Blog Archives

Kitchen Abuse, Paying Your Dues

What does it take to become a chef? These days, it doesn’t seem like much. Every day I run into people that say they’re chefs, but I become skeptical when they tell me about their lack of experience. I’m continually hiring people that assure me that they can cook, but end up being skilled at only one thing; complaining. Not only do these fresh-out-of school kids expect the world, they don’t want to have to work their way up the ladder, putting in the necessary time and effort to truly learn their profession. I hope I’m not dating myself by saying, “When I graduated from cooking school, things were different…you really had to prove yourself before you got promoted…” The truth is things are different. With the gaining popularity of The Food Newtwork, and other food-related shows, everyone wants to become a chef.

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La Feria, Shadyside, PA

There’s a small restaurant above Pamela’s in Shadyside, by the name of La Feria. Climb a small set of stairs, walk past the Latin American souvenirs, and you’ll come up a small dining room with chairs. The odd placement of La Feria makes it almost unrecognizable as a full-service restaurant.

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Murphy’s Tap Room and St. Patrick’s Day

There’s one bar in particular that enjoys the steadiest, and most loyal patronage from the time it opens its doors on St. Patrick’s Day- Murphy’s Tap Room. A truly authentic Irish bar, Murprhy’s serves pints of Guinness (poured the right way), and a wide selection of Irish whiskey.

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Square Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA

If you live in the east end of town (or any other suburb of Pittsburgh) you’ve most likely heard of Square Café in Regent Square (412-244-8002).

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Lidia’s, Pittsburgh, PA

On the last day of her visit, my sister (who lives in Boston) suggested that we go to Lidia’s for brunch. Wait, Lidia’s in the Strip has brunch? They do indeed.

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D’s Six Pax and Dogz

Everyone who has lived in the East End of town is familiar with D’s Six Paxs and Dogz. Situated at 118 South Braddock Avenue, D’s has the largest selection of import and micro beers with over 1,000 (yes, that’s three zeros) selections.

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Molly Brannigans, Mount Lebanon, PA

The closest pub to where I live is Molly Brannigans, a Traditional Irish Pub located in Uptown Mt. Lebanon. When you enter Molly’s, you immediately feel warmth (especially on cold December nights like when I went to visit).

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Notion, Oakmont, PA

Question: What do you do when Chef David Racicot opens a restaurant in Oakmont? You make a reservation. Friday night, we made it down to the opening of Notion, Chef Racicot’s new eating establishment in Oakmont, PA.

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Salt of the Earth, Pittsburgh, PA

It wasn’t easy getting a reservation at Salt of the Earth, so when I finally secured a spot for last Thursday evening, I was excited. We arrived at 8pm sharp, and were greeted by a very friendly hostess. As she was checking on our table, I looked around, and was extremely impressed with the layout of the restaurant.

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Brgr, Pittsburgh

The new restaurant, Brgr, can be described as a contemporary burger joint, with a heavy dose of sophistication. Brgr, located at 134 South Highland Avenue, enjoys a prime location in the east section of town that has recently experienced a rejuvenation of sorts. New businesses have been popping up in this section of the city, attracting a diverse and loyal clientele.

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