Kennywood Latino Day 2013

Finally.  A nationality day for Latinos!

I adore every nationality day at Kennywood, as you well know from previous posts - however, I have always been disappointed that there was not a Latino Day.  I am aware that Latinos only make up about 2.3% of the population in Pittsburgh, but that is all the more reason for people to know that yes, there are Latinos here, and yes, they make GREAT food.

Thankfully, Alberto Benzaquen of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce answered my cries and organized this entire event, with some of the best entertainment from Latinos that Pittsburgh has to offer.

And - some of the best food.

I was so excited to hear that La Palapa (of Pittsburgh Public Market fame), Las Palmas (the BEST street tacos in Pittsburgh), AJ's Peruvian (never been, but excited to try it), and Casa Rasta (who have been nothing but good to me in so many ways) would be the vendors.  

La Palapa's setup

The offerings from Casa Rasta

I knew I had to get something from every single one of them.

I ventured back to Pavilion 4 on my break to find the vendors in high-gear, cooking food and setting up their assembly lines.  My first stop - Casa Rasta for some elote: grilled corn, slathered in mayonnaise (yes, mayonnaise), sprinkled with queso fresco and chile powder, and accompanied by a lime for squeezing.  Sound familiar?  See my recipe for esquites, which is essentially the same thing, but off the cob.

Half-eaten elote (I couldn't help myself!)

Next - AJ's.  They had a big spread, but knowing that I was going to be eating from every vendor, I went small and tried two of their empanadas - one pollo (chicken), and one spinach.  I also purchased an Inca Cola, one of the few "pops" I will drink in non-diet version (since there isn't one).  I've had it before from Las Palmas and Chicken Latino, so I knew I liked it (it tastes like cream soda):

Inca Cola

Spinach and chicken empanadas from AJ's Peruvian

My last stop was La Palapa, because unfortunately, Las Palmas was still in the process of setting up.  I LOVE La Palapa's pineapple tamale, so I went with that.

Pineapple Tamale from La Palapa

I carried my haul of food back to the office in a stack, worried that perhaps I would be too full to eat it all.

My stack of food!

Wait...do I not know myself?  I ate it all.  Every last bite.  The pineapple tamale was divine, as always; the empanadas...I've had better, sorry to say; and the elote - OH, THE ELOTE!  It was fantastic.  Superb.  A mess to eat, yes, but worth every wipe of the napkin.  I just wish people had told me about the charred corn in my teeth and on my face sooner....

AND...my savior, Jay, our IT guy, was going back to Pavilion 4 for his lunch, so I asked him to grab me a taco if Las Palmas was set up at that time.  And you know what?  They were.  He got me a chicken taco, which was just as tasty as the ones I get on Brookline Blvd. in front of their store:

A beautiful chicken taco from Las Palmas (watch out for that glob of hot sauce on top, though!)

BUT - I could have knocked Jay out for putting the HOT salsa on that taco.  HOLY MOUTH-ON-FIRE!  I survived, but I know he got a secret thrill out of watching me sweat it out (grrrrr...).

Because I was working, I missed the entertainment, but I could hear the sounds of Choro No Vinho playing while I purchased my food - they are EXCELLENT, and I am proud to have worked with Abby Gross of this fantastic band at school last year. 

I may be biased, but the food for Latino Day won over every other ethnic day this year.  I didn't write about them again this year, as the vendors hadn't changed (plus I missed my second-favorite - Greek Day - because I was on vacation), but Latino Day NEEDS to be an annual event - and I'm sure Alberto will make sure of it.

Kennywood Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15122

Website: http://www.kennywood.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kennywoodpark
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Kenny_Kangaroo

Kennywood's Nationality Days: Croatian Day

And so the summer comes to a gradual end.

It's so funny at Kennywood - everything for the full-timers is winding down, the operating days are down to weekends...meanwhile, my teaching cohorts are just getting into the swing of things.  I go to one job, and they are relieved that the craziness has slowed down, while at another, insanity has just begun.

Such is my life.  A never-ending circle of ups and downs.  It keeps things interesting, that's for sure.

There was one last nationality day to be had this summer on September 1st - Croatian Day.  A frequent caller asks several times a year, "When is the lamb and pork day at Kennywood?" - if it's early in the season, I tell her the date for Serbian Day, and if it's later, I tell her the date for Croatian Day.

One last trek to Pavilion 4 for Croatian Day food

 I wasn't expecting much after what was available on Serbian Day - lamb by the pound only, green onions, and bread.  I thought I would be getting lamb and taking it home to turn into 2 more meals.

Oh no.  Not this time.  

Walking back to the pavilion, I noticed that it was a lot busier than I thought - and there seemed to be more available.  The lamb was in the back, sold by the pound (and at $15/lb., I was a little put off -I think it was slightly less on Serbian Day).  BUT - this menu certainly caught my eye:

More than just lamb was offered on Croatian Day!

And across from it...COOKIES!

Only about half of the cookie table - there was so much to choose from!

Soooo, I decided to forgo the lamb and try something else.  Pratha, the trusty Gate 2 guard, swore that the haluski was the best of the season, beating out that of Slovak Day, Hungarian Day, and Polish Day.  The woman makes a mean pound cake, so I had to take her word.  Along with it, I decided upon stuffed cabbage and a homemade pepperoni roll, which the maker of the rolls insisted that Gina and I get ones with a little burnt cheese on them.

Haluski and Stuffed Cabbage (with a slice of bread)

Well.  Ok, then:

Pepperoni Roll

I could have bought up that entire cookie table, but I thought I would get the most appetizing-looking thing on the table, a cherry square.  Gina from I.T. also bought myself and Michele (my boss) an anise cookie, similar to ones that my grandmother made at Christmastime:

Cherry Square and Anise Cookie

Pratha was definitely not wrong about the haluski - it gets better with each nationality day, for sure!  I loved it - and the price was very reasonable.  I spent $8 on my entire meal (haluski, stuffed cabbage, pepperoni roll, cherry square) - about half of what I would have spent on the lamb.  The stuffed cabbage was also delicious, but I wasn't thrilled with my cherry square - BUT - Gina insisted on having me taste her apple square.

Oh. My. Goodness.  That was insanely amazing.  I NEED THAT RECIPE! 

Sadly, the Kennywood season is coming to a close, and the nationality days are over.  But, my two favorite times of year - Fright Nights and Holiday Lights - are right around the corner.  From what I understand, this year's Holiday Lights will be bigger and better - and I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing it was in its first year, so I can't WAIT to see what new surprises are to come!

See you this fall (and part of winter!)!


Kennywood Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15122

Website: http://www.kennywood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennywoodPark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kenny_Kangaroo

Kennywood's Nationality Days: Hungarian Day

Wait.  It's August?!  When did this happen?!


Crap.  You know that means school is about to start.  Like, soon.  Like, in 4 weeks, actually.


I'm not ready for school to start.  I'm not.  Summer goes by WAY TOO quickly.  Every year, I say, "After the 4th of July, summer is over."  This summer is no exception.  

Hungarian Day in Pavilion 4

So - that also means that there are not many Nationality Days left at Kennywood.  I'm pretty sad about that, but it was been one delicious summer, for sure.  Today was Hungarian Day, a day when I had no clue what was in their ethnic kitchen.  I figured it had to be similar to Slovak, Carpatho-Russian, and Polish Day, but I couldn't be sure. 

Hungarian Day Menu

Well, I was right.  Gina joined me again, as well as Jess and Kelsey from Guest Relations (Michele was off, and Tyler is on vacation - I'm sure they would have joined me if they were there as well!).  The usual "hunky" offerings of stuffed cabbage, haluski, and kielbasa (kolbasz) and sauerkraut  were present.   I was sure to get one of each, with the exception of the kielbasa and kraut:

Toltott Kaposzta (Stuffed Cabbage)

Kaposzta Teszta (Cabbage & Noodles, aka Haluski)

In addition, a potato dumpling dish with breadcrumbs was on the menu.  I had to try it - some people in the office commented that it was similar to a potato haluski that they had tried before, but I'm not sure if it's the exact dish that they know:

Krumpli Galuska (Potato Dumplings and Buttered Bread Crumbs)

The haluski was some of the best I have ever had - the cabbage was sweeter than that of Slovak Day, and it was lighter on butter.  So awesome.  The potato dumplings also had a sweeter flavor, and they were good, just a bit bland for my taste.  The stuffed cabbage was great as well; the Hungarians are winning my heart, for sure (but I'm not hating on my Slovak heritage by any means!  It's just a different kind of love).


For dessert, they were serving crepes in 4 flavors: raspberry, apple, cherry, and apricot.  My go-to flavor is raspberry:

Palaszinta (Crepe, with raspberry filling)

Uh, YUM!  For $1?!  I could've eaten SO MANY - if I hadn't eaten so much already.  In fact, I'm glad I didn't overindulge in the nut roll and other cookies that they were offering (I wanted to, though...I really, REALLY wanted to...):

Mmm, apricot- and cherry-filled cookies...

Nut Roll!

This should be one of those Nationality Days that lasts more than one day.  Like Italian Day.


To educate the public about their culture, several Hungarian artifacts were on display.  I was already taking more time on my break that I should have (long story), so I didn't have time to explore like I wanted to, but I snagged a few shots before leaving (bad lighting prevented me from getting a few more, as well):

Very unfortunately, I will miss Polish Day due to my vacation.  I did participate last year, with offering of kielbasa and kraut, haluski, pierogi, etc., and it was fabulous.  Very filling, very saucy - and very worth it.  Please go on August 7th!  Tell me what you thought!  I want to live vicariously through your thoughts (and bellies)!


I'll be back for lamb again on September 1st, though - Croatian Day!




Kennywood Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15122


Website: http://www.kennywood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennywoodPark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kenny_Kangaroo

Kennywood's Nationality Days: Serbian Day

Persistance pays off.

Serbian Day at Pavilion 4!

Last year, when I went down to Pavilion 4 for Serbian Day around 5:00 pm, they were already sold out of lamb.  ALREADY.  I knew it was popular, and even the woman down at the pavilion said that they always sold out early, but I didn't realize it would be gone THAT early.


I was determined to be more successful this year.

"Prijatno" is the Serbian equivalent of "Bon appetit" or "Buen provecho".

Although the lamb was late arriving to the park, I persevered this year.  On my second trip back there (the first was unsuccessful), in the pouring rain, the lamb was ready to be served. Serbian Day food is different than the usual Nationality Day setup: nothing but lamb and pork, served with green onions and bread, family-style.  Order by the pound (no 1/2 pound servings - I asked), and you're good to go.  If is seems expensive - it's really not, considering how much 1 pound of lamb, plus 5 green onions and a half a loaf of bread could fill you up.


This is not gyro-style lamb.  The bones and fat are a large part of the lamb, and it is salted heavily.  The lamb is cooked off-site, but cut and weighed on-site:

Cutting the lamb with a...jigsaw?

Good and greasy, yes.  Enough for 1 person?  Uhhh, well, maybe in 3 different sittings.  I took about 2/3 home.

Yeahhh....that's a lot of food!

Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the park closed at 3:30pm, so the Serbian program was canceled.  Next year, bigger and better, right?  Also, Croatian Day is very similar to Serbian Day, so if you missed out on this type of lamb, you have another chance on September 1st.


Looking for gyro-style lamb?  GREEK DAY IS TUESDAY, JULY 24TH!  GYROS!  GREEK PLATTER!  YAYYYY!!!


Kennywood Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15122


Website: http://www.kennywood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennywoodPark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kenny_Kangaroo

Kennywood's Nationality Days: Slovak Day

I am Slovak.

"Cibulka" is actually a Slovak word, which means "little onion".  I tell the kids that I teach, and they get kick out of it -- well, I shouldn't say that.  It's more like they "have a field day" with it.

Whatever.

Pavilion 4 - Slovak Day!

Slovak Day at Kennywood is full of some familiar food, not unlike that of Carpatho-Russian Day nor of Polish Day (coming up on August 7th).  Things that I saw quite often in my childhood, but did not particularly care for until well into my adult years.

Simple Slovak Offerings

What is wrong with me?!

Gina from IT wanted to join me and partake in the food of my people (like I had partaken in the food of hers on Italian Day), so we spent our break trekking to Pavilion 4.  The threat of rain did not stop people for coming out for their Slovak vittles!

The ladies serve up the food.

The dinner deal was simple - for $8, you got one of everything: stuffed cabbage, halusky, kolbasy sandwich, and cheregy.  The spellings may be different from Carpatho-Russian Day and Polish Day, but the food is the same.  Each item was offered a la carte as well, but the meal is a great value!

Pay, get a ticket, go get your food.  Easy and efficient.

Yummy.

This was as filling as it looks!

Homemade Slovak food.  Lots of cabbage, and so delicious.

The highlight of the meal, of course, was the cheregy.  A fried dough pastry sprinkled with powdered sugar.  Every Slovak Day since I worked at the park, my grandparents asked me (or my brother, when he worked at the park) to bring home cheregy.  

My cheregy from my Slovak Dinner

Because I was afraid of an early closure, I made sure to secure a dozen when I went to the pavilions, which I then handed off to my aunt (who came down later to get dinner for my grandparents, since the storm passed and the rain held off for most of the rest of the day) to take to my grandparents. 

One dozen homemade cheregy - $7.00

The most adorable thing I saw in Pavilion 4 was this woman (seated), watching over and occasionally sugaring the cheregy:

Getting some assistance with the sugaring of the cheregy

Her daughter mentioned that she was originally from Czechoslovakia - then tried to speak Slovak with me, and...I failed.  Yes, kids, now I know how you feel when I speak in Spanish and you don't understand me.

Unfortunately, I will be on vacation for Polish Day on August 7th, but the food is very similar on this day.  If you missed out on Slovak Day,  you have another chance!


Kennywood Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15122

Website: http://www.kennywood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennywoodPark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kenny_Kangaroo

Kennywood's Nationality Days: Italian Day

Ohhhh, Italian Day.

Good ol' Pavilion 4!

The nationality day about which most people call - "When's Italian Day?"  "What time are the fireworks?" "What time is the parade?" "What time are the bands playing?"  I always feel bad for the people who call last-minute, and they already have plans.


{FYI - Italian Day is always the 3rd Tuesday in July.}


Of course, it is so popular because of A.) The high population of Italians in Pittsburgh, especially in its own "Little Italy" section (Bloomfield), and B.) its feature in "Kennywood Memories" (at the 6:57 mark):







Please don't take the woman's advice at the end of the clip.  Please.  Spare us all.


Anyone who doesn't love Italian food must have never had GOOD Italian food.  Lots of carbs, lots of tomato sauce, and lots of love and sweat put into the food.  This year, Kennywood had 4 different vendors, selling their Italian goodies.


Ugh.  If that's going to be the case, then Italian "Day" needs to become Italian "Week".  So.  Much.  Good.  Food.


Del's in Bloomfield is most popular for their recent appearance on "Restaurant Impossible", a Food Network TV show that basically gives restaurants a facelift.  I have never been to Del's before or after the renovation, but having heard of them for so long, I did want to try their food.  From what I have read, there have been mixed reviews.

Del's Menu (No, they were not selling Miller Lite)

They were offering a combo deal for $10 -- any two items listed.  I went with the Chicken Parmesan and Pasta Mafalda, which also came with a piece of bread.  Gina from IT, a fine Italian woman herself, was accompanying me, and played copy-cat (KIDDING -- great minds think alike!):

Pasta Mafalda, Chicken Parmesan, bread

 The Chicken Parmesan was ok (yeah, just "ok"), but the Pasta Mafalda was AWESOME!  The sauce.  It was definitely the sauce.  Gina agreed, wholeheartedly!  The bread was very crusty, but it was also very fluffy, almost like eating cotton candy -- appropriate for an amusement park, I suppose. 


Gina and I also perused the selections from Angle Foods (yes, as in Kurt Angle, the Olympic Gold Medal Wrestler):

Angle Foods

Gina had heard that their Eggplant Fries were pretty amazing, so we split them:

Eggplant Fries

Yeah, we heard right.  Eggplant fries are definitely awesome.  If we had more stomachs, we would have also tried the Italian Egg Rolls, which were also spoken of quite highly:

A bit fuzzy, I know - Eggplant Fries and Italian Egg Rolls

Next year, my friends.  Definitely come back next year, and I will try them!  I also purchased two Pepperoni Rolls to take home for later (one for me, one for James):

Pepperoni Roll from Angle Foods

I don't think it's possible to make a bad pepperoni roll, and I'm glad Angle Foods has kept that theory of mine alive.  If they had a restaurant, or even a fast-food Italian place, they'd do SO WELL!


We then went to the sweets: Joyce's Homemade Cookies and Candy.  A sweets-lover's paradise, stretched over several folding tables:

The Italian Stuff from Joyce's

Only a small sampling of what was available.  Very, very small sampling

It was tough deciding what to get, but I went with the Lady Locks, which I shared with a few people back in the office and, of course, with James later in the day:

A light, sweet Lady Lock.  Yum yum yum!

Delicious.  Not to mention I saw them at Donatelli's in Bloomfield today, and thought about buying more (but I held back...stupid me!)


I had debated between the Lady Locks and Caramel Cups when choosing a purchase -- I mean, I ended up spending almost $30 at the pavilion already!  Luckily, since we are all about sharing back at the office, my boss, Michele, was willing to share one of her own Caramel Cups:

Caramel Cup

I wish money and calories didn't matter.  *sigh*


Unfortunately, due to my lack of stomachs, I did not get to try the foods from Italian Specialty Products, Inc., which had divisions in Ligonier (near Idlewild) and...Las Vegas?  Interesting.  Come back next year, please!

Italian Specialty Products, Inc.

The Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) know how to throw an event and how to share their heritage and pride with others.  Great food, great events (musicians, a parade, etc.), and to end it all -- fireworks:

I have a great view of the fireworks from my own house!

Slovak Day (CHEREGI!) is next, followed by Serbian Day (LAMB!!!!) the very next day!  Ugh, I'd better hit the gym HARD this week!




Kennywood Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15122


Website: http://www.kennywood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennywoodPark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kenny_Kangaroo


Del's Bar & Ristorante DelPizzo
4428 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 (Bloomfield)


Website: http://delsrest.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dels-Bar-Ristorante-DelPizzo/324941231918




Angle Foods, LLC
3100 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 (Strip District)


Website: http://www.kurtanglefoods.com/anglefoods.aspx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngleFoods
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngleFoodsLLC