Dish Trip in Pittsburgh and Blog Limbo

Dear long-suffering Burghilicious readers,

I apologize. I have been absent for more than a month, and I’m going to be absent some more. Remember when I took a trip to San Francisco and got engaged? After that, we spent two months vehemently not discussing the wedding. It was pretty fun just to be engaged. But now, we’ve decided that we are on the Speed Wedding Plan, and we’re getting married this summer.  In Richmond, Indiana, where my mom lives. On July 16, 2011. Which is basically just 4 months from right now, and 300 miles away.

So, I am planning a long-distance wedding* – with the help of my mom, thanks to all things holy – while also trying to get my house ready to go on the market** and working full time while visiting my fiance in Washington, DC, every two weeks or so. Oh, right, did I tell you Scheidt is working a contract at the Smithsonian in DC? So it’s just me around here. And while I cook at home frequently, little of what I prepare is notable, let alone making its way in front of a camera. It hardly seems right to share “Noodles with butter and garlic salt” or “Salad with cherry tomatoes” with you.

I’m hoping that as spring rolls around and the house projects get finished, I might have a little more time to think about my real favorite project. Of course, I expect that I’ll be fending off over-eager wedding venue organizers who want to know in February how many candlesticks we’ll use in July, and how do we want to fold the napkins? Because apparently these are the decisions that will determine the ultimate success of your marriage. (Brides? Read this blog. It’s keeping me sane.)

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this video. Dish Trip is a fun project from Philadelphia’s The Town Dish sponsored by Southwest and Victory Brewing Company.*** They came to visit Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, and I must say, I am so proud of this city. First, I’m proud that finally something food-related realized that Pittsburgh has a deep and singular food culture. Second, the Dish Trip gang didn’t go to Primanti’s, which is awesome because everyone has gone to Primanti’s. There’s so much more to explore, including quite a few places I’ve blogged about – Pamela’s, Franktuary, the Strip in general, and Salt of the Earth (which I desperately want to blog about but I am afraid I’m too much of a fangirl and sycophant to be taken seriously.) I was really flattered that Dish Trip invited me to show them around at Penn Mac – especially since I made that Scientific Cheesesteak Selector. And that reminds me, I have a Victory beer in my fridge (not for long).

*A.k.a Reluctant Wedding Planner Extraordinaire! You rock, Mom!
**Very nice house in Beechview for sale! Very cheap! Ride the T to work downtown and save big money!
***Um, hi dream job! Pick me, pick me!