Savor Pittsburgh 2012: THE Culinary Competition

It's so hard to try a lot of different restaurants.

I was SO BUSY this summer that I really didn't get out to many new places.  In fact, the majority of my writing this summer was about Kennywood, the place where I spent the majority of my hours this past summer, working away, answering phones, making announcements, filing papers....

...I guess I didn't SPEND as much money that way.  More to spend in the winter months!

Savor Pittsburgh is a fantastic way to sample what many of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh have to offer.  Although it's a sampling, it gives you an idea of how creative our local chefs are, and how lucky we are to be in Pittsburgh - a city with more to offer than I could ever cram into this little blog post.

Pittsburgh = Awesome.

I attended the event last year with my brother, as he bought my ticket for me for my birthday (awww!). This year, I was fortunate enough to WIN two tickets from the Savor Pittsburgh organizers though a Facebook competition.  I would have probably gone anyway, but it was VERY nice to save money (again) on the price of the ticket.

I got more than my money's worth, even if I had paid!

I sampled from every restaurant, with myself and Burgh Gourmand, my date for the evening (duh), alternating getting small plates for each other, while the other saved a place at the table we had staked out with another couple.  Here are just a few of the foods that I tried:

From Verde Mexican Kitchen & Cantina: Carnitas Tamales with Mango & Jalapeno BBQ

From McCormick & Schmick's, South Side: Seared Ahi with Creme Fraiche in a Sesame Cone 

From Jackson's, Moon Twp: Short Ribs with Roasted Apple, Root Vegetables, and Natural Reduction

From Walnut Grill: Tuna Tostado

From Cafe Chocolade: Gluten-Free Crab Cake with Mascarpone Aioli

 Although I didn't get pictures of everything I ate, I did want to mention a few standouts - the Beer-Cured Salmon from Church Brew Works was a favorite of mine, as were the Vanilla Bean Scallops from The Wooden Nickel.  I can never guess who the actual winners will be (not to mention that I couldn't eat a few of the dishes, because they were pork/rib dishes...grrrr), but here they are:

Best Appetizer: "Chocolate Ravioli" - SAVOY Restaurant & Lounge

Best Entree: "Short Ribs with Roasted Apple, Root Vegetables & Natural Reduction" - Jacksons-Restaurant-Rotissiere-Bar-Moon Twp 

Best Dessert: "White Chocolate Cappuccino Cannoli with Balsamic Glazed Strawberries" - Grand Concourse - Pittsburgh (yeah, that was pretty good, too!)

Dish of the Year: "Smoked Pig Wings" - Meat & Potatoes (yup, didn't try that pig dish!)

People's Choice Award: SAVOY Restaurant & Lounge  (You can never go wrong with chocolate!)

However, the people also make the event so fantastic.  The entertainment was courtesy of "No Bad JuJu", a band that rivals any band you could ever find in any big-city venue.  With great sound and powerful voices, they kept the party going all night!

A shot of the crowd, with No Bad JuJu performing on stage.

And I FINALLY got to meet Leah Lizarondo of Brazen Kitchen, which is featured monthly in Pittsburgh Magazine.  She and I had exchanged Tweets and talked on the phone before, but had never met in person.  I made it a point to meet her, knowing that she was judging the competition.  What a sweetheart she is!  I hope we can work on something together in the future!

And...AND...I also met the man, the myth, the legend - Mr. Rick Sebak himself.  We have played Scrabble via the iPhone/Facebook application for awhile, and I am - of course - one of the current "Voices of Kennywood", so it was only appropriate that this meeting occurred.  He is a class-act, an all-around Pittsburgh legend.

And I swear this pic is NOT Yinztagrammed!  It's not even the right colored shirt for it to be so:

The Voice of Kennywood + Rick Sebak.  It was meant to be.

Savor Pittsburgh will be an annual tradition for me, for sure.  No doubt about it.  I sampled foods from more new restaurants in that evening than I have in many, many months...

...but that needs to change.  Guess I'll be spending that money I saved at more restaurants soon!  Stay tuned!

Savor Pittsburgh

27th & Sidney Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (South Side)

Website: http://www.savorpgh.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SavorPGH

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SavorPittsburgh

...Casa Rasta

Tacos are trendy.

I never imagined when I started this blog that so many new Hispanic/Latino restaurants would open even beyond the ones that were opening at the time.  In the original, epiphany-inspiring article, China Millman mentioned Alma, Smoke, Verde...but even more are opening, and they all have a common theme.

Tacos.

James checked out a place in Overbrook on Route 51 a few months ago called California Taco Shop, which I have yet to patronize.  Recently, he was made aware of a place in Beechview called Casa Rasta.

He was on it.  Quickly.

He ranted.  He raved.  He tweeted.  He blogged.

And now I had to get there myself, too!  Tacos are my thing, after all.

We were planning on spending a Saturday afternoon with Food Collage, shopping in the Strip District and making dinner at her place so that James could show off his cooking talents (and so that she and I could reap the benefits), so we thought, why don't we do lunch at Casa Rasta?

Done.

After shopping for our dinner ingredients in The Strip, we drove to Beechview, not far from Dormont, right along the "T" tracks (weird, because the "T" could come by at any moment, and we'd have to yield to it).  Lo and behold, Casa Rasta soon appeared on the left.

Casa Rasta

It's small and cute, with limited seating, just like Smoke BBQ Taqueria, but it definitely adds to the charm of the place.  James had become friendly with the owners, Antonio and Laura, who were so amiable and welcoming when we entered.

It was tough to decide what to order.  James had tried...well, most of the menu, and he liked it all, so it was hard to decide.  We spent a lot of time mulling over the menu, but in the meantime, I ordered a Mango Jarritos:

Menu + Mango Jarritos

One additional menu item for that day was a Ceviche Tostada.  When I hear ceviche: ceviche = sold.  Fresh.  Clean.  Refreshing:

Ceviche Tostada

 Even though the snow was blowing around outside, I already felt like I had escaped to a tropical, Caribbean resort in the middle of...well, Beechview.  Who knew? 

Snow surfing? Nah, just a knick-knack on the windowsill at Casa Rasta. It's adorable!

 Laura brought out a dip tray with a traditional red salsa, tomatillo salsa, and additional jalapeno peppers.  No matter how much I try to like tomatillo salsa, I always find the traditional red to taste better to me.  Not that the tomatillo was bad (not at all!), I just prefer the red to the green:

Tomatillo salsa, traditional salsa, jalapenos

I had finally settled on a Poblano Pepper & Rajas (Potato) Torta, a vegetarian option (not that I'm vegetarian, but I don't mind eating like one sometimes).  I also ordered a side of black beans and a side of rice:

Poblano Pepper & Rajas Torta

Oh wow.  You're probably wondering why I got a torta and not tacos - well, James got tacos, and I knew he'd let me try his...so torta it was.  No doubt it was amazing - all of the ingredients were very authentic, but I especially loved that it was topped with fresh avocado.  It was pretty filling, too - I did force myself to eat my beans and rice, though, to the best of my ability:

Black beans & rice

 Like I mentioned, James allowed me to try his tacos - a carnitas (pork), and a steak, or "carne asada".  I will definitely be getting tacos next time - maybe I'll try every single one.  They were reminiscent of the ones from Reyna's Taco Stand in the Strip District or at the taco stand at Las Palmas, with the savory meats and doubled-up tacos.  So tasty, so flavorful, so delicious:

Carnitas & Carne Asada Tacos

Food Collage went the taco route, too, and ordered similar to James.  For her review, click here.

Since we were the only ones there at the time, Antonio offered us some Chocolate-Chile Pepper Truffles, which were sweet, yet spicy.  These spicy chocolate truffles were rich and decadent, and melted in your mouth with that combination of sweetness and spice:

Chocolate-Chile Pepper Truffles

In addition, we sampled a quesadilla made with cheese (queso fresco) and "empazote", a leafy-green vegetable native to Mexico.  Antonio told us that people would just walk outside of their house and pick empazote from the plant in the yard to put it in their quesadillas.  Although simple, it was yummy!

Quesadilla: Queso Fresco & Empazote

Finally, we tried goat cheese (not my favorite, remember) with blueberry.  If I ever eat goat cheese again, it will be this - the tangy sweetness of the blueberry made it taste almost dessert-like:

Blueberry Goat Cheese

It's a good thing Casa Rasta isn't close to me (like Smoke), because I'd be there - well, as often as I am at Smoke.  The tortillas, the ingredients, the atmosphere - I loved it all.  Not to mention the charm and love that Antonio and Laura put into the food.  I also can't wait to work in conjunction with them on a fundraiser for the Spanish Club that I sponsor (that's how kind and generous they are!)

More Hispanic/Latino places have opened.  More will be opening.  I could easily live on a diet of tacos and other traditional foods - and I wouldn't complain.  Wouldn't complain at all...

Casa Rasta

2102 Broadway Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15216 (Beechview)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/CasaRastaPgh

...Smoke BBQ & Taqueria Menu Additions

Convenience is key.

Of course, people are more adept to going to chains - they're everywhere!  Here in Pittsburgh, no matter which shopping area you go to - Monroeville, Robinson, Century III, The Waterfront, Waterworks - you are likely to find a TGI Friday's, or Eat 'N Park, or Wendy's...

Convenient, yes, no matter where you are.

Sometimes, though, it is so much better to ditch convenience and go with somewhere local and independent.  Try something unconventional.  Inconvenient, yet worth the adventure.

Luckily, I don't have to be inconvenienced to go to Smoke Barbeque Taqueria - even if it would be worth it.

It's less than 10 minutes away.  Probably the most inconvenient part is the on-street, metered parking.  However, James is often willing to play delivery boy to avoid any inconvenience.

He's so awesome.

The day after Thanksgiving - Black Friday - Smoke unveiled some additions to their menu, all of which I was thrilled about because A.) I had pretty much tried everything on the old menu already, and I was losing the sense of adventure, and B.) I knew they could come up with really creative tacos, just based on that Chicken Apple Taco that I was lucky enough to try once as a special.  Over the course of a few trips, both take-out and dine-in, I tried the vast majority of the new menu.

New Menu, Page 1

New Menu, Page 2

I was most elated to see that the Chicken Apple Taco had made its way onto the new menu.  It is now my #1 taco choice any time I go - usually, I get that one, another taco (either a new one from the menu that I haven't tried, or an old favorite like the Veggie Taco), and a side on each visit.  The sauce on the taco is what makes it - a smoked jalapeno mayo, which is not super-spicy, but very flavorful.

Chicken Apple Taco - my #1

Another new addition to the menu is the Philly Taco - which is just as you would imagine: beef, onions, peppers, and cheese.  However, they use their best types of each: beef BRISKET, SAUTEED onions, HOT peppers, and AGED SHARP WHITE CHEDDAR cheese.  I took 9 other members of my family to Smoke right before Christmas, including my dad - the picky, set-in-his-ways eater that I mentioned in my Mallorca post.  He asked what I thought he would like, and I suggested the Philly Taco, since he likes a similar hoagie from Pido's Pub so much.  I was right.  I liked it, too, when I tried it on one of James' delivery trips, more so than any Philly cheesesteak I've ever had.

Philly Taco

James tried the BLT taco before I had the chance to, and he described it as probably one of the "healthier" options, due to the fact that it has more veggies on it than the other tacos. 

Bacon?  Healthy?  I don't know about that. 

It has the classic BLT ingredients - bacon, lettuce, and tomato - but it also had a smoked pepper mayo that made the flavor pop.  I love, love, LOVE the smoked bacon that they make in-house, and any time I get the mac 'n cheese, I get it with the bacon.  To me, this taco was delicious, given my love for their bacon, but the mayo and fresh veggies made it all the more fabulous.  I chose this as my second taco on a trip to Smoke with one of my regular dining partners, Food Collage, and her fiancee, R.  Food Collage got her mac 'n cheese with bacon, and it's safe to say that our dining group (James included) is enamored with Smoke's bacon.

BLT Taco

On that recent fateful trip with my family, I finally tried the Chorizo Taco.  Chorizo is definitely my favorite type of sausage, and I have had theirs on the Breakfast Migas Taco before as my meat option.  The sausage itself is spicy and full of flavor, as any great chorizo should be.  The taco also includes pinto beans, crispy potatoes (like on the migas), and a smoked pepper pico de gallo.  My aunt from near Philadelphia, who was with us on this outing, got the chorizo on her mac 'n cheese and loved it.

Chorizo Taco

There are also some new side and snack options on the new menu.  James had tried the chili on his first trip and insisted that I needed to try it.  Also, they have chili mac, which is just the chili poured over macaroni noodles.  Either way, the chili is fantastic - no ground meat, only their smoked beef brisket.  Spicy, but not overly spicy, and as great as any chili should be.

Chili, Chili Mac, and an old favorite - Red Potato Salad (with bacon) - and how about that placemat? ;-)

Two "snack" options have been added to the menu as well, one of which is Frito Pie: Fritos Scoops, covered in their new brisket chili, cheese, and avocado cream.  The best way that I can describe it is an upscale, classier "Walking Taco" (although I wouldn't try to walk and eat this!).  I tried this and shared it with Food Collage and R., although he didn't try much.  Food Collage helped a little, but I ate the majority of it and took some home.

Just a note - share with at least 4 people, and don't have leftovers.  Scoops get super soggy (but I still ate the leftovers, it was that good!)

Frito Pie

Frito con Queso is the other new "snack" option - Fritos Scoops served with a pico de gallo queso.  My aunt, uncle, cousins, and mom shared this on the family outing, and the cheese sauce was very tasty - definitely shareable with a group of at least 4 people, too!

Frito con Queso

I need a beverage each time that I eat there, and it is always a debate between the Agua Fresca and Horchata.  I love the Horchata, but if the Agua Fresca flavor sounds good, I'll get that.  I've tried many types of Agua Fresca over the course of my visits:

Blackberry Vanilla

Raspberry & Blueberry (mixed)

Horchata

Watermelon

Compared to the old menu, the prices have gone up slightly, but so have the portion sizes.  It appears that the tacos have more filling, and the sizes of the sides has definitely increased, so you still get your money's worth (and thensome!).

Smoke Barbeque Taqueria has been the subject of 5 of my posts now, and I cannot tell you how awesome this restaurant is.  Just today, China Millman from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said in her article, "Smoke Barbeque Taqueria in Homestead was probably the most universally beloved new restaurant of 2011."  So true.  Every article and post that I have read from local reporters, food bloggers, and tweeters that I follow have been nothing short of positive, congratulatory, and even grateful (for the restaurant's existence).

In addition, it is where James and I met for the first time.  Smoke will forever hold a special place in my heart.

At this point, all I can say is that if you haven't gone yet - go.  Just not on a Monday - they're closed.

Smoke Barbeque Taqueria

225 East Eighth Avenue

Homestead, PA 15120

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smoke-BBQ-Taqueria/124718980943732?ref=ts&sk=wall

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/smokebbqtacos

My Previous Posts on Smoke Barbeque Taqueria:

http://srtacibulkasavors.blogspot.com/2011/08/where-theres-smoke-theres-epiphany.html

http://srtacibulkasavors.blogspot.com/2011/08/smoke-again.html

http://srtacibulkasavors.blogspot.com/2011/10/smoke-taqueria-yet-again.html

http://srtacibulkasavors.blogspot.com/2011/11/smoke-taqueria-with-burgh-gourmand-food.html

...Smoke Taqueria with Burgh Gourmand & Food Collage

I may have a slight addiction to tacos.  And smoked meats.

I can't say enough about Smoke Taqueria in Homestead - their tacos are so fresh and so delicious that they cause a constant craving.  It's SO CLOSE to where I live, yet not close enough that I wouldn't have to drive there, so I have that moment to rationalize with myself, "No, you don't need tacos tonight, you have food at home to eat," or "No, you don't need tacos today, you have other restaurants to try."

*sigh* The dilemmas of a food blogger.

Burgh Gourmand has recently become quite the addict to Smoke's tacos as well.  When I see him check in on FourSquare (recently, quite often), I won't lie - I am extremely envious, and my urge to hop in the car and drive down Route 837 kicks in.  Then my brain kicks in, rationalizing as to why I don't need tacos at that time.  

Stupid brain.

Food Collage had mentioned a few weeks back that she wanted to try Smoke Taqueria, and that we should go together sometime.  We had discussed how fantastic their tacos are with other food bloggers on the Dormont Food Blogger Tour, and it was obvious that this trip needed to happen sometime soon.

Potato salad with smoked bacon

When I received a tweet from Food Collage last week, asking if I was free to go to Smoke sometime within the next week, it was a no-brainer to check my schedule and work this trip in with her.  I also invited Burgh Gourmand, just to feed his taco addiction some more, and also so that he could meet Food Collage, as they had not yet met in person.

Jalapeno apple slaw

We asked if there were any specials before we ordered, and the waitress told us no, but that the menu would be expanding soon - YAY!  Not that the standard menu isn't amazing, but I think that I've tried everything on it now, so more options will just mean that I need to eat there more often.

*SMACK* You don't need tacos that often, Señorita!

Pork taco

BG had recently tried the pork tacos, and he commented that it was his new favorite - pork is typically not my friend, but I have not had too many issues with it since losing weight.  I also went with my personal favorite - the veggie taco - and jalapeno apple slaw.  To drink, I ordered a horchata (of course), despite the choice of pineapple agua fresca.

 

FC ordered one of the recommended pork tacos, along with a brisket taco (which I had on my very first visit), jalapeno apple slaw, and a horchata.

Chicken taco

BG went with the same tacos as FC, but instead of the slaw, ordered the potato salad, which was topped with smoked bacon (like the kind on that chicken apple taco we had last time that was SO FANTASTICALLY TASTY that I fantasize about it still...for real).  Eating these smoked meats makes me realize that I need to work a grill with a smoking element into my budget.  No joke.  Smoked bacon in potato salad is mind-blowing.  What else will smoked bacon transform into a mouthwatering meal?  

Veggie taco

I'm willing to experiment and find out.

Even after eating this, it was hard to resist any more tacos.  FC has way more willpower than BG and I, because she declined a second round of tacos due to fullness.  BG ordered a chicken taco, and I ordered a Mexican migas with chorizo, at the waitress's suggestion.

Horchata

Round 2 - same as the first.  No regrets, just a fuller belly.

In addition, my horchata was even better on this day than the last time - there was more cinnamon in it, which made it taste refreshing and autumn-like.

Mexican migas with chorizo

BG, FC, and I spent over 2 hours at Smoke, not only eating, but engaging in conversation about our food experiences, career experiences, and overall life experiences.  Having had conversations and meals with each of them separately, I knew that I enjoyed conversing and dining with each of them; however, the three of us dining together made for an even more noteworthy evening meal.

I suppose that is what happens with tacos, too - separately, the ingredients are delicious, but when they come together within the tortilla, they become more gratifying.  Separately, I enjoyed my experiences with FC and BG, but having the 3 of us come together within the walls of Smoke Taqueria, it was even more gratifying.  Gracias, mis amigos :-)

Smoke BBQ & Taqueria

205 E. Eighth Ave.

Homestead, PA 15120

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/smokebbqtacos

Food Collage

Website: http://www.foodcollage.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/foodcollage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/foodcollage

Burgh Gourmand

Website: http://www.burghgourmand.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/BurghGourmand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BurghGourmand

…Las Velas con Burgh Gourmand

I know what I like.

I have been raving about Las Velas for months, since my first visit before the reopening as a guest with my brother, to my second visit for dinner with my brother, through this first quarter of the school year.  I have worn my Las Velas t-shirt to school (and had to correct many people who thought it said “Las Vegas”.  Ay de mí…)  I bought a CBS Local Offer AND a Groupon to ensure that I get back there soon (and save some money).  I even had a Twitter follower, Susan Lee, DONATE a CBS Local Offer to my classes so that one of my own students could experience this restaurant that I love so, so much.

I guess my love for Las Velas shines through with effect, because after our experience at Smoke Taqueria, Burgh Gourmand suggested that we go to Las Velas, since he had never been there, and I talked it up so much.

No hesitation here.  I accepted the invitation.

Photo courtesy of Burgh Gourmand: View of the inside of Las Velas (taken from his perspective, near the windows)

 We arrived and were seated by the windows, which reveal a gorgeous view of Market Square.  It was chilly and gray outside, with a chance of heavier rain, but regardless, people were still socializing and milling about.  The ice skating rink was in the beginning stages of being built a block away, and the barriers for it could be seen in the distance.

Our waiter asked if we wanted chips and salsa, and of course we said yes, but I made sure to add, “And guacamole, too, please!”

I love the guac.

Chips, guacamole, salsa roja

Burgh Gourmand commented on the guac as well, saying that it was “so creamy” (sometimes guacamole is a little chunky when the avocados aren’t mashed too well).  I know that it still gets my vote for “Best Guac”, despite trying it in other restaurants now, too.

Burgh had this to add later:

I did blur Burgh Gourmand's real name to protect the innocent - I promise, though, this was from him!

Although I am partial to the guac, I made sure to have my chips with some salsa, since A.) salsa is fat-free, and guacamole is not, and B.) I love the way the salsa tastes, since it is made with fresh cilantro, and C.) It is not super-chunky, but not super-runny, either.

Burgh Gourmand and I had a hard time deciding upon our main dishes – I wanted to try something off of their “Traditional Mexican” menu, since I hadn’t yet, and I keep touting authenticity.  Back when I started doing this, the owner’s wife, Ginny, replied to my email about my blog with a list of items on the menu that are authentic – and anything on that part is (in addition to others).

I decided to go with “Pollo al cilantro” – basically, you choose your meat and sauce, so I chose chicken with a cilantro sauce (I had to go cilantro!).  Burgh originally decided upon “Mar Y Tierra” (Surf ‘N Turf, to put it simply), but at the last minute changed his mind to the “Pollo en Mole Poblano”, which was my choice on my last visit.

Who doesn’t love a good mole?!

Pollo al cilantro - no leftovers this time (guess I'll have to come back for more...)

Photo courtesy of Burgh Gourmand: Pollo en mole poblano

Neither one of us regretted our choices.  Burgh’s mole exceeded his expectations – I told him that I wouldn’t steer him wrong, and I live up to my promises.  My “Pollo al Cilantro” was what I was hoping for – a delicious, but not overpowering cilantro-flavored sauce encasing shredded chicken, which served as a great filler for my handmade tortillas and veggies.  The sauce was a little salty, but not enough for me to not savor every bite of my meal.

In addition to comida muy rica, the trip to Las Velas included a spectacular view of Market Square, capped off with witnessing a torrential downpour (and pedestrians scattering to avoid it) and helicopters flying dangerously close to skyscrapers around Market Square due to the filming of the Tom Cruise film “One Shot”. 

Even better?  Great conversation with Burgh Gourmand.  It’s nice to converse with someone that A.) has common interests, B.) has intelligence, and C.) can tell you things you never knew before.  If you ever get the opportunity to dine with him – do it.

At the end of my last post about Las Velas, I said:

“I left so, so full, and so, so happy.”  - I did this time, too.

“I will be back, Las Velas.” – Obviously, I came back.  Duh.

“I will try something different next time, although I was completely smitten with the meal that I had chosen.” – Totally tried something new (although Burgh did let me sample his mole poblano!  I couldn’t resist!)

“I will bring friends.” – Done.

“I will encourage others to patronize you, even if I am not with them.” – I do through my blog, Facebook page, Twitter.  I wear my Las Velas shirt to school on Casual Friday when I can.  Not to mention my contest where a student won $30 to spend at your restaurant!

Further proof that I live up to my promises.

Las Velas

21 Market Square

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Web: http://www.lasvelasmex.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf - !/LasVelasMex

Twitter: @lasvelas

Burgh Gourmand

Website: http://www.burghgourmand.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurghGourmand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BurghGourmand