Much Belated Entry Update: 2/9/10: I'd like to point out that since the original posting of the following entry, Melange has changed Executive Chefs so I feel that my original "review" is no longer accurate. I haven't dined at the restaurant since late summer and haven't heard anything since the menu change took place. That said, the following entry is a great documentation of the excellence in customer service and attention to detail that Chef Doug Noxon has and should be respected for. I couldn't have pulled any of it off without his assistance.
And now, the original post:
He had been scheduled to work 4pm to 12am on his birthday but thanks to a called-in favor/good natured co-worker who wanted to pick up hours anyway, he was able to switch and get the day off. That was lucky break #1.
His mom ended up meeting him at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall for lunch. They went to check out puppies and when he told me all this, I was super jealous because a) I need a new pair of shoes at the 30% discount from my friend who works at the Famous Footwear at Pittsburgh Mills and b) I LOVE puppies! Anyway...
So he'd already gotten a free meal that day. Unfortunately, I can't remember where they went but I started feeling the pressure to really deliver for dinner. I took comfort in the fact that I was extremely confident in my choice of restaurants. Melange Bar Bistro on 6th Street, conveniently located right across the street from the hotel where Frenchy's used to be.
Let me start here: I was so excited for dinner yesterday that I had to look up reviews of the restaurant while I was at work. Melange is a new place but I still wanted the most recent review I could find and by luck I stumbled on one that was published on 4/8 by a theatre critic named April T. Carter from the Tribune Review. (You can read it yourself here). Since both myself and my hot-as-balls boyfriend are such "foodies" by nature, I got virtually drunk on excitement when I read it. Work went by in a flash since I was anticipating my meal with such vigor.
Melange did not disappoint.
We showed up early for our 8:30pm reservation but were still seated promptly by the host staff. My immediately impression of the decor was charming. The large black and white portraits of sports and music icons added a special touch that reminded both of us that we were in the heart of a sports and culture loving city without being overwhelming or in your face. We were seated in a booth that was private but not so set apart from all the action at the bar that we felt detached from the hockey game being shown on all three TVs.
Since I'd been studying the menu for about a week, I already knew what I wanted to order as an appetizer and my hot-as-balls boyfriend was able to guess in less than 15 seconds--the Saganaki, a flaming cheese dish, was so impressive in presentation and taste that words really fail to properly convey how good it is. Just imagine 3 (large) triangles of of battered kefalotyri cheese, showered with brandy and lit on fire tableside just to be doused with lemon juice by your server. The taste it creates is outrageous. The cheese is exceptionally strong but the batter and lemon juice compliments it perfectly to create one of the best appetizers I've ever had the privilege of eating.
With a little practice, I can see the wait staff at Melange having fun with this dish and turning it into a huge ordeal, yelling "Opa" (since its Greek) and drawing all kinds of attention from other patrons. Any time you set something on fire at someone else's table, people look because its fun!
Our server had mentioned a Chilled Strawberry soup which sounded to me as a type of gazpacho. The only other time I've had gazpacho offered to me was at Prime Steakhouse at Bellagio in Las Vegas. I'd loved it then and so jumped at the chance to enjoy it again. Needless to say, it was also unspeakably good. The girl waiting on us said it was made with lemoncello and that when she'd initially tasted it, she could taste the liqueur but I failed to pick up on a trace of it. It was perfect.
Time to talk entrees. My boy (sorry, he's 30 now. I mean, my man) and I both love food that jumps out at you. Not literally of course but flavor-wise. He ordered the Airline Chicken Skillet with Chorizo sausage while I opted for a Moroccan lamb dish with couscous but requested that saffron rice be substituted for the couscous instead.
I can't help but blush when I think about how good this meal was. I didn't try any of my date's chicken but my lamb was seasoned so perfectly, prepared so well and presented so immaculately that I don't believe that any other meal will ever rival last night's experience at Melange. Even my hot-as-balls boyfriend, who doesn't care for lamb, said that he thought it was good. It wasn't spicy but had a little kick and a ton of flavor. Perfect... just perfect.
In the middle of our entree, Kenny Blake and Maria Shaheen began their set of live jazz music. Unfortunately, I didn't catch their drummer's name but they all were amazing! Nearing the end of our meal, Kenny and Maria subtly showed up next to our table serenading my man with a gentle rendition of "Happy Birthday" on the sax, Kenny then confirmed my man's name and Maria sang to him on stage. The bar joined in and the Penguins scored. That particular stretch of 5 minutes was probably some of the most magical in my life so I'm sure that when my hot-as-balls boyfriend kept saying over and over "I'm very impressed" that they were for him too.
The Executive Chef, Douglas Noxon, then brought out a large piece of Tiramisu for dessert with 3 birthday candles on top. When I told my guy to make a wish and he blew out the candles, I got pelted with cocoa powder! It was great!
I have to add a quick note here: the portions on my appetizer, starter, dinner and dessert at Melange were excellent. You didn't have the desire or ability to over eat but you weren't left hungry either. The prices were moderate but completely reasonable and definitely outstanding for the sort of food you're being served.
Melange is great for small get-togethers/celebrations or for someone trying to impress a client/loved one. Every city has that "well kept secret restaurant" that's just perfect for special occasions when you've still got money on your mind. Unfortunately, Melange isn't going to be that well kept secret since I've got such a big mouth. Every single guest that comes up to ask where a good place to eat is getting sent over to Melange with the instruction to say that I sent them over. Its easy to say that I've got a new favorite restaurant.
Plus, they made me look really good to my hot-as-balls boyfriend. He's still sending me texts today to say thank you for how great everything was last night. While we were finishing dinner, I suggested we take the T over to Station Square and then the Mon Incline up to the overlook.
Neither of us had ever been on the T so we were totally a couple of tourists when it came to this. We sat at the Gateway Center station for about 30 minutes trying to figure out which train to take and my guy was getting frustrated and about to jump on the 47L when I remembered that it was the 42S we wanted (I'd looked it up online the night before). I'm glad I remembered otherwise we'd have ended up in Library and I would've had to have killed my hot-as-balls boyfriend.
We finally ended up at the overlook next to the Mon Incline on top of Mt Washington. It appeared that a group of prom kids had a similar idea in mind for a romance-filled fun night on the town since they were already up there taking pictures and making noise. I didn't really want to impose but at the same time, I realized that I had every right to be there as much as they did so I started pushing kids out of my way so we could get a good look at the city together... its my boyfriend's birthday, frankly he was the VIP for my night and they needed to get the fuck out of my way. I'd like to relate a story of hair-pulling and catty name calling here but it didn't happen, they sort of ignored us. :)
I had 2 glasses of wine in me from dinner and really needed to find a ladies room so we wandered down Shiloh Street to find the Shiloh Inn. We sat out on the patio where I enjoyed a lovely cocktail called The Shiloh Ghost (or 4 of them) and our bartender, Will, was extremely kind and accommodating. I definitely plan on making this a regular spot and would love to go back for dinner sometime. Possibly with dessert at the local ice cream/coffee places right across the street. I love Mt Washington, its got such a young, urban feeling to it.
I'm comfortable being a yuppie. Shut up!
Anyhoo, thanks to Will I was quite drunk for my trip back down the incline and back to the Gateway Center from Station Square. I'd taken my shoes off when we got back to Gateway Center and walked barefoot in the rain to the parking garage that stands right in front of our hotel at 6th and Ft Duquesne. My boyfriend doesn't drink so I was slightly embarrassed when he left me shoeless on the curb while he went in to pay for parking and get the car.
Meanwhile, one of the valets was taking a quick smoke break and caught me standing there in the rain. He called over to me, "Hey, how you doing?"
"Oh! I'm good!" I couldn't stop myself from giggling like an idiot at the same time.
"You drunk?" He totally called me out.
"Yep, sure am!" At least I'm an honest drunk.
"Have a good night?" I should have seen this set up coming from a mile away...
"Yeah, it was great. Its not over yet!" But being drunk I didn't see it coming.
"Oh well I'm jealous then, [My Hot-As-Balls Boyfriend] has you, you're drunk and he's taking you home."
I pretty much could have died on the spot. Thank God my man pulled up right when he did because even through my haze I got pretty embarrassed by being called out about dating someone I work with. That's ok though, its worth being embarrassed since he's such a fucking awesome boyfriend.
Anyway, special mention about the gifts (besides the best dinner I've ever had at Melange): my guy's a huge baseball fan so when my supervisor mentioned that she'd found a special on baseline Pirates tickets for the game of her choice, I jumped at the opportunity to buy them from her. Additionally, one of my guests checking in about a week ago had the most incredible wallet. He too is a huge baseball fan so about 3 years ago, his wife had purchased a baseball wallet for him as a birthday gift. The thing's made of real baseball leather with 108 red stitches and comes with "official rubbing mud" to wear it in and take some of that newness away.
He loved dinner and liked the gifts a lot and I'm pretty pleased with myself for being able to deliver on whats been deemed "the best birthday ever." God, I rock so hard it hurts!
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