Image by groovehouse via Flickr

The folks at the Waffle Shop are looking for your big idea – really big ideas – and if your big idea is the best idea you could win $250 and Free Waffles for a Year!  You don’t have to be in Pittsburgh to win either.  If you aren’t in town to attend the idea event on Oct. 3, 2009 – they will have an actor stand in for you.

I posted a picture of the homemade ho hos I found on my first visit to Big Dog Coffee back in November.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out one of the newest and I think nicest coffee shops in town – check out this video interview with the owners of Big Dog Coffee from today’s PopCity Media.

Read some other reviews of Big Dog Coffee on Yelp and Urban Spoon.

Image via WikipediaPittsburgh has been getting very serious about coffee in the past couple of years.  The coffee shops around the city are not only great places for coffee but have become hubs of different neighborhoods.  Some of the local coffee shops have come together to form PACA – Pittbsurgh Area Coffee Association.The PACA website is PittsburghCoffee.org, which includes a map of local coffee shops and a listing of coffee blogs.This weekend Pittsburgh will host the Mid-Atlantic & Northeast Regional Barista Competition.  This is kind of like the iron-chef of coffee making.  Baristas from 11 different states will be competiting for fame and prizes.  Check out some of the baristas from Tazzo D’oro who are experience competitors and bloggers.   The competition is free to attend.  They will be selling deserts to accompany the coffee – all proceeds benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Communty Food Bank.Friday, Satruday & Sunday, Feb. 6-8, 2009 11am-5pm daily (Complete Schedule here) @ Pittsburgh Marriot North in Cranberry More on the competition:  

• Espresso Throwdown Preview ‘09 @ 21st Street Coffee Blog
• Post-Gazette Article on the competitions @ Tazzo D’Oro blog
• check out their Super Bowl pictures here.
• Are Your Ready for Some Espresso? @ Aldo Coffee Blog
• Watch Ed Wethii from Kiva Han and Ken Zeff of Crazy Mocha talk to John Delano on KDKA here.
• Follow the Barista Competition on Facebook here. 

A friend and Morningside resident recently took me to the Morning Glory Coffeehouse on Chislett Street (1806 Chislett to be exact).  I’m a simple drip coffee drinker with a spoon-standing test for strength and the Morning Glory passed with flying colors.  Also, the apple turnover my friend purchased was delicious.  The decor was bright and modern with lots of vintage accessories like flowered thermoses and cool milk carafes.  While any coffeehouse that invites you to “throw a record on our turntable” garners immediate hipster cred, the staff is friendly and the bright colors of the vintage books and games keeps everything feeling fresh.  Morning Glory also has free wireless and live music events.       

Homemade Ho Hos, originally uploaded by IheartPGH.

I was finishing lunch with Friend of IheartPGH who suggested that we check out the newest coffee shop on the south side. Big Dog Coffee is located on Sarah street near the South Side works. This place is beautiful – the counter is an old wooden antique, bright walls, comfortable seats (I am sitting in a rocking chair as I write this), there is a patio for outside seating when the weather is a bit warmer. The main room has a lovely fire place – if IheartPGH was a podcast I would be recording the sound of a crackling fire for you.

his place is really that cozy. The desert counter is beautiful and they have homemade ho hos. I think I had forgotten about ho hos, but the idea of a homemade one is amazing. Watch out cupcakes, there is a new tasty treat in town.

For more info on Big Dog Coffee…

• Big Dog Coffee Shop perks up South Side in renovated Sarah St. property, Pop City Media
• Big Dogs, erked 
• Hidden Treasures, Dave and Betsy’s Blog 

Lawrenceville, PA has everything I love about Pittsburgh right in a row. Cupcakes at Dozen, pizza at Piccolo Forno, vintage gems at the several thrift shops and great art in a collection of galleries. I lunched at a new eatery today, Coca Café and can safely say it is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Just a few doors down from Piccolo, Coca Café sits comfortably on the corner with a trendy red and blue paint job. The specials were written on the sign outside and my eye went directly to the pumpkin bisque, YUM! The eclectic chairs and tables made the shop just funky enough without trying too hard. I ordered the chicken and artichoke wrap, which was a great combination of warm and toasty yet light and fresh. Of course, I had to do a cappuccino and biscotti afterward. I couldn’t decide what kind to get, so I had our lovely server choose her favorite, which turned out to be vanilla apricot, YUM again! The music was just loud enough to get you groovin’ in your seat without inhibiting conversation. And something I love about local places; they accept local artwork that they display, which gives them an extra gold start in my book. Yet another Pittsburgh gem that dazzled me to the point of blogging, check them out online!