Sounds like a good sequel, but really it's sheer laziness. So, lets just get up to speed.
This summer the Common Plea catered Pittsburgh's "wedding of the year" between Ben Roethlisberger and Ashley Harlan. What a spectacular event to be a part of. Everyone involved brought their A-GAME. Ashley was a stunning bride. WHIRLhad an exclusive to the event and snapped some great pictures.
We had the opportunity to host G2H2 PITTSBURGHon the Patio at Heinz Hall. The patio never looked so good! Guys, it was a pleasure having you, lets do that again.
This year we added two new venues to an already exclusive list of uncommon places for the Common Plea. MEADOWCROFT and FORT PITT MUSEUM. These spaces make for an unforgettable event.
Now here at the restaurant we have made some changes ourselves. We have a brand new addition to the dining room. The ANTIPASTO BAR. It is fully integrated into the dining room and puts you in the action. Dinning is not just about the food, its about the people your sharing it with. In this form of eating you take the formality away and allow more interaction. Try it you just might like it. It seats up to ten and can be reserved.
Remember the holidays are right around the corner and that means PARTIES. I always like to remind you that our private rooms and dates fill quickly. Please call me and lets reserve and plan your holiday event here at the Common Plea.
Two last things HALLOWEEN KARAOKE is at the end of the month. Richard will be judging your costume for originality. So either dress up or down you decide, but know this, don't come as your scary self.
As always I like to give a seasonal recipe.
ACQUACOTTA
swirl of olive oil
3 large onions
6 celery stalks
celery leaves
750 grams of tomatoes
4 eggs
grated parmesan
stale bread
How to cook Acquacotta recipe:
Finely chop and cook over low heat in a little oil to the 3 large onions, diced celery and the sixth Their stalks with leaves, until golden. United 750 g of peeled Tomatoes, salt and pepper and let cook for 20 minutes. Pour everything in a pot of boiling Salted water (1 liter) and keep boiling. Meanwhile roast or fry 8 slices of stale bread and put Them at the bottom of a large enough pot. When the soup has assumed a good flavor (after about 30 minutes) pour it over the bread and set the pot on low heat. Open four eggs over the slow boiling soup, taking care That the yolks do not break and Remain separate from one another. Once the eggs are slightly hardened, sprinkle everything with abundant grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese and serve IMMEDIATELY.
Buon appetito
Thom Naylor
Is it me or will winter never really end! Just recently I heard the term season creep and thought,what is that? Well, after reading up on it, I think the creep has not shown his face and we instead have the "season laggard". Spring will show its happy face soon enough and with that we will look forward to some great events, wine dinners and parties.
On April fools day we have a special guest bartender MARY SUE RAMSDEN! This should be a hoot. Richard will step aside (but with a watch-full eye) from behind his bar and let her take on the Pleas guests. GOD be with you woman! This crowd can be tough, but I know she can take the mantle for one night. Mary Sue will be donating her tips to the BAR FOUNDATION
Now we always like to put some fun stuff in here before we get serious so here it is...
April 2nd is NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY DAY & the CAMPAIGN, who knew in our youth that we were saving the planet.
April 4TH is TELL A LIE DAY, go ahead make something up.
Passover begins on April 18TH at sunset
Easter is on April 24TH
And then April 30TH is BE HONEST DAY, so you can come clean on those lies you told, if you can remember them.
Jumping ahead: on MAY 4TH is the FERRARI-CARANO WINE DINNER. We will require reservations for this event. The dinner kicks off the Pittsburgh Wine Festival on May 5TH. This event will feature 7 wines with accompanying cuisine. It is one of those "you don't wanna miss" events.
As always, I try to give a cool and easy recipe. Since we all know about "spring cleaning" your body deserves it too.
Sesame Cucumber Radish Salad Makes 2 servings.
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce or shoyu 1 teaspoon agave 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 1 cucumber (about 12 inches long), sliced into thin rounds 8 medium radishes, sliced into thin rounds 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Procedure:
In a small bowl, whisk together remaining rice vinegar, soy sauce, agave, and sesame oil. Add cucumber, radishes, and cilantro and toss; refrigerate.
This is a fantastic detoxifier!! and tastes great.
Till next time
Thom Naylor
We've been away but for good reason... the holidays. Now that we sorted that lets move on to what's new.
January is no doubt the coldest month of the year! So come in find a single malt to cozy up too and make Richards' night. Also you will find some new additions to the walls in the bar and lounge. I can only say some of our regulars posed in a bathtub and one was caught reading...and not a "legal brief".
Sometimes I like to take the time in this blog to pick out strange facts that pertain to food and drink. This month we found some fun stuff. See what you think. Please no phone calls are necessary to thank us for these facts.
Enjoy
Coca-Cola was incorporated in January. But not invented (that was in May).
Test you knowledge at this coke lore site
National Blonde Brownie Day is celebrated on the 22nd of the month. Those other brownies bask in the limelight all year but not on this day! Now go bake... or from the 22nd till the 28th of the month come have one here for dessert. Its much easier. If you must, try this recipe BLONDIES
For those of you that keep an eye out for your patron saints The Feast of St. Vincent is celebrated on the 22nd as well. He is the patron saint of wine growers and vinegar makers. Did somebody say wine?
Our new wine list and "late winter" menu shows up in the dining room on tuesday the 18th. On that note the first speak-easy began just outside Pittsburgh in a town called McKeesport. Baltimore says it was the 50-50 club. I say after todays football game...we know were the party started!
And something new just for kicks
"THE UNCOMMON FOOD TIP"
you can use worcestershire sauce to clean your brass.
Till next time
Thom Naylor
October respectively ushers in autumn. For us at the Common Plea it can be the "ten minute warning" to the holiday season. We always urge you to book your private party early, due to the fact...dates are becoming unavailable quickly. For those of you that don't know we have two (2) private dining rooms. One that accommodates up to sixty (60) guests, the other handles twenty-five or less comfortably. You also have the ability to request the main dining room and bar. We look forward to assisting you or your company's next event.
On to some other fun things:
Only a "Pittsburgher" could appreciate NATIONAL PIEROGY DAYon the 8th of this month. Chef John will debut his version of the famed pierogy. I have to ask can he really surprise us? Well we shall see!
Outside on the 19th we are observing adopt a dog month & national animal safety and protection month with a GREYHOUND meet and greet. We will team up with STEEL CITY GREYHOUNDS. So bring your hound or just come to see a few here! Don't forget to grab a bag of treats from Chef John for your dog (compliments of us). Oh, and we don't mind if you stay for lunch. There's my plug...was it obvious? WEATHER PERMITTING
NATIONAL CANDY CORN DAYis on the 30th. Yes we will have candy corn somewhere on the menu and a candy corn martini. YUMMY
****Naturally we close October with our annual HALLOWEEN KARAOKE with Richard in the bar on the 29th starting at 5:00 PM. Don't come as yourself its far to scary...please dress up, we don't want to frighten anyone.
Thom Naylor
August tends to be hot and steamy so why not saddle up to our bar for a framboise draft or a smooth cocktail from our new reinvented classics and uncommon plea originals!
This restaurant is a landmark to many Pittsburghers' and 40 years since the doors opened we continue to grow, learn and add to our reputation. Our guests are what make us a success. The Common Plea is continuing to find new paths to welcome guests to our table. Just the fact that your reading this tells us your paying attention to the new forms of media and advertising.
The use of Restaurant.com,Facebook,Twitter,Groupon and the launching of an iphone and a DROID app is very exciting. So stay posted.
Chef John and our staff are already looking forward to a new season filled with events that excite and interest our guests. From wine dinners,scotch tastings(with a whisky master),beer dinners (yes,BEER)and intimate cooking classes with the chef. Hey there's more but thats just a taste!
Now back to August...
For those of you turophiles (cheese lovers) this month is "goat cheese month". chef will be creating special appetizers featuring well goat cheese.
Follow the tweets and who knows you could receive a treat!
See you in September.
Thom Naylor
