My Pittsburgh food blog

Pittsburgh, this is what I want in a tea...

2011-08-01T14:12:00.011-04:00

Come on Pittsburgh, this is what I want in a Tai tea. I had to fly to California to get spoiled by this drink...so decked out that even the straw wrapper was folded into a rose. Well done, Cali, let's make it our mission to find this one in the 'burgh please.

Why Indian food looks so bad but tastes so good...

2011-08-01T14:01:00.003-04:00

Ever wonder why Indian food looks so bad but tastes so good? Multi-colored Dal, curry slop and blood red Tandori chicken is unusually non-cafeteria tasting - although it sure does look like it. Today I had my lunch at Taste of India near Cranberry...lunch buffet, as usual. I wasn't totally impressed, I have to say that I probably won't go back. If you're in the North hills, there's a much better selection at Taj Mahal on Mcknight Rd and it's definitely worth the traffic to get there.

The salad that changed my life

2011-08-01T13:43:00.005-04:00

Thanks to an uber healthy neighbor of mine, I've discovered a salad that changed my life. All you do is throw as many greens and vegetables as you can together, add some ricotta cheese and maybe some dried cranberries, mix in candied nuts and like the coconut - you shake it all up. It's delicious and doesn't even need dressing. This magical salad has even the pickiest eaters craving more. There's just something so good about it that you can't help but want more and more. It's almost like a dessert salad, without the guilt.

Not only does it look beautiful with all the different colors, it helps to improve your vision! According to Dr. Oz, best known from Oprah, spinach is "Jam-packed with nutritients. this is the best things for your eyes," he says. "It's better than carrots, and a lot of macular degeneration - which is a tragic ailment that affects vision - can actually be avoided by eating these kinds of foods that are rich in carotenoids and also have folic acids and a lot of other benefits." But, of course we already knew this, right?

Lemongrass lunch at Angkor

2011-03-20T13:31:00.006-04:00

Tucked away in, I guess you would call Crafton, is one of my favorite spots for lunch. Angkor was previously under the name "Lemongrass Cafe" in downtown Pittsburgh. I am more than happy to make this journey and avoid the city today. The owner/waiter is lovely enough for all, making any wait more acceptable. They do have a high volume take out during these hours. I personally love the wild orchids and intricate woodwork that is diplayed throughout the place, showcasing the Philippino heritage and style of the owner. The Lemongrass soup and Pandang shrimp curry is a staple for me, but today the fresh chicken spring rolls with sweet plum sauce may lead me to stray...

Indian Lunch at Tamarind

2011-03-15T11:24:00.000-04:00

Craving something different, I picked Indian for lunch today. I was a bit "tired" from too much celebrating at a friend's birthday party last night, so I chose to stay close to home. There's a restaurant named Tamarind about a mile down the road that would suit my needs just fine. The place is great, dimmed lighting and a warm escape from the rain outside. I ordered the lunch special, didn't really have the motivation to find anything else on the menu. Number one please, with mango juice :) not too spicy with a lovely silver plate of rice surrounded by delicate bowls of curries. A buttery side of Naan and a beet root, coconut chutney dessert. Yum

Spicy Thai Phoon

2011-03-13T20:10:00.001-04:00

Something seemed strange at Thai Phoon in Robinson..the cooks were looking at us a bit too much. I am quite sure they were waiting to see my reaction to my Red Curry Shrimp lunch. I love this recipe and make it myself, but this plate was on fire! They never asked me a rating for spice, I just assumed the sweetness of the coconut milk would balance the spice of the curry...nope. I don't know what the deal was today, but I love Thai sooo...maybe I should try this place again at another time.