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!!!!

DELI on North Avenue

     So the other day I was thinking, where can I go on the North side that is also somewhere quite healthy. As I was driving along North Avenue, I saw the big DELI sign. As I read the menu, I realized that there were alot of options and all were made with fresh ingredients.

     Inside, there a few tables that were similair to a coffee shop and it was clean and very inviting. I ordered the Cobb wrap but I didnt stay, as I had to get back to work. Cobb Wrap: Roasted chicken breast, bleu cheese, bacon, egg, avocado, lettuce and tomato on a flour tortilla. However, I opted for the garlic herb tortilla. For $6.95, it was the size of a 12 in sub from Subway, but without the smell, ha! It was very good and filling but I would have liked some kind of dressing. The chicken was a little dry. They also have daily specials that aren't on the menu. You can your order as a salad, wrap or sandwich!

     So, if you are ever in the north side and need a quick healthy lunch or just a quiet atmosphere that won't put a dent in your budget; DELI is where to go. Let me know what you think!

Steakhouse Must-Try!

So if you're in the mood for a good steak and don't know which steakhouse to try; here is a great special from Morton's that will give you an amazing experience without breaking the bank!

Now through August 31st, 2012 - 3 course menu for just $45 per person.

*Everything below that is bold, I recommend because I have had them at the restaurant.

First Course: (choice of one)

Caesar Salad - With Classic Dressing
Morton's Salad - Morton's Blue Cheese Dressing, Chopped Egg, Anchovies
Chopped Spinach Salad - Warm Bacon Dressing

Main Course: (choice of one) with a choice of one side (Caramelized Onions)

6 oz. Filet Mignon
Jumbo Shrimp Alexander - With Beurre Blanc Sauce
Chicken Bianco - With Lemon Butter, Tomatoes, Capers and Artichokes

Dessert: (choice of one)

Individual Soufflė
Individual Chocolate Mousse
Scoop of Raspberry Sorbet

I love love love Morton's. It is absolutely my #1 favorite Steakhouse in Pittsburgh. The great, fixed-price menu specials are one of the many many reasons why. I've only experienced this at one other steakhouse (Hyde Park) and it helps give you the same quality food and the same fine dining experience on more of a budget. Let's be honest, eating out is expensive in and of itself already, you could spend $30 or more at Applebee's or TGI FRiday's for a lesser quality steak or whatever you decide to have for dinner. Why not pay the few extra dollars and have one of the best steaks and culinary experiences in the city!

Hands down, best caramelized onions I have ever eaten and probably ever will eat. For the dessert, I always get the Creme Brulee so I cannot recommend anything on this particular menu, but maybe ask for a substitution with an added price; you won't be disappointed.

Please post comments and let me know what you think! Enjoy!!!!

Las Velas Mexican Restaurant

Holaaa,

     When I was in Queens, New York visiting friends, I experienced the best, most authentic steak tacos this side of the border. Very simple with a bold flavor; corn tortillas, onion, cilantro, spicy sauce and marinated steak. So I headed to Las Velas Mexican Restaurant located in Market Square. Now, I have been to El Campesino and Emiliano's and, while they claim to specialize in authentic Mexican food, they both are more of chain restaurants and I was looking for more of a straight from across the border flavor.  Boy, was I not disappointed.

     Not only was the food amazing but the service was very accomodating. For one thing, I did not get there until 9:45pm and they close at 10pm. To be polite, I wasn't going to stay but they were adamant that it was perfectly fine and that the kitchen was still open. I sat at the bar and began reading the menu. There were so many options but I knew that I wanted to try the tortilla soup and hopefully find tacos that rivaled the taco vendor from Queens.

     The tortilla soup. I am in love with the tortilla soup from Max 'N Erma's; its creamy and hearty and just the right spicy. But, Las Velas tortilla soup is the complete opposite. It is broth based and light but the tortilla strips were crispy, it has just the right spice and there was chunks of avocado. Delicioso!!!

     The tacos. I ordered the Tacos De Arrachera: A must try! Three tacos with marinated hanger steak (a special cut), onions and cilantro, and salsa (mild or hot). Served with rice or beans. Aside from no homemade spicy sauce, this is exactly what I was looking for. The flavor profile was the exact same; soft corn tortillas, juicy, flavorful steak and fresh, crisp onions and cilantro. The extra bonus with Las Velas; you not only get three of these wonderful tacos but also a heaping serving of soft, Spanish rice. It took me immediately back to the taco truck that was parked on the side of Queens Boulevard.  Also, the added lime wedge really brings out the flavor in the steak and I don't even like limes.

     
     The Quesadillas. Traditional cheese Quesadilla with chicken. Served with lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream. This Quesadilla was huge and was stuffed to the gills. It was cheesy and meaty all at the same time. The fresh, homemade salsa and guacamole paired amazingly with each bite of the Quesadilla. With the portion size of this selection, you will not go home hungry but maybe with yummy leftovers.

     So, if you're looking for the flavors from south of the border, Las Velas is where it's at. 'Til next time, adios amigos!!!!

The Modern Cafe

The North Side of Pittsburgh is really making a comeback.  The Modern Cafe re-opened in April 2010 and has been a local favorite to customers since. It's updated and provides a great escape from the outside stressors. From beers to a full food menu, its a great spot to just have lunch, a beer or catch any sporting game.

I just went there yesterday with my friends for lunch, now I have been there a few other times and have not been disappointed. Recently, The Modern Cafe won Runner-Up for the Best Sandwich in the North side - The Spartan.

Here are the details: Steak, Gyro meat, Provolone & Feta cheese, onions, tomato slices with our special steak seasoning & dressing topped with tzatziki sauce on a 6” hoagie. Now, my co-worker that got this sandwich, does not like the tzatziki sauce so he opted for balsamic vinegar. Still, very good. The balsamic was very flavorful and not too oily to make the bread soggy. However, my only complaint would be that the bread was toasted a little too long. I don't really like hard bread. Losing only to a grilled cheese sandwich from The Bistro to go, it is definitely a worthy contender in the sandwich world beating out sandwiches such as the Roethlisberger from Peppi's.

I decided to get the Turkey Extreme with egg; and, if you know me, I add egg to every sandwich. Here are the details for this great sandwich: Roast Turkey, Cheddar cheese, coleslaw, lettuce and tomato on Wheat (hot or cold). I opted for white bread.

Anything on the menu is tasty though. Even if your just going in for a drink, you will have a great experience. The owners are very friendly and love to talk to everyone and are very excited about their space. They truly want you to love your experience and will attempt to make that possible. The Modern Cafe should be your next stop for a great sandwich and experience.

Ditka's steakhouse

I have been to a lot of the popular steakhouses around the city, i.e. Morton's, Capital Grille, Ruth Chris, Hyde Park and now Ditka's. My friend, Jill, once told me that the best steak that she has ever eaten was at Ditka's so I felt compelled to make my way there. First, I started with the soup; Tortilla Soup vs. Crab Bisque. Winner: Crab Bisque. Although there were a few shells in the soup, overall, it was very flavorful and warm and creamy. The tortilla soup was not thick and there was way too much corn that the corn over powered the flavors of the cheese and the chicken. When asked which soup was better, I indicated the Crab Bisque and the reasons why (too much corn and thin broth) and the waiter brought over a second complimentary cup of the Crab Bisque. Goes to show you, when asked how you like a meal, don't be too shy to state the truth; but in a nice tasteful way and you never know how you can be rewarded...in my case, it was an extra cup of yummy crab bisque.

Next, the main course. Now, all the steakhouses in the city are ala carte when it comes to side dishes. However, Morton's and Hyde Park have special dining promotions. These include side dishes and desserts for a special fixed price. Ditka's did not offer any special dining promotions. I got the filet Oscar, which indicates Filet Mignon topped with a Bearnaise sauce and lump Crab meat.

As for my side, I got the garlic green beans and grilled onions. The steak was very tender (mine was Medium Rare, as how a steak should be cooked) and flavorful, along with the crab; however, the Bearnaise sauce had a not so appetizing taste. A hollandaise sauce would have been a much better paring in my mind. What's the difference, well not much; a Bearnaise is more meaty and used for steaks. The ingredients are similar in both sauces: butter and emulsified egg yolks but with a hollandaise sauce there is lemon juice and the Bearnaise sauce uses herbs like tarragon instead of the lemon juice. I'm not a particular fan of tarragon, which has a licorice flavor so I will always choose Hollandaise over Bearnaise.

The garlic green beans were average, they were sort of soggy but there was good flavor. As for the grilled onions, it was one slice of onion and charred with a few grill marks. It was basically raw once you cut into it and it did not pair well with the steak. I would have loved to have had the caramelized onions from Anthony's Coal Fired paired with my steak!

Finally, the dessert. By this time, I am beyond full. But it is my duty as a food blogger to find the 'best of the burgh' so I pushed on and ordered the Creme Brulee. The custard was cooked too long, it was not as warm and creamy as I am used to; the flavoring was a little bland and definitely did not compare with the Creme Brulee from Morton's or Capital Grille, which is still too close to call as to which is the 'best.' Final Grade: Not worth the money and you can definitely get a better tasting steak dinner that is more satisfying and doesn't break the bank!!!

Welcome Foodies!

Have you ever went to a restaurant and had this intense craving for a certain food but then once it was served to you, it wasn't what you were expecting. I feel like that happens more often than not. Each week, there will be a certain food or foods and by the end of that same week, I will have gone in search for the best i.e. wings in the city. Suggestions/Questions/Comments are encouraged.
There have been countless time that I have gone to a restaurant/bar craving a certain food and then when it arrives in front of me it's A. not very appetizing and B. not as good tasting as I was hoping. Or, when I'm caught between multiple options and I ask the waitress/waiter which I should choose and he/she either has never had the dish or he or she says 'its sooo good, etc' and its actually quite the opposite. I'm not a professional chef...Yet, but I am huge foodie and self-proclaimed wine connoisseur and for someone like myself that LOVES food, I decided that I was going to cut out all of that mess and find the 'Best Of the City'. I want to share my love for great food and great wine plus, where you can find the best, most authentic food in Pittsburgh! From Bloody Mary's to wings to desserts to wine to fruity fun cocktails, I will locate and experience the best food/drink around the city and help guide you to finding the best option for your personality. While on my journeys each week, I will also discuss different recipes and tips to create the exact experience you are looking. There are a lot of options out there and it could get frustrating, not to mention time-consuming and expensive to find that wonderful, amazing meal that you had in mind. There are a lot of places and a lot of choices so that's why I'm here; to help you have an amazing experience every time you decide to dine out! Also, I will share my tips and recipes in case you want to have an amazing, restaurant quality meal in...the possibilities are endless!!!!!
June 4, 2012 will be the first week I actually get started on my journey. Please provide me with any and all suggestions and I can begin my search for the....'Best Of Pittsburgh'