Tag Archives: Cook

Chili Cook-Off @ Mt. Lebanon Winterfest

So we are in this sort of dreary slump of a Pittsburgh winter – football season has ended (and earlier than usual).  The weather is grey, not so cold, but not BBQ weather yet.  Pittsbughers have cabin fever.  I made the mistake of trying to stop at Trader Joe’s last Saturday at 3:00pm.  The rest of Pittsburgh – eager to escape from their homes also decided to grocery shop at that time.  I made it through 1 aisle – saw an open cash register and made an escape.  But never feat Pittsburgh – we will make it through the grey days of winter by eating a feast!

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

Cooking Up a Kitchen Story at Gaynor's Cooking School

NOTE from IheartPGH: This post is also posted at Andrea’s blog – Having Fun Storming Your Castle – occasionally IheartPGH is invited to attend events and write blog posts – here is Andrea’s post about cooking school.
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I was invited to attend the event, sponsored by Shop ‘n Save, and did so free of charge. All opinions expressed are my own. But you knew that already.

Tonight I went to another cooking class in the Pittsburgh area, this one hosted by Gaynor’s School of Cooking at 309 East Carson Street. Gaynor Grant was teaching a special VIP class for some chosen users of Our Kitchen Stories, a new recipe/cooking community site to share photos, stories, recipes and memories that “help define the region’s culinary legacy.” (I especially enjoy that last part – despite being a lofty goal, it’s nice to think about broadening our definition of Pittsburgh food beyond french fries on salads.) I got to crash the party, learn about Our Kitchen Stories, talk a bit with Gaynor and make (and eat) some great food. (All of the recipes are posted on Our Kitchen Stories, by the way – and since these aren’t mine, I didn’t calculate nutritional content.)

Gaynor talked us through everything we were going to make before we broke into two smaller groups. Each group then made all the dishes: orange rosemary chicken, grilled vegetables, cabbage salad with Stilton and bacon, wild rice with vegetables and dried cranberries and an almond and fruit torte thing for dessert. Continue reading →