Food – Page 4 – Tiny Tales

Pittsburgh Food Diaries: Philadelphia Edition, Part II.

May 18, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail HuntLeave a Comment

Last weekend, I pregamed in Philadelphia. Not the kind of pregame you know and love from your college days, but a weekend-long preview of this year’s annual Fourth of July vacation with some of the most wonderful people that exist in this galaxy.

We spent most of Friday night on Nate and Megan’s back porch with a bottle of wine and bubbling laughter, and I woke up the next morning with the sun and a hot cup of coffee. We started our long, sunny Saturday walk through town with a stop at Kite and Key before moving on to the Reading Terminal Market. We (obviously) picked up some donuts for breakfast before walking a few more blocks to Independence Beer Garden, an expansive garden overlooking the Liberty Bell and Independence National Historic Park. Decorated with reclaimed wood and distressed metals, Tivoli lights and every outdoor game you could think of, there’s no surprise why it’s the place to find anyone on a warm summer day in Philadelphia.

We made a few more stops along on Saturday afternoon (at places whose names I don’t remember) and hopped on bikes to zip home for a quick refresh before heading back out for the night. I have never laughed so hard or smiled so big or felt like my heart was going to burst with so much happiness from the joy that these people bring me.

At one point not so long ago, the five of us shared the small city of Pittsburgh. Now I’m the last man standing here, while Nate and Megan hold down Philadelphia and Kris and Rita are living the New York City dream. But when we all come back together, even if it is just a few times a year, it’s like nothing has changed at all. Kris is still a Sea Puppy and Nate’s still Two-Tooth. Rita will always have Baby’s First Brunch, and there will always be that one time with Megan and the paper at Belvedere’s. (And shoutout to Carl and Becky, who couldn’t be there with us this weekend.)

To bring our whirlwind weekend to an end, we all grabbed brunch at BlueCat on Sunday morning, a Latin infusion restaurant in Fairmount. We rolled up armed with a bottle of champagne, and a weekend’s worth of laughs between us.

The waitress placed two small plates down on the table: an appetizer of jicama, watermelon, cucumber and a white vinaigrette, topped with cilantro. Delicious. Then, in my typical salty breakfast fashion, I ordered the breakfast burrito, which came served with fried plantains (stahhhhhp) and stopped speaking entirely in between my first bite and my last. Meg went with the huevos rancheros and, to no one’s surprise, Rita went with the french toast. Nate and Kris jumped on the burrito train with me, adding chorizo to theirs.

Maybe it’s because I was starving, maybe it’s because I got less than 10 hours of sleep the whole weekend, or maybe it’s because BlueCat was actually that amazing, but this brunch was the best way I could’ve imagined ending a Fourth of Julancer pregame with these amazing people. It’s kinda like we run the world. La da dee da dee.

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Dining In, Food

Not Quite Julia Child’s Eggplant Pizza.

May 11, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail Hunt1 Comment

Since Madison’s post about her amazing Roasted Toasted Roarin’ Chickpeas, quite a lot has happened that I haven’t had any time to write about.

I took a Gin & Tonic class at Wigle Whiskey to celebrate Dan’s birthday (Happy birthday!), where we made our own tonic and learned all about the gin they distill there. Uhhh-mazing, and something y’all should definitely do if you have the time.

Then, I took a quick trip home to watch my brother’s play ice hockey — they killed it, by the way — and ate at Lancaster Brewing Company, where there was a surprisingly delicious selection of beer and food. Can’t beat that.

Then, I made my first trip of the season to Pusadee’s Garden, an all-time favorite of mine. They never disappoint. The company wasn’t so bad either. (Holla atcha girl, future Volkmans. Who needs champagne on a sidewalk when you’ve got such a lovely spread on the table?)

And then, I ran the Pittsburgh Marathon 5k with my family. Last year, it was the only thing my dad wanted: to run the marathon relay with his family. Unfortunately, an ill timed bum ankle prevented him from participating in the race, so we tried it again this year. The boys were too young to qualify as relay runners, so we signed up for the 5k instead. It sucked and I’m way out of shape, but it truly was the most gratifying thing to cross the finish line, hand-in-hand with my brother and my dad. A moment I won’t soon forget.

And last weekend, I took a trip to the family farm to celebrate Claude’s 72nd birthday and Mother’s Day. I wish I could even begin to describe the feeling I get on that farm. It’s been around forever, but I always discover something new when I’m there. It’s comfortable and homey, but it feels like a vacation. And the company? Well, the company sure is hard to beat.

Then I came home and pressed some grapefruit in my new juicer. Thanks, Gran!

So, here I am, back in Pittsburgh on a Monday night after what has been a whirlwind few weeks. A 10-hour work day under my belt, and the air is thick and hot. The last thing I want to do is make dinner, but hey, a girl’s gotta eat, right? A spontaneous ride home from work with Hailey led me to the grocery store, and — more specifically — the part of the produce aisle where the eggplants live.

The last time I was in Nashville, my best friend’s sister made eggplant pizza. It piqued my interest then, and it came flooding back to me today while Hailey was gathering her evening allotment of okra. I also remembered reading about Julia Child’s extra fancy, probably extra delicious eggplant pizza. Feeling like a semi-chef-rockstar and ready to tackle this weird looking vegetable, I grabbed the best looking eggplant I could find and threw it in the basket (along with some pesto, marinara and the biggest slices of pepperoni I’ve ever seen).

Ingredients: Eggplant, cut into 1/4″ slices / Olive oil / Salt + pepper / Sauce (whatever kind you’d like) / Pepperoni / Cheese

Directions: Preheat oven to 400˚F. / Brush the slices of eggplant with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. / Generously apply the sauce. I couldn’t choose, so I went with some pesto and some marinara. / Top with pepperoni and cheese. / Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown. / Serve with a glass of your favorite Barbera. / Enjoy!

Check out Julia’s recipe here.

Dining In, Food

Roasted, Toasted Roarin’ Chickpeas

April 15, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail Hunt1 Comment

This week, I’m excited to introduce my very first guest blogger (and bestie): Madison Suarez! Newly engaged (holla!) and a fellow writing enthusiast, Madison shares her recipe for her Roasted, Toasted Roarin’ Chickpeas below! (Be sure to check out her blog, Happily Hangry!)

I grew up deprived. Deprived of certain foods. My mom is a picky eater, and my brother is cut from the same cloth—the most exotic vegetable I ate growing up were fresh green beans or corn on the cob, both seasoned with salt, pepper and butter only. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, don’t get me wrong. I just missed out on a LOT of “exotic” food.

For example, it took me 26 years to discover the glory of Chickpeas.

Sure they’re in most salad bars, served as side dishes, in many vegetarian dishes. And college was a time of self-discovery (hard-boiled eggs, quesadillas, my very own chili!). I still wasn’t exposed to them. It took going to a nutritionist—“Give ‘em a shot. Protein-packed little suckers,” she said—to realize exactly how much I had been missing.

Since this summer I’ve been experimenting with them a few times a week: hummus, sautéed with spinach, burgers, check. I wanted more. It wasn’t until a stay in a Seattle hotel with a bougie vegetarian menu that I stumbled upon ROASTED CHICKPEAS.

After a few tweaks based on my sensitivities to life, I had my new favorite snack.

Roasted, Toasted Roarin’ Chickpeas

You’ll need:

1 can of Chickpeas
Some Olive Oil
Your favorite spices
Baking sheet
Strainer
A ton of paper towels

Then you’ll

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Pop open your can of chickpeas, dump into a strainer and rinse those little guys. I removed the skin (because it was almost kinda fun, to be honest) but you can leave them on if you’re crunched for time.
Once your beans are washed, spread evenly on a layer of paper towels to dry. Use another layer of paper towels to absorb moisture from the top, and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Be patient because dryer pre-cooked beans = crunchier cooked beans!

Time to toss ‘em with Olive Oil and your favorite spices. I used:
- Cayenne Pepper
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Paprika
- Cumin
Mix it all together and pour onto a non-greased baking sheet. Toast for 20 minutes or until they meet your crunch desire.
Keeping your baking sheet of beans in the oven, turn the oven OFF and leave the door cracked open. Let them cool IN THE OVEN for an additional 10 minutes.
EAT! I don’t have a trick for storing. Hurry.

Enjoy!

Dining Out, Food

The Pittsburgh Food Diaries: Tender.

April 14, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail HuntLeave a Comment

Tender Bar + Kitchen isn’t new to me, but each time I step through the front door, it’s like I’ve entered a different era entirely. Everything is soulful and intentional; historic and vibrant; dark, but not unassuming. It reminds me of a speakeasy, quietly tucked away in a large, Lawrenceville building. The sounds inside rarely reach more than a low rumble, but the celebratory spirit of a time long ago rumbles loud and clear.

TENDER_GATSBY_21-750x500 — Photo by tenderpgh.com.

I ended up seated at a table for two, facing the floor-to-ceiling, fully-stocked, cinematic bar. I watched as each of the bartenders, expert in their craft of cocktail mixing, crawl up the ladder and fly from side to side, quickly grabbing spirits from bottles tucked away on the shelves. They would twist and pour and shake and squeeze and shake and swirl and pour, creating these complex and beautiful and aromatic and approachable craft cocktails like it was second nature.

I ordered a French Seventy-Five, a drink created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris. It was simple, yet elegant: sparkling wine, gin and lemon juice. So sweet and easy that I could have had a million of them.

For dinner, I took a slightly more traditional route. I ordered the crispy brussel sprouts as an appetizer, just like I always do. They’re served with soy-mirin gastrique, pepperoncini, candied bacon and shaved manchego, and they never last long enough for me to snag a picture of them. Literally not once.

For my meal, I chose the Shepherd’s Pie, made with lamb from Serenity Hill (a local farm just outside of Pittsburgh), cured lamb belly, root vegetables, Yukon gold potatoes and a parmesan crisp. And then, of course, there was the simple Tender Burger, a hefty patty served with cheddar, local green, pickled fennel and pub sauce and a side salad.

There’s nothing like quality time when you feel a little bit like you’re drinking at Gatsby’s.

Dining In, Food

An Easter Away From Home.

April 6, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail Hunt2 Comments

I’m big on family. Always have been, always will be. So when I made the decision to spend Easter here in Pittsburgh, a part of me was sad… but there was also a small part of me that was excited to tackle an Easter meal all on my own.

In the spirit of making the most of our Easter away from home, we wanted to celebrate the holiday with some friends who have been like family to us. (Shoutout to yinz, Nate and Megan!) So, I made a list of my favorite family recipes, scoured Pinterest for a few more ideas, and came up with a menu for my first ever Easter lunch.

The ham turned out to be the easy part, although it was the one thing I had been dreading most. I woke up early in the morning to put our huge slab of meat in the crockpot with three cups of brown sugar and a can of chunked pineapple, turned the heat to high, and let it cook for five hours. Boom: done.

Next up: a simple seven layer salad. I used my mom’s classic recipe, where you literally just pile seven layers of ingredients (spinach, pees, red onion, a mayo/sugar dressing, cheeses, bacon and bread crumbs) on top of one another. Another Easter dish complete, check!

Then I moved on to a dish that was a little unconventional: Rosemary Quinoa Mac & Cheese. My grandma makes the best mac and cheese ever — something I’m fairly certain I’ll never be able to recreate. So, I tried my hand at a much healthier version of this Easter staple. It took me a little while to find my groove, but I’m pretty pleased with the end result.

Ingredients: 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets / .25c cashews / .25c milk / 1 tsp. dijon mustard / Paprika, salt + pepper / 4c cooked quinoa / 1.5c shredded cheese / .25c rosemary

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375, and grease a baking dish. / Steam the cauliflower florets until tender. / Place steamed cauliflower into a blender. Add the cashews, milk, mustard and spices. Blend until smooth, adding in milk until you’ve reached a think soupy consistency. / Place cooked quinoa into a large mixing bowl. Add cream mixture and 1c of cheese. Stir to combine. Fold in rosemary. / Transfer mixture to the greased baking dish. Top with cheese and rosemary. / Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.

With the Rosemary Quinoa Mac & Cheese in the oven and looking scrumptious, I moved on to the Honey Mustard & Rosemary Glazed Carrots. (If you can’t tell, I’m all about rosemary these days.) These were super easy to throw together, and had the perfect sweet and salty ratio. Mmm mmm good.

Ingredients: Carrots — as many or as little as you’d like / EVOO / Unpasteurized honey / Dijon mustard / Rosemary / Garlic, minced / Salt + pepper / Parsley

Directions: Preheat the oven to 425. / Cut the carrots to your desired size. (I quartered mine – one cut across and one cut lengthwise.) / In a separate bowl, mix together the EVOO, honey, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper. / Pour over carrots, and mix thoroughly. / Spread carrots in a single layer on a baking dish. / Bake for 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally. / Sprinkle with fresh parsley (or some pecorino romano) before serving.

We hunkered down in the living room, plates full of food, and hearts full of happiness. It’s rare to have friends that feel like your family, but on a day spent away from home, it’s something I’m extra thankful for.

And one last thing: Huge shoutout to Hailey for her bomb.com green bean casserole, potato casserole, chocolate mousse and homemade ice cream, and to Nate for his homemade bacon herb bread! Y’all are the best.

Dining Out, Food

Pittsburgh Food Diaries: Industry Public House.

April 2, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail HuntLeave a Comment

This past Tuesday, I found myself in the midst of a few good friends in a dimly lit bar, a cool glass of wine in my hand, and a plate of sizzling fried pickles being placed gently in front of me when it dawned on me. Of all the places I have eaten in Pittsburgh, Industry Public House is one that I’ve never considered blog worthy… until now. Only a few blocks from my house, I go there all the time. I go there with my work friends, I’ve taken my family there; it’s reliable. It may not have graced the pages of Pittsburgh Magazine’s Best Restaurants, but in our opinion, it should have. (And shoutout to the Smoke Stack, an Industry specialty drink that took home the Hottest Drink in Town award from Pittsburgh Magazine in 2013.)

While beer and cocktails are the main headliners of this industrial bar (seriously, check out those Edison bulbs) — and rightfully so, with their seemingly endless options — the food isn’t something to ignore, either. While I’ve grown into some tried and true favorites (like the Model ‘T’urkey or Electric Cheese sandwiches, the Farmed Out Burgher or the Beastloaf), I went down a slightly different path this time.

I started with an order of fried pickles, and my friends Hailey and Dan ordered the infamous truffle fries. The pickles were breaded in a mixture of two parts heaven and one part magic to create the fluffiest, sweetest, crunchiest fried pickle house that I’ve ever encountered. And I’m not even being dramatic. The truffle fries are another best entirely. A plate full of hand cut filament fries are doused in truffle oil and gorgonzola and are probably loaded with calories, but they are so delicious, no one even cares. Seriously, my friends and I order them every. single. time.

For dinner, I ordered the ‘Shroomed flatbread and another glass of wine. The flatbread was light and airy and topped with small, diced mushrooms, arugula, chevre and carmelized shallot. Every bite was cheesy and earthy, and I just couldn’t get enough.

Unfortunately, another glass of wine later, our night had to come to an end. We were saying goodbye to a friend from England, who after six months here in the US, was going back home. We went home with happy bellies and happy hearts, already making plans for our next trip back for some truffle fries.

Dining In, Food

Blue Apron: Baked Fontina Pasta.

March 30, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail HuntLeave a Comment

It was another Sunday for the introverted books. After a go-go-go few weeks, I was relishing in my calm, quiet, planless afternoon. I took a nap, watched about a zillion episodes of Parenthood and decided that maybe I should cook some of the mountains of food in my refrigerator, rather than order sushi from the hole-in-the-wall place down the street.

I haven’t been on a huge meat kick, so I chose to make one of the vegetarian dishes we received in our latest shipment of Blue Apron: Baked Fontina Pasta. It combined quite a few of my favorite ingredients into one — cheese, Brussels sprouts and pasta — so I had a feeling it would be a resounding success for my tastebuds.

As I chopped and mixed and boiled and toasted, dancing around the kitchen to my Catgrooves playlist on Spotify, it dawned on me why I love empty Sundays so much. It’s a day when, generally speaking, I have the house to myself and I can take the time to do the things that I genuinely enjoy, but rarely have time for. Like cooking. And reading. And this: blogging.

So, I cozied up on the couch with a piping hot bowl of my creamy, salty, meat-free dinner, Netflix and Buxton, and I just couldn’t help but smile. I’m really fortunate enough to do the things that I love in a home that I love while surrounded by people (and a cat) that I love. And there’s really not a whole lot that’s better than that.

Ingredients: Campanelle pasta / Brussel sprouts, shaved / Sage, chopped / Flour / Fontina cheese / Butter / Heavy cream / Shallot / Panko breadcrumbs

Directions: Preheat the oven to 450. / Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta until al dente. / Set pasta aside, reserving two cups of the pasta water. / Toast breadcrumbs and chopped sage in two tablespoons of olive oil in a nonstick pan. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. / In the same pan, cook the shallot in olive oil until soft. Add brussel sprouts and cook until softened and bright green. / In the pot used to cook the pasta, melt the butter. Add the flour, heavy cream, reserved pasta water and fontina cheese. Stir until melted and combined. / Add the cooked pasta and sprouts to the sauce and thoroughly mix together. Season with salt and pepper. / Transfer to baking dish and cook for 5-7 minutes. / Serve with a crisp Chardonnay and enjoy!

Dining Out, Food

The Pittsburgh Food Diaries: The Vandal.

March 15, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail Hunt1 Comment

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend the menu tasting event for The Vandal, a restaurant coming soon to our little neighborhood of Lawrenceville! Chef and owner Joey Hilty — brother of Covalent cofounder, Jeff — and Emily Slagel of Mid-Atlantic Mercantile revealed a small portion of The Vandal’s menu at Bar Marco on one of their weekly No Menu Mondays.

As a group, we ordered two of everything on the menu. There were three appetizers: Shishito Peppers, Potatoes and Carrots. Simply named, but each more delicious than the one before. The peppers were lightly charred and crisp; the roasted potatoes were coated in olive oil, salt and garlic, warm and wonderful when dipped into whatever that magical sauce was that danced across the plate; the carrots — by far my favorite — were cooked perfectly, soft and sweet.

There were two sandwiches on the menu: a cheeseburger and a roast pork sandwich. I’ve had some really amazing burgers in the past; burgers topped with peanut butter and jelly, or made with honey and layered with gouda and bacon in the form of Becky’s famous dream burgers. And The Vandal’s burger is right up there with the best of them. The ingredients are simple: cheddar cheese, thinly sliced red onion and lettuce. But the meat of the burger itself was out of this world. The roast pork sandwich was weirdly reminiscent of the sandwich I ate in Philadelphia, topped with broccoli rabe and a little bit of spice.

Last, but certainly not least, we ordered the fried chicken, which arrived atop a slice of toast, served with sides of homemade ranch and honey. There’s something about the combination of chicken and honey that just works, so I’m pretty sure there was exactly half chicken/half honey in each bite I took… and then I even dipped my burger in the honey… and my potatoes… and even a carrot or two. But that’s besides the point.

After dinner and a few drinks, we sat in the dimly lit space of Bar Marco, enjoying each other’s company and anxiously awaiting the opening of The Vandal, coming this spring. The menu is basic and reminiscent of the traditional foods I ate growing up. Easy, simple foods that you could make for your own family, foods that are done well. Really well.

Dining Out, Food

The Pittsburgh Food Diaries: La Gourmandine.

March 4, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail Hunt1 Comment

The morning after anything is (almost) always my favorite. For example, the morning after I graduated college, I woke up to the quiet clamor of my family moving around in my apartment, feeling somehow like an entirely new individual — an adult — and feeling really proud of myself. The mornings after I learned that my great-grandparents had passed away, I cherished that quiet time to myself to reflect on all the things they had taught me in life.

Whether it’s the morning after something wonderful or the morning after something not-so-wonderful, to me, there’s always been something powerful about being curled up in my blankets, light softly dancing across my room, reminiscing about whatever it was that happened the day before, and having an entirely new and blank slate of day in front of me.

So, when Sunday rolled around, the morning after a great day spent with family, I was content. I woke up slowly, Buxton softly purring on my chest, and thoughts of La Gourmandine, a small bakery and pastry shop a few blocks from our house, dancing through my head.

Stepping through the doors of the bakery, it’s hard to imagine that you’re not in a small hole-in-the-wall viennoiserie in Paris. The food, sound and smells are so authentic. To please my palette for sweetness, I ordered un croissant aux amandes (an almond croissant) and un tortillons de chocolat (a vanilla creme-filled twist with chocolate chips)!

And because I genuinely enjoy savory foods, I added a croissant du jambon et fromage and a slice of quiche Lorraine to our order. I walked out with my boxes of treats and went home, anxiously anticipating a hot cup of coffee and our breakfast. I curled up on the couch with our smorgasbord of food in front of me, House of Cards playing on the TV, and Buxton playfully tossing her cat nip-filled fish in the air. A great morning after a wonderful day isn’t something I’ll ever complain about.

Dining Out, Food

The Pittsburgh Food Diaries: Philadelphia Edition.

February 28, 2015August 3, 2017by Abigail Hunt1 Comment

From when I was young — think: middle school field trip age — I’ve always loved everything about Philadelphia, and as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that its food is like the city itself: real, hearty, grounded and unpretentious. So last weekend, when I found myself on a spontaneous road trip to the City of Brotherly Love to visit two of my dearest friends, I was excited. Excited for some good, quality time with Nate and Megan, excited to be back in Philadelphia, and excited for some new food.

On Saturday morning, we walked from their apartment in Fairmount to the Reading Terminal Market, a historic institution that, since 1892, has been able to offer the community a blend of locally grown and exotic produce, meats, baked goods, and about a million other things. For the yinzers out there, imagine the entire Strip District in one building. That’s the Reading Terminal Market.

We started by grabbing sandwiches from DiNic’s — Nate and I opted to try the world famous roast pork and broccoli rabe, while Megan went with the Italian-style pulled pork. The pork on each of our sandwiches was amazing: perfectly tender and wonderfully seasoned. And the freshly baked bread? Don’t even get me started. The rabe, eh, I could have done without it — Nate agreed — and Meg made the best choice by throwing peppers and onions onto her ‘wich.

To water down the gratuitous amounts of food we ate for lunch, we headed to Old City Coffee for some freshly ground brew. And then, being the gluttons that we are, we just had to make one last pit stop at Beiler’s Doughnuts, a Pennsylvania Dutch family-owned doughnutery (I obviously made that word up) that serves myriad variations of creme-filled delicacies.

I chose a maple bacon doughnut, while Nate had the salted caramel and Meg ordered chocolate peanut butter. It was hard not to drool over the cases of fresh sweets, and even harder to choose just one.

This food-filled afternoon was then followed by a series of games of Settlers of Catan, lots of snow, lots of laughter, a little whiskey, some wine and a few beers. During this time period, we added in more food in the form of appetizers from Rembrandt’s, including loaded tater tots, French onion soup, cheesesteak spring rolls, crack mayo french fries and the best macs and cheese with truffle I’ve ever eaten in my whole entire life. No joke. 763,159,076 calories later, we walked home, tired, but happy (and full) as clams.

This leads me to the next morning. There is literally nothing more wonderful about the weekend than Sunday brunch. We three musketeers walked through the brisk air to Bishop’s Collar, a local Fairmount eatery whose name is derived from an old Celtic expression for a perfectly poured pint of Guinness. Well, I didn’t have a beer with my breakfast — I stuck with a mimosa — but I did order a simple wrap, stuffed with a fried egg, sliced ham, provolone and guacamole. Seriously, brunch and guacamole?! I literally cannot.