Saturday, February 10, 2018

Pig Iron Public House: Donut and Beer Pairings

Hey, Brunchers!

I've always been a fan of drink pairings with my meals. Maybe it makes me a food nerd, but I love how a certain kind of wine or beer can bring out so many different flavors and really enhance the dining experience. 

Pig Iron Public House is taking this to a whole new level. I've done brunch here before, and it has ALWAYS been fabulous each time. Hello, build-your-own mimosas. This Saturday, February 10 and Sunday, February 11, a special donut and beer pairings brunch will be happening. My friends and I are going on Sunday, so be sure to say hi and give @412brunch a follow on Instagram. You donut want to miss it.

Featuring Peace, Love, and Little Donuts and a few local and favorite breweries including Grist House, Troeg's, ShuBrew, and more! See complete event details.


I'm so excited for the lemon donut!!! Which pairing sounds best?

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

For the Love of Pittsburgh Local Food Tasting Giveaway

How can you not love Pittsburgh? Seeing the memorable skyline gives me chills every single time and reminds me that I'm home. There's something in Pittsburgh for every taste. You literally can't talk about the 412 without discussing the explosive food scene. With so many new restaurant concepts, food centered events, and amazing selection, it's hard to not gain a few pounds living here. 

With so many food events throughout the year in this city, Farm to Table Western PA has found a way to stand out. Their local food tasting will be taking place this Saturday, February 10th from 3-7 p.m. at the August Wilson Center. Farmers and food producers will be offering samples of their locally sourced, yummy items. Nothing makes me feel better than knowing where the food I'm eating is coming from!

Hill Jordan and Slide Worldwide Brass Band will be providing the tunes and Drinking Partners podcast who will interview Farm to Table locals. Some fabulous nonprofits will be there, as well!
*412 Food Rescue
*The Black Urban Gardeners & Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-op Community Kitchen Pittsburgh
*For Good PGH
*Grow Pittsburgh
*Just Harvest
* North Hills Community Outreach
*Sankofa Village Project


For more about this wonderful Saturday afternoon and ticket information, visit here

Time for the exciting news!!!

I'm giving away TWO FREE TICKETS to this delish party. Visit my Instagram page @412brunch for contest information.Giveaway deadline is Thursday, February 8th at midnight. Winner will be chosen Friday morning! Good luck, foodies!!!

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Winter Carnivale Giveaway

This past weekend has called for snuggly blankets, endless Netflix and all things cozy. Thankfully, the weather looks like it will be warming up this week, so going outside won't be an unbearable thought. Here's two yummy recipes that are perfect for this winter weather and this weekend's awesome event!

Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation (PEMF) will be hosting their Winter Carnivale this Friday, January 12 at the Ace Hotel from 7:00-10:00 p.m. You can find out more about the evening here.

Winter treats, hot spiked cocktails, games, activities, and music from one of my favorite bands, No Bad JuJu! It's going to be such a fun night that benefits an amazing cause! Medical and emergency professionals never stop. They're always there for us, so let's do something to thank and honor them!

I'm giving away TWO FREE TICKETS! Yes, that's right. Valued at $150 each, enjoy this winter playground for adults only! Must be 21 or older. 

How to enter:
1. Follow @412brunch on Instagram. 
2. Like the contest post. 
3. Comment on the contest post. 

A winner will be randomly selected this Wednesday, January 10! Good luck!

Here's one of my favorite chilly weather drinks and carnivale-themed drinks! Enjoy this combination to get into the spirit for this weekend's fabulous time. 




I've always loved popcorn. It's my favorite crunchy, salty, delicious snack. Toss it with a little olive oil, garlic and herb seasoning, parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt. YUM! In true Olivia Pope style, popcorn must be paired with a large glass of red wine. Since it's so chilly, warming it up is even better. I don't really like to follow a recipe. Oops! I prefer to combine two or three recipes and come up with my own twist! For this mulled wine, I actually followed this particular recipe! Mmmm. So good. 

Share your favorite winter or carnivale themed recipes with me! Be sure to follow @412brunch on Instagram and enter the contest!

XO, Mag

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

SPOON-Pittsburgh

Hey, Brunchers!

The Pittsburgh Ladies Who Brunch are back! #412Brunch is bringing you the best of what our favorite city has to offer in terms of breakfast foods and mimosas. Grab your knife, fork, and SPOON, for a delicious meal on the East End. 

Cozy, chic, and filled with natural light, the ladies started this past Sunday at a table secluded in the corner of the restaurant. The decor is lovely. It's understated, classic, but has a trendy twist. 

The ladies were happily greeted, and seated right away. There was a unique movie themed pastry buffet in the center of the restaurant that included popcorn eclairs and raisinette cookies. 

Drink orders were placed immediately. Kariann and Amber ordered Buck's Fizz, which was a fun twist on a mimosa. (sparkling wine, orange juice, gin, and cherry Heering) Maggie stuck with her traditional mimosa order. 

Whenever the ladies brunch, the rule is that they each have to order something different. Kariann ordered Chocolate Chip Coconut Pancakes, Maggie ordered Biscuits and Gravy, and Amber ordered Braised Lamb Toast with a side of Confit Fingerling Potatoes. Everything was beautifully presented. There was careful attention put into the preparation, as well as the plated details. 

Kariann found out when her pancakes arrived that they were made with coconut milk. She was slightly disappointed, because she loves coconut and was hoping for more of that flavor. Even though the ratio isn't what she expected, she was so happy with how fluffy they were. "I'm not a fan of too many chocolate chips in or on my pancakes, but the amount was perfect," says Kariann. 



Maggie ordered the Biscuits and Gravy, which is something she never orders, but heard from a friend who recently dined at SPOON that it was delicious. She liked the presentation, and addition of purple flower petals. She was impressed by the simplicity of the dish, but the fresh ingredients are what sold her. "It was a more fabulous version of the dish my grandma used to make, so it kind of tasted like home for me," says Maggie. 



Amber really enjoyed her meal, and would definitely order it again. She loved the hollandaise sauce on the potatoes, and thought that the lamb on the toast was so delectable. In her opinion, it paired well with the broccoli and parsnips. "The dressed arugula on the side added a nice lighter tone to the heavy dish," says Amber. 




Mimosa Ratings! (Or, Buck's Fizz)

Kariann: 4/5 She really appreciated the cherry liqueur to give the mimosa something special. It gave it another layer of crisp, champagne taste. "Although, I didn't really taste the cherry, I did enjoy the peachy color and light taste," says Kariann. 

Maggie: 4/5 It was a classic! She loved the orange peel for added texture and flavor. The ratio of orange juice to champagne was perfect. "I could tell that it was quality champagne, and fresh juice; I love that," says Maggie. 

Amber: 4.5/5 The mimosa with the extra kick! "I was a big fan, and would get it again," says Amber. 

The ladies were impressed by SPOON, and are excited to return again, soon! Be sure to check back next week to see where we are brunching! Keep up with us on Instagram @412Brunch. If you have any recommendations for places to check out, drop us a line at 412brunch@gmail.com. 

XOXO!


Monday, April 25, 2016

Habitat at Fairmont Hotel

Brunch Overview:
Brunch doesn't always have to be a planned out event. Sometimes it's impulsive, unplanned, and just happens. Maggie and Kariann were stressing out one day about college and work, so they decided to grab mimosas and oatmeal before class. It was a Tuesday, so not a usual brunch day. Habitat at the Fairmont Hotel had mimosas, so we grabbed our backpacks and ran over there. There were only a couple other people in the restaurant when we were. We had a pretty view of the city from our window table. They were delivered to us decorated with an orange slice in tall glasses. It was nice to relax over some chit chat and a breakfast cocktail. We decided we better eat something while we were there. We both ordered the oatmeal. It came with mix ins like brown sugar and nuts, but also had fresh berries in it, as well. It was delicious! So light, but we felt full. Sometimes you just have to take a break from it all, and just #412brunch.
Mimosa Rating:
Maggie: 5/5, Best I've had in the city.
Kariann: 4.5/5, Definitely one of the best I've had too.
Mimosas with a view!

Michelle's Cafe

Brunch Overview:
This past weekend, we road tripped to Maggie's hometown of New Bethlehem, PA. Her favorite coffee shop growing up is in the college town, Clarion, just fifteen minutes from where she lives. Michelle's Cafe was her date spot, hangout area, and go to coffee shop. She wanted to show Amber and Kariann her favorite place as a kid growing up. It's rustic, friendly, and feels like home. Between the mismatched furniture, the fireplace, and stacks of board games; it's hard not to feel at home in the living room type atmosphere. Maggie got her usual caramel macchiato and a fresh made scone. Kariann had a toffee latte and a danish. Amber chose a mocha and bagel sandwich. Everything is made in the coffee shop daily and they fresh roast the beans, as well. We sat down on some big, comfy chairs and ate our brunch. Afterwards, we wondered Main Street in Clarion and checked out all of the cute little boutiques in the college town. Maggie was so excited to show the girls her hometown, and they are planning a trip back soon.
Maggie swears that they have the World's Best Caramel Macchiato!
Only found at Michelle's Cafe in Clarion, PA.

Penelope

Brunch Overview:
Two of the ladies were away in New York City this weekend, so of course Maggie and Kariann had to take advantage of the yummy spots the Big Apple has to offer. We discovered a trendy, local spot called Penelope that reminded us of a chic version of Pamela's. We had to wait for about twenty minutes, but it was a nice day. We didn't mind waiting outside in the nice weather as we planned our last minute tourist stops before heading home. When they called Maggie's name, we were then seated at the bar. 
Maggie ordered a mimosa and Kariann ordered a blackberry bellini. The drinks were delicious and so fresh. We both ordered the same thing, the Nutella Stuffed French Toast. And yes, it was as delicious as it sounds. The dish was topped with a bananas foster's type topping of deliciousness. Eating every last bite, we made conversation with the couple beside us. They gave us an inside scoop on the best places to go. Sadly, we were leaving to go home in a few hours. Penelope's was a great little spot to find, and we would definitely go back when in NYC again. After eating the french toast, we then walked 18 blocks to Kleinfeld's. 
Mimosa Rating:
Maggie: 4/5, So good! I wish it would've been a little bit bigger, but it was delicious. 
Kariann: 3.5/5, I had the Blackberry Bellini instead of my usual mimosa, but it wasn't bad. There wasn't much blackberry flavor to it, but there were little pieces of the fruit floating in it.

Check out this deliciousness!
The Nutella Stuffed French Toast was amazing!
We ate it all!