Some of Adrian’s extended family live in Pittsburgh and it is an easy 4 hour drive.  We’ve made it a few times. At this point we’ve establish a tradition of going to the strip in downtown Pittsburgh for breakfast at Pamela’s Diner and then shopping for some Italian culinary tidbits that are hard to find here in Arlington.

Pecan and Banana Pancakes.

and a Cup'a Tea

Pittsburg is home to a large Itallian population (like Adrian’s family) and the strip houses a large number of old Italian super markets. The Pittsburgh Macaroni Factory is one of those. One of the items we have trouble finding in Arlington is Locatelli, a brand of Pecorino Romano cheese and they have it in bulk.

Who cut the cheese?

Before I met Adrian I was not a cheese snob, at least not where “parmesan” cheese was concerned. After a very short time with her, I realized the crime that has be perpetrated against the world by those who sell just about all “parmesan” cheese, especially those plastic shaker bottles of it. Of course, you don’t have to go with Locatelli, but for the sake of good food, buy the good stuff cut from an actual wheel! Since we have trouble finding it here, and we don’t travel to Pittsburgh all that often, we bought 6 lbs.

Scales for Tea

Prestogeorge is another of our routine stops along the strip. They are a chain, but don’t feel like it. The walls are lined with coffee and tea in bulk containers. You pick out what you want and they weigh and bag it. It is always nice to visit their shop because it has a very small town and old school feel.

Meat Market

Of course, our visit was a family visit and we spent a fair amount of time with a couple of Adrian’s uncles’ families as well as her great aunt Marry Anne and cousin Cara. I’ve started trying to collect more family recipes and on this trip Marry Anne showed me how to make meatballs. I showed them how to make my Chocolate Hazelnut Scones (not hard and very tasty).

One of Adrian

Rabbit

See other pictures from this trip by viewing the Pittsburgh tag on my flickr stream.