Category Archives: Family

Thanksgiving nachos. For realz.

Posted on November 20, 2012 by

So, this happened: http://pgplate.com/how-to/99-bucking-tradition-with-thanksgiving-nachos It’s that time of year, y’all. Anything is possible. Even Thanksgiving nachos with smoked turkey, gravy, Monterey Jack and a cranberry-roasted tomatillo salsa. A recipe for the salsa: This is what I did. There are obviously … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, holiday, Ingredients, Nontraditional, Recipes, Seasonal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Amateur status.

Posted on February 20, 2012 by

I am not a professional. Don’t pretend to be one, no real aspirations to be one. Those who cook for a living impress me. The hours, the conditions, the repetition — and the hazards. About a year ago I came … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Ingredients, Lawrenceville, Meta, Neighborhoods, North Side, Techniques and tools | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 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

Dude.

Posted on October 6, 2011 by

Roasting poblanos. Among my favoritest things ever. Forgot to mention: Those roasted poblanos went into a lamb chili I made for my in-laws. It was good. You’re just going to have to trust me.

Posted in Family, Ingredients, Meta, Neighborhoods, North Side | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 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

The risks of a family gathering.

Posted on September 18, 2011 by

Sometimes it’s safer to just bring your own beer.

Posted in Beer, Family | 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

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

Roasted-corn and tomato summer salad.

Posted on May 31, 2011 by

I forget what the inspiration was the first time I made this. I know I took it to someone’s house for a summer party, but the rest is lost to me. The last few years, it’s become a summer staple … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap eats, Family, Ingredients, Presentation, Recipes, Seasonal, Techniques and tools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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

Bloomfield.

Posted on February 24, 2011 by

For some reason, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was crazy enough to pay me to write this story for them. No accounting for taste, I suppose. But there is one thing you won’t know from reading it. My favorite paragraphs are the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bloomfield, Family, Meta, Neighborhoods, Traditional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Deer jerky.

Posted on November 30, 2010 by

Almost sounds like a diary entry. Or an ode. Some kind of deer-hunting season started yesterday. I read that somewhere. For me, it means one thing: my in-laws’ deer jerky. My father-in-law has heads on the the walls of his … Continue reading →

Posted in Beaver County, Family, Ingredients, Seasonal, Traditional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment