The Chelsea Grill

My daughter Kim just graduated from high school (with honors!) and she finally has a few hours during the week to do some other things, so we decided to celebrate with a late lunch/early dinner. I had intended to head to the Southside and take her to YoRita's to sample their great tacos, but the thought of driving the parkway east at this time of the day made us reconsider. I'm not quite sure how we ended up in Oakmont, but we did. I'm a bit familiar with a couple of restaurants there, Hoffstot's and the Mighty Oak Barrel come to mind, but it was still early so we decided to stop at Oakmont Bakery and oggle the vast display of tasty cakes, pastry's and cookies. After picking out an almond torte to take home to mom, we found ourselves next door, at the Chelesa Grill.

It was only about 5:00 pm so the place only had a few diners. We were seated right at a window with a nice view of the quaint street. A nice surprise was the early dinner menu, which is 10 different entrees, each under $10.00, served weekdays from 4 to 6:00. Here are a few of the selections and descriptions from this menu:

Raspberry Chicken Fromage - filled with garlic & herb cheese and topped w/ raspberry coulis
Milanese Pork Chop - coated w/ seasoned bread crumbs then oven baked & served with lemon
Baked Crab Stuffed Shrimp w/ warm couscous salad
Candied Walnut Tilapia - with lemon chive aioli

Kim was in the mood for a sandwich...Of course I can't remember what she ordered, but it was on a panini and I remember it looking pretty good. Stacy got the Raspberry Chicken Fromage, and I decided on the Candied Walnut Tilapia. My side salad was a nice mix of fresh spring greens with a tremendous blue cheese dressing. All of us really enjoyed our meals, as did Dad when the check came!

Oakmont is a bit out of the way, but it's a very nice town and I'm sure that we will make the trip again. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

Azul Bar Y Cantina

The little town of Leetsdale is only about a mile from where I grew up. Years ago, Leetsdale was the home of a small restaurant called Mike's Place. It was a place where locals would go to eat and drink. The owner's both worked hard. Mike, speaking broken English (with occasional Italian profanity) worked behind the bar, and his wife Tomy working the dining room, serving her homemade pasta and home grown peppers. Now the location houses Azul. I've read several reviews about Azul and have wanted to try it.

As you enter, a long bar is to your left with the remaining space filled with rustic wooden tables. Two large windows in the front filled the restaurant with sunlight on the day I was there. The menu is not the typical Mexican "combo" style that is so common around here. The Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos were served with pico de gallo, fresh avocado, and a chipolte aioli drizzle. These were really tremendous! With a side of black beans and rice, this was a very nice meal. As I enjoyed my meal, I was watching a variety of burritos, sopes, and many other items coming from the kitchen, all of which looked appetizing.

While this is not at all like Mike's Place, it really is a very nice and tasty addition to Leetsdale and a nice complement to the restaurants in the Sewickley area.

All Clad Sale

For those of you that love All Clad cookware, the semi-annual sale will be held on June 3rd and 4th at the Washington County fair grounds. The fair grounds is south of the city, not too far from The Meadows. I've gone to this sale for years now, and have put together a nice collection of great quality cookware at a reasonable price. The items are seconds, but I've always been able to find products where the imperfections are so small that they can barely be seen, or not seen at all. I try to find pans with a scratch on the bottom, not the cooking surface. Heck, they get scratched on the bottom as soon as you slide them on the burners anyway.

The prices are 40% to 70% off which is a great deal, but even at that, keep in mind that these pans are still expensive! At least it's a good way to get the best for a reasonable price.

Pizza House

Police Station Pizza...That's what a lot of folks call it, because it's located next door to the former Ambridge police station. This pizza is one of the absolute best in the Pittsburgh area. It's kind of funny that my two favorite pizza places are both in Ambridge, the other being Franks. Franks has a thin, crispy crust with a bit of a sweet sauce while Pizza House is a bit thicker crust, but still airy and crispy. They bake it and add the toppings after it's baked like they do at DiCarlos. Pizza House is take out only and it's packed on a Friday or Saturday night, but the service is pretty fast. I know it's a bit of a drive from the city, but it's worth it!!!

Point Brugge Cafe

On a recent afternoon Stacy and I decided to visit the gardens of the The Frick. After a great afternoon touring the grounds, lunch was on my mind. I know the Cafe at the Frick is very good, but there appeared to be quite a wait for a table so we decided on the Point Brugge, which is only a couple of blocks away.

I've driven past here many times in the evening, and it's always been packed, so I thought that three in the afternoon would be a great time. Of course it was packed, so we sat at the bar.

The menu has a nice mix of lunch entrees, soups and salads, and sandwiches. The Point Brugge has always been known for the Moules Bowl, which is a pound of steamed P.E.I. mussels prepared with your choice of three different sauces. Wine and light cream, red curry with coconut milk, or a tomato sauce with saffron and fennel broth. The mussels are served with crusty bread.

Stacy decided on the Chicken Milanese which was a boneless breast with a light sage panko breading, served over arugula and topped with a sautéed mix of banana peppers,
new potatoes, asparagus and tomatoes. I went with the Mediterranean Tuna Melt which is marinated Italian tuna salad baked on a ciabatta with melted provolone, lettuce, tomato & spicy roasted tomato-pepper relish. Both dishes were spectacular.

They also have an impressive list of Belgium bottled beers, and also four on tap. Overall, I really give this place high praise...I'm sure we will return.

Olympos Gyros

Today I found myself searching for a quick dinner in the Robinson area. While I'm familiar with a number of restaurants in the area, all I really wanted was a fast meal that was not from a fast food place. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how impressed I was with "My Big Fat Greek Gyro" in Wexford. Heather Downey, one of the principles at Downey's House, left me a note recommending Olympos Gyro's on Stubenville Pike. Today was a good time to try it!

The place is in a small strip mall and not much to look at. The interior is diner style with a few tables and a small counter with about a half dozen stools. I just ordered the standard gyro and a drink. The gyro was huge, on a thick style pita, with lettuce, tomato slices that were flavored with oregano, and a great homemade tzatziki sauce. The tzatziki was made with sour cream, spices and olive oil instead of the usual yogurt/cucumber mixture. The meat was sliced thickly and very generous. I really liked this gyro, although I found it to be excessively salty.

The quality of Greek gyro places in Pittsburgh has really improved in the past couple of years, and Olympos is another good quality addition to this group. I'm sure that I'll be back and try one of the other sandwiches in the near future.

Pennsylvania Macaroni Co.

One of my favorite areas in Pittsburgh is known as the Strip District. This is a narrow strip of land that boarders the Allegheny river, just northeast of downtown. The area is where most of the areas wholesale produce dealers are located. Since the 1950's many of the dealers began to expand their businesses by opening retail stores on Penn Avenue and Smallman Street. Today the Strip District is best known for its retail produce and ethnic food stores, restaurants and coffee shops. I usually get to the Strip a couple of times each month, and don't really have a particular favorite store, but if I had to pick one, it would be Pennsylvania Macaroni.

When you enter, you pass wooden barrels filled with a variety of nuts and grains. To the left is a room with a large cheese counter, a cooler with barrels of different olives, and a counter with Italian meats. Samples are generously provided and the counter people are very knowledgeable and helpful. Another area holds a huge selection of olive oils, canned peppers, hot sauces, pasta and lots of other items. Fresh bread from Breadworks is delivered daily, and in the rear just before the check-outs is a produce area.

CJ's in the Strip

I've always been a big fan of live music of various styles. One of the things that Stacy and I enjoyed was attending the Pittsburgh Jazz Society's Sunday night performances at the Rhythm House in Bridgeville. They never charged a cover and the music was very diverse, but always very good each week. When the Rhythm House closed it left a bit of a void in the Pittsburgh jazz scene. Well, CJ's helps to fill that void.

When you first enter, a sign on the door reads:

Open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 5:00pm to 2:00am

Closed Sunday's, Monday's and Wednesday's

You must be 30 or over to enter!!

You can wear jeans but no tennis shoes

Quirky, isn't it?

A large bar sits toward the rear of a large room. In the center are about a dozen dining tables that sit facing a stage. I visited on a Thursday night to see one of the most talented jazz drummers alive, Roger Humphries for the Thursday Night Jam Session which he hosts. When the band started at a little after eight the place was fairly empty but within a half hour just about every seat was taken.

Although I did not eat this evening, the selections coming out of the kitchen all looked appetizing. This is not "fine dining" but rather good comfort food at very reasonable prices. Entrees that come with a choice of two sides and bread include a grilled 8 ounce strip steak, covered with sauteed mushrooms ($13.95), Tilapia(10.95),
Catfish (10.95), and a few different salad and sandwich choices.

There was no cover charge and of course, Roger's music was great! I really enjoyed the evening and am looking forward to taking Stacy whenever our work schedules agree.

My Big Fat Greek Gyro

For many years, whenever I got the urge for a Greek Gyro my favorite place was Mike and Tonys on the Southside of Pittsburgh. The combination of good meat and the flavor of the cucumber sauce is what I think makes a great gyro. Until now, no one around here could touch Mike and Tonys.

My Big Fat Greek Gyro has several locations around the city. We visited the one in the Pine Tree Shoppes in Wexford. This is the kind of place where the menu is posted on the wall and you place your order at the counter. I got the Gyro Platter which is not an actual gyro, but instead a quartered pita, with the meat, sauce, lettuce, and chopped tomato on the side. In addition, the platter included an order of fries and a small, but very fresh and good Greek salad. I don't know much about gryo meat, except that it's a combination of lamb and beef which is seasoned, pressed into a loaf and then thinly sliced. While the concept doesn't sound too appetizing, the end result is tremendous. While I admit that I don't know much about great gyros (I am from Pittsburgh), this is the best that I've had yet. The meat was just a step above my previous favorite, and had a better flavor. Actually tasted fresher, if that's possible considering the process that it goes through. In addition, the sauce was exceptional also.

While My Big Fat Greek Gyro doesn't quite have the ambiance associated with Mike & Tonys (local,dumpy), I'll give them a pass for that. The food makes this my new "go to" place for gyros.

Clem's Cafe Hardwood BBQ

While I'm no expert, I've tasted BBQ in St. Louis, Memphis, Texas the Carolinas and other places. Pittsburgh has really never impressed me with BBQ places. In the past I've made a lot of trips out 22 to Central PA. A place that always caught my attention was Clem's BBQ. It was kind of shack like, the way a BBQ joint should look. One morning I was heading east and passed Clem's at around 6:30 in the morning. I could see the smoke rising and smell the hardwood fire while they prepared for the days cooking. On my trip back in the afternoon, I had to stop. On my first visit I tried the pulled pork sub, with mushrooms and a great sauce. It was the best BBQ I've ever had. Over the years, I've stopped many times and always had exceptional food. The menu consists of baby back and country ribs, pulled pork and beef sandwiches and standard sides. They keep it simple and stick to what they do best.

A while ago, they were forced to relocate due to road construction and are now further east, towards Blairsville. The building is new and doesn't have quite the same charm, but the food is still exceptional! If you like BBQ, it's a nice weekend drive and worth the trip for a great lunch.

Church Brew Works

The Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville (right on Liberty Ave, just up from the Strip)has always provided good food and good beer in a very unique atmosphere.

Originally constructed in 1902 as St. John the Baptist Church, it operated as a church until 1993 when it closed. A few years later it opened as the Church Brew Works. The new owners managed to maintain the original character by keeping the huge pipe organ, pews for seating and on the altar are the massive copper brew tanks.

Church Brew Works brews a variety of house beers with names such as Celestial Gold,
Pipe Organ Pale Ale and Pious Monk Dunkel. In addition they serve upscale pub food, sandwiches, salads, dinner entrees and delicious wood-fired pizzas. In addition, they have a few vegetarian selections. They also have special weekend menu features and full bar service.

Marinated Hanger Steak

While most people seem to prefer beef tenderloin, I've always liked other cuts that seem to be much more favorable. The problem with these cuts is that they tend to be tough...Nowhere near as tender as fillet Mignon. If you learn to prepare and cook them properly, cuts like flank and hanger steak can be delicious. Three tips to ensure success with these cuts:

1. You must marinade, and the marinade needs an acidic ingredient such as lemon juice or wine.
2. Don't over cook! Rare or medium rare is the only way to go.
3. Slice thinly on the bias to serve.

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped
Pinch crushed red pepper
sprig rosemary, picked and finely chopped
Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
1 hanger steaks, about 1 inch thick
Kosher salt

Mix all of the ingredients. It will be a thick consistency. Put in a zip lock bag, add the hanger steak, remove the air and let marinade a couple of hours or overnight in the fridge.

Broil on high, close to the heat 5 minutes each side. Don't overcook!
Let rest 5 minutes, and thinly slice.

Taking Donuts Old-School!

I've never really been a big doughnut fan. Like desserts, most are just a little too sweet for me. In Sunday's Post Gazette was a story about a doughnut shop in the West End called the Better-Maid Doughnut Company. The story is interesting, noting that the owner, Ken Smith, starts work at about 8:30 in the evening and spends all night making, frosting and filling the doughnuts. On weekdays he opens at 6 am, and closes when he runs out of doughnuts, sometimes as early as 8:00.

As a child, my parents had a small cottage on a little lake in northern Pa, and one of the weekend treats was an early morning trip to a little store (I think called Pierces) where the owner would be rolling dough and frying doughnuts. The unusual thing was they were old fashioned cake doughnuts. That's what Ken's making at Better-Maid, and why I was so interested in this place.

Stacy and I showed up at about 8:00am, and when we went inside, there were 4 or 5 people in front of us. No problem, except there weren't any doughnuts! Ken was in the back working and the nice girl at the counter said it would be 10 or 15 minutes. Huh. I'm not one to wait for something like that, but Stacy already had a cup of coffee in hand and was not leaving. I'm glad we didn't! We only got two kinds, glazed and sugar, but they were worth the wait. Crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. These may be the best doughnuts I've ever had. Just like I remember from the little store at the cottage and I've got to admit, I think Ken does them better!

Burgh'ers

A local TV station, WPXI, just held a contest to name the top Burgers in the Pittsburgh area. The competition is split into two portions, one being a blind taste test with eleven judges, held at the WPXI studios, and the other a peoples choice. The judges chose their top ten favorites. Here are the winners:

BRGR Bar, East Liberty
Burgh'ers, Harmony
City Grill, South Side
Cornerstone Restaurant & Bar, Aspinwall
Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Ross Park Mall
McGinnis Sisters, Mars
Someone Else's Bar, Castle Shannon
Tessaro's, Bloomfield
The Union Grill, Oakland
Winghart's Burger & Whiskey Bar, Market Square

I have good reason to have faith in this contest. A couple of months ago, they did the same thing in order to name the best pizza, and the winner was my favorite, Franks in Ambridge. These judges must know what they are doing!

I've had the burgers at City Grill, the Union Grill and of course, Tessaros. I also tried to go to Winghart's, but unfortunately it was Sunday and they were closed. Then one afternoon last week, my friend Tom and I decided to try Someone Else's Bar in Castle Shannon, but again closed. Finally, Stacy and I, hungry for a great burger decided to take a drive north to Burgh'ers.

Burgh'ers is in a new strip mall just north of the Zelienople business district. You enter and go to the counter to order from a chalkboard menu. The burgers are named after areas around Pittsburgh, including the Polish Hill, with fried onion, cheddar cheese and of course a peroigi. The Mexican War has roasted green chile's, cheddar, avocado, tomato and cilantro. All are $8.99 and include your choice of fries or salad. Since both of us ordered salad, I can't comment on the fries but the salads were very good. Fresh spring greens, no iceberg here, and your choice of dressing as long as it's vineratte or ranch.

I ordered the Shadyside Burger which is served with bacon, grilled onions, Swiss cheese, and fresh wild mushrooms. The ingredients were all very fresh, and the meat had a tremendous flavor. Stacy got the Forrest Hills, with blue cheese, fresh wild mushrooms, spring mix, and finished with local honey.

I don't know if this is the best burger around Pittsburgh, but it definitely belongs at the top of the list.

Burgh'ers is BYOB.

Patron Mexican Grill

I've driven past this place hundreds of times in the past few years, and for some reason I never had a desire to try it. I just thought it was a typical chain (remember Chi Chi's?), and never stopped. After reading some good comments on different food websites I decided to give it a try.

I admit that I don't have much knowledge about Mexican food, but I do know it when I like it. This is not the type of place that the Azul crowd (in Leetsdale) will flock to, but it sure satisfies my taste for what I know, which is admittedly Americanized/Mexican.,

The interior is covered with bright colored Mexican artwork, with a large dining area and a small bar in the rear. The menu is extensive and very reasonably priced. Service was prompt, and the server offered suggestions and readily answered our questions about the menu. Stacy ordered a bean burrito with a cheese enchilada and Spanish rice. I had a chili rellieno with refried beans, a taco and bean and guacamole salad, each for $6.99. The servings were very generous, more like dinner size, and very good.

Patron Mexican Grill is a great choice for a family, with a nice atmosphere and good prices. I'm sure we will be back.