Slainte!

St. Paddy's is over, and - while most of us are moving on - there are a select few (ahem, like me) who want nothing more than to cling tightly to the memory of the guilt-free weekend full of debauchery and overindulgence that lay behind us.

Well, folks, I aims to please.

Boxty Brunch at Piper's Pub

Thanks, PipersPub.com!

Good morning, Pittsburgh!

Did you wake up hungry? Too early for lunch but too late for breakfast? Fear not, fellow foodies. I have the perfect solution: Brunch at Piper's Pub!

Less-Words Wednesday: The Freakin' Allegheny Wine Mixer

Our "pre-game" to a bowling adventure started at none other than The FREAKIN' Allegheny Wine Mixer in Lawrenceville!

Right on Point

PID and I have been meaning to check out Point Brugge for years. So I feel it's only appropriate that we waited until the first major snow storm of 2012 to make the dangerous decision to drive there and do it.

All I have to say, is that the reward was worth the risk.

Kickstarter Roundup: Pittsburgh projects YOU should know about

We've mentioned before how cool we think Kickstarter is.

We watched E2 raise enough money to transform their dungeon basement into a hip gathering space in no time. Now we're hoping to spread the word to help a few others on their way to success.

Six Reasons to Love D's Six Pax

My friends, it appears PID and I have been missing out.  For months, our Edgewood rooted F.O.R.T.s - along with what feels like every single other Pittsburgher - have been raving about D's Six Pax-n-Dogs. Getting there for us requires crossing one bridge and venturing through one tunnel (the horror...), so it took longer than we might have liked to give it a shot.

But since we were in the area trying out Alma last weekend, we figured we'd pop in. Right away I smelled the delicious pub food emanating from the kitchen. I was completely full from dinner, but was already starting to drool.

So instead of a typical post, I'm going to sum up our experience by giving you six (out of the possible thousands...) reasons to love D's Six Pax-n-Dogs:

1.) A bottle-shop draft menu that'll make a tap-room jealous. A rotating white-board hangs over the bar telling you exactly what you need to know about their unique selection of lagers, lambics, ales and stouts -- the alcohol percentage. (No, that's not the price by the draft name. Let's get real).

2.) A chalice of Framboise. Not a flute, not a glass, a chalice. All too often, I wind up paying too much money for too little Framboise (my weakness).  At D's, you get what you pay for and a few gulps more. I'm sorry to report that I was so enamored by the chalice that I forgot to snap a photo, you'll just have to trust me on this.

3.) Freedom to invent your own hotdog (with the comfort of knowing they've got a few gems of their own to suggest). Even though PID and I had already had an official dinner that evening, we couldn't help but to give the Chicago and Chihuahua dogs a try. Holy guacamole these hotdogs hit it out of the park. Served on a soft and delicious poppy-seed bun, these dogs were busy and big, but man did they taste amazing.

Chicago dog, $3.99

PID's Chicago dog delivered what was promised: a meal fit for a Bull, a Bear and all of her Cubs with competing flavors of pepper and pickles and tomatoes all atop a deliciously juicy Vienna all beef dog.

Chihuahua dog, $3.99

My Chihuahua was certainly a dog with a bite, but with much more massive flavor than its namesake indicates. Had I not just eaten a full meal, I could have eaten five of these suckers.

And the beauty of D's Dogs is that if (for some ridiculous reason) you don't find their menu dogs particularly appealing, you can build you own from scratch - choosing from a list of more than 26 fixin's - and even choose your own meat (or non-meat for our veggie friends).

5.) Not a hotdog person? They've got wings for kings and an impressive list of appetizers.  Our Edgewood F.O.R.T.s ordered the pub fries which I couldn't stop stealing. My arteries may hate me, but my tummy kept thanking me over and over again.

Pub fries, $6.95

5.) The folks are friendly. I'm no spring chicken and sometimes I get a hint of anxiety when I step into a hip, dive bar -- like I'm just not going to fit in.  Not only did I feel completely welcome and get served right away with a smile, but the patrons were warm and welcoming as well.  There is a downstairs dining room, a bar and an upstairs lounge and each room was filled with happy, friendly faces. I was very comfortable and liking the place more and more by the minute.

 

6.) The cave. I've saved the best for last. I spent a good 30-45 minutes at D's before Mrs. F.O.R.T. arrived and I asked what she was having.  "I typically just head to the cave and pick when I get there," she answered.  The what?  I was clearly out of my element.  She took me by the hand and led me through the bar, across the dining room and down a hallway to the most amazing place in the world.

As soon as we reached the light at the end of the tunnel, thousands (no, seriously...thousands) of beer varieties awaited us: craft beers, imports, domestics galore, all organized by country of origin.

 

Note: a server saw me take this picture and said "Aw, this is an awful time to take a picture, we have, like, NOTHING in stock!" -- ummm.....what!? My eyes are already bulging out of my head. Don't mess with me, lady.

We chose our beers (after a good 15 minutes of circling the cave) and she led me to the second best part of the evening, the cooling station.

I was wondering why the beer wasn't cold, but apparently all you need to do is drop them in the super-amazing cooling station for 3, 5 or 7 minutes and voila! Beer-God works his magic and an ice-cold beer is born.  Don't want to wait for the cooling station to do it's trick?  There IS a chill-room with a great selection as well, just not nearly as impressive as the cave.


So there you have it.  Six amazing reasons why you'll LOVE D's Six Pax-n-Dogs.  I'm sure if you stop by you'll find your own reasons to love it, but hopefully mine will give you enough reason to try it out if you haven't already. If you're a bridge or two away like PID and I fear not, it's worth your journey. Whether it's to watch a game, eat a fun meal with the kids, or throw back a few with F.O.R.T.s of your own, D's is the place to do it.  So come on in.

Restaurant Information

D's Six Pax-n-Dogs
Address:1118 S. Braddock Ave. (they have another location at 4320 Northern Pike if you're a Monroeville-ite)
Phone: 412-241-4666
Reservations: Not taken or really needed, but get there early to beat the bar crowd
Hours: Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week and open late-night on Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Oktoberfestivities

Let me start off by admitting something.  I am the product of three Irish grandparents and one German one. So March 17 of every year is a very happy time for me. People from every culture and background put aside their differences and congregate in green to celebrate...well, let's be honest: drinking.

Now again, on this day I revel in the fact that I get to wear a pin that says "Kiss Me, I'm Irish -- No Really" instead of "Irish for a Day."  But I have to admit that I've always felt it should be this way for ALL cultures!  Here in Pittsburgh, St. Patty's day is the most widely celebrated drinking holiday aside from Steeler Sundays. However, throughout the world, Oktoberfest is the most heavily attended celebration of it's kind without question. I'm told by Beth at Hofbruhaus that 22% of the local population is of German decent.  And to that I say: WHERE IS YOUR PRIDE, PEOPLE?

With this principal in mind, I am proud to post the Oktoberfest events across the city of Pittsburgh.

Traditionally, Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival with roots in Munich, Bavaria Germany.  Essentially, it began 200 years ago as a wedding celebration marking the reunification of Germany, so naturally it's largely based around drinking.

I've done the research.  From what I can tell, authentic German restaurants in our region are few and far between. So while your choices are limited, it simply means you don't have to do as much thinking when planning your Oktoberfestivities.

Venue:  Penn Brewery 
Location: 800 Vinial St., Troy Hill area

Dates/Times:  September 17-19 and 24-26, 5 p.m. to midnight (4-10 p.m. on Sunday)

Specials:  Penn Brewery is the closest you'll get aside from a $2,200 ticket to Munich itself, so the  award winning Münchener/Bavarian Oktoberfest brew (4.5% alcohol) that they serve is special in it's own right. 

Food:  Their deliciously authentic German menu will be available as always.

Entertainment:  Heimat Klang, Autobahn Band, Kevin Solecki, and a very special new local group, Gaudi Buam, (translated literally from Bavarian, "fun young men") will be performing in the restaurant throughout the course of the celebration.

Come find me:  I will be there checking things out on Sunday the 26th!

For More Information:  Follow them on Twitter and Like 'em on Facebook. 

Venue:  Barley's & Hop's 
Location: 5217 Library Road, Bethel Park (In the South Park Shops strip)

Dates/Times:  Friday October 8, 6-11 p.m. and Saturday October 9, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Specials:  Free admission. Free and plentiful parking. Sam Adams Oktoberfest and 13 other import and craft beers on tap.  Imports not your thing?  Choose from their unprecedented selection of bottled beers!

Food:  B&H famous Brats & Kraut will be bringing the culture home while South Pittsburgh's (in)famous Rowdy BBQ will be cooking up their famous pulled pork and chicken.

Drink for a Cause: A portion of procedes to benefit Huntingtons disease research. 

Entertainment:  Hen House Roosters will crow and croon followed by the Billy Oats Band.

Come find me:  Sadly, you won't.  I'll be out of town enjoying the farm-fresh goodness of Bob Evans Farm Festival that weekend but I encourage those who can't make the trip to Rio Grande, OH to celebrate with Ray and Jeff at Barley's & Hop's!

Venue: Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh 
Location: 2705 South Water St., South Side Works (River Side)

Dates/Times:  Sept. 17-18 and Sept. 24-25

Specials:  Things kicked off today (sorry, we missed it together) with a ribbon cutting a 7 p.m. where a larger than life 60-foot-tall work of art in the form of the traditional Bavarian Maibaum was revealed outside restaurant doors.  Go check it (and their delicious, house brewed German biers) out this week!

Food:  These guys do right by German cuisine.  Their menu stays true to the German palate and I personally suggest the pretzels and bier cheese.  But outside, under the tents they're offering meals of brats and kraut, pulled pork sandwiches and an array of German inspired desserts.

Entertainment:  Tons.  Check out the line up on their website.

Come find me:  I'll be there Friday night singing on tables, doing shotskis and enjoying kraut by the barrel. 

Venue: Pennsylvania Bavarian Oktoberfest 
Location: Streets of downtown Canonsburg

Dates/Times:  Sept. 17-19

Specials:  Continuously ranked one of the nations top 10 Oktoberfest celebrations by aol.com.

Food:  One block is devoted to German cuisine and beer along with a variety of American and ethnic foods and the Vendor Concourse.

Entertainment:  An outstanding array of both authentic German music mixed with a little much needed rock n' roll, the streets of Canonsburg will certainly be jammin'.  You can find the full list on their site, but this event is family friendly as well. Bring your kids and let them enjoy the amusement rides, face painting and games while you enjoy the bites and brews.

Come find me:  I'll be at the street stage and  in the beer garden on Sunday the 19th.

For more details: Follow Washington County on Twitter

Venue: PUMPtoberfest at the Pittsburgh Opera
Location: 2524 Liberty Avenue, in the Strip District

Date/time: October 8, 7 p.m. - Midnight

Details: PUMP is celebrating their 15th straight year of striving to make Pittsburgh a more dynamic and diverse place to live and what better way to do it than with an Oktoberfest themed party?! German beers will be flowing and a Root Beer garden will be available for anyone who wants to experience the fun without the hangover.  Prices include admission, food and beverages and, dependent upon cost point, a one-year PUMP membership.  There is a special discount for designated drivers.  Anyone who purchases a ticket will receive a code good for $5 off admission to their 40 under 40 party. Admission + Investor Membership*:  $120
Non-Members/PUMP Associates*:  $35
Current PUMP Partners/Investors:  $25
Designated Driver: $15
*Includes One Year PUMP Membership

Entertainment: TBD but they're working hard on booking a German band!

For more details:  Follow them on Twitter or like them on Facebook




Oktoberfest one of the largest fairs and events in the ENTIRE WORLD. So why shouldn't it be widely celebrated in Pittsburgh?!  Let's get to work. So yinz should don the yellow, red and black and develop a taste for heavy hops and  kraut.  It's time for Oktoberfest!


If you know of another celebration or I missed yours, please e-mail me at tasteofpittsburghblog (at) gmail (dot) com.
 

Thirsty Thursday, First Edition

So after my Tuesday post about Willow, I can't stop thinking about the delicious wine.

I want to go back -- if for nothing but the wine!  And tonight it's HALF PRICE! 

So that, in turn, got me thinking about drinking.  As I'd mentioned before, my wallet is, at the moment, uncomfortably thin so when my friends and I decided it's time for a beer or a margarita or a glass/bottle of wine, I like to find the places that can quench my thirst without drying up my finances.

In the spirit of helping others with the same problem, I will supply you with a list of my very favorite "drink specials" every Thursday.  I'll list a special for every night of the week starting, of course, with Thursday so you can plan ahead!

THURSDAY: Willow (NORTH HILLS). There is a select list of wines available for the deal, but I took a look and it's nothing I can't handle! What's nice about Willow's Uncork'd Thursdays is that you can order half price by the stem OR the bottle.  With the relaxingly lush atmosphere, this is a great place to bring an intimate group of girlfriends for a quiet evening away from the kids but is also great for a romantic first (or 32nd) date.

FRIDAY: Carson City Saloon (SOUTHSIDE).  This is one of my favorite bars on the south side -- when I actually make it out to the chaotic south side. Happy hour is your typical 5-7 p.m. with half off all appetizers (try the beer battered pickles. They are truly a uniquely appetizing experience) and $1 off all drinks.  $2.25 bottles and $2.50 wells run from 9-11 with live music and occasionally my personal favorite, Karaoke!

SATURDAY:  Claddagh Irish Pub (THE WORKS). I'm a soccer player.  So anywhere that shows EPL all day on the big screen by the bar is my kinda place. I also enjoy anywhere that calls them "pints" rather than "drafts."  Speaking of which its $4 "pints," $3 Call drinks, $2 domestic bottles, $4 House wine (typically not for the Saturday soccer fan) every Saturday.

SUNDAY: Redbeard's Tavern (MOUNT WASHINGTON). $5 Margaritas on the patio ALL DAY all summer long?  Yes please.

MONDAY:  McFadden's Pittsburgh (NORTH SHORE). $0.25 wings and $3 you call its.  Great for Monday night Pirates games when we're losing 10-1 in the 4th inning and you just want to get the heck out of the stuffy awkward ballpark...

TUESDAY: Shadyside Saloon (ELLSWORTH). $2 Tuesday (all domestic drafts and well drinks) plus one hell of a good looking group of guys during dart league season!

WEDNESDAY:  Shady Grove (WALNUT). Half price wine bottles and the nicest (not to mention cutest) bartenders in Pittsburgh.  Need I say more?

HAPPY PLANNING (and drinking)!