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Foodie on the Half Shell: 21 and over brunch delights

chathamcommunique

Turning 21 really lends itself to you when it comes to brunch. Honestly, boozing and brunching are a match made in heaven. I love Bloody Marys so much that I used to drink them virgin style. Also, you can’t forget the Mimosas and Bellinis.

My first brunch as a 21-year-old consisted of both of those classical brunch libations. Bagels and lox go so much better with a spicy Bloody Mary, and the same goes for a sweet and savory french toast with a Bellini.

Last Sunday, my partner Ben and I journeyed to Tamari in Lawrenceville for some brunch. Tamari is a cool pan Asian restaurant that offers my favorite sushi in the city. Their brunch keeps some of their Asian inspired dishes, but you can also get brunch favorites like a make-your-own-omelette.

Tamari is usually very busy, and you have to make a reservation unless you want to sit at the bar–which isn’t so bad either. For their brunch on Sundays, however, they seemed to be pretty slow. This is not a sign of a bad brunch, though. The prices shouldn’t be deterring anyone, either. You can order a “prix fixe” brunch for $23, which consists of a cocktail, a small plate, an entree, and a delicious cinnamon roll. We did not do the prix fixe lunch, but I think it is a great option if you are hungry.

To start, we ordered their small plate of Hamachi Crudo ($11). To drink I had their guava-mango Bellini ($8). The Hamachi Crudo consisted of half-inch thick slices of yellow fin tuna. It was served raw, and it tasted sweet and fresh. It was served with tangy house-made pickles, Tobiko (flying fish roe), and Crème Fraîche. The dish was delicious and had a surprising amount of sweet notes. It all worked together nicely.

I didn’t want a full on sushi dish, but I wanted something along those lines, and this dish was a perfect compromise that fit into our brunch nicely.

As Ben’s entree, he had the Hanger steak and eggs ($12). I was kind of expecting something heartier to look at, but it ended up being an artfully composed plate of small portions. That’s great if that’s the type of brunch you are going for. I am pretty much always in need of big portions of cheesy, starchy, and spicy foods.

The dish was still tasty and innovative. Hanger steak is lean piece of meat that is best served Pittsburgh-style. The roasted corn succotash was probably the best thing on the plate other than the steak. It also came with a gorgonzola cream and a fried egg. It was keenly done, but I was left unsatisfied–and it wasn’t even my entree.

I had the made-to-order omelette ($10). The cool thing about an omelette is that you can judge a chef by their technique. It is known that sometimes, instead of an interview, a chef will be asked to make an omelette to assess their skills. This omelette was cooked nicely, and I chose to stuff it with aged cheddar, asparagus, kale, and shrimp. It was pretty bland, and was crying out for a little spice or just a pinch of salt. The omelette comes with some toast and some potatoes.

I had their Bloody Mary with my entree, spicy style. You can choose from three different types of Bloody Marys: Traditional, Rye Mary, and Spicy Mary. Mine was good, and the spice level was on point.

This review sounds like I really didn’t enjoy my brunch at Tamari, but a brunch has to be pretty bad for me not to. I have a feeling that it was a pretty slow day, and maybe their A-Game chef was home awaiting their dinnertime rush the next day.

Their dinner is always amazing, and I truly think that their brunch has the potential to be the same. The food was good, but if they are going to be expensive and classy then they need to pump it up to the next level. I think Tamari is great for birthday brunch if you want to splurge a little bit, or go out with your friends for a get together. I will try back again soon–I refuse to give up on you, Tamari!

Foodie on the Half Shell: Cooking for loved ones

chathamcommunique

Fall is my birthday season, and I turned 21. It is like the missing piece to my being a real food and drink connoisseur has been put into place. Fall rocks for so many different reasons–those mainly having to do with food. On my birthday, my family takes me out to one of my favorite restaurants, and I get to eat (and drink) all of my favorite things.

It is also party season, and all of the goodies come out to play such as warm dips, candy, nachos, baked goods with cute Halloween sprinkles, and hot cider. The goodies are pretty much impossible to ignore, and thus far I have had at least one piece of candy a day since two weeks ago…oops. Candy isn’t even that good, but when Kit Kats are just sitting out, how am I not suppose to snack on them?

For my birthday, my partner made me an amazing dinner as a surprise for me. I had no idea what he was making, but I wasn’t expecting anything too fancy. His specialty is French toast, so I was prepared to eat some breakfast for dinner. That being said, I was still rooting for a serious dinner, so I handed him one of my favorite cookbooks for him to get some great ideas.

The cookbook is actually called “Intercourses,” by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge. Yes, “Intercourses.”

It is a cookbook full of “aphrodisiac” recipes, but that’s not why I love the cookbook so much. The recipes are amazing, aphrodisiac or not. Each recipe comes with it’s own love story that inspired it. I encourage anyone who loves to cook to invest in this book; it is a classic in the cookbook realm.

Photo Credit: Olivia Beals

Photo Credit: Olivia Beals

When I got home, I was so happy and relieved to find a very confident and rather handsome cook in my kitchen. Thick cuts of bright pink salmon were marinating in a honey pepper sauce that ended up being baked; Moroccan couscous had been made already; and there was roasted asparagus.

Before we had even begun to eat dinner, we learned how to shuck oysters, and then we got to enjoy them. Wholey’s Fish Market in the Strip District has great oysters. They look intimidating and a little creepy, but they are fresh and great to eat raw.

The dinner itself was delicious, and the pepper and honey salmon was extremely flavorful. For dessert, Ben went to Priory Bakery in North Side to pick up some delicious cupcakes. The ladies at Priory are awesome and very talented.

Ben isn’t a natural cook, but that’s the cool thing about recipes—you don’t have to be. All cooks start out with a recipe, and that is how they learn what works and what doesn’t.

Ben was daunted by the idea of cooking for me, but following the steps was easy for him. We all like to be cooked for at least once in a while, and if you have a significant other or friend that you want to cook for you, guide them in the right direction by giving them a cookbook or website.

It will be fun for them to decide what to cook, especially if the recipes are intriguing and tasty. They will end up feeling really proud of themselves for what they have accomplished, and your encouraging words and reaction may contribute to them doing it again for you!

Little Red Riding Vogue: Singing in the rain

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Without a doubt, Halloween is my favorite holiday. I’ve always been a sucker for adventurous fashion, and Halloween is the one day when you can really let your freak flag fly.

The only problem I have with Halloween is the constant struggle to settle on only one costume. As someone who loves any excuse to dress up or pull together an interesting outfit, Halloween can be torture. It’s the one day a year when I can wear absolutely whatever I want–or be whoever I want to be–and not be judged, and I’m expected to choose only one outfit?

In high school I used to dress up the entire week of Halloween, or sometimes even the whole month of October. I love to express myself, and I figured that was the one time I could get away with it.

Now that I’m older, I’m a little less adventurous with how many costumes I pull together, but it does give me more time to dedicate to each costume.

Last year I was Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid as she turned to foam. It was inspired by runway makeup I had seen where they used small rhinestones dripping down the face like tears. I decided to mix that with a flowing white dress, a sea-foam green wig, and lots of glitter and face paint. I put fishnets over my arms and used a sponge and body paint to dab color onto my skin in a scaly pattern. I topped it off with a layer of white glitter.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with the costume. Most people had no idea who I was until I told them, but the reception was pretty good after I explained the concept more. As a joke I went around saying it was, “the ultimate ‘forever alone’ costume.”

Still, it rained a lot last Halloween and it completely killed my costume and my spirits. That’s why this year I decided to try being more practical.

This year I wanted to go for something a little darker, and went dressed as Alex from Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange” movie.

Photo Credit: Indigo Baloch

Photo Credit: Indigo Baloch

I started by going out and buying a simple white dress shirt and white skinny jeans from Target. I wanted something nice, but not too expensive since I probably wouldn’t wear them again. Then I got white suspenders from Hot Topic, eyeball ping-pong balls from Spirit, and fake blood and false eyelashes from Target. I already had black Dr. Martens and a bowler cap.

The only part I had to make was the cufflinks. Alex has these great bloody eyeball cufflinks that I pulled together by cutting the ping-pong balls in half, gluing them to the cuffs of the shirt, and then painting around them with fake blood.

Unfortunately, the fake blood took forever to dry and, when they were still wet the next morning, I took a hairdryer to them. It partially melted one of the eyes, but I figured it just made it extra creepy—which is never a bad thing for a costume like that.

Compared to the mermaid costume, the makeup was a piece of cake. I just got false eyelashes that looked like the ones Alex wore, turned one upside down, and glued it right under my lower lash. It felt uncomfortable at first, but by the end of the night, I had all but forgotten it.

It rained a bit and was pretty cold on Halloween night so I was grateful to have a relatively warm costume. Also, the rain wasn’t all bad as it gave me a chance to run around singing “Singing in the Rain.”

All told, I had a pretty successful Halloween, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with my costume. It wasn’t so elaborate that I stressed myself out, but it looked good and authentic, and I got tons of compliments from “A Clockwork Orange” fans!

Foodie on the Half Shell: Perfect pasta

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Pasta Carbonara is a decadent and delicious dish that is made from cream, egg, cheese, black pepper, and bacon, but it is not especially great for your arteries.

I don’t eat bacon, but I love the heartiness and warmth of the dish. The smokiness of the lox–which is a fancy way of saying smoked salmon–is a perfect substitute for bacon, and you still get the salty and meaty taste. I was inspired to do a lighter version of pasta carbonara since I wasn’t going to use the fatty bacon, and I used Greek yogurt instead of cream.

I take dinner very seriously, and I cook most nights of the week. Dinner is my time to shine, practice cooking, and to explore different ideas and flavors. I look at dinner as my main meal of the day, and I make sure that it’s healthful roots shine through.

Cooking with fresh produce and fish is very important to me, and it is a sure way to spruce the nutrients up in your cooking. I am the only one who cooks in my house (out of the two of us), and I feel a certain responsibility to provide my partner with foods that will enhance his life and health.

That may sound dramatic, but food is a huge part of who we are and what we become. I want to be healthy, innovative, and a little bit spicy–so I try and eat that way, too! I see that my partner has good eating habits that he has learned from me, and I feel really proud that I gave him those skills and values. That is a big part of why I love to cook and why I love to write about cooking–I want others to have a great relationship with food, like I do. My relationship with food is getting pretty serious!

This recipe is filling and tasty. With the substitution of smoked salmon and Greek yogurt, the dish is transformed into a lighter alternative with a lot less fat. This dish is tangy from the yogurt, salty from the lox, and a little spicy from the black pepper and cayenne. Even people who don’t like to eat fish will love this dish.

What you will need for two people:

1 cup of orzo al dente

1 package of smoked salmon, chopped

1 small red onion

3 cloves of garlic minced ( I love a lot of garlic. Feel free to use less)

1/3 cup of Greek yogurt

1 egg whisked

3/4 cup grated parmesan

a bunch of basil chopped

1 tsp of cayenne pepper

tons of black pepper

Saute the garlic and onion with olive oil until the onion is translucent. Add the chopped salmon. When the salmon’s color turns a lighter pink, add the orzo into the pan. Mix the greek yogurt in until it is well-incorporated. Add the whisked egg and the parmesan and mix. Add the cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Don’t worry about overdoing it on the black pepper, it is a key ingredient. The consistency should not be too creamy or saucy, but a little dryer than you might expect. Top with parmesan and fresh basil and enjoy.

 

Foodie on the Half Shell: Come as you are

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I love Highland Park in Pittsburgh. It is a cozy neighborhood with beautiful houses and a sleepy vibe. It is quiet, and you will most likely see at least five people walking their well behaved dogs. Not only is it lovely, but it is beginning to develop boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Looking adorable on the corner is our main attraction in Highland Park, which is Park Bruges (not to be mistaken with Point Brugge, their sister).

Park Bruges has its own dining experience different from that of their café sibling. Park serves fresh comfort food with affordable prices. It is family friendly, and the wait is never too long. Come and enjoy their service during brunch, lunch, or dinner. It is no wonder why Park Brugge was voted one of Pittsburgh’s best restaurants in Pittsburgh Magazine.

Park Bruges has a very “come as you are” feel to it. You have the option to sit outside when the weather is nice, sit indoors, or sit at their small, but well stocked bar. Their cocktails are inventive, especially their own “Pathogin.” It is a twist on a gin and tonic, except their gin is infused with kaffir lime leaves. It gives the entire libation a tart and herbal flavor.

After you try one of their cocktails, start with either their mussels or their Mediterranean Platter. Although these dishes are under “small plates,” they are not small. They are big enough to share with about three people.

If you try the pound of mussels ($12), definitely try it with their curry sauce. It is beautifully flavored, with a perfect amount of spice. This comes with four big pieces of crusty baguette.

Their Mediterranean Platter ($14) comes with an array of delicious foods that include hummus, walnut dip, greek salad with salty olives, bread, and warm pita chips. This can be shared with up to four people. It is large and delicious. The last time I was there I even considered making it my entree it was so tasty!

They have all types of food when it comes to considering an entree. If you want fish, order their special of the night or their fresh fish of the day which comes with Moroccan style veggies and couscous ($27).

My mom got their special salmon when she was there, and she had mainly good things to say about it. She mentioned that some of their compositional elements were a little off, and that their fish was a little dry. You need to ask for the salmon cooked medium rare to get that moist piece of fish that you want.

I ordered their Bruges salad with salmon ($16) before, and the fish was cooked to order, and the fresh veggies were delicious. An element that really added pizazz to a simple salad were their “dilly beans.” A great component that made the salad taste a little more like a Nicoise salad with the salmon.

The time before that, I ordered the Moules Frites ($18) as an entree. This time it was a pound and a half of mussels that came with crispy french fries. It was so good, but I would have to say the mussels were not properly cleaned during my first experience, which left them gritty. The second time, though, absolutely no grit. I was happy I gave them a second chance.

Another option that you can add as either an appetizer to share or an entree is their Tarte Flambee ($11-14), which is pretty much a flatbread. It is nice and crispy, and there are options to what type of flatbread you can order.

Little Red Riding Vogue: Think Globally, Shop Locally

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While working for WHIRL this summer, one of my favorite parts of the internship was familiarizing myself with local shops. These were stores that I must have walked past a million times in my life, but had never really seen. And not only did the internship get me into the shops; it also got me acquainted with the store owners and employees—considering you wouldn’t really trust a stranger to come in, take whatever they like, and leave.

Now, of course, I do have my own particular tastes, and so not every store’s style matched up with my own. It doesn’t mean they weren’t great—it just means that I’m very particular. Also, some of the stores would be geared towards an older generation so their styles did not work for a younger person.

One of my favorite stores was Kristi Boutique in Aspinwall. Although I cannot remember seeing it before in passing, I’m sure I must have. And now, whenever I head down to the Waterworks Mall, I can’t help but notice it.

Kristi Boutique boasts a great selection of clothes and styles that can honestly work for any age group. Specifically, they have a denim “bar” with dozens upon dozens of jeans, shorts, and more. They also explicitly carry Project 11 belts and belt buckles that you can interchange for a unique look every time. They have an abundant supply of soft t-shirts for yoga and a great assortment of accessories—such as designer sunglasses that could make you swoon.

Being in the same building as a yoga studio, Kristi Boutique has a relaxing atmosphere to the point where you could lose hours in there, just checking out every intimate detail of the little store. Everyone that works there is a pocket full of sunshine and although the prices are pretty steep, I would absolutely recommend stopping in if you’re in the area.

Another store I was head over heels for was e.b. Pepper on Walnut Street in Shadyside. Although it’s a bit less relaxed than Kristi Boutique, e.b. Pepper has the most incredible clothes. Sure the atmosphere is a bit stuffy, and if you’re young and wild like I am, you constantly feel like they’re watching you like a shoplifter, but the fashion absolutely outweighs any negatives.

Much like its atmosphere, the fashion of e.b. Pepper is high class, but also charming. Once again, the prices are pretty intimidating, but definitely worth it. If you ever need an incredible dress for an important event, and you’ve got money to burn, go to e.b. Pepper. You’ll find something that no one else can top, and everyone can admire. If you want to look “Vogue”, shop at e.b. Pepper.

Finally, not far from e.b. Pepper is Roberta Weissburg Leathers. All I can say of Roberta is if you wish you were a celebrity, then just stop by her shop.

Being a boutique, Roberta likes to get to know her customers, and then be their personal shopper in a way. She buys her stock with you in mind, and takes note of the styles that you prefer—not to mention her store is always packed with gorgeous belts and fun, art-themed socks. She has an overwhelming collection of cowboy/cowgirl boots and a talent for personalizing leather that could knock your socks off. And as an added bonus, she’s extremely nice.

If you’re ever looking for something to do, and you’re near any of these shops, definitely stop inside. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for copies of WHIRL!

Foodie on the Half Shell: Everybody loves brunch

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Brunch is one word with so many different meanings. It is the epitome of meals, encompassing sandwiches, waffles, eggs, potatoes, scones, mimosas, and bloody marys. It is a meal that is full of so many possibilities, and without any boundaries.

I love to go out for brunch. It is an event and party in itself. With the autumn coming, and the cool wind invading my home, I have the desire to go shopping in little boutiques for pumpkin scented stuff and blankets. To top it off, I want a chai tea with some inventive version of brunch. My ideal brunch involves smoked salmon, cheeses, potatoes, pickles, and spicy stuff. Bagels and lox with a spicy bloody mary fit that picture.

Whenever my partner, Ben, has a morning off during the weekend, we sleep in and end up starving when we wake up. It is around noon when we head out, but we still want breakfast. Pamela’s down in the Strip is a go-to, but we wanted to try something different recently.

Coca Café in Lawrenceville is a tiny café that doesn’t look like much from outside, but once you are inside it is a colorful blast from the past. The mix-matched furniture creates a home style from the 60’s feel. It isn’t a huge café, but it is big enough to keep a crowd moving. On a Sunday around one in the afternoon, we waited for about fifteen minutes for a table.
Coca Café only has brunch on Sundays, and their menu changes weekly. I ordered their house tea smoked salmon omelet. Their eggs were cooked perfectly, and it was stuffed with goat cheese, dill, grape tomatoes and salmon. It came with crunchy home fries.

It was delicious, and tasted very fresh. Ben got their–wait for it–herb goat cheese stuffed French toast, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with strawberries. It was good without syrup, but it was incredible with the syrup. The savory and salty of the goat cheese with the sweetness of the powdered sugar and fruit went together like brunch heaven.

This spot is perfect for a morning out with your friends or loved one. It has a large scope of foods, and they even have vegetarian sausages, which are super tasty. It is also in a part of town that is really hopping with fun shops, salons, restaurants and cafés.

It will fulfill all of your hipster needs, such as kosher pickles, barbershops, vintage clothes, and BPA-free toys. Head down to Lawrenceville and enjoy the tastiness Coca Café has in store for you.

Foodie on the Half Shell: Warm up this fall with a toasty tostada

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What we have today is a crunchy and spicy shrimp tostada. Tostadas can be made with pretty much anything, but they usually have some beans, cheese, and veggies on top. The shell is crunchy, and usually flat, and then it is piled high with ingredients of your choosing.

The only downside to tostadas is that they are so hard to eat! I tried using a fork and knife, but that didn’t seem right, so I actually looked it up online. Go to this Youtube video, and learn how to eat a tostada before you make them! This guy’s technique was not only funny, but seemed legitimate.

The word tostada means “toasted” in Spanish and is a Mexican food that you can get at almost any Mexican restaurant you go to in the United States. A lot of food from Mexican restaurants in the US is very heavy, and full of beans, cheese, ground beef, and sour cream. Although, that is delicious, it’s just not that good for you, and a lot of authentic Mexican food isn’t actually like that.

I’ve been to Mexico twice, and I’ve been to the Southwest a lot, so I have had my share of all kinds of styles of Mexican food. I have to say that my favorite type is the coastal style from the Yucatan Peninsula.

I’ve never been to the Yucatan Peninsula, but I have tried their style of food, and it is very fresh and unlike the burritos and nachos that most of us are used to. They use ingredients like avocado, oranges, plums, and seafood.

I was inspired by the freshness of the Mexican food I know and love, and also by the crunchy tostadas we can get from our own Mexican restaurants around us. This tostada is not deep fried; only lightly pan fried and then put into the oven to crisp up. This will save you calories and fat from the useless amount of oil from deep frying. By using shrimp instead of the usual ground beef, you are saving yourself from saturated fat and cholesterol. Shrimp is lean, and still gives you a great amount of protein.

What you will need for 5 tostadas:

1 pound of uncooked shrimp

5 small corn tortillas

1 can of refried beans

1 bell pepper

1/2 large onion

1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese

1 chopped large tomato

1 head of chopped romaine lettuce

1/4 cup of cilantro

2 tablespoons of chili powder

1 tablespoon of cumin

2 tablespoons of chipotle pepper powder

2 tablespoons of honey

1 juiced lime

salt and pepper to taste

Sunflower oil or veggie oil for pan frying the tortillas

2 tablespoons of olive oil

To fry the tortillas, add two tablespoons of oil into the pan and make sure it is hot. Add the tortilla and let it fry for two minutes on each side. Put the finished tortillas on paper towels to get rid of excess oil, and then pop them into the oven around 350 degrees to keep them crunchy and not soggy.

Clean the shrimp, and take their tails off. Marinate them in half of the chili powder and half of the chipotle, with the honey, lime, olive oil, and some salt and pepper. Sauté them in a pan until they are cooked thru, and then chop them into little chunks to put on top of the tostada when ready.

Put the bell pepper and onion into a pan, cook them until they are sweating, and season them with salt and pepper and some extra chili powder if you desire.

Cook the beans and add the rest of the chipotle, cumin, and chili powder into them. Spread the beans onto the crunchy tostada, add the sautéd veggies, and sprinkle on the cheese. Broil them on low, and take them out when fully melted. After you take them out, add the chopped lettuce, tomatoes, shrimp and cilantro. Add salsa, lime, or hot sauce to top it off.

Little Red Riding Vogue: Review of New York Fashion Week

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Now that things from 2014’s New York Fashion Week have settled down a bit, it’s time to analyze and review! Although I love the classics like Chanel and Dior, I have to say, I always get especially excited to see shows from more alternative fashion houses.

One of my favorites will always be Kate Spade. Part of that may stem from the fact that her pieces are often somewhat affordable—especially if you hit up an outlet. This year she continued with her usual style of color blocking, stripes, and florals. In my opinion, she nailed it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! She showed off some great dresses and bags that I can’t wait to see in the stores.

Another fantastic collection came from Zimmermann who charmed with ruffled gowns and gleaming blouses. Zimmermann chose to play with many textures and colors, and it definitely gets your attention. With dreamy periwinkle and creamsicle tones, this collection has me absolutely swooning. Any one of their pieces could make me feel like a princess in a Disney movie.

Now if you’re looking to be a specific princess—namely Jasmine—you should check out the collection from The Blonds. As usual, The Blonds dominated with a specific theme in mind. This time, they showed off gorgeous sequined and beaded outfits, often with beautiful billowy bottoms that couldn’t help but remind me of Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin. All told, it was iconic as always.

Anna Sui, a regular at this point, knew what she was doing and rocked fashion week with a collection boasting dozens of unique patterns and cuts. Each outfit was uniquely edgy and charming with tones ranging from scarlet to indigo. She even threw in a few metallics to rival Zimmermann.

One thing I always love to see at fashion week is collaboration. In Jeremy Scott’s case, it was none other than Miley Cyrus. To be specific, Cyrus created a series of collaged sculptures to exhibit at Scott’s show. And she couldn’t have picked a better partner. Scott is well-known for his colorful, “out-there” style which he reiterated this year.

One of the best shows this year had to be Betsey Johnson who went above and beyond as usual. This time, her show’s theme was marriage equality. The show’s openers were models styled as same-sex couples. Many of the models throughout the show were also drag-queens—each one sashaying down the runway in one of Johnson’s crush-worthy, over-the-top ball gowns. She relied, as always, on girly tones and cuts, rocking the femininity of each queen.

If you missed my piece on the new designers at Marc by Marc Jacobs, check it out because that’s all I have to say about the new MBMJ previewed at fashion week. It’s flawless, shocking, and so Luella. With bright colors, color blocking, polka-dots, and bold text, Katie Hillier and Luella Bartley have stolen my heart once again.

Finally, there’s Altuzarra who is now featuring pieces at Target. Who doesn’t love high fashion at affordable prices? None of what was shown at fashion week is on the racks at Target (simply because this is their 2015 Ready to Wear, and also because these are not pieces they designed for Target), but nonetheless, it was darling and daring, shifting from baby pinks and blues to black and gold.

Overall it was a fantastic fashion week that has me drooling and dreaming about all the amazing pieces the designers of the world are creating.

Little Red Riding Vogue: A whirlwind of a summer

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Over the summer I had the incredible opportunity to work for Pittsburgh’s WHIRL Magazine as a Fashion Editorial intern. For those not familiar with WHIRL, WHIRL technically has three publications: WHIRL Magazine, Edible Allegheny, and WHIRL Wedding Guide.

For anyone interested in the happenings of Pittsburgh—anyone who wants to know about the best restaurants, shows, stores, etc. in Pittsburgh—read WHIRL Magazine. Anyone interested in finding out more about local farmers markets, healthy recipes, and gardening should check out Edible Allegheny. Finally, if you’re planning a Pittsburgh wedding, you have to read WHIRL Wedding Guide. It lists all of the best venues, caterers, event planners, etc. in Pittsburgh.

Although each magazine is so unique, it all falls under one fearless leader: Christine Tumpson. As an editorial intern, Christine, WHIRL’s editor-in-chief, was my direct supervisor. She taught me so much about the world of magazines—and also about life.

Photo Courtesy of Veronica Cheng WHIRL interns at lunch

Photo Courtesy of Veronica Cheng
WHIRL interns at lunch

When I signed on for the internship, I was a little afraid that it could easily turn into a sequel for “The Devil Wears Prada.” I had no idea what to expect. The employees at WHIRL that I had been emailing about my paperwork seemed nice enough, but I couldn’t get a good read on Christine. When I showed up for my first day, I was about 20 minutes early—trying to make a good impression. Christine hadn’t even come in yet.

Christine was the kind of boss that everyone wishes they had. She’s like the mom everyone wishes they had. She lives by the flow of the world and sometimes she’d send us out to the most interesting places on the most exciting adventures. On one of my first days, she told two other interns and me that we had to take the bike trail down to this bike museum and then to a café she loved.

We got lost, there was a torrential downpour, but by the time we found the bike museum, it didn’t even matter. We were soaked to our cores, but walking into Bicycle Heaven was like entering another world. When we mentioned we were from WHIRL, we were given a tour of their extraordinary bike collection and given a brief history of their work.

Once we were finished, we trekked back out into the pouring rain to Chateau Café and Cakery for a fantastic lunch. When we checked out at the register we were all given little coasters with Pittsburgh themed things on them. When they had my order ready, they called out, “Roberto Clemente Bridge!” I don’t know of any other restaurant that does this.

Christine’s focus for our internship was not just to familiarize us with magazines, but to familiarize us with Pittsburgh. After all, that is WHIRL’s goal. At least once a week, she’d send all of us interns out for lunch to some incredible restaurant in Pittsburgh so we could immerse ourselves in our city and build friendships that I’m sure will last our whole lives. She introduced us to stores that I never knew existed, and now cannot live without.

Throughout the course of my internship, I assisted in major photo shoots, styled and managed minor photo shoots, wrote blogs for said photo shoots, assisted in major events, distributed magazines, collected products from stores, assisted in editing the magazine, and so much more.

I got to walk into stores, pick out whatever I wanted, and leave with so many bags I couldn’t walk in a straight line (although I did have to return them after the photo shoots). I got to go to some of the trendiest and most expensive restaurants in town for lunch. I got to see Pitcher Park Memorial Skate Park before it opened. Through WHIRL’s amazing, annual One WHIRL Yoga Fest, I found out that I actually love yoga and want to get much better at it.

For one summer I got to live out my dream job and be part of a family unlike any I have ever met. As we like to say at WHIRL, it was a ‘whirl-wind!’

Check out the denim blog I did for them here!