What do you eat when you're feeling under the weather?
Dragon and Phoenix soup - shrimp and chicken in broth, green onions, fresh ginger, noodles...
Serious Eater Profile
Get to Know a Serious Eater.
OrigCyn's Profile
The Ten Most Recent Comments By OrigCyn
Yeah. Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh, part 2
Over around Greentree-Crafton, go to Angkor. It's in a small strip mall area (2350 Noblestown Rd), and dthe same folks who own the Lemongrass downtown own it. The food is primarily Cambodian-Thai, with a few Chinese dishes added. We have never had anything bad there. My favorite is Lock Lack, beef tenderloin pieces marinaded and cooked, served with lemon pepper sauce. oh, and don't forget to try their version of fried ice cream
Moroeville - go to TaiPei Tokyo. Wonderful sushi and sashimi, and you can choose Japanese or Chinese dishes. The whole fish in black bean sauce is all there is to one dish, but each bite gets better and better...Again, everything we have had so far there is better than the last. Bento box lunches are fun also...salad, soup, California rolls, and tempura veggies - nice, healthy and delicious.
LuLu's Noodles, in Oakland, near Pitt University - yes~~~a must go place.
Also in Oakland, (if it's still there), The O for chili hot dogs, fries and onion rings...
Back to Oakmont, choose between Hoffstot's, or the Chelsea Grill. I prefer the old fashioned, elegant Hoffstot's, even when I get a dark beer and fish sandwich. But if you are going for dinner, their scallops or shrimp in the orange and lemon butter sauce are well worth it. My first choice is usually one of their specials OR a dish I have never seen or had elsewhere - Veal Miceli - created by a former chef there. slices of veal, coated with crumbs and fried, wrapped up in deep fried eggplant slices...cheese, sauce...5 **** or better. BTW...sometimes, if you are lucky you will get to see current or past Steelers there.
Desserts, except for Italian cheese cake and their own version of deep fried ice cream with either amaretto fudge sauce, or cherry pie filling or fresh strawberries, the other desserts are not made on site. So before you leave, and if the Oakmont Bakery (in between the 2 restaurants) is still open, check out their Oakmonter or Almond tort (buy a large one, or small 2 person one), or one of their exquisite designer cupcakes. My son and his new bride had the cupcakes at the wedding instead of a wedding cake.
There are folks who don't live here think we still have steel mills blasting away, or that we are all newcomers to the country...but we have tremendous food in Pittsburgfh, inc. the South Siide which now has several new restaurants (try a corned beef sandwich with your Guiness at the Cladagh...)
There are little known places like Jimmy's (brand new) Thai food in Verona...
Darn...I am now so hungry
Yes! Pittsburgh is more than halupki or haluski (both of which I cook at home ... I think we are waiting for Gourmet or Bon Appetit to discover us! But maybe that wouldn't be a good thing.
Hugs from OrigCyn
Yeah. Pittsburgh.
After reading the previous sharings, I thought I'd add my 2 cents to the discussion. I live about 15 minutes from dahntahn, in Oakmont. There are so many great places to eat in Pittsburgh. I have to admit though, that I do NOT like Yuengling beer, but give me a Rolling Rock especially with a great big fish sandwich, and I am a happy "yunzer".
I think the person who wrote about the Brew Church might have meant the Church Brew House in Lawrenceville. You have got to try their pierogies - they make new kinds all the time, including a black bean with salsa, etc.
I side with the person who did not like Buca di Beppo - my hubby and I have been there twioce, and both meals were horrible. I do not eat salad that has brown or plain out dead lettuce in it. Chicken should not be dry. It's sad that a pasta sauce tastes burnt...'nuff said.
I love Monteray Bay up on Mt. Washington. Their grilled scallops or the crabcakes - TDF. Yes, it's pricey, but sure worth it when it's your anniversary (and they gave us a free dessert for the occasion.) Howver, their other restaurant in Monroeville cannot compare. I had lunch with 2 friends there. The only thing that all 3 of us ate that was the same, was the sweet pea pods. We all got sick that night.
If you are going to the Strip, do go to Klaven's old fashioned ice cream parlor. Wonderful treats, atmosphere...they even make their own flavored whipped creams. The banana split is decadent. forget your calories and enjoy!!! Oh, and it's on Penn, I believe, but a few blocks away going towards Lawrenceville and beyond.
L a Prima coffee? My first visit there some yrs ago, I had no clue as to what all the sizes were etc. The staff treated me as though I were totally stupid, one woman said every word of her explanation very slkowly,as though I were deaf and dumb. And now, their coffee is being used at the former Oakmont Coffee Company on Allegheny Boulevard in Oakmont. Do not care for their coffee at all - it's just like Eat & Park's - always tastes s though it's been burned.
BUT if you want fantastic coffee, where the beans are roasted fresh, go to one of the Coffee Tree Roasters in Fox Chapel, Squirrel Hill, or - argh - can't remember where in South Hills...the Sumatra blue linton, the peaody...their estate Kona (they buy the entire crop that one Hawaii coffee plantation grows. And they roast their own!!! If you go to Squirrel Hill, and Jon is working? Ask him for a cup of black cat. It's his mixture, and you will want to buiy a couple pounds to take home for yourself.
Some more suggestions in next post...
Responses to Comments by OrigCyn
Yeah. Pittsburgh.
@susquehanna, regarding Bourdain:
Yes, I was really frustrated too. I guess that it was to be expected, with a young crowd of line cooks. Though I probably wouldn't mind having a beer with Tony, that is for sure! I think that he was probably slightly amused but I'm sure he thought it was a little obnoxious and was being gracious. I also, was a little too shy - the girl next to me asked a question. Although, after I got home, I thought of the perfect question: "Was the photo shoot in My Last Supper your idea?" :)
Yeah. Pittsburgh.
@Susquehanna:
My husband and I were at the Bourdain lecture last night too. I was also seated in the second balcony, right in front of a group of restaurant folk who were so rowdy they made it hard to hear his responses during the Q&A. I think anyone who has read his books or watched NR fairly often has heard what he had to say before, though he certainly has his schtick down pat! We did enjoy the lecture despite the lame Q&A.
Yeah. Pittsburgh.
please, for the love of all that is holy, visit Uncle Sam's Subshop in Oakland (near Pitt campus). I lived in Pittsburgh for 5 years, and now live in Philly, and I have to say Uncle Sam's steak and their fries kick Philly's "authentic" variety to the curb.
Spice Island is also in Oakland, and has pretty good Burmese/Thai/Chinese food. Tip: skip the noodles and get a curry or the 5 spice chicken, very very good and you won't pay more than $10 for a big meal. Also extensive tea menu.
Southside (Carson St) is great, lots of energy and interesting people, and amazing restaurants. Perfect place for a night on the town.
What do you eat when you're feeling under the weather?
When I'm sick, I love ramen noodles with hot sauce. Something about the hot salty broth and the spicyness really makes me feel better. Other favorites: crackers, pad thai, mac&cheese, grilled cheese (cheddar on wheat only!), or chicken pot pie.
What do you eat when you're feeling under the weather?
Anything unhealthy: Mac and cheese, pizza bagels, Mcdonalds hamburgers. I take comfort in killing myself slowly apparently.
Hillary
Chew on That
Yeah. Pittsburgh.
@Littlebluesiren: I was at Bourdain's lecture. Up in the second balcony. Weren't you frustrated with the audience's lame questions? Nobody asked about projects he may be developing, Top Chef, his best frenemy Ruhlman, or what it's like being a new dad. Shyness kept me from the Q & A mike. Wish I wasn't that way.
Anyway, the Pgh line cook contingent was out in full force! Can you believe how they were begging the man to go out for drinks with them or to "come back to my restaurant"? Do you think he was genuinely amused with this -- 'cause he was laughing pretty hard -- or was he just smitten with how pathetic the quality of the Q & A had become? Maybe it's a common thing at his public appearances.
@anybody: Did anybody else go to Bourdain's Drue Heinz lecture?
Yeah. Pittsburgh.
I used to live in Pittsburgh in my 5 years at CMU and I just have to toss in my 2 cents about some of the places already mentioned:
1) Church Brew Works: Take the trip. Beautiful atmosphere, some very good food (I really enjoyed their venison meatloaf the one time I went), and some excellent beer as well. For me that's really something because I really don't like most beers!
2) Chaya: I went there numerous times with my friends when we decided that Friday night meant emptying our wallets and eating big. While you may have to wait for seating at dinner hours (usually crowded) it's worth it. Absolutely magnificent food, spot-on every time. The sushi boats are quite a sight to behold and are quite fresh.
3) Lulu's: Yup, a fine place for the collegiate crowd to go for some good Pan-Asian eats. Very reasonable prices, some excellent takes on old classics. I still miss their wonton soup quite a bit, mostly because it involved bonito broth instead as well as many other veggies and ingredients I usually don't expect. Quite flavorful!
Great, now I miss the ol' place. Guess I'll have to go back eventually to catch up with friends and food!
What do you eat when you're feeling under the weather?
Mac and cheese, rice, chicken soup. If there's leftover spaghetti, that's wonderful. But I don't cook very well when I'm sick, so I stick to very plain things and let hubby fend for himself. Otherwise he has to deal with my odd sense of taste, which can result in some odd flavors in the end product.
Coffee nearly always tastes terrible to me when I'm sick, as does any sort of seafood. Many other things take on a weird or metallic taste, so I'm best off sticking to the few things that I know will be okay.
As soon as I'm feeling better, the first thing I crave is a big steak or beef roast.
Yeah. Pittsburgh.
I can't believe how late I'm coming to this post, but I also live in Pittsburgh and can't say enough about the food scene. Everyone has really wonderful suggestions, so I'm only going to add two places that I dont' think were mentioned:
Udipi Cafe in Monroeville - South Indian diner, amazing dosas and uthappam
Legume Bistro in Regent Square - french/italian country cooking, with a commitment to the local and seasonal
The Strip, as mentioned, is the mecca of food in the city.
I just came back from the Bourdain lecture and I am so happy to read this post and see all the connections to Pittsburgh on SE. Now I want to go and have a meal with you all!
Website: http://CynthiasCornerCupboard
Location: CynthiasCornerCupboard@yahoogroups.com
About: I'm a professional food writer of 22 yrs. plus. Married to the same man for 44 yrs this August. We have 3 sons, 2 daughters (one is a chef), 5 grandsons.
Favorite foods: Just about anything, from to linguini to lobster, pierogies to scalloped potatoes with ham casserole...very few things I do not like, and if it is something new to me, I will try it!
Last bite on earth: Pizza from Police Station Pizza in Ambridge on Main Street.