Tuesday was a day of burger enlightenment. It started with my observation that Consol Energy Center was was selling a $12.50 burger at a hockey game. Its bad enough that fans get gouged by high prices at sporting events across the country but even this seemed excessive.
At least this is what I thought.
Price is relative to your personal enjoyment and this burger changed the way I think. Most arena burgers are mass produced meat disks that even chains make fun of. That’s not the case here.
Commercial description: 8oz. Peppercorn Crusted Beef Burger with Horseradish Cheddar, Haystack Onions and Cabernet Sauce.
EIGHT OUNCES! That seems almost unheard of. The peppercorn crust not only added pop to my taste buds but locked in incredible flavor and juices. Horseradish cheddar provided a nice twang complimented by the Cabernet sauce. The addition of a generous serving of seasoned crisp chips makes this a complete meal.
Looking at the big picture $12.50 isn’t bad for a meal that will leave you stuffed in your seat. Throw in a root beer and you can gave an even $17.
You can pick this up at the Burgatory stand located by section 206 of Consol Energy Center.
The weekend started out looking like it could have been quite miserable. My car was leaking radiator fluid last week so I took some time on Friday to tighten what I could. So far so good so keep your fingers crossed.
I also won 4 tickets to go see Yo Gabba Gabba Live! from Giant Eagle as part of a twitter contest. I’m tellin ya folks, social media channels are a great way to win free stuff! The plus side, The seats were a fantastic location and we even got 2 kids DVDs to go with it BUT I had to work Saturday and there was no way Lushie was going to handle both kids at that. Tickets ended up going to a very thankful co-worker of hers.
Saturday was an incredible day. I’ve been planning a concert for the last month and trying to get this to go smooth was an interesting task but always rewarding task. I booked Clarks frontman Scott Blasey as our kickoff act for homecoming this year which was also part of our year long 90th anniversary celebration. Needless to say there were some very distinguished people that would be in attendance.
Someone up above was looking out for me because the weather the entire weekend was 80F and sunny… in October… IN PENNSYLVANIA! Yeah that doesn’t happen. Scott arrived and we got him set up, I scheduled an interview with the radio station and we had the interview and concert recorded on video and audio. I’m geeking out over how the audio could turn out. He played 60 minutes of non-stop hits and the crowd was loving it. I sent someone to the back of the lot and found out people were dancing and singing by their cars. Show ended and Scott was generous with his time to sign every autograph request and pose for pictures. Some people hate on the Clarks because WDVE has played them a lot over the last 25 years but Scott is a 100% class act. I’ve worked with performers in the past and not one was as professional and pleasant as he is.
Homecoming is always an exhausting day but I work with some incredible people whom make the event insanely fun and that’s what makes us successful. To celebrate I stopped and picked up bombers of Golden Monkey from Victory and The Great’er Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Heavy Seas. Both delicious choices.
Sunday was a great day. My brother called me earlier this week and asked if I would like free tickets to the Steelers game vs the Titans. Yeah like I would pass that up.
We walked across the Allegheny River from Point State Park and with the 75F temp and blue sky I took a moment to soak it all in because the view of the North Shore from the pedestrian bridge is breathtaking. Felt like the Regatta was going on with all of the boats on the river.
Our seats were on the 20 yard line, 12 rows back and as great luck would have it my bud Tall Cathy was sitting 2 seats down from me. Taunting each other wasted no time getting started.
Steelers won the game 38-17 but the story for me was in the craft beer served at Heinz field. In fact anything sold in general. Stay tuned for that! Steelers also gave out a pink version of the Terrible Towel in honor of breast cancer awareness month. You can never have enough towels in the house.
On the walk back we decided to hit Primanti’s in Market Square for a Derda boys dinner. I went with my favorite Capicola and Cheese but they 1) ran out of bread for the sandwiches 2) it took 20 minutes for a server to come over to us 3) 30 minutes to get a glass of water. If we weren’t exhausted we probably would have left. I was able to check out the changes that have been made to Market Square and I like it SO much better now with the center of the square being a common area. Very nice upgrades!
Everything that has gone on over the last few weeks made this weekend worth it.
Here’s a moment in the game that Steelers fans everywhere get chills over when you’re a part of it.
After I mentioned the Whopper in Dave’s Hot & Juicy I received a few emails asking me about the Burger King California Whopper because lets face it, I hate when people mess with my favorite fast food burger.
Commercial description: With the new California WHOPPER® Sandwich, the full-taste flavors of guacamole, swiss cheese and bacon collide! A ¼ pound of Flame-broiled beef topped with ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, guacamole, crispy bacon, melted Swiss cheese and creamy mayo all on a toasted sesame seed bun. Nutritional facts: 820 calories | 18g sat. fat | 110mg cholesterol | 8g sugar | 50g carbs | 56g fat | 1g trans fat | 38g protein | 1400mg sodium Drink: Dr. Pepper is king Fries: dry, little flavor, barely any salt Burger: meat seems thinner and the toppings are like biting into a balloon of guac and mayo Price: $8.12 (medium sized with drink)
Watching the new commercials for Burger King you’d think they are working on a fresh and healthier new menu. Most east coast thoughts of Cali is that its a magical land filled with beautiful healthy people bouncing around on the beach all day and singing show tunes. Just because you put guacamole on something doesn’t mean its healthier, maybe more attractive but not better for you. It has bacon somewhere in it. I think. The only reason why I knew it was present is because I cut it in half but when you bite into this bastardized Whopper its nothing more than an ooze fest of guac and mayo.
Is it worth it? Well for the price I’d say pass and honestly I’m waiting to come down from being wired and take a nap so this may be the only meal you need for quite a few hours. I do feel kinda like this guy.
I had actually bought this the day it was released and have been slacking on getting it online. Truth is if a fast food restaurant comes out with a new burger I’m going to try it. I’m a sucker for burgers and have a great weakness for them. Take note: that’s the way to my heart. Well that and a stellar beer.
I first heard about this new venture from Wendy’s on Facebook when 1993 BET Rising Star artist Dave Hallewell posted about it. Come on, how can you not want something named “Dave’s Hot n Juicy” in your mouth? Apparently I wasn’t alone as the Wendy’s in Moon Township was packed (though I think I was the only person who ordered it).
The meal you see pictured was a medium sized #1 which is the 1/4 lb Hot N Juicy ($6.52 including tax). When I first opened the wrapping it was a big gooey mess and looks like my 2.5yr old son put it together. You don’t go to fast food for presentation but a little effort might have made it easier to eat. This could get interesting.
Drink: refreshing Fries: salty, greasy and delicious. The way McDonalds used to be. Burger: its the 3rd string version of a Whopper
Here is the commercial description of what to expect with Dave in your mouth.
New Premium Toppings – crinkle cut pickles, sweet red onion, thick hand sliced tomatoes.
Juicier, Thicker Beef – 100% North American, fresh never frozen beef, hot off the grill
Butter Toasted Buns – Soft, warm and topped with real butter
When I took my first bite into Dave’s Hot n Juicy the butter on his buns made an instant impression. Soft, warm and buttery like the name suggests. Then came the explosion of flavor as I had Dave’s Hot n Juicy in my mouth. I almost choked but fought through and swallowed it down.
Go ahead and zoom in on that sandwich for a minute; this was after I put it back together. Look familiar? Take away the mustard, make it a size bigger and you have a Whopper. Size matters. I could probably down 2 of these no problem. I did like that this burger has much better meat flavor than their standard square grease bombs. The clincher for me was the pickles which reminded me of butter pickles grandma used to make. Cheese was good. Basically you have your standard backyard cookout burger.
Would I buy again? Not sure. $6.52 is a lot when I can get a Whopper for close to that price. Its worth a shot though and you should try it at least once. I wish this had bacon on it; you’d have a completely different review. Bacon would make this amazing.
This is the final installment of Friday Fish for Lent. Next week is Good Friday and hopefully we won’t be putting in a full day at the office.
Cost: $7.99
Bread (B-) Soft but not chewy. Great job holding everything together
Tartar sauce (C-) runny and little flavor
Toppings (C+) Lettuce was fresh but the tomatoes were a little hard. Altogether with the sauce though it wasn’t half bad.
Fish (C+) Its cod and comes in 2 6inch pieces. Turned off by appearance and when I bit into the piece I ripped off it was watery. I’m not talking juices here, it was flavorless but the fish packed a punch.
Overall today it was the combination of all elements that saved this sandwich. Fries weren’t anything special but come on, this is a lunch special. Added bonus was the heaping amount of Frank’s Red Hot I got to drown it in.
This week we go to a place that I frequent for great craft beer and kickass burgers but never have I tried the fish. Well, until today at least! Bocktown is located in the Pool City Plaza (across from Target) in what a lot of people assume is Robinson but is really North Fayette. Visit them online at http://www.bocktown.com/
Cost: $8.99 ($9.99 pictured above with onion crisps and cheddar cheese)
Bread (B) Solid hoagie bun that was soft and yet toasted really well.
Tartar sauce (B+) Packed with flavor but a little on the thick side for me. Incredibly tasty!
Extras (A) I was really surprised how well the onion crisps tasted. Typically I would expect greasy bastardized onion rings that weren’t ready for the big leagues but, just like the fish, these were fried to perfection. Under the bun was a pickle slice that is staple with most meals and a tomato that served as a perfect compliment to the sandwich
Fish (A-) I don’t think I’ve ever had a piece of fish fried more perfect. Succulent meat and a perfect crust that burst with flavor. This would have been a complete home run except the left end was overcooked and chewy. There wasn’t that much of it though so it got bumped up from a B+.
If you follow the negative jags on twitter you’ll see people come up with any excuse about why they won’t shop here but deep down they know they want to. Oh the crowds! The parking is so full! Its too big! Its too busy! Face it people, Market District Settlers Ridge is a mecca for food. I have my own personal views on how craft beer is handled here but thats not what we’re talking about today; its about the fish!
Today was my first time in the mass hysteria that can be lunch time in the area designated for food bars, hot, cold, deli, sammiches, reallyanythingyoucandreamof section. What drew me here was a tweet from Market District actually showing their special for the day (which I wish more places would do). The problem with this was I couldn’t find the fish! The sign you see to the left here was back by the ordering spot of the area but it was to the blind side of customers. You couldn’t see it unless you cut through the long line. I suggest moving it to more of the main traffic area or middle of the stand. Heck even hang something!
OK, the meal. I did the side and picked-up mac n’cheese and slaw. The slaw was already in a plastic container and the Mac n Cheese was slopped on the plate like a bad grade school lunch lady memory. Just as quickly I was moved to the pick up station and pointed in a general direction to pay. They were busy and had to keep the line moving. Fine with me, I was starving.
As you can see from this picture, what was tweeted and what I got were slightly off, it happens. I wanted to stick with the slaw since thats been a staple of my trip to find a fish meal in lent.
Cost: $7
Bread (A+) I don’t know what to say. This was the best bun for a sandwich I’ve had all Lent. Nice crust, airy and fresh.
Mac N Cheese (B+) It looks runny in the photo but was actually quite delicious. Creamy and flavorful.
Cole Slaw (D) I don’t know wtf this was. Instead of creamy it was dry and I saw some moisture on the bottom of the plastic container. If you’re eating there I would rather have this served from a bowl on my plate and not in a plastic tub. Felt cheap.
Tartar sauce (B+) This was good! Tasted like a hint of 1000 Island in it and good texture. Perfect serving size also.
Fish (B) While the bun was generous sized the fish is even smaller in proportion than in my pic; it was flat. Before I covered in my sauce I ripped a piece off and I have to give them credit, this is a damn tasty fish. The breading and cod were cooked perfectly and I found myself wishing I could get a side of well done crumbs. My only wish was that the piece was bigger. If you’re serving fish that size your bun should be smaller to give the illusion that you’re getting a bigger piece.
Primanti Brothers is a Pittsburgh institution. Your sandwich comes crowded with slaw (vinegar based not creamy), fries and a tomato. Deal with it.
This fish sammich is mammoth. There really is no other way to explain it. The fish is Alaskan Pollock and heaping with toppings. Was the fish good? Sure but I had to rip a piece off to taste it myself because it was drowned with toppings. Did that take away from the meal? Eh it might to someone not from Pittsburgh but I went in knowing this would be a beast to conquer.
It is a long piece of fish but its not very thick as compared to other weeks. Appetite fulfillment is satisfied by the toppings which you see above. The bread almost serves no purpose since it falls apart or smooshes down like when you were a kid and put ketchup on your welfare burger. The only serious disappointment was that the tartar sauce was a packet from Kraft.
Cost: $6.99 Fish rating - B (crispy, juicy but could have used more thickness) Sandwich rating - A Tartar rating – C
Overall – I slipped into a food coma. No idea how I made it back to work. I’m ready for a delicious nap. Buy this not only during lent but year round.
Armstrong’s restaurant is known for HUGE servings of incredible food. In fact I plan knowing a meal will be had there and will fast the entire day. Today was a co-worker’s birthday so we packed up the group van and headed to their Moon Township location.
The plate pictured above was $8.49 for a whale of baked scrod, fries and a pickle. In case you’re trying to figure out the size, that would be a foot-long hoagie roll. Unreal portions of flaky white fish and baked to perfection as expected and slowly slipping into a food coma with the window open on this 70F day. Only thing that could have made this better would be slightly more flavor in the breading but still an amazing sandwich.
Last Friday I had something arise that was a nice surprise when it comes to sticking with fish during Lent. It came up in hallway conversation that I was going to do this and others wanted in so now we have a group going out every Friday for fish in the area.
Our first Friday stop brought us to Patrick’s Pub in Moon Township.
I was worried at first because with a phone call they didn’t have a Lenten special but like every good Irish place there was a fish sandwich. Nestled back on Brodhead Road, Patrick’s Pub boasts authentic Irish cuisine and traditional American fare.
The fish sandwich all of us ordered was $7.99 plus $.99 each for mac n cheese and cole slaw. The mac was OK and slaw was pretty standard but the fish… YES YES YES! The fish was breaded with what seemed like a mexican/fiesta type breading and the cod that was used couldn’t have been more perfect. This wasn’t some deep fried mess that most places will plate up for you, this was a masterpiece.
Oh it doesn’t end with the food either, you need to check out the bar. If, like us, you’re there just to eat for the first time you may not be aware of the bar. Our server told us to check it out and after walking through the bar door we were greeted to the coolest atmosphere in Moon. Beer selection, yeah you need to check this out. At the time we were there I couldn’t 4 “A” level stouts on tap. I talked to the chef and he told me that he works with the beer samplings to make sure there is a dish which compliments the night’s offerings. Prices, inexpensive! Selection, best in Moon TWP area. In other words, this is the place I would be every night if I could.
Awwwwww shit it’s that time again! Unfortunately I have to be the bad catholic and not get ashes today. Didn’t get a chance at lunch and I have to work tonight so I’m going to settle with being a heathen. BUT with Ash Wednesday I’ve decided to bring back a favorite of mine to write, Fast Food Fish Friday! OK so today isn’t Friday but it is the start of the lent season. The rules are a bit different this time…
I will be eating fish from anywhere in Pittsburgh that I can make it to and back during my lunch hour so its not nec. FAST food fish. I’ve hit all of the chains I can think of.
Britney Spears just came on XM. write your own joke.
I spent so much time in Cranberry I really don’t know where anything besides fast food is. What are some places (downtown or out West preferred) you would go for fish? No churches!
heheehe Britney
Trying not to do the staple Pittsburgh places (Wholeys, Benkovitz) but might end up there
So to kick things off I went to McDonalds today which was also featured in the original Fast Food Fish Friday project. Just like 3 years ago this is just bad fish BUT I had a Shamrock Shake to wash it all down. Mass produced fish, tart tartar sauce and a guy who’s lactose intolerant drinking a MILKshake. This isn’t going to end well around 3pm today is it?
Now to get things off on the right direction watch Mikey & Big Bob’s ode to the Filet O Fish
Oh, what did I give up for Lent? Nothing really. All parents get a break until their kids leave for college. Serious. Its in the updated bible.
Tuesday was a day of burger enlightenment. It started with my observation that Consol Energy Center was was selling a $12.50 burger at a hockey game. Its bad enough that fans get gouged by high prices at sporting events across the country but even this seemed excessive.
Looking at the big picture $12.50 isn’t bad for a meal that will leave you stuffed in your seat. Throw in a root beer and you can gave an even $17.
I had actually bought this the day it was released and have been slacking on getting it online. Truth is if a fast food restaurant comes out with a new burger I’m going to try it. I’m a sucker for burgers and have a great weakness for them. Take note: that’s the way to my heart. Well that and a stellar beer.
