South Side’s Amazing Café is Exactly That

The spot for “real food” shares its recipe for Bliss, a cinnamon-spiced chocolate cake.

March 7, 2014

Leah Lizarondo,

Photos by Leah Lizarondo

I tend to exaggerate a little bit about my limited driving radius in Pittsburgh — bordered by Penn Avenue, Butler Street and Braddock Avenue. But the whole time I was at Amazing Café, enjoying its food, I kept telling manager Mark Staley that I wish the spot was in the East End. I said the same thing to my lunch date, Sherrie Flick, who lives in South Side. I wish she lived in the East End. I want more of this food, and I want to see more of her. Clearly, I have a driving affliction, especially if traffic gets in the way of eating and friendships. Mental note: discuss at next therapy session. Perhaps it all stems from childhood trauma in the preposterously gridlocked Manila, where I grew up.

It’s so hard not to use “amazing” to describe the food coming from Amazing Cafe’s kitchen, which is led by chef and filmmaker Justin Crimone and Staley. The café is adamant about using only real ingredients, but what makes the place awesome (!) is that it uses special ingredients. Natural sugars, housemade nut milks and butters — plus organic vegetables sourced locally, whenever they can.

We started the meal with smoothies. I had the Pura Vida — a raw cacao, banana and almond milk concoction amped up with some Maca powder (a supplement that supports the endocrine system). Sherrie had the Green & Glow — spinach, banana, apple, mint with almond milk with some triphala powder, which has cleansing properties.

Want to hear the coolest thing about the supplements? They add therapeutic doses, not “sprinkles.” For novices: YOU CANNOT TASTE THE SUPPLEMENTS. So don’t hate. It was like we were starting our meal with dessert. Oh, did I mention the bamboo straws? Such a refreshing upgrade from plastic and a testament to the café’s effort to use sustainable materials when possible.

We may be a few years behind California in the trend of using emotions and adjectives as nouns to name food, but how can you resist ordering some Faith and Grace? Or Strength, Balance and Courage? I’ll take them all. I have to say my Curiosity Curry hit the spot on a cold winter day. The squash, potato and kale stew with loads of warming spices over black rice was just what I needed. The Spontaneity Rolls were delicious, too. Made with ground walnuts and cauliflower, rice and a creamy cashew sauce, rolled and wrapped in lightly steamed collard leaves, it was filling yet light at the same time. To end the meal, Sherrie and I shared some Bliss. Yes, we did. In the form of a cinnamon-spiced chocolate cake with a coconut-hazelnut chocolate frosting and date caramel. Chased by HAND-PRESSED espresso.

Again, why isn’t Amazing Cafe in the East End?! (#Biased)

Fortunately for me, the staff appeased me by sharing the recipe for Bliss. Who doesn’t want a little Bliss? If you want an introduction to baking with all-natural, whole-food ingredients, this is it. Make some in your kitchen, or hightail it to the South Side and get a slice.