PGH Dining: Church Brew Works

Husband, James and I went to Church Brew Works in late April, on a Sunday for lunch.  You can just imagine the colorful religious jokes that resulted from this. Anyway, we entered the nave {!?} and then the sanctuary {!?}, to be seated in the back.

Church Brew Works 

Hometown Homegrown in Pittsburgh

If you made it out to the Hometown Homegrown event at the Senator John Heinz History Center today, you ate a bunch of good local food. Bottom line. If you didn't, well, you better mark your calendar for next year! To pretend you're living in the moment, reread my tweets of the event.

I got there right at 10:00AM, so the action was just starting...

PGH Dining: Legume Bistro

Husband and I went on a spur-of-the-moment dinner date on a weeknight to Legume Bistro {on Leap Day}, and made reservations via Open Table thirty minutes prior. The location in Oakland is fairly new, and it's evident it's in a space that's been remodeled. The tables are covered in white tablecloths, and the walls look up-to-date; however, the ceiling tiles and floor need work. The hostess and our waitress were both knowledgeable and pleasant. 

Leap Day Menu.

Their menu looked interesting and fresh, and we were happy with their wine choices. 

Wine List.

The small plates and side dishes looked the most appealing to us, so we ordered a meal of just that. I started with the Maine-Style clam chowder, and Husband chose the vegetarian mushroom soup.

Chowder.

Mushroom Soup.

The chowder was very clammy, which is just how I like it. Husband's soup had a nice depth.

We then moved on to the small plate of duck confit with kumquat-shallot marmalade and an escarole salad. Luscious! {What else can a confit be?} 

A small crock of brussel sprouts came next.

Filled with bacon and butter! Yum!

Then, maple glazed carrots hit the table. 

Finally, we finished our dinner with another appetizer of pork and pistachio pate. It was more of a terrine, but was still flavorful and lovely. 

Each dish was a buttery composition of fresh vegetables with a savory sauce. At several points during the meal I tried to fool myself into thinking I was eating healthy because it was vegetables, but that was a complete lie. A tasty lie.

We ended the meal with the salted caramel pot de creme, which was decorated with espresso meringues. 

Husband loved this dessert, but it was a smidge too rich for me. I could only take two bites!

Legume Bistro was laid-back enough for a quick weeknight dinner, but could be great for a double date or dinner with a girlfriend. If you're looking for a vegetable-rich or healthy dinner, don't be confused by Legume's name - the dishes here are buttery and creamy. You've been warned! Enjoy!

Husband's Pea Soup

In an ever-long quest to cook healthy but still enjoy what we're eating, Husband decided to make this Pea Soup {ala Laura Calder} a few weeks ago. It was so delicious and simple, that it's reprised it's role several times since then. 

{INGREDIENTS}

• Salt
• 4 cups/1 pound/500 g frozen peas
• 1/2 cup/125 ml heavy cream {We used fat free half & half.}
• Freshly ground pepper

• Chopped fresh mint leaves {We added these in before blending.}
• Grated Parmesan, optional, for serving

{DIRECTIONS}

Bring 1 1/2 cups/375 ml water to a boil in a saucepan with a pinch of salt. Add the peas, bring back to a boil, cover and cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Blend to a puree with an immersion blender. Strain into a clean saucepan. Stir in the cream, reheat and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with mint and Parmesan if using.

Of course, Husband had to add a healthy cracking of black pepper.

And, a lump of salty Parmigiano Reggiano.

If you're looking for a good "work lunch" that's warm, but still has a touch of Spring, give this soup a shot!