Category Archives: Ambience

On Fifth.

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

There is this little hole in the wall joint on Fifth near the corporately sponsored building where the Pens play. Great jukebox. Real neighborhood vibe. People getting frisked at the door. Y’know. The usual.

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Oven ribs with chocolate rosemary sauce.

Posted on February 19, 2012 by

Unexpected inspiration is often a good thing. A chocolate party is a perfect example. My friends Gwen and Derrick have a chocolate party every year at their place on the South Side. Chocolate beer, chocolate chili, chocolate cookies, chocolate ice … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Beer, Ingredients, Neighborhoods, Nontraditional, Presentation, Recipes, South Side, Strip District, Techniques and tools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Franktuary truck.

Posted on October 12, 2011 by

Sure, it’s a hotdog. That’s its heart, its essence. Even hyphenated it remains simple. Call it all-beef or all-beef and grass-fed and remains a humble thing. A Pittsburgh thing, even. As much as wings and fries-and-slaw are stereotypes around this … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Cheap eats, Downtown, Ingredients, Neighborhoods, Nontraditional, Oakland, Presentation, Seasonal, South Side, Traditional | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Smoke Barbecue Taqueria.

Posted on October 11, 2011 by

Looks like I have tacos on my mind lately. Couldn’t resist another trip to Homestead this week. Why — now that’s easy. Ridiculous, right? Even in a photo taken in a hurry on my semi-crappy phone camera, that pork is … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Cheap eats, Family, Homestead, Ingredients, Neighborhoods, Nontraditional, Presentation, Service | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Salt of the Earth, Part II.

Posted on October 10, 2011 by

Pork baguette. Doesn’t sound like much, maybe just menu filler or something to get along a fancy takeout pizza someplace, a pimped-out hoagie. But no. This take on Vietnamese bahn mi the best thing I’ve put in my mouth at … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Garfield, Ingredients, Neighborhoods, Nontraditional, Presentation, Seasonal, Service | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Round Corner Cantina.

Posted on September 19, 2011 by

Hipster prices on street food. Runny tacos. Consistently inattentive, even combative, service. Guacamole and tamales ain’t half bad. And some of the drinks – when you can actually order and successfully receive one. Clearly I’m not a huge fan of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Beer, Ingredients, Lawrenceville, Neighborhoods, Presentation, Service | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Caruso Beer Distributor.

Posted on September 18, 2011 by

Sam Caruso started out as a teacher. Grew up on the North Side in Mexican War Streets, where his Sicilian father opened a beer store in 1933, right after the end of Prohibition. Maybe the first one in Pittsburgh after … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Beer, Family, Neighborhoods, North Side, Service, Traditional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Piper’s Pub.

Posted on September 18, 2011 by

If a place can be described as pan-UK, this is it. As many people describe the feel and aesthetic as English as do Scottish or Irish — and not just because there’s often a soccer match on one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Beer, Cheap eats, Neighborhoods, Service, South Side, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Golden Pig.

Posted on September 18, 2011 by

Yes, Korean food. In li’l ol’ Cecil on Route 50. The whole restaurant has just 10 seats and is subtle enough to drive by twice before pulling in. Even shares a building with a used-car dealership. Like you do. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Cheap eats, Family, Ingredients, Presentation, Recipes, Service, Traditional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Homebrew.

Posted on August 11, 2011 by

If you see one of these bad boys, pick it up. Read it. Check out the advertisers. Sure, I have a piece in it on the TRASH homebrew competition and what goes into entering these things and the long slog … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Beer, Ingredients, Presentation, Recipes, Service, Techniques and tools | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Lee.

Posted on June 6, 2011 by

Never been to China. Rural, urban – nope. Not even Hong Kong. And when it comes to the language, Wayne Campbell outdoes me. I am clearly not the person to tell anybody what authentic Chinese food is. So grab yourself … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Family, Ingredients, Neighborhoods, Service, Squirrel Hill, Traditional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Wilson’s.

Posted on June 2, 2011 by

Publishing can be a strange beast. I wrote a piece on the North Side barbecue joint Wilson’s in January for a magazine in Arkansas. It finally hit print — yesterday. (Flip to page 17 and zoom in if you’re so … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Cheap eats, Family, Ingredients, Neighborhoods, North Side, Recipes, Techniques and tools, Traditional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Winghart’s.

Posted on May 24, 2011 by

Brie, white-truffle aioli, arugula, caramelized onions and bacon. On a burger. In case you were wondering: And the fries were good. Seasoned, crispy — I think I liked them better than the ones at D’s in Regent Square. Maybe that’s … Continue reading →

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Yinz privileges.

Posted on May 21, 2011 by

Almost seven months in Pittsburgh now. I’m still new. It’s my city but it’s not my city. As much as I have embraced this city and it me, I am not of this place. I still have something to earn, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Family, Meta, Nontraditional, Traditional | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Milk Shake Factory.

Posted on February 25, 2011 by

This is probably one of the many ways in which I’m broken. I don’t want a milk shake in the summer. When it’s hot, the idea of all that thick dairyness sliding down my throat and sitting heavy in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambience, Ingredients, Neighborhoods, Seasonal, Service, South Side | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment