I am quite hungry still

Ah the first post on the first of the big burrito restaurants. Tonight, me and a bunch of new friends decided to go to Casbah for their Pastafest event and now I'm home eating some of my homemade pasta that I made for lunch myself.... bad sign? Well not necessarily- although I am quite hungry still. I've been to Casbah multiple times for brunch, lunch and dinner and I have to say that this is the first time I left hungry.

This week is their pastafest week where there are a variety of 14 different pasta dishes to choose from. The menu was unique and different had very interesting combinations of ingredients. With seven people at the table, we were all able to get different pasta dishes and decided that we could share and taste each one. Well, that plan failed as our half portioned pasta dishes were quite small. In addition to the small dishes, it took over an hour to get our order (we got seated at 745 and got our food around 9:10). Although it did take long, they were nice enough to give us two complimentary appetizers which were delicious! My favorite was the cheese platter with the 7 cheeses.

Cheese Platter

Humus Platter

Casbah is a unique Mediterranean restaurant located on South Highland Avenue. From the outside it looks small and run down but the inside is nicely decorated with Italian hand blown glass (noticed by Eric of course). Although it could use more lighting, the ambiance is sentimental and romantic but I think it would be a bit too loud for a first date.

This night, I ordered the Sheep’s milk gnudi with wild mushrooms, English peas, fava beans, leeks, chervil and black truffle butter. Gnudi is something I've never had before and I thought I'd try it. Gnudi means nude in italian and it resembles nude ravioli- someone at the table described it as fried cheese balls. Basically, its the ravioli filling without the actual pasta. If you know me well, I really got this dish for the truffle butter- as truffles is one of my most favorite things. However, I was quite disappointed when I got my meal as not only was it tiny and I only got 5 pieces of gnudi, I did not taste any truffle in the dish. Sadface.

Gnudi

The rest of the table got the Fettuccini with house-made pancetta, spinach, sunny side up Heritage Farms egg and Manchego cheese, the Tagliolini with grilled calamari, artichokes, lemon, arugula, oregano and bottarga, the Short rib ravioli with swiss chard, oyster mushrooms, roasted shallots and gremolata (which is on their usual menu and is actually really delicious), the Maccheretto with hen of the woods mushrooms, white beans, sun-dried tomatoes, rapini pesto, fontina and walnuts and the Red pepper casereccia with crispy rock shrimp, chilies, shallots, garlic, basil, lemon and olive oil. Although I didn't get to try all of them, everyone at the table had the same comment- it was good- but we wished we had more.

Fettuccini


Tagliolini

Maccheretto

Don't be fooled, Casbah isn't always sparse with its portions- its just their Pastafest menu- so definitely stop by when the event is over!

For my birthday last year, my mom got the Orecchiette pasta on their usual menu. My mom, being the asian that she is rarely goes out for food other than Chinese food and she said that this pasta was delicious- which is saying alot.

Like I said, I've been to Casbah a number of times and I have always enjoyed my meals. My friend Pama commented that it doesn't really impress her and after this visit I can see why. Yes, the food is good and the menu is most definitely interesting and refreshing, but the food doesn't mirror the specialty of the menu that I wish it did. Especially for their pastafest, the dishes were very small and the server even suggested that we order two dishes. I would not return again for this event.

As for other meals, I would say that lunch and brunch would be the best time to venture down to Casbah. Their great 13/22 dollar lunch/brunch deals are fairly priced and the food you get is great. I would highly recommend trying Casbah, but to also watch out what you order- as some dishes don't come out the way you expect them to. But all in all, this is a great place if you are looking for something new and different.

Some new inspiring vegetarian options

Back from Vegas! And I DIDN'T lose money this time! woot!

Eric's family had a get together in Vegas- and I obviously was not going to turn down an opportunity to go visit hot vegas. Knowing me- i'd live there if I could.

Striving to look my best for the awesome pools at Aria (the new hotel located at City Center) and not to mention- my boyfriend that I haven't seen in months, I have been trying to eat healthy and trying my best to exercise.

This Wednesday after class, me, Pama and Ryan decided to go to Eat Unique to eat healthy and get some yummy food. Located on Craig Street- it is a really convenient place to go for lunch. I WOULD say a quick lunch but that would be lying. One big complaint that I've heard about Eat Unique is that it takes FOREVER to get your order- and we ended up waiting for at least 20 minutes for some sandwiches.

But when we did get them- we were quite happy and quickly forgot about the long wait that we had to endure. Eat Unique is GREAT for vegetarians. Their vegetarian options are plentiful and their menu has very interesting combinations that all sound so delicious! Even if you aren't a vegetarian you may even opt out in getting a vegetarian meal.

This time, I got the Sonoma wrap- roasted turkey with artichokes, red peppers, pesto feta cream cheese all wrapped in a sun-dried tomato tortilla wrap. It was delicious. Light yet quite filling, I felt good about myself after eating it. Although I am sure you can get something a lot healthier- it was delicious and is a lot better than that Quiznos across the street.

Pama and Ryan both got the same thing- the Southwest Sizzler. Although I didn't get to try it- both Pama and Ryan really enjoyed their lunch and commented on the jalapeno cheddar bread.

Southwest Sizzler

I very much enjoyed my meal and the wrap was one of the more flavorful wraps i've had in a while. Eat Unique is great at being able to provide such great flavors with use of simple ingredients. If you are looking for some new/different inspiring vegetarian options, this is the place to go. If you hate vegetables (or have kids who do) this is a great place to trick them (and yourself) and feed them something yummy AND good for them! This is a place I have visited often and would most definitely go again. Hopefully the service is faster next time!

Don't forget to get some Thai Iced Tea!

So me and Jess are horrible. We decided to go out AGAIN to indulge ourselves in some great Thai food this time! We went to Shadyside and tried The Thai Place located on Walnut Street. Claiming to be one of the top ten Thai restaurants in the country, I knew I had to stop by The Thai Place before I left Pittsburgh.

Thai food has always been very interesting to me. Many people don't know that although I AM Chinese, my parents were born in Burma and I have grown up eating more Burmese cuisine than Chinese food. Thai food, although not exactly like Burmese food, is quite similar and always reminds me of my mom's cooking- so i'm a bit harsh when it comes to judging.

I'm really not a fan of Thai food- and I really am not a fan of Pad Thai as I really don't like the peanut sauce- I hate nuts. BUT this time, I decided to be adventurous and try one of their curry dishes while Jess got her usual Pad See Ew. I actually am allergic to the spices in curry and my lips blow up and I look like I had just injected large amounts of collagen into my lips. BUT I love curry and can't seem to stop myself.

Looking at the menu they had a variety of different curries, and I decided to try the Gang Karee which is a yellow curry cooked in coconut milk. I have to admit that both mine and Jess' dishes were great (she let me have some) and I didn't regret getting that allergic reaction. I wouldn't say The Thai Place is one of the best Thai places in the country- but the dishes were very flavorful and was very filling. My curry was very light and creamy and had a wonderful aroma. Jess' noodles, which is a classic, was also great and has bursts of flavor. We both got vegetarian dishes (although I am not a vegetarian-obviously) and I am glad I did as there were a variety of vegetables that were cooked perfectly and were crisp and fresh.

Jess' Pad See Ew

Gang Karee

The decor of the area is average really is just a casual setting. The Thai Place is a great place for a casual lunch if you're in the mood for something exotic and different. I really enjoyed going to The Thai Place to stuff myself and loved that it was close by and convenient. If you're looking for something else in Shadyside that isn't too expensive and isn't Sushi Too- The Thai Place is a great little joint. And as always don't forget to get some great Thai Iced Tea!

One of the best sushi places in Pittsburgh

So like I said before- I. Love. Buggy. Buggy is truly a unique tradition at Carnegie Mellon, but whats more special about it is all the great friends I have made through this activity- in fact I've met all of my closest friends through buggy- even my boyfriend!

There is pretty much nothing I love more than buggy-besides my boyfriend. And sushi. But that's it, promise. Me and my other buggy enthusiast friend Jess (our chairman from this past year) decided that it was time for us to spend some good quality time together and get some sushi. She had never been to Chaya before (which is ridiculous) so I thought I'd take her and show her the magic that is Chaya.

We wanted to go and sit down- but since nobody would take care of the pup (poor Zeus) we decided to get it as a take-out order. I was actually excited to see how good Chaya take-out was- simply because sushi take out is never as good as eating it at the restaurant. Boy was I wrong.

I've been to Chaya more than I can count and it has never failed to satisfy my sushi cravings. The fish is fresh and has wonderful textures and the prices are incredibly reasonable. Jess and I decided to keep it simple this time and ordered a few simple rolls off the menu.

Jess got a California roll (which is great for those who are new to raw fish and want to take baby steps) and an Alaska roll (salmon and crab). I got a shrimp tempura roll (ok, not really sushi- but SO delicious at Chaya) and a simple salmon and avocado roll and a spicy tuna roll. Although I can't speak for Jess (she did say it was delicious however), my rolls were perfect- as always. The fish was fresh and everything was prepared artfully.

California, Alaska Roll

Salmon and Avocado, Shrimp Tempura, Spicy Tuna Roll

Although the take-out was good- I enjoy sitting in at the restaurant a lot better. Located in Squirrel Hill on Murray Avenue, Chaya is very close to the Carnegie Mellon campus and is a great BYOB place! The servers are dressed authentically in Japanese kimonos and the casual setting of the restaurant is very comforting and welcoming. Chaya is one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to in Pittsburgh, and me and Eric LOVE going there to treat ourselves to some great sushi.

Eric's favorite by far is the Spider Roll (Soft shell crab). And I really just love everything there- the toro is amazing btw. I can't really even begin to talk about how tasty the fish at Chaya is- you just need to experience it yourself. Seriously, one of the best sushi places- go.

If I do have something bad to say about Chaya- the language barrier results in poor phone service (Someone yelled at me for calling them when they weren't opened and hung up on me). Oh, and the oyster appetizer is actually very unappetizing- and the awfulness of that appetizer really surprised me- don't get it.

But regardless, if you stick to the sushi- I can say with confidence that you will enjoy it. Make sure to bring some alcohol to make it a party!

Speaking of flavor

I have come to realize that I have lived downtown for almost a year and I really haven't taken advantage of exploring the area or even going to the Strip!

Two weeks ago, a few of my sorority sisters (Pama and Asak) decided to go explore the Strip District on a Saturday morning to get some fresh produce and grab a quick lunch. I personally have only gone a handful of times (to go to the asian market to buy spam musubi ingredients- haha) and really, I should go more often. ITS SO FUN!

After a day of grocery shopping (popcorn eating) and exploring all the different markets in the Strip, we decided to stop at Enrico's for some lunch. Enrico's is a small little hole in the wall restaurant that is actually really easy to miss if you don't look carefully. It's right next to The Enrico's Biscotti Company bakery (duh), and is a great place for lunch!

Eric and I actually tried to go there the one and only time we went to the strip together but it was closed (and then we ended up going to kaya instead). I've only been to Enrico's once before, and I remember the food being so simple yet so delicious.

Located on Penn Avenue, Enrico's has a small, selective menu consisting of a fusion of italian and southern cooking. Ranging from homemade margarita pizza to homestyle grits, Enrico's menu is truly unique. Asak got the margarita pizza while Pama and I decided to explore some southern dishes and try the frogmore stew and the shrimp grits.

Although Asak preferred more cheese on her pizza, she still enjoyed it very much and could tell that the pizza was definitely homemade with fresh tomatoes. The crust was crispy while the sauce and mozzerella cheese was light and full of flavor.

Margarita Pizza

Speaking of flavor, the frogmore stew and grits had plenty of it! I must warn you though that if you don't like spicy foods and/or can't handle the heat- you should probably stick to their pizzas and other italian dishes (I hear the spaghetti and meatballs are also delicious). Me and Pama's dishes were also delicious and hearty and perfect for that rainy day. Pama's grits were creamy and rich and had a kick at the end that hits you by surprise.

Shrimp and grits

Frogmore stew

My frogmore stew was also amazing. Unlike the grits, you can see the crushed red peppers in the dish as well as in the spicy sausage so you know the heat is coming! Although it ISN'T as spicy as the grits- it still was packed with lots of heat and the potatoes and shrimp were great additions. I highly recommend the frogmore stew (if you are looking for some spice) and the pizza (if you want to keep it on the safe side).

Although it is not ideal for a fancy date, Enrico's is full of life and is a great place to stop by for a casual lunch. Also make sure to stop by their bakery next door for a yummy dessert!

With Eric being in California, I can't really experience dining in Pittsburgh with him as often but I LOVE going out with my sisters and they are great. I may even like them better than Eric!

Pick your own strawberries!

I am so old. Or at least I feel old. This weekend I went to Kennywood and Soergel's Orchards and just felt completely exhausted and couldn't even start my work for the week. But I did have a lot of fun!

This post is mainly about the great time I had a Soergels Orchards with my friend Risa- and not about my 50th time at Kennywood. I WAS going to write about the cheap pizza I had at Italian Village in Squirrel Hill before we left for Kennywood, but I realized that the pictures I took on my phone are gone (thanks to the rain) and... I don't like pizza unless it's from New York :)

This Sunday was the Strawberry Festival at Soergel's Orchards in Wexford, PA. I never thought I'd have so much fun at a farm, but my 2 hours spent there was awesome and well worth the drive. (The drive actually isn't too long- just around 20 minutes)

The main attraction was the strawberry picking event that day. They provide you with a cardboard box and they have a 'hayride' that takes you to their strawberry bushels where you can pick and taste as many strawberries as you want. After staining my hands (and mouth) pink and collecting as many huge red strawberries as I could, we went back to the farm houses to go check out the rest of the festival.

The place was packed with kids and adults of all ages and there were a lot of activities set up. We went to check out the farm animals and had a nice snack and eventually ended the day by shopping in their market. Their market was quite small but had lots of fresh produce and yummy cider!

Huge hot dog for $2.50!

Risa loving her hot dog!

After shopping around we decided to call it a day as I was still exhausted from Kennywood the day before (go figure). But I do have to say that their fresh produce was GREAT (I cooked some of their squash and zucchini that night) and their apple cider was delicious! My favorite part was of course, the strawberry picking and I am looking forward to making my strawberry rhubarb pie tomorrow!


You can actually pick your own strawberries throughout the week so if you are craving some fresh sweet strawberries or some great apple cider, definitely go check out Soergels Orchards in Wexford, PA! (If you do decide to go down to Soergels Orchards and pick some strawberries you can bring your own tub or tupperware container as they charge you a buck for a cardboard container there)

Enjoy the weather and get drunk

Being a graduate student has its ups and downs. One great thing is that I've met some really great people and really enjoy spending time with them. The WORST thing about being a graduate student over the summer at CMU is the NINE hours of class on Wednesdays- it's killer. Not only does this mean that I have to send my puppy to doggy day care (oh yes, I got a cute little puppy), but I can't go home (or anywhere really) and am forced to eat my meals on campus. (Although that does give me a good opportunity to explore more restaurants!)


This past Wednesday, a few of us decided to go to Union Grill on Craig Street for lunch (picture of interior above). Well we didn't really DECIDE- we sort of just walked by and were too lazy to walk to Quiznos 100 feet away, so we stopped. I've been to Union Grill a number of times during my undergraduate career, and nothing there really impresses me.

Union Grill is a great place to go if you are looking for a semi-nice restaurant (with a bar of course) that is close by with reasonable prices. The food really isn't spectacular, but isn't awful either... just (as Eric would say) 'meh'.

I usually get their crabcake sandwich (sorry, no pictures today). They took it off their menu recently, but to my surprise they had it on their specials lunch menu this Wednesday! The ones I've had in the past were a lot better as the crabcake that day didn't have a lot of flavor and was smaller than usual. The sandwich was plain and dry and I didn't even feel like I was eating crab- isn't that the whole point of a crabcake sandwich?! I got a side of vegetables with my order (instead of fries- Eric should be proud) and really, the vegetables were my favorite. The vegetables (sugar snap peas, red bell peppers and asparagus) were crisp and was cooked in a light butter sauce. I would have liked it to have less buttery grease so I could have felt better about myself- but it was still delicious nonetheless.

Although I was a bit disappointed by my meal, my friends definitely were happy and satisfied with their $10 bottled wine list. Each were able to get one full glass of wine out of the $10 bottle (aka 4 glasses), which I am sure made them very happy (and ready) to go to our next class.

The common theme around the table were burgers. I've had the burgers myself and what I personally like about them is that you can build your own burger and really put almost anything you want on it. If you want to be healthy like Anupama, you can also order a turkey burger!

I've also tried the french onion soup, caesar salad, fish tacos and cheesesteak from Union Grill. The soup was awful- I think it was the cheese they used- because it smelled like feet. The caesar salad wasn't that great either as the lettuce was soft and lacked that crunch that I love about romaine lettuce. The fish tacos and cheesesteak again was 'meh' but i'd have to say that the fish tacos were very large. That's what she said. (You're welcome, Ryan) My favorite thing I've had at Union Grill has got to be their chicken pot pie. I was looking for it on the menu, but I couldn't find it (sadface). BUT, if you ever do see it on the menu, I highly suggest trying it! It is creamy with huge chunks of chicken and vegetables and the crust is baked until its brown and perfectly flaky! Yummy!

Pragna got the Pittsburgh salad, which is always HUGE (and a common favorite). Although it was a salad- it didn't look quite healthy- but still delicious I'm sure. None of the salads there (or anything on the menu really) is for the health conscious, but aren't you there to get drunk anyway?

In general, Union Grill isn't a place that really prides itself on having gourmet food with excellent quality ingredients. However, I think it IS a great place to grab some lunch with a few friends, enjoy the weather (as it has an outside dining area as well) and get drunk.