Amazing bacon wings. I love that my mood ring=happy at this moment.

A photo blog
Bacon Bash
Harris Grill
August 14th, 2010

I guess that we arrived shortly after the first wave of bacon-lovers,…

Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania Announces its 4th Annual Apple Cooking Contest

“AppleTizer” winner announced at AppleJamm, September 25th

(Fox Chapel, PA)–Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is seeking submissions for its 4th annual apple baking contest. This year,…

On my continued search for authentic Italian food in the city of Pittsburgh, I stopped at Del’s in Bloomfield on Sunday evening with my family and friends.

The restaurant looked nice from the outside, decorated conservatively with large windows,…

If you find yourself in Irwin, PA, and are in the mood for some ice cream, be sure to stop by the Kerber Dairy Farm.  Besides producing a wide variety of quality dairy products, the Kerbers also make premium…

Tips for keeping food safe and sanitary in your kitchen

With the current outbreaks of salmonella, it is important to educate yourself on the importance of keeping things clean, and bacteria free in your cooking area.  Here are a…

Pulled pork sandwiches are delicious, and very easy to make.  The beauty of these sandwiches is that they are full of flavor, tender, and fun to eat!  Here is an easy recipe for you to try:

Pulled Pork Sandwiches:…

Scampi is a great summer dish to make.  It’s filled with fresh shrimp, garlic, butter, veggies, and usually pasta.  Although scampi is usually made with shrimp, you can add all kinds of fresh seafood, and come up with something…

I’ll be honest.  I had waaaaay too much fun the other night.  My sisters and I went out to some bars in East Liberty.  We walked to Buffalo Blues for a few drinks (see Chuck’s review, I totally…

I’m sure you’ve heard about the huge egg recall by now.  According to news sources, close to 500,000 eggs have been pulled from shelves.  So, are you at risk?  Should we continue to buy eggs at the supermarket?

Here…

After browsing through our reviews at Pittsburgh Hot Plate, I noticed that we have been lacking in reviews of Italian restaurants!  We have done several pizza reviews (thanks Katie Lane) but have yet to let our readers know what…

Twisters is a small ice cream shop that serves soft-serve, authentic Italian Ice, and other frozen treats.  It’s in the quaint, and mostly Italian neighborhood of Bloomfield.  What makes this such an appealing place is its old-school appeal.  The…

Nakama enjoys a great reputation for being one of the best teppanyaki restaurants in the city. It’s a trendy hot spot located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Southside.
Brianna, Marla, and I showed up for our 730pm reservation…

Four times a year or so, I get a hankering’ for some hot wings.  I asked around, and more than a few people suggested that I try Buffalo Blues in Shadyside. So off I went with a few family…

I’ve always liked brunch- it means that I’ve slept in, and am still going to get some good breakfast food, which is my favorite.  A good friend of mine gave me a gift certificate to The Inn at Negley;…

This Saturday is BACON BASH 2010!

WHO:  The bacon-pushers at Harris Grill & fellow Pittsburgh blogger, Mr Baconpants

WHAT:  An embarrassing display of BACON WORSHIP.

WHEN:  Saturday, August 14th.  11am-4pm

WHERE:  Harris Grill, 5747 Ellsworth Ave,…

Not all restaurants are responsible when it comes to the safety of their patrons.  What I mean by this, is sometimes food-sanitation standards are not always met, and the likelihood of becoming sick is greater.  Here are a few…

Vegan Corn Salad with Veggies and Citrus Vinaigrette

6 ears of organic fresh corn, husked and grilled

½ cup chopped red onion

1 cup chopped and de-seeded fresh tomatoes

¼ cup each of red, yellow, orange and green peppers,…

That’s right:  BACON BASH.

An entire party devoted to BACON, the most splendid of cured meats.   Vegetarians, be damned!

On Saturday August 14th, hungry baconites will file into Harris Grill and belly-up to troughs and tureens packed FULL of…

Congratulations to Jill Anderson for winning our recipe contest!  Here is her original recipe for Mango Swirl Yogurt Cheesecake.  It’s an elegant recipe, which Jill has obviously put a lot of work into.

Please be sure to visit her…

Here is a simple crab cake recipe.  Before I outline the ingredients, here are a few pointers:

Always use lump crab meat- leave out the claw, and back fin meat.

Old Bay Seasoning may good for some things, but…

Do you ever feel like every week is the same as the one before it? Are you stuck in the Monday thru Friday rut that is our collective modern existence? Stay with me here, I’m about to offer you…

Every year, Americans spend upwards of 3 billion dollars on weight loss products.  Some of these items include vitamins and supplements, energy drinks, stimulants, and protein powders.  What all of these consumers have in common, is a desire to…

This is an easy recipe; very flavorful, and perfect for summer!

Santa Fe Chicken

4 chicken breasts

3 ears of corn

¼ each of red peppers, orange peppers, and yellow peppers

½ red onion

½ lemon, plus two slices…

I’ve been going to the East End Food Co-op for several years now.  There’s something appealing about supporting small, local, member-owned food stores that appeals to me.  The Coop was updated several years ago to help it keep up…

This is a very easy salad to make, and always a crowd pleaser!  Try to use fresh garden tomatoes.  If you don’t have any in your garden, supermarkets usually carry them during the summer months.

Ingredients:

1 large, fresh…

A few years ago, I fell in love with a TV show called Pushing Daisies. It was about a man called Ned, a girl called Chuck, and PIES! And death. But for now, I am concentrating on the pies.…

These cookies are very easy to make, and a very refreshing summer treat!

Ingredients:

Flour 2 ½ cups
1 teaspoon baking powder
1teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
Sugar 1 cup
Brown Sugar 1 cup]]> http://www.pittsburghhotplate.com/2010/07/white-chocolate-lemon-cookies/feed/ 16 http://www.pittsburghhotplate.com/2010/07/organic-brown-rice-salad/ http://www.pittsburghhotplate.com/2010/07/organic-brown-rice-salad/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:34:28 +0000 Chef Chuck http://www.pittsburghhotplate.com/?p=1708

I made this brown rice salad today for a few vegetarian clients.  It’s simple to make, and very nutritious.

This salad can be served warm or cold, with fish, chicken, beef or pork.  Give it a try!

Ingredients:

…

Questions by: The Saucy Dipper

saucydipper.com

Chef Chuck Kerber speaks out on sauces…

Q: A little about you. What’s your background?

A: I’m a graduate of The Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, and hold a Bachelor of Science in…

Crepes are delicious.  Contrary to popular belief, they’re not that difficult to make.  All you need to be successful in your crepe endeavors is a good recipe, patience, and a non-stick pan.  Once you have practiced your crepe-making skills,…

There’s a peculiar stretch of road in Edgewood/Swissvale- amidst this rural, quiet neighborhood sits a small, commercial lot with a few businesses- there’s a chiropractor, Laundromat, used car lot, convenience store, and Thai restaurant…  Curry Away- that’s the name…

…

Gluten-free baking used to be a real challenge.  Replacement flours (potato, tapioca, sorghum, brown rice, etc…) were difficult to find and very expensive.  Now these wheat alternatives are widely available in mainstream grocery stores.  Okay, they are still expensive. …

40 years ago, my parents took a trip to Italy.  During their adventures through a small town, they came upon small pizza cart.  My Mother, who’s Italian, rejoiced at the site of some truly authentic pizza.  My German/English Father,…

July in Pittsburgh; it’s usually hot and muggy- not this evening; the air was warm, and the temperature was perfect.  We were in Squirrel Hill on Forbes Avenue; sitting outside was a must.  There were only a few restaurants…

Dear Pittsburgh Hot Plate Readers,

Tonight I made a nice salad with green leaf lettuce from my garden; summer is finally here!  If you have a garden, you too will be able to enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits during…

If you’ve read any of my reviews, you already know what a huge fan I am of Mexican food.  What’s better than meat, cheese, chips, and roasted pepper sauces?  Nothing I say!

A few months ago, a Mexican restaurant…

We’re very excited to announce the re-design of our website!  If you haven’t visited it yet, please do!

Pittsburghhotplate.com

To celebrate our new beginning, we having a recipe contest with a $100.00 cash prize.  That’s right, cash…

Everyone LOVES lasagna, but often avoid making it because the process is too long and arduous. Well, here’s a quick and easy recipe that will take a short time in the kitchen, and leave you and your family coming…

After leaving happy hour in Station Square, we headed to the South Side. On a whim, we decided to try Caffe Davio. We got a table for 4 right away, which was nice because reservations are usually required. The…

Pizza isn’t as hard to make as everyone thinks it is.  Once you’ve made it a few times, it’s easy to duplicate.  Here’s a simple recipe, with techniques explained.  Follow these directions and you’ll be on your way to…

Over the past several years, there has been a growing trend to purchase, and buy organic foods.  As consumers become more and more educated on the effects of harmful food additives, preservatives, and the harm they can do to…

This morning, I sat down to answer some questions for an upcoming article about my experience as a food blogger.  Hopefully we will be able to link you to that article shortly!  In the meantime, here is a look…

Rhubarb is a fickle vegetable; it looks like celery, but has a sweeter taste and light texture.  People don’t know whether to cook savory dishes with it, or make pies or tarts.  Either way, it’s a food worth exploring. …

Keeping knives sharp is important; it helps with ease of cutting, and more importantly, it prevents accidents.  If you’re using a dull knife, the blade is more likely to slip off the cutting surface and create an accident.  There…

I’m pretty sure I was a fierce hunter in a past life.  I like the idea of leaving my house in search of food, with only my hunger and my cunning instincts to guide me.  Sadly, I live…

I’ll admit it. I used to hear about parents who made their own baby food and I always thought I’d never be one of “those people.”

But then I had a revelation. It happened after I played a rather…

On Wednesday, Cinco de Mayo, I joined a couple of buds for dinner at Bahama Breeze in Robinson.  Brianna, Jay, and I met up with Eric, a great friend from dear old Bethany College. …

I had the pleasure of attending a friend’s wedding this weekend- it was one heck of a party.  The bride and groom were happy, the music was hoppin’, and the guests were ready to eat after an hour of…

Dear Pittsburgh Hot Plate Readers,

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has been following us over the past 6 months!  In that short amount of time, our readership has grown quite a bit.  With that…

I like sushi.  I’m no Jeremy Piven, but I do enjoy some raw fish, seaweed and rice from time to time.  Sushi Too in Shadyside has a loyal following.  The residents of the small neighborhood have mostly favorable things…

I have been hearing about Brighton Hot Dog…

Mom’s got to eat.
So treat her on Mothers’ Day. Sure, you may be most famous for your culinary prowess with frozen pizza, but this is a once-a-year event and your chance to really impress with a quick…

Pittsburgh has finally joined the cupcake cult.

Popular in hip metropolises like New York City, high-end cupcakes are beautiful to look at and an experience to eat.  Some are so pretty that it seems a shame to even think…

People are constantly asking me what type of pots and pans to buy.  It’s never an easy question to answer, but there are some suggestions that I can offer.  First of all, try to stay away from aluminum- it’s…

My increased visits to restaurants lately have inspired me to write this piece on etiquette.  There are certain things you should, and shouldn’t do while dining out.  Here are a few to examples:

Take the hat off.  It’s always…

I can recall when sushi started becoming popular; it was around 15 years ago.  People couldn’t get enough of the stuff.  It’s unique texture, preparation, and taste intrigued foodies all over the world.  I was sure that this “new…

Dozen Bake Shop

Pittsburgh has finally joined the cupcake cult.

Popular in hip metropolises like New York City, high-end cupcakes are beautiful to look at and an experience to eat.  Some are so pretty that it seems a shame…

I started drinking coffee three years ago.  Before that, I preferred Diet Coke, or Pepsi; mostly for the caffeine.  I start my day at 5am, so the pick-me-up is necessary, and I would usually grab my first diet soda…

Hello Pittsburgh Hot Plate readers!

On Saturday, April 24th, I had the opportunity to be one of the judges at the annual Midwife Center Cake Competition.  Here are photos of some of the entries-  let us know which ones…

Last August, I went to Piper’s Pub on a first date. I was a little nervous. I don’t remember what I wore. I don’t remember eating or drinking anything. I could probably take a good guess about what the…

It’s not easy to find exceptional food when you’re dining out, believe me, I’m constantly trying.  Well, I may have found a restaurant that has it all: great food, a pleasant ambiance, good drinks, and good service…well, three out…

I’ve enjoyed reading the restaurant reviews, recipes, and culinary tips on Pittsburgh Hot Plate for a couple of months now.  Who are these two interesting writers?  What are they really like when they’re not shielded with the anonymity offered…

When I went to Rock Bottom, I didn’t know what to make of the restaurant.  Is it American food?  Mexican?  European?  There are no defining characteristics on the menu (or in the décor) that can help with this conundrum. …

Italian food is one of my favorites, right behind Mexican and Thai.  It’s not easy to find an authentic Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh.  I’ve tried several Italian bistros over the past few years, some good, and some not so…

I’ve been an ice cream fan for some time now.  Heavy cream, sugar, and chocolate…what’s not to like?  Not all ice creams are created equal.  Some have little flavor, and bad texture.  Some use chemical fillers, and have gooey…

When I was a kid, my parents would drive my sisters and I out to the Kerber Dairy farm in Irwin.  Once every few years, the Kerbers (my cousins) would have a family reunion, and invite the entire extended…

It’s never easy to figure out what to make for dinner, especially if you’re a working parent!  Check out these recipes from Yahoo food; they’re easy to make and require few ingredients!

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/whatsfordinner

Chef Chuck Kerber

Nestled off the beaten path in Moon Township, there’s an exceptional place to eat- The Hyeholde Restaurant.  What makes this such an extraordinary place to dine (besides the food) is the atmosphere.  Hyeholde has been around since 1938, and…

Springtime is here.  It’s time to get out your gardening equipment, till the soil, and prepare for your garden.  It’s been a long hard winter, but all of that extra snow has actually had a positive effect on something- extra…

Two of my favorite things in the world are hockey and hot wings.  They go together so well!  There is nothing better than watching the Pens with a beer and a basket full of hot meat.  I suppose I…

In celebration of Easter (candy), I’d like to share an excerpt from Anthony Bourdain’s show, “No Reservations”.  While visiting Spain, Bourdain spent some time with an artisan chocolatier named Enric Rovira.  Rovira doesn’t just make chocolate.  He brings it…

When I stepped into Shogun Japanese Steakhouse, it was if I was stepping back in time; not.  Shogun in Monroeville is a nice restaurant, but it’s far from truly authentic Japanese cuisine, and that’s just fine.  I imagine that…

The Japanese people consume over 80% of the world’s bluefin tuna.  Over the past several years, private Japanese environmental groups have been trying to have legislation passed restricting the amount of fish that can be pulled from the waters. …

Over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to be one of the judges at the annual Let Them Eat Cake event at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.  The event, which benefits The Midwife Center of Pittsburgh,…

This is a very light, nutritious and satisfying meal.  It can be served over brown, white, or basmati rice.

For 4-6 People

Ingredients:

• Chicken, Skinless Boneless Breasts- 4 Pounds
• Sweet Onion- ½
• Green Onions- 1 Bunch
• Broccoli Florets-

…

You may or may not know that I am not originally from Pittsburgh. I grew up not-too-far from here in a little town called Wellsburg, WV. Wellsburg is smack dab in between Wheeling Island and Mountaineer Casino. That’s about…

Recently, I’ve been asked my many people how to cook rice.  Most people think that cooking rice is easy, but it can actually be difficult.  Often the rice comes out undercooked, overcooked, or clumpy; all things you want to…

I’ve heard nothing but raves about the burgers at Eleven in the Strip, so a trip to a member of the Big Burrito restaurant group was in order. We decided to go informal and sit in the bar. As…

A while back, I reviewed Pamela’s, a trendy breakfast joint in Shadyside. Although Pamela’s has a great reputation, I was disappointed. As a follow-up, I’d like to introduce you to a diner that I do love. It’s called Eggs…

Those of you familiar with Squirrel Hill have undoubtedly witnessed this fight before. It’s a fight that goes back for years and years. Many people have put their own taste-buds to the test in this age old question.…

Ribs aren’t always easy to make.  If you’ve ever been to a dinner party, and bitten into a gristly, tough rib, you know what I mean.  Everyone swears they have the secret to good ribs.  My neighbor swears that…

I’ve had my fair share of subs.  This isn’t something I’m proud of, it’s merely a fact.  I’ve traveled through Oakland, most of the East Suburbs, Downtown, and Monroeville.  Of all the sandwiches I’ve enjoyed over the years, some…

Over the past few years, it seems as if cupcakes have become more popular than ever.  They’re all over the place; even replacing traditional cakes at weddings.  Why the renewed popularity?  Is it that the cupcake is small, and…

Willow describes itself as a restaurant that serves “contemporary American” cuisine. While I’m not sure exactly what that means, I do know one thing–It’s darned tasty.

With nine different dining rooms, you can have a different visual experience each…

Have you ever been to dinner in a palatial restaurant that was once a church?  Well, that’s what you will find if you choose to have dinner at Church Brew Works.  Besides having good food, Church Brew Works brews,…

Char-grilled burgers, big ones, that’s what you’ll find at Tessaro’s in Bloomefield.  Besides having great hamburgers, Tessaro’s has a rich history.  It’s been around for years, and has enjoyed continued success.  The continued success can be attributed to the…

So you’re thinking about becoming a chef?  Well, there are a few things that you should consider before taking the plunge.  First, let’s look at some culinary history.  Several years ago, someone approached a small cable network and decided…

After attending an event in the city a few months ago, some friends and I decided to try Tamari in Lawrenceville for some food and wine.  We had heard good things, and were looking forward to relaxing, and trying…

When I moved to Pittsburgh, my new friends encouraged me to visit The Original Hot Dog Shop.  “They have the best hot dogs in town,” they kept telling me.  I had yet to explore the city, so I went…

There’s a small ice cream store on the corner of Braddock, and Forbes Avenue.  Rose’s Ice Cream has been open for two years now, and has enjoyed mild success.  Every time I drive by, I’m surprised that there aren’t…

I don’t eat much steak, but when I do, I like a good one.  Sometimes you can get a good steak at a regular restaurant, but you will usually need to go to a specialty steak house to get…

Welcome to the Silk Elephant, Thai Tapas and Wine Bar.  Is it just me, or has the word “Tapas” become the most over-used word in the culinary world these days?  For those of you that aren’t familiar with the…

Lettuce Wraps.  They come from all over for the lettuce wraps, and Chinese food.  The crowds are a-plenty at PF Chang’s.  If you plan on coming during the weekend, make a reservation, or you could be in for a…

French Fries in a salad?  Yeah, you heard me…fries and greens.  Shortly after I moved to Pittsburgh, I ordered a grilled chicken salad, and it came with gobs of cheese and French fries.  It seemed odd to me, I…

Walk into Eadie’s Kitchen and Market at 500 Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh early in the morning, and you’ll see attorneys, CPAs, business executive and the like, ordering their breakfasts.  The pace is fast and furious- these are people…

The weather has finally broken- no more snow (hopefully), and the sunshine is on its way.  It’s also time to dust of the grill, take the cover off, and get it ready for some cooking! There are a few…

It’s always fun to walk down Walnut Street in Shadyside on the weekends, there are always a lot of people to watch, and fun places to eat.  Pamela’s is usually on our list, but it’s not always accessible on…