Smiling Banana Leaf

It's 2016 and a new year and Lisa's Best Of is back!!!! This year, I plan to not only talk about food and wine but about all things new and up and coming. I will continue to talk about food and wine but also bars, fashion/beauty, diet/exercise and of course 2 Local Girls (my dessert catering business) events!

To start off the new year, we begin at the Smiling Banana Leaf. This is a quaint little BYOB Thai restaurant. There may be at most, ten tables, which provides a quiet, intimate setting. The service was good and the food was delicious. I ordered the Cashew Chicken with a side of vegetables while my sister ordered the Yellow Curry. Even though she ordered it at a level 3 (spice level), we had to switch meals, it was a bit too spicy for her!

Both meals had very good flavor; however, the Cashew Chicken was lacking in actual cashews yet overall had lots of flavor and was a pretty large portion. Then there was the Yellow Curry. It was delicious; it was the best I had by far. Yes, that's right, it was better than the curry I usually order from Nicky's Thai. Only at a level 3, it could've been a little spicier for me but regardless, the curry flavor was prominent and the vegetables were cooked perfectly.

Even thought this restaurant isn't located on a main street, it is definitely worth the trip. It's a hidden gem! Try it today and don't forget to take a nice bottle of wine or beer of choice!

Hal's Bar and Grille - Babcock Boulevard

Hey All....I want to apologize for being M.I.A the last few months, my new bakery business 2 Local Girls got busy very quickly and although we are still very busy with full-time jobs and our bakery, I have become more organized and begun to manage my time better so I can still find great eateries and blog about them!! Let's get back in to it..

Hal's is a great place to watch a sporting event or even to join a corn hole league and get out of the house a night a week. My business partner and best friend, Stephanie Symosko started going to Hal's when we decided to join a corn hole league. We play in the Fall every Tuesday night. It's a nice way to break up the monotony of the work week while we wait for our dart league to start in the winter! Anyway, when we would go for corn hole, the times would differ every week so there were times that we decided to order appetizers. All the items on the menu are reasonably priced and are very tasty. Our favorite, aside from the usual appetizer favorites; calamari, nachos and chicken fingers, are the BBQ Pork Or Chicken Quesadilla. We always opt for the Chicken! These are different than any other quesadilla you have ever had. Onions, chicken, sour cream, pico de gallo and, of course the BBQ chicken. DELICIOUS!!!!

Next time your craving that Sport's Bar theme with a twist on the typical Bar fare, try Hal's Bar and Grille on Babcock Blvd in the North Hills...you won't be disappointed!!!

2 Local Girls...Sweet and Savory Treats

Hey All,

Today I am writing about my new business venture: 2 Local Girls. My best friend, Steph Symosko and I recently started a sweet and savory dessert business that provides for birthday parties, charitable organizations or just to satisfy your sweet tooth. We recently catered to The Relay for Life in Waynesburg University to support Breast Cancer and Hodgkins Lymphoma. Our Facebook page is www.facebook.com/2LocalGirlsPgh....we have a lot of desserts posted such as: cake balls, Cream cake, Pumpkin Pie, and of course cupcakes, not to mention other delicious desserts. I have been told that our cupcakes 'melt in your mouth!' You can order through facebook or at 2LocalGirlsPgh@gmail.com. In the upcoming months, there is Cinco De Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Graduation Parties, Weddings, Father's Day, etc. Let us cater your next event, hope to see you soon!


Here is a photo of desserts we created for Relay for Life:




To check out other desserts please visit our Facebook page!

Brewstone Beer Company - Monroeville

Hi all,

Today I want to talk about Brewstone Beer Company located out near Monroeville. I went there for a 30th birthday party for my friend, Colleen. It was pretty awesome! The atmosphere was amazing. Really nice, large bar area and its great for watching sports games. Each individual booth in the bar section had its own television for whichever sport game you are looking. Sort of like Damon's in this regard. And also, there is a waitress for the tables so you don't have to worry about going up to and waiting for a drink at the busy bar. And the waitress, she was on point with the signature drinks. She flat out told me not get a certain drink because it was 'nasty.' She claimed that it had been returned on several other occasions and it just wasn't a drink that was popular. I respect when a waitress/waiter can be honest and actually know the menu.

For the party, they sectioned off the entire back of the bar. There was great space, even once the DJ arrived. It would also be a great place in the warmer months. There is an outdoor patio with great seating and if it is a bit chilly there are individual heaters. For her party, it was snowing so an outdoor celebration wasn't an option!

Now to the good stuff..the FOOD! Her husband ordered a variety of appetizers; pizza, wings, spinach/artichoke dip, bruschetta and a vegetable tray. His mother also provided a cake and cake pops! Up first, the pizza. It was to die for. I was so full after the first walk through of the appetizers, but the staff just kept refilling each item and I could not stop eating the pizza. It was sooo cheesy and garlicky. Even the dough had great flavor. Paired with their Ranch dressing = awesome! Definitely a must order any time you go!

Spinach/Artichoke Dip. Hot and gooey; when you used the spoon to put it on your plate, the cheese just oozed from the serving bowl to your plate.

Wings. Crisp and perfectly cooked. However, for the party, they left them plain but provided BBQ and hot sauce to spoon over yourself. I love that idea, then if people just want to eat them plain with ranch they can too. You don't really have to worry about pleasing everyone with a ton of different flavors.

Bruschetta. An appetizer favorite and was very delicious. Served with crispy crostini (toasted bread), it was the perfect light bite paired with the pizza.

Now, Monroeville is sort of far for me to travel to hang out and drink because then I would have to drive back to the city; however, I do have friends that live out that way and that is a definite must stop spot and then spend the night!

Please, check out Brewstone Beer company, not for just the great tasting beer selections, but also the great tasting appetizers, especially the pizza. Let me know what you think!!!!

Luke Wholey's - Strip District

Hi All,

So I went here for my friend, Jason's 30th birthday. In theory, it was a completely great idea; however, in reality - EPIC FAIL. I really wanted this place to be good but it just wasn't. Don't get me wrong the atmosphere is fabulous and I will definitely return for drinks, especially in the warmer months as they have garage doors that open to the outside but I don't think that I will return for the food.

First, service. The staff was incredibly slow. Knowing that a party of 10-12 has been reserved, you would think that they assigned the right number of staff members. For example, we were supposed to have our own bartender - did not happen and we had one guy, who seemed like it was his first night. I felt bad for him but all those little kinks should have been worked out. It took 30-35 minutes for one drink so, like if we were at a crowded bar, ordered multiple at a time. And, the dining room wasn't bust at all. Moreover, the waiter not only spilled a glass of red wine on the birthday boy's jacket but then tartar sauce on his fiance's jacket and scarf all while having stains of his own on his white shirt.

Second, food. My friend, Katie, ordered oysters to be brought out once everyone arrived and they did. There were two different kinds, regular and Japanese. I am not an oyster fan; however, I did attempt both flavors. The regular I couldn't get down and the Japanese were a little firmer, like a mussel, and tasted like the beach. Not bad! My friend, Katharine ordered Cajun grilled peel and eat shrimp. These had great flavor but I am biased to peel and eat shrimp because it takes work to get to the food, ha! Now the entrees....the fish and chips and the shrimp po' boy were really good along with the blackened Ahi Tuna sandwich. If I were ever to go back for lunch or dinner, these would be the dishes that I would consider getting. The lobster roll was sub-par. If you're craving that, head to Roland's. I got the shrimp and scallops over rice with a side of zucchini. The shrimp and the scallops were pretty good but the rice was drowned in soy sauce and the zucchini shavings, although sprinkled with parmesean cheese out of a canister, had no flavor at all. Overall, not good.

If you like oysters, this is a cool spot! Also, like I mentioned above, in the warmer months the atmosphere will be awesome for casual or formal drinks! Let me know what you think!

Monterey Pub - Northside

Hi all, hope you are having a great start to your week! Place to try - Monterey Pub in the Northside for great pub-style food.

I went to Monterey Pub with two of my good friends, Katie Berger and Katharine Rummel. It had a great atmosphere and was surprisingly large for a side street on the North side. Very quaint and cozy and the staff was very friendly. None of us were interested in anything heavy so we decided to get three different flavors of wings. We got: Buffalo, Blue Cheese and Garlic Parmesean. For starters, I am always skeptical of wings because they usually arent crispy enough. So when we ordered, I forgot to ask for them extra-crispy. However, each and every one was prepared with just enough cripsiness and the flavors in general were very good.

Bleu Cheese. Now, although I am a fan of bleu cheese itself, I use ranch when eating wings. Crazy, I know! Anyway, the wings had great bleu cheese flavor without being overpowerful. Even the chunks of bleu cheese that topped the wings didnt create an abundantly cheesey flavor. And again, wings cooked just right!

Buffalo. When ordering a large amount of wings with different flavors, you have to get the traditional buffalo wings. The sauce wasnt too mild nor too hot and the flavor itself was more than the average Frank's Red Hot and butter.

Garlic Parmesean. Typically, I do not order this flavor of wings because it is usually a ton of garlic chunks and fake parmesean cheese. Needless to say, I figured that I would just eat the buffalo or the bleu cheese and stay away from the garlic parm. When they came out, it wasn't the usual sight. They had been cooked in a falvorful garlic oil with real shreds of parmesean cheese...soooo good!

Next time you are in the North side and looking for some great pub food at a quaint, little place, you must go to Monterey Pub. Let me know what you think!

Spaghetti Warehouse - Strip District

Spaghetti Warehouse THEFT!!!!!

Here's a story for everyone, do with it what you will:

Last Saturday, My friend, Steph goes to Spaghetti Warehouse for a murder mystery dinner. After leaving, she realized she forgot her scarf. She calls back and asks the person who answers the phone, mind you her name was Stephanie, to go look for it. Stephanie gets back on the phone says she found it and will put it aside for her. Now, she meant to get back there the next day, Sunday; however, with her busy life she wasn't able to get back until today, Saturday.

This is exactly one week later. She goes in the afternoon, when it's not busy and waited for about 20 minutes for them to look for her scarf. Now mind you, they don't have a designated location for lost and found stuff, when she suggested that, the hostess told her that people don't normally leave stuff. YEAAA, because I'm sure she is the only on in Spaghetti Warehouse history to leave an item behind.

After 20 minutes passes, she has 2 managers talking to her. Manager one says he knows the girl who found it, and he called her and left a message when there was no answer. Manager 2 told her he knows nothing about it and can't do anything until they speak to that employee. She asked when the employee would be back, and was told this afternoon. She also asked what happens when they can't find her scarf (at this point she's assuming an employee stole it) and was told that they would cross that bridge when and if it comes to it.

Six hours elapse, now she's thinking to herself, even if this girl was not suppose to come in tonight she would at least call her employer back, right? Well she calls the Spaghetti Warehouse to talk to the one manager, and low and behold 'Stephanie' answers the phone. She's told that she can't talk to a manager because they are really busy at the moment. Strike 2, there should always be a manager on call and able to talk to customers at any point in time.

So she heads down to Spaghetti Warehouse for the second time today, this time with her friend who was with her the night of the dinner. Her friend goes in first as a set up asking for something completely different from that night, Stephanie admits to only finding a scarf. So she follows suit and comes in. The other hostess who helped her earlier says they still didn't find it. That's funny Stephanie just said she found it. The manager who she spoke to earlier comes out to talk to her, in the lobby of the busy dinner rush. Doesn't pull her aside and proceeds to argue with her in front of customers, and the best option that he can come up with is that, someone must've thrown it away. WHAT!

So, if you accidentally leave something behind, and called to ask for it to be put aside, someone just throws it away instead?! After being told criminal charges will persist, and calling the better business bureau he finally comes up with a couple resolutions. Resolution #1 - If she has the receipt, she can bring it down and they will reimburse her; what if she can't find the receipt or it was a gift? Well, resolution #2 - she can go buy another one, and bring the receipt and they will reimburse her. Ok, so now she has to take time out of her day to go to buy a scarf and then bring it back down there in order to get her money back. (Time was the problem in the first place) RESULT: He ends up just giving her the $20 on the spot. Which still isn't the point of all this, your employee stole, you didn't even think to question it when that employee is standing 5 feet away, oh and the couple beside us heard the entire argument.

UNPROFESSIONAL AND COMPLETELY OBNOXIOUS

WILL NEVER GO TO THE SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE AGAIN IN MY LIFE OUT OF PRINCIPLE! AND THE FOOD ISN'T EVEN GOOD!!

The Atrium - Prospect, Pa

Here is a little side blog, off of the topic of food, but about the wedding of my good friend, Kathy Maire. I have been given the opportunity to share in her special day, not only as a bridesmaid, but also, wedding planner/consultant. we also work together so it is non-stop wedding shop and it is so much fun. Not having to do it for yourself and helping to create that perfect day for someone else is such a great feeling. Poor little thing, she is a bit clueless but it is funny and cute, my blank canvas!!!!

Wedding date: 4/25/14 so there is still time, but there is a lot to do and time will go by quick. This for me is so much fun, because like me, she is not traditional and it is refreshing to share ideas and thoughts together without each other getting mad or offended. You know how it is, there is at least one person/bridesmaid that feels differently and tries to make that day about them. For Kathy and I, we just don't understand. How girl's can be that competitive and catty and just not want happiness for someone else because of jealousy. Crazy to me, but in this case, the bride and I are on the same page!

On January 19 - The Atrium had its own little bridal showcase, which marketed a few different vendors but mostly was to market the venue itself. It had all the tables set up in different tablecloths with all the different options for centerpieces, buffet table to taste test all of the food, the outside set up for an indoor/outdoor ceremony and then also had an indoor ceremony set up.

There is a huge parking lot for all of the guests. And, when you walk in, you walk into an Atrium, which allows all the outside light to shine in. This would be the place for the cocktail hour and place settings and bar. Although it was pretty cold outside, the feel inside with the sun shining in created just a great feel. On the right was the indoor ceremony location with white folding chairs and very clean, crisp decor and on the left was the ballroom for eating and dancing.

The Carlton and Braddocks - Downtown

Final two stops during Pittsburgh Restaurant Week. I actually ordered both of these places to go because I wasn't feeling to good but I wanted to fit them into my week of tasting, not only for me to try but to advise all of you about the menu's and quality of food.

First, The Carlton, located in the Mellon building. 3 courses - $35. There were a lot of options; my three choices: WILD MUSHROOM CROSTINI, BEEF TENDERLOIN & CAPPUCCINO TORTE.

For the wild mushroom crostini - the mushrooms were sauteed in a Sherry-Garlic Butter and piled over grilled Crostini with Feta Cheese and Basil Oil. I will only say this once...anything good cold is equally good, if not better, warm. This crostini was very, very good. The feta and the basil oil were a great pairing to the wild mushrooms.

Next up, Beef Tenderloin. Broiled to a perfect medium-rare and served with an Herbed Risotto Cake, Wild Mushroom Ragout, Vegetable Medley, Cabernet Glaze and crumbled Blue Cheese. Perfectly cooked, well-rested as to not lose the juices and the side pairing was delicious.

Finally, the cappuccino torte. This dessert was divine. Only thing missing, a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Final stop on my culinary journey through Pittsburgh Restaurant Week - Braddock's, located in the Renaissance Hotel.

Three courses - $30. Starter - Mushroom/Applewood Smoked Bacon Pierogies. For a to-go order, they were a little over cooked, but I am sure if they were fresh, they would be good. Have you noticed a pattern and my love for mushrooms!

SECOND COURSE - Petite Filet, Gouda Smoked Scalloped Potatoes, and Roasted Root Vegetables. Filet, of course, medium rare and for Braddock's not typically a steakhouse, the steak was tender, well-seasoned and cooked perfectly. I love Gouda cheese and the potatoes were soft and creamy and gone very quickly!

THIRD COURSE - Apple Crisp with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Great crisp and soft apples, but the only flaw would be that were wasn't enough ice cream! I'm not really a fan of hot/baked fruit. But there is something about apple crisp and vanilla ice cream that is sooo delicious and comforting. Braddock's was probably my favorite of them all. I can't wait to try it when the food is not in to-go containers! Definite worth the trip back - to both places!

Six Penn Kitchen

Six Penn Kitchen is located downtown. This is the second time that I've eaten there. I have to say, both times haven't really been all that great. The first time was for my birthday, 4 years ago. I remember getting the roast chicken with plantains but not really the taste of the dish. Now, for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week, it just reminded me why my birthday dinner was not so memorable. The food really wasn't good at all.

The 3-course, fixed-price menu started with Shrimp Bisque, Surf & Turf and peanut butter mousse cheesecake. The shrimp bisque was good; however, the corn-bread croutons tasted more like rye bread that was not nearly crispy enough to stand up against a cream-broth soup. Other than the croutons, the flavor of the soup wasn't too bad.

The Surf & Turf was not good at all. It consisted of a 4 oz crabcake: malt aioli, brussel, bacon, shallot hash cream and a 4 oz filet: topped maytag bleu cheese and portobellas, and onion mashed potatoes.

The crabcake had entirely too much parsley in the batter and the malt aioli just was not good. There was way too much aioli and it completely over-powered the crabcake itself. The brussel, bacon and shallot hash was probably the best thing on the dish. The brussel sprouts were cooked perfectly and the bacon was a great accompaniment. The filet, which the only way to eat a filet is medium-rare, was medium at best. It wasn't too bad in flavor but if I would have preferred my beef any more cooked, it would have been very tough. And, the onion mashed potatoes, were absolutely just not good. There was a huge mound of them, which was double the ratio as anything else on the plate and the onions that were mixed in were just cooked, not caramelized, and the piece were huge. Overall, disappointing.

Finally, the peanut butter mousse cheesecake. It had an oreo crust and topped with whipped cream. Didn't appear to be homemade, but was, by far, the best thing I ate.

The staff and service were good and the drinks were good. However, my return to Six Penn will only be during the warmer months when the rooftop bar is open! Six Penn has a great atmosphere and is very close to Heinz Field and PNC Park, but the food just wasn't up to par. Let me know what you think!

Marty's Market - Strip District

Lunchtime in the strip district with my fellow blogger friend, BeezusKiddo! We both got the $20.13 lunch special; the beet salad, beef bourguignon, and the chocolate pudding. The salad was overtaken with beets and the salad dressing was very good. The pasta (beef bourguignon) was homemade and the beef was tender and well-seasoned. The setting was inside the marketplace and all the ingredients were fresh. Pricing wasn't too bad and the staff was very friendly. There was also a separate coffee bar. The one flaw for me was that there was no real pop/soda. Well, that could have also been a good thing!

Also, you can watch the chef's carve the meats and cheeses and if you need to grab something from the store, it's right there are your disposal. Fresh, organic food - a nice, little change from the surrounding fast food eateries.

Here are pictures of the pasta and the dessert. Marty's market is definitely worth checking out for a healthy, fresh lunch without breaking the budget.

The Common Plea - Downtown Pittsburgh

Next up, The Common Plea Restaurant in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Now, I went for lunch so I was unable to get the fixed-price menu. However, I did get the Common Plea burger with carmelized onions and basil mayonnaise and french fries.

Service was good, I sat in the bar section and it was a little past lunchtime so noone was in the bar, which freed the bartender to be able to be attentive to my table as well as the bar; Food, not bad. The burger came without cheese and actually to add cheese and bacon, it would have been an extra $3. Obnoxious! But the carmelized onions were good and so was the mayo; doesnt compare to the basin mayo from Point Brugge, but it was still good. The french fries were good - nice and crisp.

Then, for dessert, the Sabayon (French) with fresh berries - Delicious!! For many of you that may not be familiar with a Sabayon, it actually, (in Italian), which from the menu, it seemed that was the path that The Common Plea was headed, is called Zabaione or Zabaglione. It is made from egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine usually Marsala wine. Typically, the egg yolks are not necessarily cooked, they are whisked until frothy over a double boiler with all the other ingredients until it firms up - like a hollandaise sauce; however, more recently, it starts as a custard. Either way, soooo good! If not for lunch or dinner, head down for a night out for drinks and dessert and let me know what you think!

End of Restaurant Week - Bar Marco

As Pittsburgh Restaurant Week comes to a close, I was able to get to a few more places. Five more in total: Bar Marco, The Common Plea, Marty's Market, Six Penn Kitchen, The Carlton, and Braddocks. First up: Bar Marco!

Bar Marco - 20-Yolk Pasta with Oxtail Ragu; Roast Quail, Field Peas, Dried Cherry Demi; & Apple-Raisin Strudel w/ Goat Cheese-Balsamic Ice Cream. Wines included. Also, braised short ribs with kale chips.

Let me just say, Amazing! The atmosphere was very artsy and very strip district/Lawrenceville. Bar Marco is located in the building where Firehouse Lounge used to be. The staff is very friendly and very attentive and not in an annoying way. Also, the menu changes at most weekly and even some of the items on the menu change daily! They are a farm-table restaurant and everything is fresh and homemade. Definite return trip and may just become one of my staples!!!

Arpino Trattoria - Scott Twp

     Second Place for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week, Arpino Trattoria. Located in Scott Township in the plaza at the intersection of Green Tree Road and Cochran Road, this restaurant sits in the back of the plaza. If you are not from the area, it's quite hard to locate; however, if you go tothe end of the parking lot, park your vehicle and Arpino's is located in the middle of the shopping area.

     This little place has limited seating, making for a nice, quiet romantic feel, along with a sense that you are dining with your family. It is also BYOB, helping to keep you on your budget. Although they had a full menu, I decided to go with the $30 three course fixed price menu: Proscuitto Wrapped Mozzarella with a spicy marinara, Roasted Chicken Thigh and Leg Quarter with Root Vegetables atop a bed of Pecorino Romano Risotto and for dessert, Cranberry Walnut Torta. Along with these choices, were a cup of wedding soup and the chicken saltimbocca with Marsala sauce (proscuitto wrapped chicken).

     Proscuitto wrapped mozzerella, in my opinion, a little salty for my taste. I am not a salt lover. However, it did aid in my consumption of multiple glasses of wine!  But, I do like spicy and the sauce, although great flavor, it was not spicy enough for me. The wedding soup: I have never had chicken in my wedding soup, so I didnt care for that as much, plus there were not enough noodles. The noodles are my favorite part and I usually eat the meatballs sparingly. But, the broth had good flavor.

     Chicken Thigh and Leg Quarter with Risotto: I love the dark meat of the chicken so this was definitely up my alley. It was moist and because of the bone, had very good flavor. The risotto was made perfectly and the flavor was delicious; however, it was entirely too much. I took home leftovers and it didn't even look like I ate anything. Root Vegetables: Celery and carrots. there wasnt much flavor to them but they did add to the coloring of the dish.

     Chicken Saltimbocca: Presentation was on point. It came with broccoli with the entire stem, which, the stems in my opinion are very, very bitter. The chicken itself had good flavor, but it was a breast of chicken, so it was a little dry. The mushrooms and the marsala sauce. To me, it was very syrupy and thick and much too sweet for my palate. A starch, rather then a vegetable, would have paired well with this dish to help the flavor of the marsala sauce.

     Cranberry Walnut Torta: The torta itself was delicious and I loved the texture and flavoring of the walnuts; however, I am not a huge cranberry lover so there were a little too many cranberries for me. But all together, the dessert was delicious. I just picked off or ate around the abundance of the cranberries.


     Again, like Pino's, the chef emerged from the kitchen to see how the meal tasted and he was very nice and friendly. At the end of the meal, he included a shot of Sambuca. Overall, this is definitely a place for a nice, romantic dinner or a quick, hearty meal. Check out it, they have a large menu and something for everyone! Let me know what you ordered and the experience of your culinary journey at Arpino's!!!!!

Pino's - Point Breeze

     My first stop, Pino's Italian restaurant - www.chefpino.com. They are one of the very few restaurants that have participated in Pittsburgh Restaurant Week for all three seasons. Yes, Pittsburgh Restaurant Week isn't just once a year!

     In Participating with Pittsburgh Restaurant Week, they had both a 3-course fixed priced menu and a special flatbread & glass of wine menu. I opted for the special flabread & glass of wine menu. There are 3 flatbreads to choose from: Tomato Basil & Fresh Mozzarella, Sausage with Sweet & Hot Peppers, Tomato & Provolone, & Wild Mushroom & Fontina. I chose the wild mushroom and fontina flabread, which was paired with Sparkling Rose.

     First off, while I was waiting for the flatbread, I was brought warm breadsticks that were soft and had the right amount of seasoning with a sun-dried tomato and caper dipping sauce. Delicious, and I don't even really like sun-dried tomatoes. It was salty and spicy and paired very well with the warm bread. I took the remaining breadsticks and the rest of the dipping sauce to go for later snacking! 

     Now to the flatbread. Let me tell you, this flatbread was sooo good! If you are a mushroom lover, this is the pizza for you. It comes as 6 large slices and can easily be shared. Definitely get parmesean cheese sprinkled on top; the saltiness from the parmesean cheese really develops more of the flavors. For me, it was tasty, but I also have a pretty sofisticated palate and like food to go one step further. This flatbread could easily be taken to a whole new level if a bed of arugula was added to the top with a slight amount of truffle oil. The peppery bite of the arugula with the distinct taste of the truffle oil would send it over the top! For those of you who do not like or has never tried arugula or truffle oil, that is perfectly ok, this flatbread is still very delicious and worth every bite! I only ate 3 slices and then was talked into getting dessert; homemade Tiramisu. Just saying, AMAZING!!! It is probably the best I have had around the city. I even tried to save some but I just couldnt. It was creamy and chocolately from the sprinkled cocoa and just the right amount of coffee flavoring. Incredible!!

     I was also able to meet the chef and owner of Pino's, who both were very friendly and delightful and want the diner to have an amazing experience. There prices are right and the food is delicious. Aside from their delicious menu, there are half-priced wine bottle selections everyday. Pino's is defintiely a hidden gem in Point Breeze. Please, go out and discover the delicious food and desserts along with their amazing wine selection. Let me know what you think!!!! Good eatings!!

Pittsburgh Restaurant Week

     January 14 - January 28 is Pittsburgh Restaurant Week!!!! 50 Restaurants are participating and have amazing fixed menu specials. I will be in and out of a few myself to try as much delicious food as possible and I will report back to all of you with my findings. Each day, whether lunch or dinner, I will blog my experience, so stay tuned to hear about one of your favorite restaurants. If there is a specific restaurant that you want me to try, then please comment on here or on my Facebook and let me know!

     Also, if anyone has tried a restaurant participating in Pittsburgh Restaurant Week, please share your thoughts about the restaurant and especially the food. Here is to your culinary journey, happy eating!!!!!

Website: http://pittsburghrestaurantweek.com/

Point Brugge Cafe

Point Brugge Cafe is one of my favorite places in the city to eat. It has a great atmosphere and most of all great food. I have had may of the items that are featured on the menu, including: Hop Devil Shrimp, Macaroni Gratin, Moules Frites with basil mayonnaise (all flavors), Chaud Chevre salad, Cafe Chicken sandwich and the Point Burger. There are alot of other amazing things on the menu but when I go to Point Brugge its for an appetizer and then the Mussles! I have had mussels at other restaurants but they have not compared to the mussles at Point Brugge. My friends, who have actually been to Brussels said that these mussels rival the ones they had in Belgium!

Now to discuss the food! Let's start at the beginning, shall we:

Mussels - the star of the show - there are two sizes, a pound and a half or a little smaller. There are also three different flavors: white wine, shallots, garlic and cream (My absolute favorite), curry, coconut milk, basil and cilantro, or tomato, fried brussel sprouts and parmesean. If you get the large portion, french fries with their wonderful basil mayonnaise is included. As I said the white wine sauce is my favorite but I did have them all and they are all very good. The mussels are cooked perfectly; however, there will be grit/sand in a couple of them - that is normal. Also, you get unlimited pieces of warm baguette bread to dip in the overflowing sauce of your choice!

Hop Devil Shrimp - 6 Large, succulent shrimp, cooked perfectly and beer battered in Hop Devil beer. The hop devil beer is very tangy and provides a nice flavor to the shrimp especially when dipping them into the slightly spicy, Asian dipping sauce. Perfect start to anyone's culinary experience at Point Brugge.

Macaroni Gratin - Macaroni baked in three cheeses; gruyere (one of my favorites), parmesean and cheddar. One of the best baked macaroni and cheese dishes that I have ever ate. Its not too heavy to start off your meal.

Chaud Chevre Salad - Crisp greens with asparagus and roasted red peppers with the acompaniement of soft, warm, creamy goat cheese. And the house dressing - very tasty! This is my favorite of all the salad options. But, I love goat cheese especially on a salad. There is an option to add salmon, chicken or portabella mushrooms. To me, there is nothing like warm, creamy goat cheese paired with perfectly cooked salmon.

Cafe Chicken sandwich - Grilled Chicken on a warm baguette with fresh mozzerella, roasted red peppers, romaine lettuce and basil mayonnaise. I love mayonnaise, its my favorite condiment. And their basil mayo is to die for. it lightens up the richness of the mayo and provides great flavor to this and any sandwich and french fries.

Point Burger - Fresh ground chuck topped with bacon, carmelized shallots, fontina cheese, arugula, and whole grain mustard aioli. Now, with this burger, I change mine up a bit. Really, I mean with the aioli and the basil mayonnaise. I dont like whole grain mustard so I switch the mustard out for the mayo. For those of you who may not know - shallots are in the onion family but there flavor is not as bold as the onion. And caremlized, they are perfect. Arugula, is a lettuce that usually goes on top of different sandwiches wtih a smoky, peppery flavor.

Please check out Point Brugge either for lunch, dinner or brunch and let me know what you think! I havent been there for brunch, but I heard it was amazing! Also, I would get there a little early because its not just one of my favorites, it does get crowded quickly and the wait can be quite long, especially with a large party. In the warmer months, they do provide outside seating but that is also limited. Stay and have a cocktail, beer or wine, they have quite the selection and not too pricey.

New Year, New Food to Discover!!!!

Hello all - HAPPY NEW YEAR,

     Now that we are in 2013, there are gonna be alot of things happening on LisasBestof that I am excited to share with all of you!!!

     In the upcoming year, not only will I still be blogging about the amazing food around the city but also, I am going to expand my blog to include: details and planning for the wedding of my good friend, Kathy Maire, tons and tons of recipes - food, desserts and more and introducing the new, tasty (if I may so myself) home-'made' 2 Local Girls - Treat shop, which specializes in all different treats and desserts; cupcakes, cakes, cookies, etc along with Dog Treats. 2 Local Girls - Treat shop can also offer catering declicious foods for different event needs. Yes, although currently amateur, this is the wonderful beginning to share my culinary and pastry skills to the world.  Contact info for ordering to come soon!

     Like it says in the post title; 'New Year, New Food to Discover' and I hope to continue to find all things amazing when it comes to foods and desserts and share it with all of you. Also, please comment and share with me any wonderful recipes or restaurants that need to be discovered or recognized. Til the next post, Happy Eating!!!!

Ibiza Tapas & Wine Bar

This was my first time dining at Ibiza. However, my friend has been to Spain and vouched that it was not authentic in anyway.  It was more an Americanized version of the spanish tapas, especially the portions. As a food critic/blogger, I ordered many different items from the menu, including: Bruschetta, Crab Cakes, Four cheese lobster ravioli, Spanish meat and cheese plate, and the Patatas bravas, along with the initial bread and hummus. The bruschetta was the best thing that I ate; however, not sure that it originated in Spain and the bread and hummus was equally delicious. The crab cakes had entirely too much spanish mint in the batter, which overpowered the crab. The four cheese lobster ravioli was underdone; even under al dente. For an establishment that portrays high-class, noodles should be one of the easiest things to make. Also, the four cheese sauce was too dense and too thick; it did not complement the lobster at all. Then, there is the meat and cheese plate. There was such an abundance of balsamic marinated olives, that the balsamic ran into the meats and cheeses and that flavor was absorbed into everything. Finally, the patatas bravas. This was, by far, the worst dish on the menu. In fact, just looking at the menu online, it is no longer indicated as an item. It was pretty much chunks of potatoes with Frank's Red Hot poured on top. There was no developed flavor of the sauce. Unless, there is a coupon or special advertised, I will not be returning to dine at Ibiza.

La Casa in Shadyside has a more authentic tasting Tapas and Casbah & The Wine Loft have incredible meat and cheese plates.

Moreover, the service was awful. The waitress was training someone and he was just following behind her like Lurch from The Munsters. He did fill my water glass, but that was only once. Even with two people working the tables on the back porch/patio,   it took a little while for them to return to the table. No where near good tapas.

Let me know what you think or if there is another hidden Tapas gem!

Vanilla Pastry Studio

Hi All,

     Recently my best friend had her birthday! Although, I usually make cakes and cupcakes for friends and family for their birthdays, I decided that with all the other things that needed to be done for her party that I would defer the baking.

     I first had these cupcakes at my friend's wedding. Hands down...the best Red Velvet Cupcakes in the city. I've had Dozen and The Priory, but there is no comparison when it comes to the Red Velvet. I typically do not even consider Red Velvet when I order a cupcake but since they were at a wedding, I had to do my due diligence and try them all. Out of all the cupcakes at the wedding, the Red Velvet cupcake was the only one I ate in its entirety...well 3 of them! Ever since, there have been a few occasions when I've even craved it! So, it was a no-brainer on where to go for her birthday. Plus, she really likes the chocolate-peanut butter.

     The icing itself is just so light and creamy and is the perfect accompaniment to soft, moist cakes. There are a lot of flavors so you can't really go wrong with your flavor choice; however, like I said, I stick with the Red Velvet. It's not too sweet and the cake is fluffy and the icing...it has the perfect amount of vanilla and is so creamy and delicious; you can tell they are made fresh! If you can find one better to rival it, I will check it out and crown a winner!

     As for the atmosphere, you can sit inside, which is decorated in pink! You can see the baker's making new batches and the aroma is to die for. You can place an order by the dozen, a mini dozen or by the cupcake. There are many options and are fairly priced. My suggestion if you want to try a few flavors and not break the bank...go for the mini dozen! For $12, you can try up to 12 flavors, some flavors are excluded, but you can get an understanding of your favorite flavor. Check out Vanilla, located in East Liberty on Penn Circle and let me know what you think!