We’ll call this one a draw…

If you can finish that lyric of who I’m mocking you are one bad mofo and we should have drinks.

Last night was the crazy insanely hugely successful Tweet-up organized by Uncle Crappy at Vietnam’s Pho. In attendance (christ I hope I get all these right from what I remember on where people sat) – @Techburgh and his lady, @Beth910 and The Boy, @psylum, @douglasderda, @Bobtv and his girlfriend, @colindean, @illyrias, @ilikesleep, @pgha, @jamilbroom, @mrscrappy, @unclecrappy, @andreadisaster, @shanlin1022, and  @shadow.

The Dinner – Don’t even ask me what everyone had cuz that’s not happening. However I do recall @shadow taking a bath in the chili sauce. You know he was shooting fireballs about later, he just wont admit to it. You know you have a friend like that. No matter what they eat its not hot enough? That’s @shadow.  One of these days I’ll make him cry from heat. Lushie may need to break out her home made wing sauce that cleared a high rise with tears.

The Pho - I dined on an appetizer of Goi Cuon (Spring Roll w/shrimp, pork, vermicelli and fresh veggies rolled in rice paper with a peanut dipping sauce) and finally caved for the Pho Dac Biet (Beef Round Eye, Flank, Tendon, Tripe, Brisket, Beef Balls and noodles). You read that correctly, tendon and tripe. The tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and the first three chambers of a cow’s stomach. Thankfully the Beef Balls were these and not these as I feared.

The tendon was a mess as always so I just picked most of it out but the tripe was mind blowing. You have to get past the mental fact that you’re eating part of a cow’s stomach and dig in. It takes on the flavor of what its in so it consumed the beefy goodness of the broth. The Beef Balls were an odd texture but tasted decent. Kinda chewy and what i would expect heart to be like. Everyone else around me seemed to have been won over on their dishes which secretly really made me happy. I think more people need to open their minds and give this a try as you can order a simple dish of broth, meat and noodles to enjoy. Work your way up to the big boy stuff !  Our final bill, $170.  that’s right, 20 people ate full meals and drinks for $170. You can figure the math

Highlight was also finding out that it is BYOB and with a few growlers of East End beverages in hand I think a Pho-king-beer tasting will be coming up shortly.

Dare I say the Pho was spiritual? On the drive home I thought I saw God and he was eating a bowl of Pho also and drinking a beer.

Here are a few other pics

cheers!

The Pho jokes just never stop around here. You may recall that back in July I had my first bowl of Pho while contacting in the Strip. Since then it’s grown to an addiction that finally consumed my dear friend Uncle Crappy and spawned what will be my first official “tweet-up” attendance… I think. There’s a good chance I was a part of a tweet-up and didn’t know it.

If you’re in Pittsburgh, join us for a PHO-DOWN!
1. Show up at Vietnam’s Pho.
2. Eat.
3. Go home happy.

I never said these things were difficult. Complete details are at http://pittsburghtweetup.ning.com/events/pho-down

Would a fluffy guy like myself says something is good, you should probably listen.  Come be one of the Pho-king cool kids in Pittsburgh tonight!

July
Began the month with recording at the BeerDependence Day celebration at Bocktown. Attended the Penguins Stanley Cup DVD Release Party. Started a contracting job at EDMC that would become the longest month of my life and that’s all I’m going to say. Enjoyed my first ever bowl of Pho. Rocked the Beer on the Bay festival in Erie which the videos are epic and may never be released. End the month being interviewed by KDKA for the Craft Beer Summit.

August
Won a 2009 Mustang! Bees invade our bathroom (landlord still has yet to remove the dead bodies). I got a full-time job in social media/web dev that has turned out to be freaking cool plus I’m on a rockstar team. Threatened Lushie with divorce after she gets rid of the Back to the Future marathon channels.

September
Attended “Best of the Burgh” at the Warhol with sickpuppy, PittGirl, Woy and Rachel. Go big time and hosted Beer School at the Cabaret downtown to a sold out crowd. Teaspoon hits 17lbs.

October
Hosted 2 sessions at Podcamp Pittsburgh 4. Should I Drink That passed 500,000 download mark. Pens start defending the Stanley Cup. Revised Google Maps errors. Celebrate 4 years of marriage with Lushie. Lay the smackdown on poor fact checking by the Post gazette about Erie. Teaspoon goes pumpkin farming.

November
I blogged the whole month. Seriously. Bought a X-box. Teaspoon’s first Thanksgiving. Wonders of fatherhood and a kid who grows like a weed. Craft Beer Dinner with Lew Bryson, Education on the Pittsburgh Potty. Making your own Bacon. BEER AT GIANT EAGLE! Yinz Bowl 2.o

December
Still living it for 5 more hours. Remembering dad on his anniversary. Hosted a Christmas beer sampling at Bocktown. Saw KISS in concert. Teaspoon’s first Christmas. Finished the school year with a 3.65GPA. SNOW!

So what do I have to look forward to in 2010?  Come back tomorrow and find out!

I have to admit that this has been the most life changing year of my life. Some good, some bad and some mind blowing kickass. Here’s a quick recap as I reflect before tonight’s festivities start. I’m splitting this up into 2 sections because lets be honest, no one will scroll through 12 months.

January
Reflected on the first beer I EVER drank and yes, I kept the bottle. Prepare for the end of my 10+ year employment at ForeSystems/Marconi/Ericsson. Bitched about the weather and yinzers inability to drive in snow plus dumb ass snow removal by my neighbors. Both of those still hold true today. Got ready for an unbelievable run to the Super Bowl

February
Steelers won the Super Bowl and became the first ever 6 time champ thus giving every knock off t-shirt maker starry eyes at the potential of “6 pack” shirts. Punxy Phil said 6 more weeks of winter. I was officially laid off, was interviewed for a Post Gazette story on unemployment moments after i was laid off (that never was published), Pens started to turn it around and the biggest shock of them all… Teaspoon arrived 2 months early making me the happiest and most terrified dad. Came in at 4.1lb, dropped to 3.2lb and would leave at 5 in March.

March
It was the month of Teaspoon. Lushie and I spent every minute we could at the Mercy NICU while he got healthy in an incubator. 28 days later he came home. Also witnessed the stupidity of some Hill District parents who think its a hotel in there and the joke that is unemployment system in PA.

April
Went to my first ever Rugby match and got addicted to watching Claire and the girls kick ass. Missed my first opening day of Pirates baseball since 1984 (watched it on TV with Teaspoon and started a new tradition with my boy). Bought a Wii. Enjoyed the greatest comeback in Pens Playoff hockey that I have witnessed as the Pens turned the series around with 1 fight and the Max Talbot shhhhhhh! Saw Beer Wars the Movie with hundreds of other craft beer fans around the world and baked an incredible beer ham for Easter.

May
Should I Drink That turned 3. Pens defeated Washington and Carolina to earn a second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for a 2nd year. Bought a Blackberry. Joined Sadie’s Soldiers and took some Great Strides. KDKA reads my “tweet of the day” which I WISH they would bring back. The great personalized jersey debate. Meatshield welcomed his first child (i swear it was the year for kids to be born) and we had a cookout with some family. Bowling league ended and we were the undisputed champs.

June
Teaspoon’s first trip to the ER. Coming out of golf retirement after 3.5 year for a day with Yinz Teamer’s Woy, Lokay and Shireman at Cranberry Highlands. The Clarks release Restless Days after 5 years. Pens win the Stanley Cup in 7 games vs Detroit. Pittsburgh floods… again. Unemployed Utensil makes his first appearance as a way to help me get through not working. My first Father’s day and Pirates waste of talent Ian Snell cant take negative people.

up next… July through December.

I’m addicted to french onion soup. Next to a quality sandwich if you can wow me with french onion soup you’ll have me as a customer for life. I dont know what it is about this specific soup that I crave so much. First off you have to nail presentation. If the cheese isn’t melted over like the above picture I took today at Fat Heads you should just give up. Next up is the cheese itself. I’ve been to places that use sliced swiss and it was disgusting. Me, I’m a provolone, Fontina or Gruyere cheese kinda guy.

Now the bread. Fat Heads used chunks which I wasn’t stellar on the idea but served well. personally I dig country style bread. It does a great job absorbing the flavor of the broth and doesn’t turn into a soggy mess. It retains its consistency.

Have a favorite soup or your own version of French Onion? Let me know in the comments section.

cheers!

Last night I was fortunate enough to get into the sold out private dinner at Bocktown. Wrapping up the Lew Bryson tour of Pittsburgh was a dinner featuring 6 courses paired with barrel aged beers. If you ever get the chance to listen to Lew speak I can’t urge you enough to jump on that. His knowledge of not only craft beers but also whiskey, bourbon and the barreling process. Yes, he mentioned the bunghole too.

Here were the courses for the evening:

1. Cherry & Beet Arugula Salad tossed in Lemon Oil Mint Dressing – Beer Pairing: New Holland Oaked Aged Mad Hatter (Brewed for the GABF, this oaked version of New Holand’s IPA is aged in Woodford Reserve barrels. ABV – 6%)
2. Grilled Brown Turkey Figs, Stilton Cheese & Smoked Almonds finished w/Balsamic Fig Reduction – Beer Pairing: Great Lakes Oaked Blackout Stout (Russian imperial Stout aged in oak bourbon barrels. ABV – 9%)
3. Untouchable Pulled Pork Sandwich – Beer Pairing: Brewer’s Infusion Stoudt’s Scarlet Lady ESB (Stoudt’s English style ale run through Elijah Craig bourbon soaked French oak chips and U.K. Kent Hops. ABV – 5%)
4. Salmon Cake with Smoked Pepper Aioli – Beer pairing: Erie Oaked Railbender Firkin (Erie’s oaked version of their Scottish style ale, Railbender aged in American white oak barrels. ABV – 6.8%)
5. Strawberry Pierogi with fresh whipped cream – Beer Pairing: Arcadia Big Dick’s Oaked Ale (Aged in Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrels. ABV – 8.2%)
6. Apple Barrel Bread Pudding with Bouron Sauce – Beer Pairing: Arcadia Cereal Killer (Actual batch of Arcadia’s GABF Gold Medal winning barleywine! ABV – 9.1%)

Click here to see the whole gallery

Favorite part of the meal for me was the Stilton Cheese & Smoked Almonds. I’ve never had either before and those… sweet Jesus almighty! Now the beer paired with it is one of my favorites from Great Lakes but overall favorite beer was the Arcadia Cereal Killer. I think a full bottle would take you to Shangri-La. I’m not a big barleywine fan but this was soothing and packed full of deliciousness.

Thank you Lew for an incredible education over the last 3 days. it was a pleasure to get to know you over that time and listen to you talk. What a great experience and I can’t wait till your new book comes out.

For a collection of Lew’s writings check out this list on amazon.com

This is the best thing about Steeler games in our house, the food. Today I had a craving for a taco salad dip and after a quick trip to Giant Eagle, Lushie whips this bad boy up. I like watching the games and I know our players but don’t try talking about other teams with me cuz I’ll just nod and say “oh yeah, of course!”  I’m not a big football guy but I’m a fan of the festivities. If a guy isn’t on my fantasy team I wont know who you’re talking about. However I will be able to give you some kickass food and serve up the finest craft beers.  Today is Erie Brewing Ol Red Cease n Desist.

I’m in between games of NHL10 so I have to keep this brief before some friends show up.

Go Steelers!

Good friend Phil from “My Life as a Foodie” sent me an IM one morning that simply read “I’m making bacon”. Knowing Phil I knew that he wasn’t feeding me some bull, he would do it… and he did.

Read about the bacon process here

The reason why I bring this up is that we’re living in a time when it’s cheaper and most times more rewarding to make some of these guilty pleasures yourself. You get a better understanding of the process which goes into making deliciousness that we take for granted. This also ties into why I advocate homebrewing but that’s another post.

Phil is a badass chef and is host to one of the only podcasts that I still subscribe to. He’s professional, entertaining and has the greatest palate of anyone I’ve ever known. Through his inspiration and my obsession with bacon I’m talking to Lushie about giving this a go. Phil is an unreal chef whereas me, yeah I like to bbq, grill and make soups. I’m gonna need some help getting this started since its her kitchen I’m making the mess in.

Check out his website and see for yourself how easy it is to make bacon.

Now my question is, when’s he gonna ship some from Cali to PA?

cheers!

from seriouseats.com
“It’s National Sandwich Day! So designated because November 3 marks the birthday of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who popularized everyone’s favorite lunch so long ago.”

I have an unnatural obsession with a good sammich and thanks to the internet I know I’m not alone. tehjim, justrightjim, Woy and myself are usually swapping pictures of sandwiches worthy of a hall of fame. Then there is greatest sandwich artist of all time, BuBBy (that’s his sammich pictured above).

I don’t know why I crave sandwiches. I would much rather eat one for breakfast (my Mother In Law actually makes me BLT’s for breakfast when we visit) and think that a quality sandwich is more pleasurable than a steak dinner. Here in Pittsburgh there debate will last for generations on where the best sandwich is.

When I moved here in 98 I was addicted to Primantis Cap n Cheese.

Then as my palate developed I was head over heels for Fat Heads Headwich line.

And right now my favorite dish can be found at Bocktown in the Bocktown Burger

Go out today and have a good sandwich. Give thanks to John Montagu and what the heck, have a craft beer. None of that Bud/Coors/Miller crap.

While I’m on the Titusville memories here is a really cool event going on this weekend as part of the 150th anniversary celebration.

You need to get to Titusville, PA tomorrow for what will be a great bash of craft beer, history and pure deliciousness. The Blue Canoe will hold a beer fest from 1p-4p and 5p-8p. I know all of these guys coming in to serve you and can say with confidence that you won’t be disappointed. Most of these names may look familiar because we’ve reviewed them on “Should I Drink That?“.

The price tag is pretty sweet with the beers you’re going to be served. Go check it out along with the other events as part of the celebration. You can even swing by UPT and see where the real history was taking place 15 years ago