(Beautiful pictures by Iva. Words by Sarah and Ray)

In order to bring you info on the best croissants in the city, the I Heart PGH gang went on a croissant tour, sampling four bakeries. (Eating delicious croissants all day was an enormous burden, but you’re welcome.) We chatted with the staff and rated each croissant by buttery-ness, flaky-ness and rip-ability.

La Gourmandine, Lawrenceville

This authentically French bakery has unique pastries and crazy buttery croissants. It’s owned and operated by a French couple who bring their recipes straight from the cafe of Paris. They make their own dough and bake each piece of buttery goodness fresh. They have a few different types of croissants, including a chocolate flavored morsel that perfectly blends cocoa, butter, and bread.

There’s a variety of pastries filled with the likes of pistachio and hazelnut cream and a basket of baguettes. But the real piece de resistance here is the croissants. Make sure the get there early if you want an almond croissant, they tend to sell out.

The space at La Gourmandine is also limited. There’s room to stand and eat your goodies at two tables, but if you’re with a big group, it’s maybe not the best hang-out space.

• Price: $1.90
• Buttery-ness: 8.5 (made with European butter)
• Flaky-ness: 6
• Rip-ability: 4

Crepes Parisiennes, Oakland

The croissants at Crepes Parisiennes are a delish, but a little more bread-y and dense. Their flaky and crisp outside are a nice contrast to some of the other croissants we tasted, especially when paired with a chocolate filing.

Crepes Parisiennes is a perfect place to meet a friend or two in Oakland. Its service was quite fast and its atmosphere was surprisingly relaxing for a busy cafe in the city. Anyone preparing for a French exam would be wise to study in Crepes Parisiennes for a few hours, so long as the delicious crepes don’t distract you.

• Price: $1.75
• Buttery-ness: 5
• Flaky-ness: 6.5
• Rip-ability: 6

Allegro Hearth Bakery, Squirrel Hill

Four words: bigger than your face. That’s how big these mega-croissants are at Allegro bakery. In addition to the lovely breads and pastries, there’s a small cheese case if you want to slap a savory topping onto your croissant.

Allegro is nicely situated in the heart of Squirrel Hill on Murray Ave next to the Pinskers Jewish book store. The staff is really friendly and the open space gives you a great view into the bakery. Anyone passing through Squirrel Hill should stop in to Allegro, even if its just to see the biggest Croissants in Pittsburgh.

Take your goodies to go though, this place doesn’t have anywhere to sit.

• Price: $1.89
• Buttery-ness: 8
• Flaky-ness: 9
• Rip-ability: 6

Paris 66, East Liberty

We all agreed that this was by far the best croissant that we tried all day. Although, we will admit, Paris 66 might have a slightly unfair advantage since they bake your croissants when your order them. Regardless, these babies are good. They’re aesthetically pleasing, in addition to having the most flaky crust and gooey inside we encountered all day.

Inside, the restaurant smells like heaven. Between the fresh bread baking filling the air, the authentic french cuisine, or the beautifully decorated walls, Paris 66 brings the full french cafe experience right to Shady side.  It’s more of a sit-down place, so it might be easier to plan on eating a meal rather than just a cup of coffee and croissant.

• Price: $2.00
• Buttery-ness: 7
• Flaky-ness: 10
• Rip-ability: 3 (it’s soo gooey)

Compu-Mother's Day Card by Alternative Histories

Mother’s day is Sunday May 12.  You didn’t forget about that did you?  There are a ton of great ways to celebrate mom this weekend around Pittsburgh (fortunately for y’all my mom doesn’t read this blog so I can share these tips with you and she”ll still have no idea whats up – just a heads up that for Father’s day you are on your own – my dad – hi dad! – is one of IheartPGH most loyal readers.)

Great Gift Idea - Head over to the Children’s Museum – for about $15 the Saturday Light Brigade will help you record an audio CD card for your mom.

Martini Mama? Do you need a cocktail to survive quality time with mom? Then Wigle Whiskey has you covered. Take your mom to Wigle Whiskey for their Mother’s Day cocktail class.

Some shopping ideas for the weekend.  Looking for a way to spend the afternoon with mom? Or looking to pick up a unique gift? here are some ideas.

• May Market at Phipps
• Lawrenceville Blossom Tour
• Friendship Folk and Flower Festival

Moms get in free this weekend.

• Pittsburgh Zoo – Moms get in free on Sunday when accompanied by a kid
• The Clayton – Moms get in free on Saturday and Sunday

A huge thanks to Living Pittsburgh for the post on affordable Mother’s Day in Pittsburgh.

Image:  Compu-Mother’s Day Card by Alternative Histories available here.

Cyclists love getting together and riding in absurdly large groups.  I believe we’re entertained by the idea of being a spectacle — children shout “Wow! Bicycles!”, people stand on stoops taking video with flip cameras, traffic patterns react to the bikes and not the other way around.  And, in my experience, cyclists LOVE beer.  Why else would Pittsburgh have a bicycle bar on the South Side and maybe the most popular cycling jersey in town is the Big Hop jersey.

East End Brewing has it’s finger on that pulse.  The 8th annual Pedal Pale keg ride sold out 600 registrations — after adding an extra hundred registration slots four days before ride.  Proceeds from registration fees went to ABOARD’s autism connection and BikePGH.   Someone even donated $250 to pull a keg!

Part of the magic of the Pedal keg ride is that the destination is kept a secret, right up until the kegs pull over.  Beginning at the brewery’s new location on Frankstown Avenue   The procession mostly meandered through the beautiful neighborhood of Highland Park, making a full loop around the reservoir.  Then, 600 cyclists descended upon Station Street Hot Dogs, tapped some tasty kegs and destroyed hot dogs like it was our job.

Check out more photos at BikePGH’s public Flickr group!

Pittsburgh is a city of many things, bridges, French Fries on everything, some of the friendliest people in America, and now with the recent addition of YinzBurgh BBQ, Pittsburgh is the home of an authentic Southern Barbeque. Located right on Baum Boulevard in Bloomfield, YinzBurgh is owned and operated by Richard Coursey, a native of Southern Georgia. Richard came to Pittsburgh originally as an engineer and decided to open his own restaurant and says he is as happy as he’s ever been.

YinzBurgh has three equally unique sauces it serves with all of its dishes, all having distinct Southern origins. All of the meat and tofu (YinzBurgh is proudly vegetarian and vegan friendly) is properly rubbed and smoked, keeping true to its Southern Roots.

After a little I Heart PGH field trip, we recommend the BBQ sandwiches. Not only is the meat delicious, but the sauce is served on the side so you can mix it up and dictate just how messy your eating experience is. And all of the sides are to die for. The coleslaw is creamy and delightful with just the right amount of tang, the black-eyed peas have the perfect texture and don’t even get us started on the mac and cheese! Also, a cold beverage from Burgh-based soda company Red Ribbon makes the perfect complement.

Rich is a very friendly man and if he’s not too busy, he will let you taste each sauce and happily talk with you about his restaurant and the food he is so proud of.

Another little business area that has been growing over the past few years is on Bryant Street in Highland Park.  What once was home to a little market and a few other shops – now has 3 restaurants and more development coming.

We often refer to supporting local businesses here on this blog – it isn’t just about supporting Pittsburgh businesses but it is about supporting businesses that are supporting the entire Pittsburgh community.

I can’t say enough good things about e2 – I first met chef Kate Romane when she was running the Union Project cafe a few years ago.  e2 started out small – they first opened for soup during snowmageddon and over the past 2 years have continued to expand their hours and offerings.  The food is wonderful – if you haven’t been there – you should go.  Check out what others have to say about e2 on Kate and the entire staff at e2 could not be nicer and more welcoming.

Kate couldn’t be a nicer person and she has kindly answered many MANY questions from me over the years (I like to ask ALOT of questions). Last year, I asked Kate to help me with food for a bridal shower – and everything was perfect – this was especially important because I have been known to struggle with food preparation.  Kate helped me pick out items that would be easy to keep warm and serve a few hours later.

e2 is located in a building that has been used as a restaurant for many year – currently they serve food upstairs but there is a big event space in the basement – that I think was an india restaurant a few years ago.  The basement is functional but needs a few updates – and they are asking for  your help to turn this into a space for events of all different sizes.

Watch this video to learn more about e2 and the project

The e2 Kickstarter campaign is great for a few reasons…

Number 1 – Pittsburgh NEEDS more flex spaces  - just yesterday I received an email from someone who was desperate to find a space to host a meeting for 25 that had wifi access.  Right now the choices are the conference rooms at Panera or an expensive hotel conference room rental.  Yes, e2 is first and foremost a restaurant – but I have no doubt that this space will be used as a place to bring community together

Number 2 – Delicious rewards – Kickstarter is awesome – because when you give to a project – you get something in return.  Kate and e2 have put together a whole list of awards for supporting this project.

Kevin Sousa, who opened Salt of the Earth last year and Station Street Hot Dogs a few weeks ago – officially opened Union Pig & Chicken this eve.  Union Pig & Chicken is Located on Highland Avenue a few blocks from the intersection of Highland and Penn.  There is indoor seating, the menu is available online at www.UnionPGH.com.  They offer a selection of meats, sides, whiskey & burbon cocktails and beer from East End brewing.

Thanks to a loyal reader we learned that YinzBurghBBQ opened recently on Baum Blvd. (it is across the street from the GetGo on Baum and Morewood). While there isn’t much available on the website www.YinzBurghBBQ.com, I drove past this evening and the place was packed.  It looks like it is mostly take out with one or two tables.

Fish Fry season has started.  Don’t forget the Carnegie Library in East Liberty is holding a Mac & Cheese Cook-Off on Saturday.  And it gets better – Mt. Lebanon is hosting a huge Chili Cook-off – The Fire and Icing Festival which includes a  Mt. Lebanon Fire Dept vs Mt. Lebanon Police Dept in a chili challenge

FIRE & ICING FESTIVAL – Chili Cook-off & Dessert Tour supporting Relay For Life of Mt. Lebanon

Saturday, February 25, from Noon – 5 pm
Clearview Common – Uptown Mt. Lebanon
Tickets – $10/advance or $15/at the event – purchase at www.mtlebanonpartnership.net or at Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building

Beer Available

Chili Cook-Off Contestants include

• A’Pizza Badamo
• Bado’s Pizza Grill and Ale House
• Bistro 19
• Bravo! Cucina Italiana
• Café Io
• Il Pizzaiolo
• Kous Kous Cafe
• Rania’s Catering
• Walnut Grove

Cupcakes Gone Wild

Date Saturday, March 10, 2012

Time 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Cost Members: $25 Non-members: $35

Cupcakes are all the rage these days. Join the Zoo’s very own Chef Jess as she shows you how to make cupcakes gone wild! After a delicious breakfast, you’ll turn basic cupcakes into edible masterpieces and then head out into the Zoo to walk off the calories and see some of the animals that inspired your culinary creativity. All participants should be ages 13 or older. (Younger pastry chefs can attend our Cupcake Critter class.) Register now

Think you have the best mac & cheese recipe in town – you can enter to win fame and prizes too.

Registration is required.

Judges for the event include:

• Danielle Brendel: Retail Manager of Sweet Tammy’s Bakery
• Megan Lindsey, Co-owner of the Franktuary Hot Dog Truck

More details and registration information available here.

Related articles

• The World’s Best Mac and Cheese (whitehothair.com)
• 3 Tips for Making the Cheesiest, Most Over-the-Top Mac ‘n’ Cheese of Your Life The Cheesemonger (thekitchn.com)
• Baked broccoli mac and cheese (snixykitchen.wordpress.com)