...Sugar Cafe [off-topic]

Pastries.

"Los pasteles" is the word in Spanish - this could refer to any kind of pastry.  In Spanish 1, I teach it as a "breakfast pastry", like a danish or coffee cake.  Really, "un pastel" is any kind of pastry that you can think of, sometimes even a cake.

I love pasteles.

I've mentioned how I've gotten more into baking (Pinterest is not helping - go ahead, follow me on Pinterest and see for yourself that I'M NOT JOKING), and visiting bakeries gives me a certain thrill.  Over the summer, while working at Kennywood, we were having a conversation about local bakeries.  While we're - ok, I'M - mentioning names of dozens of bakeries, a co-worker interjected, "Geez, how do you know about all of these bakeries?!"

My response? "Duh - I used to be fat."

Really, though, I've learned more about these bakeries due to this blog.  One of the ones that sticks out in my head the most is Sugar Cafe in Dormont, for two reasons: A.) It was one of our stops on the 'Burgh Bits and Bites Dormont Food Blogger Tour, and it was so good that I got take-out for my dinner, and B.) Kelly James, the owner, was super-generous in donating cookies and cupcakes to our Coffee and Cookie Day Fundraiser to benefit Make-A-Wish.

On Easter Sunday, James and I had no doubt that we wanted to continue our usual Sunday brunch routine, but due to the holiday, a lot of places were closed.  One that wasn't?  Sugar Cafe - and they were sure to let the world know by tweeting it.

Good marketing.  We made plans to go.

Sugar Cafe - peek inside to see their new mural!

We weren't the only ones who got the message - the place was not empty, but it was not at all packed with people, so the wait was minimal.  We debated upon what to order - we had seen the specials on Twitter, but were torn.  Plus, I had a Groupon to use, and we weren't sure whether to use it today or sometime soon.

Well, I really wanted the Stuffed French Toast special - Cinnamon sugar cream cheese, granny apples, caramel sauce, maple syrup - so the Groupon went out the window:

Stuffed French Toast

This was the ULTIMATE "pastel".  So sticky and syrup-y...love love love.  James agreed, as he asked for one bite...and took about 3 extra.

James chose another special - Chicken Ciabatta: a roasted chicken sandwich with bacon, sharp cheddar, grilled onions, field greens, and roasted garlic mayo.  He also got a side of home fries.

Chicken Ciabatta and Home Fries

 A savory sandwich, to say the least.  Roasted garlic mayo is an amazing thing - it gives so much flavor to sandwiches that otherwise would taste blah with regular mayo.  I did like this sandwich a lot, and it was something that I would have chosen myself, too, if it were closer to "lunchtime" (it was only about 9:30 when we got there).  After the food blogger tour, I had stopped for the Chicken Mole Wrap, which was another great choice - especially for the one who loves Latino foods.

James went back to the counter to order us dessert (Really? Dessert, after all of that sticky sweetness?  Yeah, I didn't fight it).   He brought me a Lemon Tartlette:

Lemon Tartlette

 Besides being an absolutely gorgeous pastry, it was lemony and tasty - just like lemon bars, and a sweet-but-tart complement to my gooey breakfast yumminess.  James always chooses well.

For himself, he chose the Carrot Cake - you know, Easter Sunday, Easter Bunny, carrots...

Carrot Cake

 This cake was very rich - I wouldn't have been able to eat it all by myself, but James devoured it (as it was for him, anyway), with me trying a few nibbles.  The cream cheese icing was the best part, as it is for most cakes, but the cake part was better than most carrot cakes that I have tried elsewhere.

Sugar Cafe has their own "Sugar Blend" coffee, roasted by La Prima in the Strip District.  I wanted to try the coffee outright, not as a latte or anything fancy.  They offer a bottomless cup for dine-in patrons:

Sugar Blend Coffee (forgive the light reflections!)

This coffee was great - not too acidic, not too strong.  It's a terrific blend for those with any coffee preference.

For the Coffee and Cookie Day, one of the items that Kelly James offered as a donation was their Large Chocolate Chip Cookies, which on their website they claim is the "World's Best".  Well, I can't disagree - I bought 3 of these huge cookies myself that day, simply because they were SO FANTASTIC.  I wish I had gotten a good picture - you just need to go yourself and see how HUGE and FANTASTIC they are!

Let's not forget the cupcake I had on the Dormont Food Blogger Tour - the Cosmo Cupcake.  Another sweet-yet-tart combination in cupcake form.  Beautiful.

Cosmo Cupcake

In addition, I'm fascinated with the color scheme of the cafe - this shade of blue, combined with black tables, all-black clothing of the employees, and a few white accents from the menus, makes me want to visit just to look at visual awesomeness!  I hear t-shirts are in the works - I will definitely buy one.  This shade of blue needs to be incorporated, though, ok?:

Pretty color scheme of Sugar Cafe

If I lived in Dormont, I'd probably be here any time that I could - they're only open from 8am-3pm, when I'm working, but I'd be a weekend and summer regular, for sure.  Seeing their weekend specials on Twitter makes me wish that I were closer, but Dormont's not THAT far, right?  I don't even need to cross a bridge to get there...AND, if it's your thing, YOU can even take the "T" there (the stop is MAYBE 100 feet away)!  

Sugar Cafe

1517 Potomac Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Website: http://www.sugarcafepittsburgh.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugar-Cafe/115648115162506

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

...Coffee and Cookies Day - Fundraising for Make-A-Wish

My day job is teaching Spanish.  Es la verdad.

In addition, I also co-sponsor the Spanish Club at West Mifflin Area High School with the other Spanish teacher, Mr. McMonagle, who formerly co-sponsored it with Mrs. Sacunas, who retired this past year (and just happened to be my Spanish 1 teacher when I went to school there).  Two years ago, they started a "Coffee and Cookies Day" to raise money for the charity of the club's choice as a community service project.

Kids need to learn to give back, selflessly.  Es la verdad.

Not only did they involve the members of the club, but also the other students who were in the Spanish classes.  Students, teachers, and other staff members could come into their classrooms throughout the day to buy cups of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, in addition to many cookies that were made by the students and teachers to sell.  All proceeds - every last penny - went to the charity. 

Last year, they raised $500.00 exactly.

This year, we are looking to surpass that total.  Students and staff will again buy or make cookies, coffee, etc. throughout the day, and we have chosen Make-A-Wish as the benefactor of the funds this year.  For more information on Make-A-Wish, if you are not familiar, click here.  Basically, they grant wishes - sometimes, final wishes - to kids who are very ill, or even dying. 

This charity is dear to my heart, personally, because I knew a child from right here in West Mifflin who had her wish granted through Make-A-Wish.  She had Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, and little hope of surviving.  She wanted a "Princess Parade" in her honor - she rode in a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of West Mifflin, which ended at the very high school that I attended (and at which I now teach), with various activities scheduled there in her honor.

My family, along with others, fundraised for her family often, even twice organizing a golf outing at Westwood Golf Club to raise money for them to help pay her medical bills, as they were outrageous.  I was proud to volunteer for and emcee these events.

A few months later, two days before Christmas in 2006, I visited her one last time - at the funeral home.  If you have never visited a funeral home for a 6-year old girl...well, I hope you never have to. 

Thank goodness her wish was granted, right?

Make-A-Wish gives kids what they need to stay strong, whether it be a parade, a vacation, or even just a swingset, as I have had a few students tell me that they know a child who received one locally through Make-A-Wish.  However, in order to do so, they need to raise the money to grant these wishes.

Obviously, the more that we have to sell, the more money we can earn for Make-A-Wish - 100% of what we earn is profit for them.  Thankfully, there are generous people in the Pittsburgh area who are more than willing to help us, in addition to our own students (who have signed up to donate a lot themselves).  Because of this blog, and the fact that she is one of the nicest pastry chefs/executive chefs/restaurant owners that I have met in the area, Kelly James from Sugar Cafe has committed to donating two dozen giant chocolate chip cookies and two dozen mini-cupcakes for us to sell for this fundraiser.  I cannot be more grateful to her for her generosity.

I ask you - can you help us by donating baked goods or coffee?  If so, please email me at senoritacibulka@gmail.com (NOTE: All baked goods must be nut-free, due to allergies.)

A gorgeous Cosmo Cupcake from Sugar Cafe.

Muchas gracias.

Make-A-Wish: http://www.wish.org

Sugar Cafe

1517 Potomac Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Website: http://www.sugarcafepittsburgh.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugar-Cafe/115648115162506?ref=ts&sk=wall

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

...Bakery's Cookin'

I have much to be thankful for.

I, of course, am thankful for my family, my health, and the positive changes that have occurred in my life in the past year.  

Most especially, I am thankful that through this blog, in addition to providing information for my students (and anyone else who is interested), that I have made some great friends with common interests.

When Food Collage asked me if I was going to Bakery's Cookin', after she heard about it from Suburghia Foodie and had decided to attend, I was enthralled.  I had read about the event just a day earlier via someone's Twitter post, and I thought, "Nah, nobody would want to go to that," forgetting that now I had friends who wanted to do those kinds of things.  Duh.

Of course, I talked James into going, too.

Tickets for the event were only $10 if purchased ahead of time through ShowClix, an online ticketing service, which I had used before for Savor Pittsburgh.  It is so convenient to purchase the tickets ahead of time - however, I will warn you that there is a $3 "service fee", so really I only saved $1 on two tickets.  

Whatever.  $10 was a STEAL.

Bakery Square

We arrived at Bakery Square and met up with Food Collage in front of the venue - an empty storefront, which, until it has a permanent tenant, will be used for special events.  In fact, "I Made It! Market for the Holidays", another event that I've been itching to attend, will be held there on December 2nd and 3rd.

It was exactly 5:00 PM, and the organizers still seemed to be scrambling to get things set up, something that irks me - if you plan an event, you need to be ready ON TIME.  Either way, we walked in and were the first to check in, get stamped, and receive our books with all of the recipes for the food we would be sampling that evening.  

We wandered around a bit and took advantage of the fruit and cheese trays that were scattered about while the other tables finished getting everything set up.

One of the many fruit and cheese trays - quality cheeses, too!

We made it over to the sampling table for the restaurants that were showing off their famous recipes that evening.  There were samples from Sugar Cafe (in Dormont, where I stopped on my food tour and LOVED the cosmopolitan cupcake), Dozen (about which I wrote when I went to Lawrenceville with my mom), Braddock's American Brasserie, E2, Bella Christie, and Sola Gratia (a private chef service, not a restaurant).

Gingersnap Bread Pudding, Sugar Cafe

Fingerling Potato Salad, Sola Gratia

S'more-Tini, Bella Christie

I believe these were from Bella Christie, but I don't have the info - they were rich and delicious, though!

Foreground: Maple Turkey Wrap & Sweet Potato Mousse Parfait, Braddock's American Brasserie

 Out of everything that I tried (WAY more than $10 worth!), my favorite was the Greens, Butternut Squash, and Faro Salad from E2 (sorry, no picture, I ate it too quickly!), with the Maple Turkey and Stuffing Wraps from Braddock's and the Gingersnap Bread Pudding from Sugar Cafe coming in a very close second and third.  The only thing that did not impress me, unfortunately, were the Chocolate Pear Tarts from Dozen - I think I'll stick with their cupcakes.

Each chef did a demonstration of their dish, using appliances from Perla's Appliances PLUS, where I happened to buy my cooktop a few years ago and use constantly to make my own delicious creations - not to sound like a cheesy ad, but my experience there was great, and I have had no issues with my cooktop since I purchased it!

Kelly James from Sugar Cafe demonstrates

 To make the night even more enjoyable, the entertainment was the Gene Stovall Music Group.  I have no idea who he is, specifically (Gene Stovall, perhaps?), but I swear he is the most talented singer in Pittsburgh.  He can sing any song, in any style, and make it sound like a musical masterpiece - I could have listened to him sing all night, and I hope that I see him at future events!

Most Talented Man in Pittsburgh (IMHO)

It was a fun foodie night with friends, new and old (not super old, but older).  Thanks to James and especially Food Collage for wanting to attend and putting it out there that she was attending.  In addition, it was good to see Rachel from Yelp again, and it was so nice meeting my Twitter friends Suburghia Foodie, her husband, Patrick, and Eventsgeek in person for the first time.

Here's to hoping to see everyone (and more) at future events, foodie-themed or not.

Bakery's Cookin' benefitted the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh.

For more pictures from the event, see WPXI's "Seen and Be Seen" coverage: http://www.wpxi.com/entertainment/entertainment/29815178/detail.html

...Dormont Food Blogger Tour

On Saturday, October 23rd, I was invited to take part in a 'Burgh Bits and Bites Food Blogger Tour in Dormont. I loved it so much that I arranged a private tour of Brookline on Wednesday, November 23rd for my own family and friends! Check out what we saw in Dormont, and if you are looking for something fun, different, and delicious to do with family and friends, book a food tour! 

Dormont Streets

Dormont Mural, celebrating 100 years in 2009

Slim Bryant, famous local musician, is part of the mural

Potomac Ave. - Location of our stops on the tour

Potomac Bakery

Yummy thumbprint from Potomac Bakery

 Dormont Dogs

Texas Avenue Dog - chili, Fritos, nacho cheese, sour cream sauce.  Very Tex-Mex and delicioso!

Close-up of the Texas Avenue Dog. Buns come from Potomac Bakery!

Hollywood Theater

They were showing the worst movie ever made that night, "The Room".  

Corner seats, balcony, Hollywood Theater

Hollywood Theater Women's Room.  Retro.

Concession Stand, Hollywood Theater

Don Campiti's Pizzeria

I've eaten a lot of pizza in my life; this is good pizza!

Fredo's Deli & Market

Interior, back room

Another angle of the back room

Spinach & Feta Swirl. Spinach & feta is a fabulous combination, so this was fabuloso!

Flaky and tasty!

Sausage used at Fredo's

Menu and counter at Fredo's

Mmm, I need to go back for these!

Sugar Cafe

Heaven in a display case

Even more tempting in black and white

Clockwise from top: Irish Carbomb, two Pumpkin, Cosmopolitan cupcakes

Cosmopolitan Cupcake.  Gorgeous and scrumptious!

Beyond Bedtime Books - Asian Pear Wine Tasting

I love Asian Pears.  I just wish they weren't so expensive!

The wine. 

And then I went back to Sugar Cafe for take-out dinner (I had to work at Kennywood that night!)...

Chicken Mole Wrap (in foil), chips, pickle

Chicken Mole Wrap.  I wouldn't have objected to more mole on it, but it was DIVINE!

Really looking forward to Brookline!  A big thanks to our tour guide, Culinary Cory, and all of the other food bloggers on the tour for making it an enjoyable, fun afternoon!:

Food Collage
Cooking For My Dad
Motor City Girl in the Steel City
I heart PGH
Pittsburgh Food Scene
Yum Yum


'Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tours
Website: http://www.burghfoodtour.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burghbitsandbitestour
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/burghfoodtour