{Dining} Finger Lakes Food

Per usual, our recent travels to the Finger Lakes in upstate New York centered around nature and the local food that results from those surroundings.  Both were gorgeous.  

Our weekend trip started in Northwest PA, but that evening we made it to our destination.  We started the night off with drinks and small bites at Dorothy's Music Room in Trumansburg, NY. {T-burg to the locals.} We sat down at the bar and was greeted by Dorothy herself.  As our first stop in the NY wine country, Dorothy did a fantastic job of setting the stage for the wines of the region.  After pouring us what seemed like our own local wine tasting, we chose glasses of Hosmer's Estate Red and one of Lamoreaux Landing's reislings {easily my favorite winery of the trip}. We listened to a truly unique band, Technicolor Trailer Park, a duo who sang everything from Alanis Morrissette to their own songs about squirrels. Loved them.

PGH Dining: Bar Marco

If you're walking in the right direction on the right street in Pittsburgh, you'll be lucky enough to see Bar Marco.  Walk in, sit down, and order a drink, because this is an experience all to itself.

PGH Dining: Fat Heads Saloon

 After a fabulous win at a Pirates vs. Phillies game at PNC Park, we continued the celebration by heading over to Fat Heads Saloon over the river in the South Side.

Fireworks after the winning game.

 After have a few beers at the ball park, we wanted something hot and crispy. Perfect remedy - Smoked Chicken, Spinach and Artichoke dip, served with fried pita. The smokiness of the chicken hit you as soon as you took your first bite. The warm pita was crunchy, and was the perfect vehicle for the creamy dip. Great job!

 Then, based on a suggestion from the group, we had the stuffed hot peppers. These banana peppers are stuffed with hot sausage and cheese, then topped with a tomato sauce. They were a spicy kick I needed before my main dish.

A friend-of-a-sister once told us if we ever went to Fat Heads to have the wings. What else could we do? We ordered wings. I wouldn't do it again. Not a fan of these wings, with dry, oily skin, and were accompanied by tired celery and carrots. Next time, I'm going for the cheese sticks or fried pierogies!

 Moving on to our main dish - The PCI {Pretty Cool Italian} Headwich. It really was the size of my head.   Definitely a sharing sandwich.

 Salami, capicola, ham, pepperoni, hard boiled egg, and rosemary mayonnaise are just a few of the items on this insane sandwich. I love how many options there are, too, and I'm anxious to try another one!

Fat Heads was just the thing we needed to soak up some of that delicious craft beer we had at PNC Park. There are so many things I'd like to try when I go there next; However, I won't be having the wings again.

 - - - 

Seeing the Sights with Our First Guest!

This past weekend {give or take a couple days} was a blast! Husband's BFF came in town, and was our first guest to stay with us in PGH.  It was {for lack of a more grown-up word} awesome to show someone around our new turf. 

 Essentially, this photos sums it up nicely:

Dogfish Head's Ta Henket

Read about the rest of the weekend after the jump!

PGH Dining: SMOKE Barbeque Taqueria

We visited SMOKE Barbeque Taqueria on a weeknight, mainly because I didn't feel like cooking. Husband wanted something comforting, so what else do folks raised in Texas do? Go to a place that serves tacos.  

 SMOKE is in Homestead, which is something of a journey from Lawrenceville. {I realize you're jumping for joy to hear we went somewhere outside of our neighborhood.} Across the river and down the street in Homestead is an unsuspecting storefront, adjacent to empty shops, where SMOKE makes it's home. If you don't slow down, you might miss it.

 Inside the small, cozy restaurant is about 15 seats, some of which are at a bar/counter. You order from a two-page menu, and pay cash. {ATMs are nearby} This paying cash business can be a nuisance to some, but it helped us not go overboard because we just had a $20 on us. It's also BYOB, so be sure to have more foresight than we did and be stuck without some nice Mexican beers. {There is a beer store around the corner, though, if you're really in need.}

 Step up to order,

 under the cute chicken wire light fixture.

 Husband ordered a Mexican Coke, and I stuck with water. 

 We ordered their macaroni and cheese, and three tacos:

 Look at that setup!

 The macaroni and cheese was delicious, and was gone within minutes. It was right up our alley, with lots of coarsely cracked black pepper bits scattered throughout. 

Beef Brisket Taco

Vegetarian Taco

Migas with Chorizo.

 Fluffy white tortillas, with hot, flavorful filling. Winners. All three tacos were good, but the veggie taco was my favorite, featuring avocado, black beans and bruised cilantro leaves. 

Glass-Based Lamp

 The atmosphere is cozy, which is a nice way to say it was tight. This is a good way to meet people, however, since you're sharing elbow room at the bar seats. There were so few seats in the house, and SMOKE is still super popular - so you can see those two factors don't make for an easy seating. If I were the owners of SMOKE, I would line both sides of the bar with stools, adding at least 4 more seats. That's just my two cents!

 Neighborhood: Homestead/Munhall

Good For: Meeting people, BYOB

Gems: Vegetarian Tacos

Drawbacks: Seating

 

PGH Dining: Waffalonia

Being the planners that we are, Husband and I decided to squeeze in a visit to Waffalonia before seeing a 10:00AM matinee showing of a movie on a Sunday morning. Perfect, because they open at 9:00AM, and we were there on the dot.

Waffalonia, Leige Waffle Station, is a small, you'll-miss-it-if-you-blink shop in Squirrel Hill. You'll walk in to a skinny shop, with one side of waffle-making accouterment, the other for walking/ordering. P.S. - there's a wall full of peanut butter and nutella. Mmmm.

Waffle Iron in the Window.

Waffalonia's Menu: 

 They also offer ice creams:

 Next time I'm definitely trying cinnamon ice cream with Nutella on a hot waffle.

 After we ordered our waffle {Toppings below!}, we waited at the 'tables' alongside the wall. If you're bringing a group, you may want to get your waffles to go. However, it's perfect for a couple o' lovebirds sharing a waffle.

 Here she is...our sugar waffle, complete with a 1/4 c of Nutella, 3/4 of a banana and a huge dollop of whipped cream. Start the oohing and ahhing now.

We brought our own coffees!

 Behold the beauty. 

 Crunchy-sweet waffle, ripe banana slices, sandwiched between globs of Nutella and whipped cream. {Typical combination, I know, but too hard to pass up!}

Waffalonia was a sweet beginning to our morning. Check it out when you're in the neighborhood for a cozy decadent breakfast or brunch. 

Neighborhood: Squirrel Hill

Good For: Couples Breakfast/Brunch, Out-of-the-Ordinary Dessert

Gems: Ice Cream and Nutella {Expectations, of course}

Drawbacks: Seating Options

PGH Dining: Jergel's Rhythm Grille

Jergel's Rhythm Grille opened just a few short weeks ago, and everyone at Husband's office park in Warrendale heard about it. We all went for an office happy hour, and were welcomed to sit in the upper deck since we had a party of 12. The place has a nice, wide patio for those that want to be outdoors, and a floor full of tables ringed by a second floor {complete with bar}. Smart setup, especially on concert nights. {Check out their upcoming bands here.}

We were told by our hostess there was a rush on the kitchen right when we got there{?}, so we were asked to wait for 45 minutes before we ordered our food. This is odd, but not uncommon for newly opened restaurants. We ordered our happy hour-priced drinks {good deals!}, and Husband and I settled on the half-priced bottle of wine. {Red Guitar Spanish Temrapanillo, $14.50.} Great wine for a good price.

The ceiling of the upper deck.

Once we were able to order {it went by fairly quickly}, the two of us ordered chicken and waffles,

 and a trio of meatball sliders.

The sliders were bland and the meatballs were far to small for the amount of bun. The chicken and waffles were great! Crispy fried chicken wings {interesting/convenient choice of meat!}, fluffy waffle and warm syrup.

  Around the table, others had rich, creamy pasta dishes:

a Buffalo Chicken salad, later to be "Pittsburghed,"

 and a scalloped potato casserole {with three cheeses}. 

 Jergel's was fun, the menu was surprising, and featured good happy hour deals. The wait for food, however, wasn't a good move. We'll have to go back in a month or so, once they've gotten the high volume down pat!

Neighborhood: Cranberry Township/Warrendale

Good For: Happy Hour, Concerts

Gems: Seating Options

Drawbacks: Food Wait

PGH Dining: The Sewickley Cafe

Yes, I'm still writing about Sewickley. It seems like we were there ages ago, but I still have so much to say. Maybe by this weekend I'll be finished, and can get back to city musings. 

Husband and I grabbed an early lunch at The Cafe Gourmet Provisions Sewickley The Sewickley Cafe, located on one of the main drags of the town, Beaver Street. As more people piled in, we discovered there was patio seating in the back {which would had been lovely on a sparkling, sunny day like that.} Instead, we sat at a table near the wall, and took in the long bar, open kitchen and cold case full of layered cakes. We made a mental note.

 We decided to try and order something healthy, but completely lost that thought when we saw the chicken salad and truffled fries. Now, I've had a truffled fry in my time, and could have chosen to pass these up. But, I'm glad I didn't. 

 They were delicious. Crispy, and odorous with that truffly stink. Loved it. 

The chicken was in chunks, which is fine in my book. I can eat this version or the milled-up kind and be happy. This particular chicken salad had a mayonnaise dressing, and featured halved purple grapes. 

Seeded bread crust.

 We also shared the coconut shrimp salad. That's healthy, right? Shrimp? Lettuce? Well, it does have fried shrimp and a butter croissant, but it was light and fresh. We were pleased with the tart dressing that accompanied it, too.

 Finally, since everything had gone to hell in a hand basket, we ordered a large, thick slice of lemon cake. {Which strangely turned out to look strikingly like birthday cake.}

 I'm not a fan of the fluffy, Cool Whip-like icing this cake was covered in, but that didn't stop me from taking a few bites. The lemon flavor of the cake came shining through, but Husband finished it off.

There are so many food options to try in Sewickley, and The Sewickley Cafe holds it's own. My one comment would be for management to consider a less confusing logo, and maybe stick with featuring just the name of the restaurant. Too many words confuse people!

Neighborhood: Sewickley

Good For: Brunch, Lunch

Gems: Patio Seating, Cake

Drawbacks: What is this place called?