Lunch (round 2) came in the form of Grit & Grace Noodle Bar. The restaurant recently took on a new look - with a more casual feel and additional noodle dishes. It now focuses on Asian-style street food (which our server admitted he didn't exactly know what that meant).

G&G has a cool-looking interior with these staggered lantern lights and a super sleek feel. But, they also have outdoor seating along the front of the building, which puts you right in the center of the busy Pittsburgh streets. We'll take it.

I wish the dim sum was available for lunch, but our options were limited to sushi or noodles. Because it's a noodle bar, we focused our attention there - ultimately deciding on the "beef shank ramen" with roasted bone marrow, leeks, pickled Chinese cabbage and toasted garlic chips.

They were kind enough to bring out the large bowl and then two small bowls so that we could split it. In the meantime - funny story - a large man walking on the sidewalk notices Heather's necklace and asks where she got it. He then steps over the sidewalk border and into the restaurant dining space to ask about her watch. Uncomfortable. Our server came over to ask if we knew him. Noooope.

The ramen was good. It had an overall sour flavor, which I don't hate, but I wanted some more breadth. Some more depth. Just more flavor. I've had my share of (really good) ramen at this point, and I can't say I can count this amongst them. Decent, yes. Best I've ever had? Meh.


Grade: B

The Blue Horizon Flea Market is a flea market at the edge of town that has vendors of all kinds set up to sell their merch. I was curious, and it was ... about what I thought it was going to be.

They do serve food. I didn't get a chance to try anything, but I wanted to at least post the menu in case anyone else is interested.

The Charm Farm is a new vendor at the Morgantown Farmers Market this year.

It seems as though the Beverly-based farm has a CSA, and they sell their produce at the Elkins Farmers Market. For the Morgantown Farmers Market, they had a variety of greens, meat, jam, eggs and even bouquets of wildflowers recently.

I snagged some of these maple beer nuts, which have nuts & pretzels in pure maple syrup. So tasty!

Have you purchased anything from The Charm Farm?

Meat & Potatoes has been on my wish list for-ev-er. With a restaurant name like "Meat & Potatoes," one envisions basic, hearty dishes heavy on protein and carbs. But, Meat & Potatoes a bit more refined. The gastropub serves up high-end craft food classics and libations:

"Meat and Potatoes" are generally the stand-in for "bread and butter" as shorthand for the staples we need to function. With that thought in mind Chef Richard Deshantz had the desire to enhance his culinary vision by opening up a second restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh. Chef Richards' favorite type of food is simple and approachable; it is the type of food that a chef would eat after a busy day at work. Meat & Potatoes, Pittsburgh's first gastropub, was born in the spring of 2011.

Meat & Potatoes was our first lunch stop of the day (yes, I said first). So, after our little adventure on the Duquesne Incline, we headed downtown for our lunch reservation. Meat & Potatoes has quite a large space, with a cozy waiting area lined with pickled veggies in jars and decent outdoor patio area. We requested to sit outside.

The lunch menu has a few snacks, like fried taters, devils on horseback, macaroni & cheese, pate and fried brussels. Sandwiches included a pub burger, Cuban, hot chicken, catfish tacos, and wild boar sloppy joe. Salads offered were Thai steak, winter (with poached pear, chickpeas, pancetta, brie) and house smoked duck. Entrees: grilled pork chop, chicken paillard, baked rigatoni, mussels and bi bim bap.





We ordered the "Old School Mac" ($8) and the "Fried Chicken & Biscuits" ($14), which came with buttermilk biscuits, fried chicken, coffee bacon jam, ranch cole slaw, pickles and french fries.

Let's talk Old School Mac first. This heaping helping of cheesy cavatappi was spiked with bits of grilled hot dog. That thick cheese sauce is heavenly, and I can assure you this is the tastiest combo of mac & hot dog that you'll have. Reminiscent of childhood with a chef's touch = perfection.

And that chicken, tho. The breading is nothing short of perfection, the biscuits are light, buttery dreams, and that bacon coffee jam had me scraping the bottom of the tin cup. The pickles - housemade -, the fries and the slaw were all tasty, as well.

I'm glad we shared, because I would have been stuffed having ordered this entree or appetizer to myself. A plentiful helping of mac, three pieces of chicken, two biscuits, fries, slaw, pickles... you won't go hungry, at least. And the flavors? Phenomenal. I love comfort food, so taking it up a notch with bacon coffee jam or ranch slaw makes it that much better.

Do expect a bit of a wait for food. It wasn't especially speedy, and the water refills weren't as plentiful as I would have liked. But, is it some of the best damn food in the area? Without a question. Delicious.





Grade: A

With sugary, calorie-ridden breakfast cake in hand from Prantl's, coffee was the next stop. Luckily, just across the street, there is Market St. Grocery.

At Market St. Grocery, each and every item is handpicked for Pittsburgh. Located in Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh, we offer dry goods, produce, fresh meat and seafood, baked goods and a variety of prepared hot and cold foods. In addition our store features Gaby et Jules patisserie, The Wine Room at Market St. Grocery with Collefrisio wines and a full coffee bar featuring La Colombe.

The coffee bar is right inside and has a short menu of cappuccinos, mochas, teas and iced coffee drinks. I went for a cappuccino.

Damn good cup of coffee.



Grade: A