This week, I've decided to introduce myself and share what's dishing on my blog, Simply Romanesco. My name is Dana Cizmas and I originally am from Transylvania, a region in Romania popular with many thanks to Dracula. I started Simply Romanesco to document my love for food, heritage, and the fascinating world of Romanian recipes and traditions, but I also venture out into other cuisines and then share my favorite recipes on Simply Romanesco.

I've always enjoyed good food and loved to watch my grandma Vicki, from Transylvania, cook — but, funny enough, I didn't know how to cook until I was in my 20s. Now, every time I go to Romania, I not only watch my grandma in the kitchen, but we also cook and learn new dishes together. And every time I return to my new hometown of Pittsburgh, I bring with me as many recipes from my grandmother as I can gather such as Pork Schnitzel, her famous Potato Plum Dumplings, summery Cucumber Salad, and the legendary Stuffed Cabbage.

In the pages of Simply Romanesco you'll also discover delicious cakes such as Strawberry Cake and Maple Sweet Potato Cake, seasonal tarts and popular pies such as Lemon-Berry Tart and Apple Pie, homemade ice creams, pretzels and holiday drinks, fudgy chocolate delights, addictive cookies such as Nutella Filled Cookies, and tasty everyday soups; as well as the famed Pork Goulash, fantastic Herb-Roasted Pork Loin, rich Mac & Cheese, fancy Chili, and many other options for breakfast, breads and snacks.

And if you want a break from cooking, check out the Restaurant Reviews, which include local restaurants such as Il Pizzaiolo, and national favorites such as SW Steakhouse in Las Vegas, and Michael Symon's B Spot and Lola in Cleveland. Now, head over to Simply Romanesco for a trip to Romania!

Finally, in non-Romanian-related news, Chef Chuck made Seared Salmon with Sautéed Sweet Pepper Cream Sauce on the Pittsburgh Hot Plate; Katy prepared a juicy Goat Cheese and Basil Stuffed Chicken in her BakingDomesticityandAllThingsMini kitchen; Linda from Dinner Plan-it opted for a simple yet tasty Black Rice Blueberry & Jalapeno Salad; while Leah from Brazen Kitchen whipped up a Cashew Vinaigrette; and D&T: in the burgh paid a visit to Fukuda.

See you here next week!

Simply Romanesco photo

Summer has finally arrived and the hot season's recipes are pouring in! So, here's what's dishing this week on the blogs we follow:

On the Pittsburgh Hot Plate, Chef Chuck prepared a fancy Grilled Chilean Sea Bass with Champagne and Chive Buerre Blanc; he came up with a rich and creamy Avocado Dressing as an alternative to ranch dressing; and made the famous Argentinian sauce, Chimichurri, which always pairs beautifully with grilled meat. Now, I'm definitely ready for grilling season!

The Brown Eyed Baker opted for a smooth and irresistible White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream, and provided a hefty list of summer recipes. Make sure you check it out!

Katy whipped up tasty Salmon Tostadas in her BakingDomesticityandAllThingsMini kitchen; Yum Yum made one of her favorite summer treats – Tomato Tart; while Linda from Dinner Plan-it keeps herself cool in the scorching heat with a Hendricks Gin and Bitter Lemon. That sounds refreshing!

And since summer is not complete without chocolate, Culinary Cory spoiled us with a fun and colorful Kit Kat Cake, while Leah from Brazen Kitchen baked a soft and cakey Chocolate Banana Bread. Just in case you need a chocolate fix this summer!

Finally, on the Pittsburgh restaurant scene, the girls from eatPGH ventured to Savoy for a dinner that wowed them, and D&T: in the burgh paid a visit to Noodlehead in Shadyside.

Enjoy the heat and see you here next week!

Brown Eyed Baker photo

I've decided to make it a pizza week and focus on Dan Tallarico's blog Pizza Walk With Me, which explores – you guessed – the fascinating world of pizza! Dan lives in Pittsburgh and when he's not busy slurping pizza he's a marketing manager at WebKite, a staff writer at PikiGeek, and co-founder, owner and writer at Cupcakes and Comics.

Dan started his blog because "I mostly enjoy the taste of pizza and hearing the owners talk about their craft." Also, "one of the long-term goals of this blog is to discover the true origins of pizza. Maybe we'll find that, like a burning bush, pizza was a way for God to communicate to humans? Or maybe kangaroos invented pizza? I don't know, I'm just a pizza journalist."

Rest assured that this quirky and captivating Pizza Walk With Me blog will educate you on anything pizza through interesting news, funny quotes, intriguing stories, reviews of pizza joints in and outside Pittsburgh, recipes and experiments, hilarious videos and photos, interviews with experts in the pizza community, and the list goes on. Dan also welcomes any pizza-related questions and stories. So, don't hesitate to ask him here! And now, let's have some pizza!

Now, in non-pizza-related news, I'm starting the weekend with super tasty and addictive Sweet and Spicy Roasted Nuts at Simply Romanesco; the Brown Eyed Baker made gooey Rocky Road Rice Krispies Treats; Chef Chuck prepared a delicious Cold Avocado Soup with Bacon Lardoons on the Pittsburgh Hot Plate; while Katy baked a moist Mountain Dew Cake in her BakingDomesticityandAllThingsMini kitchen; and Linda from Dinner Plan-it opted for Samosa Potato Tacos with Smoked Corn, Jalapeno & Poblano Salsa.

Also, make sure to check out Culinary Cory's new guest post on The Forks blog!

See you here next week!

Pizza Walk With Me photo

This week, I've decided to focus on D&T's blog D&T: in the burgh, which focuses on local restaurant reviews. D&T are a young married couple living in Pittsburgh and started their blog "as a way for us to document all of the wonderful restaurants that Pittsburgh has to offer. This is our way of letting everyone know what we like (and occasionally don't like). This is just our opinion and in no way represents the quality of a restaurant." Each review is informative and honest, loaded with beautiful pictures, and ends with the restaurant's specific information including address and hours of operation.

On D&T: in the burgh, you'll find excellent reviews of upscale dining including Salt of the Earth, The Wooden Nickel, Meat & Potatoes, and Savoy, as well as reviews of inexpensive joints such as Union Pig & Chicken, D's SixPax & Dogz, Penn Ave. Fish Company, and Round Corner Cantina. And let's not forget the Wigle Whiskey distillery. Although D&T focus on the positives, they are not afraid to tell their readers what they didn't particularly enjoy during their outings. So, without further ado, let's head over to D&T: in the burgh to find a good local restaurant for tonight's dinner!

Finally, in non-restaurant-related news, Leah from Brazen Kitchen shared a Ramp Crepes recipe; Linda from Dinner Plan-it made Gluten-Free Blood Orange Meyer Lemon Meringue Cupcakes; Katy prepared a tasty Curried Chicken Salad in her BakingDomesticityandAllThingsMini kitchen; while Yum Yum tried some delicious Strawberry Ice Cream.

See you here next week!

D&T: in the burgh photo

Here's what's dishing this week on Yum Yum's blog:

Another new and talented blogger on our blog roll is Nicole with her blog Yum Yum – A Pittsburgher's (Mostly Food) Blog. There are three inspirations for the blog's name: "Yum Yum is used to express pleasurable satisfaction, especially in the taste of food; Yum Yum is the love interest of Nanki-Poo (son of the Mikado) in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado; Yum Yums are two tasty soft chocolate cookies with buttercream icing in between at Bethel Bakery."

Both Nicole and her husband love dining out; and their extensive list of restaurant reviews shows that. On their restaurant index you'll find local favorites such as Nine on Nine, Everyday Noodles and Cure, as well as national favorites such as Magnolia's in Charleston, S.C., Calhoun's in Knoxville, Tenn., and Savannah Tea Room in Savannah, Ga. Aside from dining out, Nicole also loves to cook. So, on her blog you'll find a lengthy list of recipes from Almond Cake with Raspberries, and Orange Sherbet, to Pork Medallions with Mustard Chive Sauce, and Nutella Hot Cocoa. Now all you have to do is check out Yum Yum to find a yummy recipe or a good restaurant for a memorable evening!

And in other food related news, I celebrated Orthodox Easter with one of a kind Romanian Cheesecake at Simply Romanesco; the Brown Eyed Baker opted for classic Buttermilk Waffles; Chef Chuck prepared Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops with Spicy Remoulade on the Pittsburgh Hot Plate; while D&T: in the burgh paid a visit to Round Corner Cantina; and the girls from eatPGH checked out Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe.

See you here next week!

Yum Yum photo