WaYnE "'           ™'" c.'s Profile

It so happens I'm one that visits Markets every City I visit.
As much as I want to support eat local, buy local...
This Market was just a downer for out-of-towners.
Fact that any City's Market is an important establishment.
This seemed anti-climatic as to what Pittsburgh has to offer.

I felt slightly embarassed hyping that we were going to a Market.
Big plans of strolling, seeing sights, snacking, local people watching.
Nope. This was not meant to be.  What am I missing here?

I was walking all along the building looking for the entrance.
Apparently it's at only one end of the sizable brick building.
The square footage of the space occupied by shops was minimal.

In fact, I wasn't sure why they had attendants charging for Parking there.
When you simply can parallel park minutes away for Free on Penn Ave.
I was walking down those Paid Parked Cars and the Attendant didn't pay attention.
When I walked past him, he wanted to charge me. I said I didn't park there. Done

Penn Ave Shop/Crowd made Pittsburgh Public Market look like a 7-11 convenience.

5 hours north of Pittsburgh, there's a land known as Toronto.
Not a burgh or a sylvannia because it's derived from Native Indians.
Toronto is not very German influenced by any means if at all.
With that backstory in place, you can take this review with a grain of Rice.
Which we have a plenty in Toronto, not the Americanized Chinese either.

The look on my companion's faces say it all.  It's not the most life changing Food ever.
That is completely understandable and I know the basis of German Cuisine.
Many techniques are basics of any Culinary education, except education cost money.
If you cook German at home already, you've already got a good background headstart.

Very Grandma type classical retirement home in middle of nowhere small sidestreets.
Put some tables and chairs, let the mid-age Ladies serve you Beer and Food.
As other's have said, the Ladies warm up as the dinner moves on to latter stages.

"German Beer Sampler" $8.95
Spaten Lager, Kostritzer Black lager, Warsteiner Ale, Hacker Pschorr Weisse.

Hasenpfeffer.        Weiner Schnitzel.         Sausage Platter(Brat, Knack, Weiss)
Potato Pancake.   Potato Salad.                Sauerkraut.
Applesauce.          Sweet/Sour Cabbage.  Spatzle.

There were parts that were noticeably sloppy unless that's the local taste preference.
Spatzle(bland) could have been done much better and so could the Potato Pancake.
Potato Salad was warmed as usual but quite sour and wet mushy fork unfriendly.
First ever Hasenpfeffer, memories of Bugs Bunny(the Cartoon). Danke schön. A-OK

Foie Gras is to Quebec as Pickled Liver is to Dieu du Ciel.  Feed that bad boy!
This brewpub is the place to be, every night. If you're not here, you don't exist.
The few spotlights give the traditional wood furnished setup some modern flash.
Energy here is not overwhelming club-ish but enough to make it exciting.

I can't say I'm their biggest fan after giving Flight Tasting(6 - $2.25 each) a few sips.
Something to do with consistency and freshness of my favourite style. (-0.50 star)
17 Microbrews on the chalkboard is impressive for the scale of this place.
Not all Microbrews have such variety to choose from.  Btw, love those Beer NAMES.
The Barkeeper was accomodating and simply enjoyed what he does.  Great stuff.

Blanche du Paradis (Paradise white) Wit (belgian wheat beer)
Blanche de février (February White) Ginger wheat beer with mustard seeds
Décibel (Décibel) Extra pale ale
Péché Mortel (Péché Mortel) Imperial coffee stout
...

There's a simple satisfaction with the pairing of Belgium Beers and Mussels.
I was quite excited to have Bières et Compagnie on my path of consumption.
100 kinds of local & imported Beers can make anybody excited and blushing.
Moules prepared in every way possible with a handful cooked in Beer, oui Beer.
Can you feel the same excitement I did when I read this on their website?

We happened to arrive to Bières et Compagnie late on a weeknight.
Place 3/4 empty therefore service staff were probably proportional.
We were simply easy prey and all the service had to do was act enthusiastic.
Neither that nor a smooth interaction were provided for us. (-1.00 star)

Back to my main reason for being...
Moules of the Bières & Cie.  Most of them have some sort of Cheese as ingredient.
I'm not adverse to Fromage but I rather think if integrated as a Bechamel is better.
It was difficult to get the stringy Cheese in any bite and much of it was sidelined.
Otherwise it was Moules to be enjoyed with great company. (-0.50 star)

The Beer menu did have lots of Imports most of which I've had in LCBO or elsewhere.
It was Quebec Craft Beer that I supported.  Le Cheval Blanc - Coup de Grisou(weiss)
The dim lit pub space did make the 1/4 of customers near the bar somewhat douchey.
Think Torontos Elephant&Castle with darkwood furnished, grand decor & high ceiling.

It is what it is, isn't is?  Next place moving on...

My asshole is  H U R T ing, otherwise superb Cardio exercise.
I went all out, gave it my everything... and then some... as Bonus.
ahhhHHooouch. Glutes, Quads, Calves all function above capacity.

Much more intense than Yoga where I usually feel it next Morning.
Spinning is instant impact both positive[1] and negatively[2].
Morning class meant I walked and sat funny for rest of the day.
Will need Industrial strength Adult Pampers next time I spin.

Instructor was a tough, meanie. Push, push and push some more.
Motivated me to feel it, feel my Abdominals and Inner-Thighs burn.
Faster, faster, even faster, more, more, moooore...  Slowdowwwwn.
My mind had that Hate-it but Love-it internal struggle, awesome.

Gents,

1. Wear protection. No, not that kind.
2. Find out what Spinning is about.
3. Wear even more protection[3].
4. Thank me later.

Did not realize showers not available. Note: Bring Axe
First-Timer cost($20.00+Tax), am glad I had Passport-to-Prana.
As of now, I'm on a Two-month Spinning Hiatus.
One for each Butt-cheek.   :P

----------------
[1] Refer to Muscles burning
[2] Refer to Asshole hurting
[3] In case of Foot slippage. Possible Groin-area contact on seat.

If Maxim Mag voted Southside Slopes Headwich #5 Best Sandwich in USA...
Who am I to argue with the almighty Maxim Mag?  Let Maxim order for me.
Eat eat eat.  Chomp chomp chomp.  Chug-a-lug(beer).  Slide my ass down the chair.
It's my pleasure to report the Southside Slopes Headwich($10.95) satisfied my hunger.
At last check, my Head is still larger than this Sandwich.  Relatively.  :P

Kielbasa, Fried Pierogies, American Cheese, Grilled Onions & Horseradish Sauce
This Sandwich taste exactly like how it is described.  The Kielbasa is the kicker.
Kielbasa's savouriness offsets the other more mellow somewhat sweet flavours.
All ingredients are as they should be, nothing more, nothing less.
Homemade Chips were an unexpected surprise, rare item indeed.
This place has their own brand-o-beer. Bonus territory (+0.5 star)

Interesting to see so many pack leftovers home. Must be Tourist!

If you ever need a gift for that Cleaver-wielding Maniac in your life...
Sing Fai Houseware has plenty of selection[1] on Chinese Cleavers in stock.
As much as I like my Martin Yan Cleaver, it's capabilities are limited[2].
No, I cannot section a Chicken in 18-sec like him or will I ever need to.

For those that are familiar with Tap Phong in Chinatown, here's a comparison...
Sing Fai is cleaner, brighter, wider-aisle, typical 'burb Chinese Houseware.
While Tap Phong is about Kitchen equipment, Sing Fai is Houseware in general.
Equipment is geared towards Chinese users as you won't see these in Crate&Barrel.

Sing Fai is your common Houseware shop in every 'burb Chinese Mall/Plaza.
Tap Phong has more overwhelming affect for the Food-minded for sure.
These Houseware shops are more for Chinese shoppers with Needs in mind.
I have a couple more items on that list probably for the next visitation.

----------------
[1] There are more styles and uses of Chinese Cleavers than I originally thought.
[2] Complete fail, It's not meant for use as Cleaver. It's a Chinese Chef's Knife, duh!

After some time @Church to reflect upon celestial gold...
I awaken to my senses that I have not reached the Pitts drink/drive limit.
Time for some Hofbrauhaus German Bier Hall Ziggy Zaggy[1].

I check out the line up ziggy zagging out the door.  I went back an hour later.
ID check, really?  Guess I don't look drunk enough yet.  I'll do better next time.
Everything that I imagine an Oktoberfest Bier Hall.  Great energy, capacity crowd.
Loud music lively fun ATMOSPHERE within, airy calmer riverview patio space outside.

Good brews. Hofbräu Munich Weizen. Fun to see the Ski Shots take place.
Cannot comment on the Food. Simply an exciting place to be with Friends.

--------------------
[1] That's naturally how I drive by the way

Forgive me Father for I have sinned.
Thou shall not skip Church on Sat nights.
I pray to the Brew Tanks of the Alter.
                       Amen.

Sampler Tasting(8/$12+)

Celestial Gold, Pipe Organ Pale Ale, Pious Monk Dunkel,
Rotating Blast Furnance Stout, Belgium Style IPA,
Thunderhop IPA, Licorice Mint Lager.

Thou shall not lie.

I like Celestial Gold and Thunderhop most.
Licorice Mint Lager be sacrilege to me tongue.
Interesting place to booze. (+0.5 star)

It's not everyday that you come upon a historic Landmark to get some local Meat.
Schwartz's is the place to be for Montreal Smoked Meat, so I was informed.
If my Deli encounters taught me anything, I'm definitely in for something special.
It's with sorrow that I did not find the Montreal Smoked Meat overly impressive.

One big bite set my sense wondering, second bit bite got me even more curious.
Third big bite and I had to open up my Sandwich($6.15) to see what's going on.
It's the texture of the Meat that is different from the usual as I used my Fork.

As I Fork it, I see the Meat surface tends to dry out quite rapidly after slicing.
The Meat shreds easily, a little bit too easily without any effort falls apart.
The usually fat marbling connecting Meat strands has disappeared.
That lead to a less juicy less resistant Meaty style bite.  Toothpick required.
Doesn't signal my snarling carnivorous side of the brain as much unfortunately.

Trying not to be bias after one tasting, I requested a second Smoked Meat.
One with more Fat and it came but not quite what I was expecting.
It's the Medium Fat Meat with some slices of Fat Cap layered on top.
It gives much better juiciness and way way more fattiness. It's basically a cover up.

It's not perfect but it's still a good quality product above some others.
For the price, it's reasonable and down-to-earth considering the Tourist crowd. Kudos.
The Pickles($1.75) are a good snack to help with digesting the Fat.