Farnum Hill Semi-dry cider was my choice for this year's Thanksgiving dinner, and it was a great pairing to our harvest feast.
homegrown figs
At a gathering earlier this fall some people were astonished to hear that I had a good fig harvest this year. A good harvest for my fig tree is around twenty to thirty figs. I now live in Pennsylvania--not the best climate for figs--but like many of my fellow "diegos" I have found a way …
hidden treasure: Turkish pizza in Dormont
Some might say that Pittsburgh has a lot to be desired when it comes to good food and places to find it. Hell, I catch myself complaining from time to time. But then I discover an out of the way place with delicious food, and I remember that Pittsburgh is the city of "hidden treasures." …
Continue reading "hidden treasure: Turkish pizza in Dormont"
giving thanks
This Thanksgiving season, I have been thankful for--among other things--good food, good friends, and public television--and I got to celebrate all these things with Chris Fennimore during WQED's current pledge drive! After tasting the soup I had prepared for Fat Club’s Harvest Day, Chris asked me to contribute the recipe to his Soups & Stews …
Fat Club on TV
The first rule of Fat Club is, "There is no Fat Club," but it's getting harder to deny it all the time--especially with attendees like Chris Fennimore and the WQED/Pittsburgh 360 crew. They were welcome additions to our latest gathering, but they don't keep a low profile. Chris came ready to cook. He brought bread …
winners at Savor Pittsburgh
Every year towards the end of August a formation of white tents is erected in the parking lot next to McCormick & Schmick's to hold Savor Pittsburgh, a fund raiser for the American Respiratory Alliance. Under these tents more than twenty local restaurants compete for "Dish of the year." A live band plays while the …
savor pittsburgh
On Thursday, September 2, 2010, Savor Pittsburgh will host its annual culinary competition for "Dish of the Year" to benefit the American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania. I'll be there--and this time I won't be cooking! I'll be part of the panel of judges. It's an honor to be chosen and it will be a …
cherries on the bone
It's grilling time again and here at Vivo we take grilling very seriously--OK, so maybe seriously is not the word, but grilling is a way of life for us. In our latest event here at Vivo we grilled everything, even the dessert. The dessert, cherries on pound cake--or as Christian Kahle, one of the event's …
tapas night
A few days ago Vivo hosted its first tapas night. Sam is a big fan of this cuisine and because of my background, well--we had to have this event. Sam gave me complete freedom with the menu and we both had a lot of fun making all the food. I really wanted to keep it …
fat club in table magazine
Heather Mull photographing dishes in Vivo's kitchen for Fat ClubOnce again it was time for Fat Club. This month an awesome array of seafood was enjoyed by all. We had a cold soup with mussels, grilled paku fish ribs, melon and shrimp salad, wild mushrooms and trout, lemony seafood pizza, squid cooked in its own …
