historical time periods and adding a modern twist. Like most up-scale restaurants in Pittsburgh, the location of Alma can be surprising, however with the welcoming vibrant colors across the walls and soulful sounds of Spanish guitar Alma invites all within.  The tasting menu for Alma was laid out with many options for the vegetarian and of course the meat eaters. For my first course I ordered the Ensalada de Pepino con Tomate, Aceitunas y Pan, which if you don’t speak Spanish means salad with tomato, olives, cucumber, bread, and cheese. Yes, this salad sounds simple, but the tangy cucumber vinaigrette was fresh and sprightful and blended well with the salad as a whole. Every ingredient balanced well with the other inside the square bowl which was plated beautifully. Normally I choose to not eat meat, although Alma chooses to supply only local and organic sourced meat, which I support. With that being said I ordered the Pollo Criollo en Cazuel, which is a Cuban-creole seasoned chicken with an herbal fruit sauce.  I have never had a chicken cooked so well before. The meat fell off the bone smoothly and was soaked in the sweet-spicy sauce that surrounded it making this chicken dishes one of the best I’ve ever had. Finally my most favorite dish at alma, Biscochito de Chocolate con Dulce de Leche y Helado de Canela. This desert is a warm, moist, decedent chocolate cake which is paired with a cinnamon ice cream. This is the desert I return to have time and time again. The cinnamon ice cream is just the perfect amount of sweet and spicy while beside with the rich chocolate cake is the ultimate pair. For anyone considering a meal out for restaurant week, I suggest you make your way to Alma. For a mere $25 you can have an incredible meal for a small price and come out feeling wonderful.  

http://almapgh.com/

http://pittsburghrestaurantweek.com/restaurants/winter-2013-restaurants/alma-pan-latin-kitchen/

New Year. New Kitchen. Same Problems.

I have finally returned to the US after living in Spain for the past four months. Unfortunately I didn't do any writing about food while I was away. Mostly because I was having the time of my life and couldn't sit still for a moment to sleep, let alone write.

Yet, here I am back in Pittsburgh, sitting in my new house that I am subleasing from a friend and realizing I am stuck in the same predicament as the last time I was in Pittsburgh. There are so many killer restaurants here in Pittsburgh. So many I have tried and many I have yet to visit... The only problem is these restaurants are the type you take a friend to and enjoy the chefs tasting menu paired with a wine on each course... They aren't really places to go alone. It's unfortunate that I don't feel like I can do to these top dollar, top tasting, places alone..... And although the food is sure to be spectacular it's also about the company and being able to discuss what flavors are working and what could be fixed. It's all about combining different aspects to obtain the perfect experience. Which I am yearning for, but can't achieve.

Another problem? I moved into this house with the assumtion my new roommates would cook, even just a little, but to my dismay all that was to be found were two packets of ramen, instant coffee, and three very dull knives. THERE AREN'T EVEN MUGS. Of course I don't want to go out and spend money on more kitchen tools that I already have at my home back in Tennessee, but this girl needs to cook. I am an avid stress baker, a bored eater, and a new recipe-found-must-try-now doer. The fact that my kitchen isn't complete is a disappointment, but also tells me that my roommates lack in the kitchen.

Maybe there is a club I can join for people who just want to eat amazing food and talk about it.
I should also get a job at a restaurant and am definitely writing my tutorial on the link between cultural lineage and food.