A $20 trip to the Strip

It was one of those rare days, the rain was holding out and I had the whole evening off! But when your paycheck isn't coming in until Monday, and you are hungry for something delicious there is one place to go, The Strip District.

I remember as a little girl getting up early with my father, grumbling about how early it was, but obediently getting in his old Cadillac to go and see Bill. Bill was the owner of Bills Produce, and my Dad was always good with getting to know everyone. Because my father was a regular on the weekends Bill used to save him the “special stuff”, which was hidden in the back. Each week Bill would run into his back area and come out with a beautiful basket of fresh plump strawberries or green beans that cracked when you snapped them. I remember the effect it had on me as a young girl, seeing my father talk with his grocer and getting to know him as a person, and then remembering him when we said grace that night at dinner.

On Saturday as Karen and I walked in the strip district on a $20 bill mission for good food, we passed by the faded sign of Bills Produce. It’s been closed for some time, but the legacy and the same Strip District is still very much alive down there. As we walked along the way across from Old Bills we found this open garage door (as stores are in the strip) with a hand written sign of the prices. For $2 we carried out a beautiful bunch of Kale Greens, Fresh Curley Parsley, and 3 or 4 Lemons. Not to mention having a great conversation with the woman who handled the money, who said I looked like a girl she went to school with back in the day.

With a new pep in our step from being told I was pretty, and only spending 2 dollars we paroozed my favorite stops. At the Open Air Market, I had a great conversation with a female baker who now is working with a local bakery to have Gluten Free bread etc mix there. Local and affordable, count me in! We then wove our way through Wholey’s Fish Market bumping in to one of my High School friend’s parents who were on a mission to buy an Octopus, which they say if prepared right is quite a delicacy.

After Wholey’s we weaved in and out of the throng of people on the main street. Music playing in the air, vendors hacking t-shirts with hilarious Pittsburgh themes, sales on home made food, and lots of colorful scarves, hats, and jewelry. We ducked into a cookware store, and drooled over all the cooking ware. Not being able to leave empty handed, we found a fun $6 hand grater. We justified this because Karen had just gone to Delillos grocery earlier that morning and bought fresh asiago cheese, hand rolled mozzarella, mozzarella with prosciutto, as well as having assorted other hard cheeses in my fridge waiting to be tried.

Only 2 more necessary stops, because our stomachs were beginning to grumble. The first being to Pittsburgh Popcorn Company. As always there was a line of people gearing up for their weekend treat. Large basins filled with different flavors and the delectable smells that accompanied them greeted us as we entered the store. There is a hip young feel as the 20-something workers seamlessly work around each other dishing out samples and filling bags with popcorn goodness. Karen sampled the baklava flavor of the week, which she likes, but not enough for immediate buying. I, on the other hand, tried the Reese’s flavor and had to buy a medium size bag. Only $5.50, which for this bag of gold I was more then willing to spend.

Our last stop was my favorite grocery store, Right By Nature, with 6.50 left in out pocket. One of the best things for someone who has a Gluten Allergy is knowing that there is a place where you can find food you can eat. I had been hankering for a baguette for several weeks, and knew that Right by Nature would have it. They have a beautiful 8’ft isle dedicated to gluten free foods. To my surprise and elation, gluten free foods such ad baguettes and frozen pizzas were on sale by the manager. And with a dollar or so change in our pockets, Karen and I left the strip district excited about our spread for the evening.