Dig in With Graver: Fun Finger Foods
Have you tried the Mrs. Flax Diet?
PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER
One of my favorite movies is “Mermaids” starring Cher as Mrs. Flax and Winona Ryder as her moody teenage daughter, Charlotte.
“A word about Mrs. Flax and food: the word is ‘hors d’oeuvres,’” Charlotte says, exasperatedly. “‘Fun Finger Foods’ is her main source book and that’s all the woman cooks. Anything more, she says, is too big a commitment.”
SCREENSHOT FROM “MERMAIDS” / KRISTY GRAVER
I’m a fan of the Mrs. Flax Diet.
These days, I don’t need a big meal with all the fixins; I just want the fixins. And dessert. And a beer.
Below are some bites and brews that have “mermaid” me happy this summer:
PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER
Fried Spring Rolls from Rollies
I ran into Rollies at the Ambridge Do It Best Home Center, my go-to store for power tools and food trucks.
The mobile business specializes in handmade, Vietnamese-inspired fried spring rolls, and they’re amazing. I ordered four — Original Viet Roll, Cheeseburger Roll, Pulled Pork Roll and Pizza Roll — but should’ve sprung for a baker’s dozen.
The OG, filled with ground beef, vermicelli noodles, carrots, wood-ear mushrooms and onion, was my new snack obsession even before I added the house spicy yum yum sauce.Follow the family-owned business on Instagram to see where their next stop will be and get rolling!
PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER
Apple Pie Tiramisu at Nothingman
I’ve raved about the food at Nothingman before, but nothing prepared me for their Apple Pie Tiramisu.
In Italian, “tiramisu” means “pick me up.” By fusing this joy-inducing dessert with an all-American favorite, pastry chef Katie Peric became a one-woman United Nations.
I split this towering stack of cinnamon lady fingers, apple pie spice mascarpone, apple butter, apple pie filling and Dutch pie crumble with my dad on Father’s Day at the Mt. Washington spot, along with the best Strawberry Pretzel Salad in the Steel City.
It’s going to be our new Italian-American-Pittsburgh tradition.
PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER
Chocolate Chip Cookie at Common Oven Pizza Co.
Eating a colossal chocolate chip cookie from Common Oven Pizza Co. in New Kensington was the sweetest part of my summer staycation.
I was already stuffed from downing half a hot honey pie and a Strange Roots beer, but an employee urged me to take the treat to go.
“You’ll thank me later,” he said as he handed me the bag.
Consider this my formal letter of gratitude, sir!
This simple, over-sized sourdough cookie is dotted with a mix of semi-sweet chips and dark chocolate chunks and sprinkled with flaky salt.
A dozen of them would be the death of me.
PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER
Beer and Pastry Pairings at Lolev
Lolev Beer in Lawrenceville makes amazing brews and has an equally stellar food partner in ippa, a Tuscan-inspired sandwich purveyor permanently parked on their Butler Street lot.
On Thursday, July 9, Lolev is upping the ante by hosting a pour and pastry pairing guided by Sean Wehr, owner of the Highland Park bakery Food Glorious Food.
Sounds like a glorious way to spend an evening. Don’t forget to “Cher”!
