Dinner with Moira and Friends Downtown

An eventful evening began with the prime parking spot downtown in PPG Plaza right next to the Ice Skating Rink. Too good to be true? We were quickly swarmed by PPG security guards concerned that we were street vendors. Through discussion and deliberation the head security guard came to the conclusion that he simply did not like what we were doing, upright asking Dawn "Why do you have to do this?" Dawn's response, We're not devil worshipers, sir, we're just eating dinner!

The police were called, and we moved a block away to Market Square, where Pittsburgh's Food Not Bombs regularly distributes free food. We found a lovely spot, where one of the guards approved our being. However, the head security guard returned with two police officers, and we were told to move directly across the street into a metered parking space. Surrounding PPG Plaza, cars and other vehicles are regularly parked in spaces conspicuously marked with No Parking signs, but Pittsburgh police do not ticket cars on Sundays. However, they were ready to ticket us due to this man's complaints. Before embarking on more productive work, the police bore witness to the guard's egregious insult to his employee, whom he declared an idiot for speaking to us.
We did have a wonderful evening, though. And however many chastisements we receive, it is reassuring to find that we have 10-fold the compliments from passerby and participants.
Thank you to all for supporting us.

Dawn is truly a professional

A vegan, gluten/wheat free, nut free meal!
Kidney bean and spaghetti squash salad.
In between courses, we served marinated scarlet runner beans (several generations of beans saved by Claire each year, passed down from her mother) and a fresh aloe drink- slimy and full of antibiotic benefits.

Everybody pilled out of the trailer with their dishes in tow. They were incredibly sports.

Moving the trailer by hand across the street (approximately 25 feet)


Laura serves the soup, a combinations of tomato, potato, pumpkin, carrot.
Tomatoes were from the garden (preserved in the all natural Pittsburgh freezer) and from jars Claire had preserved this summer. Thank you to the pressure canner and cold weather, we are still able to eat our fresh homegrown foods!

Everyone managed to stay warm in the small space.

PodCast with Tom Totten on CookSpeak!

Tom, a chef at a restaurant in Wexford, PA, contacted us to do a podcast with him on his weekly show COOKSPEAK!

"Out of the box Culinary Commentary by an experienced Cook who still loves the business in spite of itself. Weekly Features- Beef of the Week, Stunt Food, Annoying Culinary Terms, and Restaurant Workers Input."

link to podcast

scroll down, we are episode 36, 10/13/2008

Bob, Kathryn, Kim and Kids in Frick Park

Bob graciously donated his celery that, incidentally, he forgot he had planted.
The last remaining hot peppers from Claire's garden.

Laura ground up the beef which we got from friend Ben Bigelow's parent's ranch in Montana.

Dawn educates Noah and Kyra on the ways of the server

A happy RV Eater

"This stuff rocks" Kyra Bingham on Laura's food

Kathryn and Bob brought wine and coffee which we made in their cool little italian mocha device!

Garrett and Friends in South Side

10th Street Bridge

Fresh ImaGold Apples with Tomato Goat Cheese compote and Celery garnish

Curried Golumpki with Tomato and Coconut milk, Lemongrass Mashed Potatoes topped with roasted pumpkin seeds

Garret starts to carve the pumpkin

We managed to warm the trailer comfortably with candles and body heat

Obama pumpkin in Pittsburgh nightlight

John and Jeannette in Schenley Park

Parked in Schenley Park, sweet Tomato-Apple Salad
Apples were picked from Simmon's Farm on Saturday. We're looking forward to home-pressed apple cider next weekend!

Laura picks chives from the trailer for garnish on the risotto

Making coasters on those old crafty children's weaving looms

John and Jeannette with finished potholders/ coasters

Andi and Steve Irwin and Friends

October 11th landed us at the fishing wharf at Duck Hollow, a marvelous choice by Andi and Steve. We dined on the river with fishermen, and after dusk, watched Target and Giant Eagle glisten across the river at The Waterfront (260 acres of shopping complex and parking lot).

Dawn pouring her fiancé, Eddie's, "Baton Brown Ale"

Before we started the meal, we were presented with gifts: Obama gear!...note poster and apron pins


Roasted pepper with marinated red cabbage and chives



Tony, self expressed post digger, plumber, and bear hunter joined us in conversation, shared photos of camp on the Clarion river, and tried some of the curried tomato pumpkin.
Dawn, Laura, and Claire's mother Judy serve up the tomato soup.


Steve, of The Surreal McCoys, brought his accordion and played a variety of tunes while we all relaxed after dinner.


To cap off the night, one of the fisherman caught a large catfish!