Is it soup yet? No one had to ask that question on the South Side on Saturday. The soup certainly was on for the
fourth annual South Side Mid-Winter Soup Contest. And there's nothing more soothing than a steamin' cup of soup on a brisk winter day.
Despite temperatures barely reaching freezing and leftover ice patches from Tuesday's storm, more than 1,000 soup connoisseurs became official taste testers of creations from stuffed pepper to curried sausage and roasted butternut squash.
Participants paid $5 and donated a can of soup to help raise money for The Brashear Association, which offers a broad range of social services and programs. The planners are still tallying the amount raised, but the canned goods alone filled five, 8-foot-long tables stacked a foot and a half high. That's good news for the association's food pantry, which feeds 400 families.
There were no fancy gowns or a decorative ballroom for this fundraiser. The attire was tres casual, and the dining area was one of 23 retail shops on the ever-expanding South Side. These diehards refused to let the closure of the Birmingham Bridge stop them from their mission of soup hopping for an afternoon.
Molley's Trolleys provided transportation from 12th to 27th streets.
Each store paired with a restaurant that donated 12 to 15 gallons of soup made by talented chefs (some chefs went back to their kitchens to make more). They stirred soup in huge caldrons, combined only the freshest ingredients, and added an individual touch to perfect their recipe. Some served the soup, while others relied on one of the 80 volunteers to dish it out. All of the chefs took part in the friendly competition of vying for the People's Choice and Judge's Choice awards.
"This is a great, community event," said Melanie Evanovich-Dietz, co-owner of Gypsy Cafe. "This is an opportunity for people who might know the restaurants to find out about a store or those who know a store to find out about a restaurant. Plus, the Brashear Association has such great people that we are glad to help."
Gypsy Cafe's Dustin Kile created a cream-based chicken soup flavored with smoky chipotle and spicy chorizo sausage, topped with lime creme fraiche. DISH's Michele Savoia combined lentils and sweet Italian sausage with fennel and kale. Tusca's Christopher Jones decided on a roasted butternut squash with garlic, carrots, onions, apples and sausage. Aaron Hoover of Cafe Allegro also chose a roasted butternut squash soup and added real chicken stock. Folino's Anthony Folino made a chicken Florentine bisque-based soup.
Other restaurants included UUBU6, 17th Street Cafe; Beehive Coffeehouse; Cafe du Jour; Mario's; 1311; Carson City Saloon; The Library; Double Wide Grille; Iguana Grill; Le Pommier; Mantini's Woodfired; The Cafe; Pipers Pub; Qdoba Mexican Grill; The Mung Dynasty; Tom's Diner; and Thai Me Up.
They teamed with shops such as Edward Marc Chocolatiers; Cindy Esser's Floral Shop; Colleen Mac; Copies @ Carson; Dave's Music Mine; Decade; Ejay's Books; Fireborn Studios; Five Star Dentistry; Geraldine's Boutique; Grand Bahia Tanning Resort; Hart's; Jupe Boutique; La Fond Galleries; Morning Glory Inn; Parker Button/Clarrisa Boutique; Roberta Weissburg Leather; Silver Eye Center for Photography; South Side Athletic; Joseph-Beth Booksellers; WYEP; host Iron and Glass Bank; and Square One. The Bead Mine offered a beverage stop.
Between ladles, we spotted Brashear director of services Christine Gaus; Dora Walmsley; Sarah Banach; Michele Otway; Melinda Perdue; Jennifer Strang; South Side Local Development Company director Rick Belloli; Nancy Eshelman; Diane Kline; Donna Hetrick; Mary Ellen Hankey and Lanny Sodini; Tanya and Brian Daniels; Debbie and Shawn Eddy; Shirl Ransley and Steven Stoehr; and Katie Waters.
As we walked down Carson Street we saw Roberta Weissburg; Julie McCracken and Travis Wisor; Adrienne and Vince Rozzi; Colleen McCafferty and daughter Ryan; Kevin Bartolomucci and Rebecca Rivi; Chris Wahlberg; Ryan Frazier; Daria Fischetti and Matthew Durny; Karen and Gerry Fajt; Merritt Fajt and Kevin Birnie; Lawrence Morgan; Tom Pintauer; Vanessa Wallace; Amy Nittinger; and Kelly Horein; Penny Folino and daughter Maria.
Winner of the People's Choice is 17th Street Cafe's bacon, blue cheese, and apple soup. Cafe Du Jour was runner-up with "Steve Stewttenberg." Among the eight judges, Folino's chicken Florentine was the favorite. Tom's Diner's sausage bisque took second.
Mmm mmm good.
-- By JoAnne Harrop
How appropriate the name
Love & Laughter for the
Renaissance City Choirs' annual Valentine soiree Saturday at the Priory's Grand Hall. Pittsburgh's gay and lesbian choral group welcomed 220 black-ties to a delicious dinner, auction and dancing until nearly midnight to the tunes of Vox Valentinos.
The choirs' Renaissance Award was presented to WQED Pittsburgh's talented Michael Bartley, host of the Emmy award-winning "OnQ News Magazine," in recognition of his many years of volunteer service to the RCC. The honor recognizes an individual or organization which has supported the city's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Enjoying the sweet choirs' sounds were chairs Deb Hall and Cookie Gibbs; RCC board prez Pam Cochenour; art director Andres Cladera; WQED GM Deborah Acklin; Joe Mistick; Jocelyn Hough; Daria Nikitina and Dr. Richard Helldobler; Pierina Morelli; Peggy Andrews; Mark McClurg; Paul Gitnik; Steve Herforth and Peter Karlovich; Robin Godfrey; Vicki Greene; Clyde Jones; Rich Vinski and Ron Julian; Kathleen Schneider and Patty Hayes; Rosemary Martinelli; guest host and auctioneer Maggie Cassella; and Eda Bagel.
Look for the RCC spring concert Rainbow Broadway coming in May.
-- By JoAnne Harrop
On Valentine's Day, lovebirds
Regina Anderson and
John Rhoades hosted the second annual
Love of Friends, a house party to benefit
Planned Parenthood of Western PA Action Fund. This heart-worthy gathering was held in a romantic, 19th-century landmark home in the Mexican War Streets that was decorated in red hearts. Guests celebrated the day reserved for love with cocktails, hors d'oeurves, and plenty of chocolate before dancing with their sweethearts until 2 a.m. to the tunes of DJs Old Scratch and Miss Teen USA.
Among the party-goers were PP prexy Kim Evert; Erika Fricke; Cary and Richard Reed with daughter Carly; Dawn Uzdale; Courtney Patterson; Lisa Michel and John Rushford; Wesley Scott and Gordon Fisher; Tony Lodico; Ted Klimek; Eva Mueller; Stephen Knezovich; and Callie Phillips.
Where's cupid?
-- By JoAnne Harrop
It's not surprising Valentine's week was chosen to christen a new center to take care of one's heart.
The Ed Dardanell Heart & Vascular Center was unveiled Saturday with a gala at Western Pennsylvania Hospital -- Forbes Regional Campus in Monroeville. Dardanell, who generously donated $1 million to the facility, which opens March 3, helped establish the first hospital in the suburbs more than 30 years ago. He celebrated the evening with daughter
Megan Dardanell Olsen and son
Eddie and more than 200 guests, who dined on filet and lobster and were entertainment by the aptly named Groove Doctors. Guests toured the center which has state-of-the-art equipment so doctors will have diagnostic information at their fingertips to help save lives.
On the tour were Forbes Regional COO Tom Moser; Forbes Health Foundation prexy Mary Lee Gannon; Dr. Michael Culig; Dr. Aashish Dua; Dr. John Power; Dr. David Haybron; and Dr. Mark Rubino; Jim Rosenberg; Jennifer Davis; Darlette Tice; and Michael Scoletti.
Take it to heart.
-- By JoAnne Harrop
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