Memories, Magical Food, and Family...LOVE!

No one likes to remember sad times.  No one likes to recount the moments that lead up to difficult news.  Interestingly enough, we discuss those times often.  Think about it.  Where were you on 9-11?  I was working as a school bus driver and was working in the office when the manager called me into his office and we watched in disbelief as videos were replayed again and again.  The phone at the garage began ringing.  Worried parents want their children to be returned home safely.  Questions about whether or not highways into Pittsburgh had been closed.  Was anything going to happen to their children?  Shanksville, Pennsylvania isn't that far from here, so it was scary!  I lived alone at the time and actually went back home and spent the night with my sister.  My boyfriend (now husband) was in Dallas on business.  He couldn't get a flight back.  He drove straight home from Dallas.  I just wanted everyone close to me to be close to me.

Last night while I was hanging out with two old friends Mike and Elda, we started talking about some tough times.  It was focused mainly on one of us.  Mike lost his father fourteen year ago that day.  His dad was a great guy.  He was a teacher that we all had and loved.  He was a big man with a big heart and is missed sorely.  Connecting to this story was Mike sharing about another family member taking her own life just two weeks ago.  This young lady was only thirteen, another tragic loss.

This conversation lead into a conversation about food. I know, it's an interesting segue.  It'll make sense to you in a minute.  Think about your favorite family food.  What is it?  Who makes it? How does that food make you feel?  What memories are connected to that food?  Do you know how to make it?  The real question is, could you recreate the food to taste exactly the same?  The answer is no!

We talked about Elda's father in law, our friend Matt's dad.  He was a quiet, kind Asian man.  He could take anything from the fridge, toss  it together in the wok, and put it over rice and it would be the most amazing thing you ever put in your mouth.  My plate would have a mountain of food.  It was all I could do to get to the bottom of it.  When I finished, he would ask if I wanted more.  UGH!  If I declined, he would ask if I didn't like it.  That was the furthest thing from the truth.  It was so delicious, but there wasn't any room in my tummy.  At Christmastime, he made egg rolls.  Every year, we got egg rolls for Christmas.  They were amazing.  Anytime my husband compliments an egg roll, I tell him that he has no idea what good is.  Those egg rolls were a crispy, veggie filled, slice of heaven.  Supposedly, my friend's brother has the recipe for the egg rolls.  Mike pointed out that no one could ever make those egg rolls like Matt's dad.  What was so special about those little babies?  What is it about family foods that have so much joy, memories, and good feelings cooked right into them?  Is that magic or love in there?  Could this be why family foods are so amazing and we can't have a gathering without them?

Another food we talked about was Mike's dad's pierogies.  This was a family affair.  Their family would make dozens upon dozens of those rich, delicious potato dumplings.  They had an assembly line with 36 pierogies being made at a time.  Tables and tables filled with people who love spending time together creating something.  Mike explained that the recipe is simple, but there's no way that they could made again to taste the way they once did.  It's got to be the love.

Why do we remember so many things?  We can't help ourselves.  It could be a smell, a song, a color and memories come flooding back.  We can't pick and choose what comes back to us.  It could be the most amazing times or the scariest, or saddest times.  Memories help to make us the people we are, constantly evolving; some for better, some for worse.  The magic about those memories is we can take ourselves back in time, if only temporarily.

Don't be sad about the memories.  Focus on the positive, the good times, and the accomplishments.  Pray for peace and hope.  Humans are amazing creations.  We build families, we share, we love, we discuss, and we can't help any of it.

If you have a family food, continue to make it, no matter how tedious or time consuming.  Everyone loves it!  Everyone appreciates it!  That food represents you and your family.  So much is tied to it.  Share the recipe.  Better yet, make it a family affair so those closest to you can join in making memories in the moment. Also later in life, there will be other memories tied to that food.  Savor the food and savor the moments.

Sending love to my grandma.  She passed many years ago.  She made the most amazing baked goods and spaghetti sauce.  Since she didn't write anything down, all I can think is that love made those foods what they were to me.  Love ya!

Thank you to Mike and Elda for a great evening!  Matt, we missed you.

Bakery Crawl 2014

If you're just meeting me for the first time through this blog, there's something you MUST know.  I live to eat, not eat to live.  Food to me is comfort, a way to be social, something to be shared...so today I'm sharing.

Today was the Third Annual Pittsburgh Bakery Crawl.  Why?  This tradition was born out of pregnancy, literally.  Back in 2011, I was pregnant with twins.  I was a pretty miserable human and food, though I love it very much, was my enemy.  I had two growing baby boys who were taking up the majority of my body's core.  They left very little room for food.  I would eat and be sick.  It was awful.  I missed going to buffets, pigging out on snack foods, and eating anything more than would fit in a monkey bowl.  This brought about the idea of a bakery crawl to my friend Deanna and me.  I could go and visit different pastry establishments, be social, choose small items, eat what I could, and take home anything I couldn't.  It was perfect and a tradition was born!

The first bakery crawl was small.  I don't remember how many places we visited, but there are two bakeries that we continue to visit because of that first crawl. 

 I highly recommend La Gourmandine.  It's located at 4605 Butler Street, Lawrenceville, www.lagourmandine.com.  It's in an adorable, trendy neighborhood.  The owners are from France and make some of the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth creations.  The Tartelette aux Framboises and Tartelette aux Fruit are incredibly refreshing.  I can't even begin to explain how delicious these are.  Another of our favorites is the Croissant.  If you're a cream puff lover, this has got to be a stop for you.  It's a handful of light flaky pastry, cool, creamy delicious cream, and lots and lots of love.  There's no way something could taste that good without it being filled with love.

Our second non-negotiable stop is The Oakmont Bakery, 531 Allegheny Avenue, Oakmont, www.oakmontbakery.com.  When you open the door, you will feel like you've gone to bakery heaven.  Cases upon cases filled top to bottom with ANYTHING your heart desires, gourmet cupcakes, cookies, bagels, doughnuts, chocolate covered fruits...anything!  The Oakmont Bakery is not the type of place you stop JUST once.  It would be impossible to walk out the door and think you've seen it all, tasted it all, experienced it all.  Yes, you will have your favorites or your go to treats, but you will be drawn to something new with each trip.

With that being said, Deanna and I changed our strategy for this crawl.  We decided to compile a list of as many bakeries as we could gather.  We Googled, took suggestions through Facebook, "asked around", and did a White Pages search to make our list.  We ended up with no less than three pages of bakery listings.  From that list, we chose places that were recommended repeatedly as priority and then started moving outward from them.  We started in Monroeville (Moio's doesn't open until 9:00 a.m., so they missed us), moved to McKeesport, then to Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, and Oakmont.  We learned a lot about different neighborhoods and their diversity.  We learned that not all bakery listings are quite as they seem and we learned that accents can be good and bad.

Another part of our strategy was to inquire about signature items.  Bakery crawling can become VERY expensive if you aren't careful.  EVERYTHING looks good and we want to take it ALL with us.  By asking about signature items, we limited ourselves and engaged the person behind the counter in conversation about the item, the premise of the store, etc.  This proved to be very educational.  

Our first stop was Minerva Bakery, 927 5th Ave, McKeesport, PA 15132, www.minervabakery.com This bakery stop was recommended by Rick Sebak from WQED.  Minerva Bakery was established in 1923. This little bakery brought back lots of great memories for me. When I entered it, I was taken back to a place from my childhood. I grew up in Leechburg, PA. When I was growing up, my mom would send me to Dixon's Bakery. There are three things I remember distinctly about Dixon's; the wonderful smell, the string dispenser hanging from the ceiling to seal bakery boxes, and their Bismark doughnuts. All three of these things I found inside this sweet, old business. Behind the counter were three of the nicest, most welcoming ladies. They treated us like new friends.  Their signature items are the almond torte and cinnamon raisin bread. Both were delicious. We also sampled their warm, fresh out of the oven cinnamon scone. Another huge score! It's obvious why this business has stood the test of time. This is a must try if you're in the area of UPMC McKeesport. 

Our second stop was by complete accident. While looking for an address we happened upon
Gaby et Jules Patisseries et Macarons, 5837 Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill, www.gabyetjules.com
Gaby et Jules is colorful both in decor and in pastry display, as well as service. All of the beautiful selections are displayed on cold marble stones. There were endless macaron choices and these weren't just ANY macarons. The French gentleman, dressed in shirt and tie, who waited on us was extremely helpful and I could have listened to him speak all day. 

 Most folks are familiar with chocolate and almond macarons. Gaby et Jules had countless creative choices, such as white chocolate basil. We chose classic flavors; lemon, raspberry, and almond. We also sampled passionfruit/chocolate. The brightly colored treats were delicate and just right in every way.  If you're looking for a little treat and fabulous service, stop by and give Gaby et Jules a whirl.

Stop three was a game changer for us.
Gluuteny, 1923 Murray Avenue, Squirrel Hill, www.gluuteny.com
Gluuteny is a wheat-free and dairy-free bakery. They also have vegan options.  There are probably a lot of people who share my former attitude about gluten-free baked goods.  I always thought that they didn't taste as good as "regular" baked goods.  As soon as we entered the bakery, we were drawn to the small bar that contained cookies, brownies, muffins, tarts, and cupcakes.  Everything was brightly colored and filled with fresh fruits.  The store manager educated us by explaining how their products are different than other bakeries and how that can be beneficial.  One example was a delicious berry muffin that Deanna and I split.  We were both skeptical when she handed us the plate.  We each took a small bite.  Yes, the texture was different, but the flavor was spot on.  She explained that most of the products are made with rice flour.  This particular muffin is made from a grain that is grown in Ethiopia.  It contains more protein and fiber than other grains, which is beneficial to folks with Celiac disease, because they have difficulty getting the fiber they  need.  I would strongly recommend this to my Celiac friends, my vegan friends, and my bakery snob friends.  Your mind will be changed about gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan baking.

If you love breads, this is your place!

Allegro Hearth Bakery, 2034 Murray Avenue, Squirrel Hill, www.allegrohearth.com

Do you need crustry bread, sandwich bread, dipping bread, snacking bread?  Allegro has it all.  They can slice it thick or thin.  We sampled Kalamata olive bread.  It was yummy!  It would have been great paired with a dipping oil.  The Tuscan bread was beautiful.  Almost too beautiful to eat!  

Our next stop was something we weren't expecting.  It is a Korean style pastry shop.

Sumi's Cakery, 2119 Murray Avenue, Squirrel Hill

When we arrived at 10:45 a.m., we found the door locked.  We stood in the doorway due to the rain, discussing our next move, when we heard the lock tumble behind us.  To our surprise, the store was opened early to serve us.  Neither Deanna, nor I had ever had Korean pastries.  We were pointed in the direction of the pastry shelves by the Korean woman who opened early for us.  She was stern, but kind.  I'm never really sure if I'm being yelled at or not by folks with Asian accents.  We looked over the interesting pastry names and made a few selections.  My favorite choice was red bean bread.  Since I have no background on this type of food, it tastes like a sweet flat bread filled with sweet, mashed red beans.  It tasted similar to dates.  I really enjoyed it.  If you're a Boba lover, you can find it here, as well.

Stop six was a quick stop.

The Cake & Cookie Stop, 2108 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, www.cakeandcookiespot.com

The signature treats here are their cake shots.  They're beautiful and there are TONS of choices.  They are tiny layer cakes contained in a double shot glass.  This is a clever idea!  There was also a small selection of cookies, such as Russian Tea Cookies.  Every one looked delectable.  

The next stop was definitely a fan favorite in the suggestion category.  

Prantl's Bakery 5525 Walnut Street, Shadyside, www.prantlsbakery.com

If you're not familiar with this bakery, you need to get with the program!  They are nationally, yes, I said NATIONALLY known for their Burnt Almond Torte.  These hot items can be ordered and shipped.  If you aren't in the mood for a whole cake, they have other options, Burnt Almond cups and Burnt Almond bars.  Prantl's isn't just burnt almond heaven though.  They have a selection of breakfast items, cookies, pepperoni rolls.  You could make all three meals of the day happen here!

If you're keeping track, that's seven bakeries!  This is just a small part of the list of bakeries we want to visit.  We are hoping to get back out there soon to continue the quest for amazing pastries.  

These trips are more than just tasty treats.  We are able to meet wonderful people who love to talk about their places of business and share their pride in what they make.  We see neighborhoods from different points of view.  We have experiences that cannot be duplicated.  We laugh, we do U-turns (over and over), we see sketchy places, girls singing for college tuition, and we love every minute.  We literally see the city of Pittsburgh from different perspectives than we would if we were traveling route 28 or interstate 79 into the city for a show, a game, or dinner.  These trips make us appreciate this beautiful little diamond in the rough that is chock full of history, ethnicity, and pride.  

Sneak Peek at the Greek Peek!

It has been my quest to find a local gyro heaven.  This quest started with the delicious gyros that I had at carnivals and fairs and continued after Kendall was born.  We spent a lot of time in Oakland, because she spent some time in the NICU at Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC (These people are AMAZING!).  My husband and I would spend our days at the hospital and would head toward the University of Pittsburgh campus for meals.  We found a couple of good places, but they are not convenient to home.

This quest has left dialog open with our friends.  All of the places that were shared in these conversations were too far from home.  We needed something close and easy.  No one wants to tote this crew of wild ones too far from home base.

Gene came home a couple months ago talking about a gyro place in Vandergrift that his coworker shared.  In true Gene style, he couldn't remember the name and had a very foggy description of its location.  I threw the name question out on Facebook and within minutes, friends were sharing what they knew.  GREEK PEEK!  What a perfect name!

Gene's coworker had shared with us that the owner is a college age guy who had decided against heading back to school, but instead to open the doors to a Mediterranean sandwich shop.  All I could think is, what a gamble for a young person.  Opening an eatery is a huge leap of faith for anyone.  I give this guy credit for having the confidence in himself and his product to do this.

For Gene's birthday, I decided to make a run to the 'grift for dinner.  Gyros for the grown up and pizza for the wee ones.  So Friday night, we made our way to Greek Peek.  When I pulled up, I found a man and woman standing on the sidewalk conversing jovially.  I walked up to both trying to decide which door was the door to Greek Peek.  The two were funny because as I approached, they each edged toward their door.  I let the sub shop lady down easy, telling her it was nothing personal, I just happened to want this guy,

Upon entering the establishment, which is a tiny space, Scott (owner and operator) asked me what the occasion is.  I shared that it was hubby's birthday.  He and I had a lovely conversation about relationships, college, responsibility, and some general life "things."  It was one of the more delightful waiting times I've had.  All the while, he was preparing our three delicious gyros.

What can you expect when you visit Scott at Greek Peek?  There is lamb rotating on a spit, shaved off to the just the right thickness, warmed pitas, crisp lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and Tzaziki sauce, all wrapped perfectly in foil.  You can also expect a very short menu.  What are your choice?  Gyros.  Oh!  And occasionally he has salads.  What are you going to pay?  VERY LITTLE!  The gyros were $3.99.  Yep, that's it!  One was plenty of food for me.  Hubby ate two and was fat and happy (it was his birthday, so why not endulge).

If you're looking for a yummy gyro for very little coin prepared in front of you by a fantastic guy who is so stinkin' personable that you wish he had a counter to sit and eat, you'd better find your way to Greek Peek.

This guy and his food are so good that he really needs a food truck!  Spread the love!  My food truck (and cupcake camper) friends, help this guy out!

An important sidenote: Scott and Greek Peek are moving to a new location on October 1.

Greek Peek can be found on Facebook.  Like it!  :)


Current location:
146 Washington Avenue, Vandergrift
724-567-1701

New Location (October 1)
177 Columbia Avenue, Vandergrift
724-567-1701