Eat Around the Pitt is a Transplant's View of Pittsburgh and Food.
Cheap Eats: January 2008 Archives
January 30, 2008

Fresh Pretzels Anyone?

Posted by Kathryn @ 4:54 PM

It has come to my attention that Pretzels... particularly fresh soft salted pretzels are big around here. Pittsburghers seem particularly fond of a spot called the Pretzel Shop. Admittedly while I was living off Carson Street I frequently passed by the shop on the way to the bus. I regularly wondered why the shop was not open in the evenings when people might pick up a pretzel to eat before or after the beer they drank at other fine Carson St. establishments. So one day I don't have any cereal in the house and I decide to stop to try a Pretzel. In addition to the Pretzel, a Pepperoni Roll caught my eye. The pepperoni roll was perfect! The pretzel was a tad eggy for my taste, but I figured I would give the place another try. Just yesterday the opportunity arose to check out the Pretzel Shop again. I was early for an appointment on Carson St. It was cold and rainy... what a better time for a hot pretzel could there be? So I head over to the shop and there is a line inside. The people in line are pros.. they just say 10 or 2, they don't even specify what it is they want. Clearly these Pittsburghers are not easily distracted by pepperoni rolls or pretzel sandwiches. It was finally clear why this place has no need to be open in the evenings... they probably sell out by early afternoon at the rate people were hauling out large bags of Pretzels.

This time the pretzel was great. Then of course a coworker told me the secret is to go early in the morning around back where you can pick up a pretzel right out of the oven. Darn it! That means I have to go back to seek pretzel nirvana early in the morning. At 50 cents each I am sold!

January 18, 2008

Il Valletto

Posted by Kathryn @ 10:37 AM

Today I had a networking lunch with someone who helped me find a job here in Pittsburgh. As she had been a student at CMU but had not been around campus much recently she recommended that we check out Il Valletto on Forbes. She couldn't quite remember the name, only that some of the guys at school called it "Romantic's." Which I suppose is a fitting name from a college student's perspective. Il Valletto is right about Panther Hollow next to a vintage clothing store. I had peered in the window several times and wondered about this curiousity that combines card tables and folding chairs with white table clothes.

My friend was held up looking for a place to park, so I had a chance to peruse the menu and note the special prix fixe options for Valentines Day. While I don't think is on my romantic list, it was a good lunch option in Oakland. I had the veal and pancetta tortellini in vodka sauce with a cup of spicy white bean soup. The soup was not spicy as advertised, but had good flavor and was perfect on such a chilly day. The tortellini was generously sized, with a nice flavor, but also did not knock my socks off. So for an average italian meal at a student size price, Il Valletto's is a place to consider.