Food Highlights: Pittsburgh, PA

Whelp, it seems I didn't take very many iPhone pictures at all when in Pittsburgh, PA the weekend before last. It's a crying shame because I had so much fun and delicious food! I'd never visited Pittsburgh before nor had I done any research, so I had no idea what to expect (as evident by my naively attempted 13 mile run that turned into 10 miserable ones).

Another example: When arriving in Pittsburgh from the airport, you drive into a through-the-mountain tunnel and then---BOOM---there is Pittsburgh! Bridges! Rivers! Stadiums! Skyscrapers! Hills! It was awesome. Pittsburgh is 5% water (according to Wikipedia) and it's downtown sits on the convergence of two rivers. Pretty cool! Also, Pittsburgh was probably 2+ weeks ahead of Richmond as far as fall goes: All the trees were shades of red / orange and the weather was in the mid to high 50s the entire time.

FRIDAY
Once I pulled myself together and showered after the run, Sarah and I headed back into the city for some pre-dinner fun. What's at the top of the to-do list when spending a weekend with a best girl friend? COCKTAILS! First, we headed to Olive or Twist (website) martini bar. I surprisedly settled on the "Orange Clove Pomander" martini (Stoli Oranj, Licor 43, Allspice Dram, Orange Juice). I think it was the Licor 43 that won me over...reminded me of my Camino de Santiago trip in college and it did not disappoint. Sarah thankfully got "Winter Chai" (Smirnoff Vanilla, Rumchata, Allspice Dram, Cinnamon) because that was my second choice. CHAI, duh. There were so many fun concoctions, I wish we could've gone back for dessert to try the Cookie Dough or S'more martinis.

Next up was Perle (website) champagne bar, where we cozied up on couches with two "Rose Bud"champagne cocktails (St. Germain, Grapefruit Juice, Rosé Champagne). Add grapefruit, and I'll love it almost guaranteed.

Sufficiently warmed with spirits, we made our way up Mount Washington to Altius (website) for dinner. I'm not sure that I've ever had such a romantic meal. First of all: The view. The back wall was entirely made of windows, looking down upon downtown Pittsburgh. At our table, we were greeted with truffle popcorn, which was shortly followed by an amuse-bouche(!) of a fingerling potato topped with sauces-n-things (that I can't remember). That's how you know a place is fancy, fancy.

Next up was the sea scallop appetizer: celery root puree, apple cider vinegar reduction, shaved Brussel sprout and apple slaw (we almost ordered the pumpkin soup that was served with a toasted bourbon marshmallow!). For entrees, I ordered the Butternut Squash Ricotta Gnocchi---brown butter sauce, broccoli rabe, smoked ricotta, sage---a super-comforting meal. Sarah got the fish special; I can't recall the details but it was good. But that's not all! As a dessert amuse-bouche (I guess), they gave us blondies to-go.

SATURDAY

On Saturday, after coffee from Coffee Tree Roaster (website) and taking a walk to work up an appetite, we headed back downtown to brunch big. With a name like Meat and Potatoes (website), there are high brunch expectations. Continuing the cocktail and grapefruit trend, I ordered the "Pink Ruby" (Ruby tea,  grapefruit, lemon, cocchi rosa and prosecco). YUM! Since we were also starving, we ordered two appetizers/sides: fried taters (french fries) with truffle mayo and pepper bacon. We decided to split the two most irresistible entrees on the menu: short rib hash with poached eggs and horseradish hollandaise AND the seasonal eggs Benedict with wilted greens, pulled pork, apple cider reduction / hollandaise sauce, etc. Can you believe with went savory instead of sweet?! I didn't regret it for a minute. Both were fantastic but the eggs Benedict was the real winner. The salty/sweet combo was perfect (and that sauce!!!).

We finished brunch around 2:30PM, and I never was hungry again. Even when 9:00PM rolled around, I did not want dinner. It was, however, our last night together so dinner we did. We walked 20 feet down the street to Girasole (website)---a cozy Italian restaurant situated in a stone-walled basement. We split their seasonal bruschetta for an appetizer: Italian toast, mushroom, smoked mozzarella, thyme marinated onion. Bruschetta was followed by more bread and their impressive house salad, made with garbanzo beans, gorgonzola, olives and a sunflower vinaigrette. Then, for the second night in a row, I ordered gnocchi for an entree...What?! I never have gnocchi at home! (It's something I should clearly change.)

We ended the night with Pretty in Pink, candlelight, and tastes of our "homemade" chocolate mousse and whipped creams. (We definitely need to perfect our mousse-making technique...)

SUNDAY

Breakfast at Barb's Corner Kitchen was my final Pittsburgh meal. Sarah told me that it was a very "Pittsburgh" place and in setting foot in the door, I immediately believed her. The servers were rushed, very direct and had the strangest accents...which Sarah referred to Pittsburghese. Who knew? I went with the pancake special: pumpkin with a side of bacon (surprise!) and a never-ending cup of coffee. Would you believe it was my first pumpkin food of the season?!

I'm so glad I got to visit this city, while spending time with one of my best friends. Travel and true friendships: they're good for the soul.

Sees ya, Pittsburgh!