Meet me under the Macy's clock

Written by Bob Batz Jr. on . Events

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Macy's Downtown is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the iconic corner Kauffmann's clock, and some food figures into it, too.

Today, Friday, is "Meet Me Under The Clock Day," featuring a collage of memories, stories, photos and memorabilia in the department store's windows under the clock, gift-card giveaways and more. 
 
At noon, there is a Thumbprint Cookie Demonstration.

Saturday, it's a Meet Me Under the Clock Family Fun Day Celebration, with more gift-card giveaways and a street fair on Smithfield Street from 1 to 4 p.m., including everything from a marching band to the Harlem Globetrotters. Prices are rolled back to the good ol' days on Thumbprint Cookies at the Arcade Bakery and the Tea Plate at the Tic Toc Restaurant.

At noon, artist Linda Barnicott, who did the image above, will be on hand to sign various merchandise that's been made with her artwork.  

And at 12:30 p.m., Macy’s Culinary Council Chef Tom Douglas will do an American-style cooking demonstration. With a purchase of $35 or more in the Home department that day, you'll get a $10 Macy's Gift Card and and a copy of "The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook," which Chef Douglas will sign after his demo. You need to RSVP 1-877-556-2297.

The store's details here.

Even if you miss this party, the clock will keep on ticking. Invite someone special to meet you under it at a certain time at lunchtime and take them to the Tic Toc for a true Pittsburgh experience.

Read about it in Katie Foglia's story in today's Post-Gazette; it links to essays by people who connected with the clock over the years.

Linda Barnicott art


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Golden Quill winners in food

Written by Bob Batz Jr. on . Events

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The Post-Gazette's and PG Plate's Gretchen McKay clinched a win at last night's Golden Quill Awards.

Her July PG Food & Flavor story on clinching, the process of cooking meat directly on hot coals also known as "dirty grilling," won the the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania award for best food feature story in the large (45,000-plus) circulation newspaper and wire services category.

Ms. McKay was just one star at the annual awards soiree at the Sheraton Station Square, at which one could rub elbows with many big as well as up-and-coming names in regional print and broadcast journalism. WQED's Rick Sebak -- famous for a body of work that includes documentaries on diners, farmers markets, breakfast, sandwiches, hot dogs and ice cream -- was honored with a President's Award for lifetime achievement.

The other food winners were:

Food Feature, Magazines: Kate Chynoweth and Julie Talerico, Pittsburgh Magazine, for "Creme de la Crème"

Food Feature, Newspapers and Wire Services (Circulation Under 45,000): Winner: Mary Ann Thomas, Valley News Dispatch, “Reason to Squawk”

Speaking of chicken, the Sheraton staff served a fine spread of chicken breast in a cheesy caper sauce, with roasted potato wedges and green beans and rolls, preceded by a simple salad and followed by a chocolate mousse cake.

There were food aspects to other winning and finalist entries. For instance, Christine Tumpson, Allie Wist and Cayla Zahoran won the magazine photography award for their Edible Allegheny Magazine story,
"Locavore for Life."

PGPlate.com was a finalist in the online feature category.

Seen in the crowd: PG wine columnist Elizabeth Downer, on the arm of her husband, Dan Simpson, who took home a Quill for his editorials from the 49th annual awards.

Here's the Post-Gazette story about all the PG winners, which included PG Plate/Food & Flavor friend Dan Marsula; the Western Pennsylvania Press Club's full list of winners and finalists is here.

Larry Roberts/Post-Gazette photo

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James Beard winners announced

Written by Bob Batz Jr. on . Events

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The winners of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Book, Broadcast and Journalism Awards were announced in New York City last night.

Our Miriam Rubin was there. She only sent out one tweet: 

Rubin‏@MmmRubin8h
Congratulations Maricel Presilla. Gran Cocina Latina #JBFA book of the Year!

Miriam wrote in February for the Post-Gazette about visiting one of Ms. Presilla's restaurant and her massive cookbook here.

I'm hoping to hear more from Miriam about the festivities, which likely went late into the night, but in the meantime, here's the full list of winners from the JBF news release. 

(I know that Miriam must also be tickled that Squirrel Hill native Diane Morgan won for her big book, "Roots." We've written about several of the cookbook winners. But this list gives us a lot more good stuff to seek out. On Monday, the JBF will announce at its gala winners of Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design, and special achievement awards, including Humanitarian of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Who’s Who, and the America’s Classics.)

2013 James Beard Foundation Book Awards  

Cookbook of the Year
 
"Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America" by Maricel E. Presilla (W.W. Norton & Company)      

Cookbook Hall of Fame  

Anne Willan      

American Cooking  

"Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking" by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart (Gibbs Smith)      

Baking and Dessert  

"Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza" by Ken Forkish (Ten Speed Press)       

Beverage  

"Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours" by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, and José Vouillamoz (Ecco)       

Cooking from a Professional Point of View  

"Toqué! Creators of a New Quebec Gastronomy" by Normand Laprise (les éditions du passage)

Focus on Health  

"Cooking Light The New Way to Cook Light — Fresh Food & Bold Flavors for Today’s Home Cook" by Scott Mowbray and Ann Taylor Pittman (Oxmoor House)      

General Cooking

"Canal House Cooks Every Day" by Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer (Andrews McMeel Publishing)      

International  

"Jerusalem: A Cookbook" by Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi (Ten Speed Press)

Photography  

"What Katie Ate: Recipes and Other Bits & Pieces" Photographer: Katie Quinn Davies (Viking Studio)       

Reference and Scholarship  

"The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World" by Sandor Ellix Katz (Chelsea Green Publishing)      

Single Subject  

"Ripe: A Cook in the Orchard" by Nigel Slater (Ten Speed Press)       

Vegetable Focused and Vegetarian  

"Roots: The Definitive Compendium with More Than 225 Recipes" by Diane Morgan (Chronicle Books)

Writing and Literature  

"Yes, Chef: A Memoir" by Marcus Samuelsson (Random House)

2013 James Beard Foundation Broadcast and New Media Awards

Radio Show/Audio Webcast 

Fear of Frying Host: Nina Barrett  Area: WBEZ  Producer: Lynette Kalsnes

Special/Documentary (Television or Video Webcast)  

The Restaurateur Network: PBS  Producer: Roger Sherman      

Television Program, In Studio or Fixed Location

CBS Sunday Morning: “Eat, Drink and Be Merry”  Host: Charles Osgood  Network: CBS  Producers: Gavin Boyle, Amol Mhatre, Rand Morrison, Amy Rosner, Jason Sacca, and Robin Sanders      

Television Program, On Location  

The Mind of a Chef  Host: Anthony Bourdain  Network: PBS  Producers: Anthony Bourdain, Joe Caterini, Alexandra Chaden, Jonathan Cianfrani, Christopher Collins, Peter Meehan, Michael Steed, and Lydia Tenaglia      

Television Segment  

Friday Arts, Art of Food  Network: WHYY TV Producer: Monica Rogozinski      

Video Webcast, Fixed Location and/or Instructional  

How to Cocktail  liquor.com  Producers: Kit Codik, Scott Kritz, and Noah Rothbaum      

Video Webcast, On Location  

The Perennial Plate: Real Food World Tour   theperennialplate.com   Hosts: Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine  Producers: Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine      

Outstanding Personality/Host  

Host: Andrew Zimmern   Show: Bizarre Foods America  Network: Travel Channel   Producers: Colleen Needles Steward and Andrew Zimmern      

2013 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards  

Publication of the Year Award  

ChopChop      

Cooking, Recipes, or Instruction  

Matt Goulding, Matthew Kadey with Tamar Adler, and Paul Kita   Men’s Health   “The Butcher Is Back!,” “The Six-Pack Foods of Summer,” “Southern Food Rises Again”      

Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award  

Tejal Rao   Village Voice   “Bangkok Pop, No Fetishes,”  “The Sweet Taste of Success,” “Enter the Comfort Zone at 606 R&D”      

Food and Culture  

Ann Taylor Pittman   Cooking Light   “Mississippi Chinese Lady Goes Home to Korea”      

Food and Travel  

Adam Sachs   Travel + Leisure   “The Best Little Eating Town in Europe”      

Food Coverage in a General-Interest Publication  

Men’s Health   Adina Steiman      

Food Politics, Policy, and the Environment  

Tracie McMillan   The American Prospect with the Food & Environment Reporting Network   “As Common As Dirt”      

Food-Related Columns  

Adam Sachs   Bon Appétit   The Obsessivore: “I'm Big On Japan," "Everyone's a Critic," "The Tradition Starts Here”      

Group Food Blog  

Dark Rye   darkrye.com      

Health and Well-Being  

Rachael Moeller Gorman   EatingWell   “Solving the Sugar Puzzle”      

Humor  

Alice Laussade   Dallas Observer   “The Cheap Bastard's Ultimate Guide to Eating like a Total Cheap Bastard in Dallas”      

Individual Food Blog  

Hunter Angler Gardener Cook   honest-food.net   Hank Shaw      

MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award  

Mike Sula   Chicago Reader   “Chicken of the Trees”      

Personal Essay  

Fuchsia Dunlop   Lucky Peach   “London Town”      

Profile  

Brett Martin   GQ   “Danny and the Electric Kung Pao Pastrami Test”      

Visual Storytelling  

Michele Outland and Fiorella Valdesolo   Gather Journal   "Starters," "Dessert," "Smoke & Ash" 

Wine, Spirits, and other Beverages

Michael Steinberger   vanityfair.com  “A Vintage Crime”

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Spring's best food festival

Written by Bob Batz Jr. on . Events

05032013koreanfood

Pittsburgh's blooming food scene offers way too much to do again this first weekend of May.

But if you're out and about Saturday, you should try to check out one of Pittsburgh's very best food festivals:

The Korean Food Bazaar.

This is the 18th year for the extravaganza, organized as a mission fundraiser by the Korean Central Church of Pittsburgh at 821 S. Aiken Ave. in Shadyside.

From 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (May 4), the church will be selling a most amazing array of Korean foods -- from gorgeous floral sushi rolls, above, to every kind of noodle dish, dumplings, pancakes, rice cakes, soups, barbecued meats, and crazy Korean desserts.

You can eat your fill there and take containers of food -- several different kind of kimchi, etc. -- home.

It's all lovingly made by church members.

One of our friends, who is running Sunday's Marathon, loves the festival so much that she doesn't trust herself to not overeat, and so she's having other friends pick up her favorites, such as sour noodles, to take away but keep away from her until after her big run.

Tony Tye/Post-Gazette photo







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Party like a paleo

Written by Gretchen McKay on . Events

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It's been a long time since I sat in a high school science class, but it seems to me that cavemen had it pretty good when it came to squatting around the fire for dinner.

Fresh, lean meats, lots of wild plants and vegetables, handfuls of nuts and seeds when they needed a quick pick-me-up while hunting/gathering instead of today's dreaded refined sugars or junky snack foods. Talk about healthful!

These early humans might have stunk to high heaven and grunted to communicate, but for a bunch of stoners, they definitely weren't slackers when it came to culinary pursuits.05-01-13caveman

At least that's how proponents of the Paleo Diet, which include Pittsburgh bloggers/cookbook authors Hayley Mason and Bill Staley, are framing this ancient history.

In 2011, following the runaway success of their popular food blog and Facebook page, the Fox Chapel couple published "Make it Paleo," teaching readers how to transition from a tradition American diet to one that is grain-, dairy-, potato-, sugar-, legume- and (sadly) alcohol-free -- basically, the same healthful, whole foods a prehistoric cave dweller would have eaten when he or she was hunting and/or gathering back in the Paleolithic era.  

This back-to-basics food trend has really taken off in the year since: You'll find dozens of paleo-themed cookbooks on Amazon, including ones geared toward slow cookers, kids, athletes, desserts, breads ... you name a target eater or food category, and someone's devised paleo recipes to fit them.

With the recent publication of their second book, Bill and Hayley are broadening the field to include those who love to entertain.  

Officially released this past Tuesday, "Gather: The Art of Paleo Entertaining" (Victory Belt, $39.95) serves up everything you need to know to throw an amazing paleo party for family and friends. They're celebrating with a book-signing party from 7 to 10 p.m. this Friday, May 3,  at Bar Marco in the Strip District. (There will be food, but it's a cash bar.)  

As far as cookbooks go, this one is pretty gorgeous:  Organized by season and theme -- "spring" offers menus for a casual Sunday brunch and backyard picnic while "summer" serves up "A Taste of Cuba" and "Topical Getaway" -- it's chock-full of mouthwatering photographs taken by Bill himself. 

Several other high-profile paleo proponents will be in attendance at Friday's event, including Diane Sanfilippo, author of the New York Times bestselling "Practical Paleo," and Paleo Parents, aka Stacy Toth and Matthew McCarry, whose "Beyond Bacon: Paleo Recipes That Respect the Whole Hog" will be released in July.

Speaking of summer releases, Bill and Hayley will publish their third book (a paperback) on June 11. A step-by-step guide to your first month on a paleo diet, it's called -- no surprise here -- "The 30 Day Guide to Paleo Cooking" ($29.95).

Then we can only hope the pair take a few weeks off to finish planning their August wedding. 
make it paleo couple
You can watch the good-looking couple discuss their new book (while drooling over their equally good-looking kitchen) in a video on their blog here. 

Photos, from top: Amazon, Daily Beast, "Make it Paleo"

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Can a vegan be ... sexy?

Written by Gretchen McKay on . Events

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Thinking about going vegan, but afraid a meatless diet will leave you tired, hungry and completely unable to get a date? 

I mean, it's one thing to ask someone out for beer and burgers, and quite another to woo a potential mate with a plate of seitan. At least it is in the opinion of this happy-to-be carnivore, who tried to go meatless once for an entire month at her teenage daughters' insistence and failed miserably. And got really, really cranky in the process. 

Medical student Jayshiv Badlani would like to prove disbelievers like me wrong -- and not just for health or ethical reasons.

A successful vegan for a few years now, the 25-year-old native Pittsburgher has been named a finalist in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Sexiest Vegan Next Door 2013 contest. The annual competition had him facing off, without a shirt and no apparent sense of modesty, against more than 100 equally buff and camera-happy vegans from across the U.S.  

The largest animal-rights organization in the world, PETA has held the friendly competition since 2004 (as well as one for good-looking celebrity herbivores) as a way to promote the vegetarian lifestyle. But this is the first year that participants must be vegan. 

Pictured in one photo in his doctor's scrubs and another in just a pair of jeans, Mr. Badlani garnered 560 votes in the initial entry round, more than enough to push the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine student into the top 10. Now it's onto the next round in which contestants will be judged by three criteria: total number of votes from the public, how enthusiastically they promote veganism and --  no surprise here, given all those provocative pin-up pictures  --  PETA's assessment of their physical attractiveness.

In other words, you can't just eat good to win this contest, but have to look good enough to eat. (Theoretically speaking, anyway, because vegans don't, you know, eat meat.)sexy veg1

In the PETA release, Mr. Badlani credits his Hindu religion for inspiring him to go vegan and says he enjoys discussing its merits with his patients.

"I let them know that they can greatly reduce their risk of certain diseases by limiting the amount of meat and animal products in their diets," he said, adding that several friends and his grandparents went vegetarian after he showed them how easy it is. 

And when he's not doctoring? He enjoys working out, as well as hip-hop, salsa and classical Indian dancing. You can read his blog, and watch some of his videos, here. 

If Mr. Badlani wins, he'll receive an eight-day trip for two to Maui, where vegan-friendly poi is the national dish, courtesy of Humane Travel, a travel company dedicated to animal-friendly travel.  

You can cast your vote, as well as get a look at all the other sexy male and female finalists, here. While you're at it, PETA would love for you to sign up for its free vegetarian start kit.

Voting ends at noon on Friday, May 3. Winners will be notified and announced on May 9. 

PETA photos

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