Pittsburgh BYOB Gathering - #11 @ Tomato Pie

Starting a separate thread since this idea is gathering momentum.

Looking at an Italian wine tasting at Tomato Pie Cafe next to North Park sometime in September.

Dates of 9/11 or 9/12 have been floated, HOWEVER those probably won't work as McCandless Community Day parade and festival is Saturday 9/11 and Tomato Pie is located right in the thick of it. I seem to recall that they actually closed last year, not sure if that's the case this year or not but even if they're open we'd probably have a hard time getting in/parking/etc.

So how would Saturday Sept 18 work? It is Yom Kippur so that may exclude some folks, so maybe 9/25 would be preferable?

Please reply with your availability for 9/18 and 9/25.

The 18th would work fine for us - we have another event on the 25th.

The 18th is good for me.

How about Fri 9/10?

I'm no show on the 18th?

The 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th and 24th are good for me.

I think I'm good for any weekend.

Mark, you beat me to the post -thanks for starting. At this point most weekends in Sept are good for me. Potentially planning a trip to CLE, but that is not settled so I'm good at the moment. 9/18 is good, as is Fri 9/10 if we can get in a day ahead of the McCandless mob and include jlburd.

I'm good for any of the weekends in Sept. after the first one. Rosalie will be in Japan, so put me down for one.

I have an Italian or two in the cellar. If the SLO people at the PLCB deliver for me (order is over a month old), I may have a bottle of Freisa d'Asti available. Freisa is a grape grown in Piemonte, and the wines made from it are considered by the locals to be similar to Barolo and other wines made from Nebbiolo, but at roughly 1/3 the price. Same big, tannic structure, a little lighter in color... The wine I have ordered is Vigna del Forno by Cascina Gilli. Vaynerchuck gave it a 90+.

Just hard to come by, especially in PA.

If you build it they will come!

I'm good for any of the dates in Sept.

Do you have to be invited or can anybody attend? I would like to attend.

burchfield -
Everyone is invited and welcome to attend. The only ground rules are that you bring a bottle (or two) to share and that you have a great time. Hope to see you soon.
dontime

Tomato Pie is close to work and home. I hope to make it.

Sept 18 works for me.
10th an 11th are out.

Loren,
Hope you can make it. We need an "insider" in the group :-)

Thanks J2K.

"burchfield" is Loren?!! Cool. Loren, I echo J2K's comment above. Hope to see you there.

Let's set a date and get this baby moving!!!

Hey all,

To include as many as possible, looks like Sat 9/18 is our best opportunity, so, shall we just plan for that?
I took the liberty of calling Tomato Pie, and gathered the following:

• They do not accept reservations; and around 6pm things get pretty busy on a Sat, so they recommend coming in 5 – 5:30 to secure a table for a party of our size (12+). I do recall from our first meeting there, space does get tight so an early start is probably a good idea. They close around 9pm.

• No stemware; need to bring your own

• Cash only

Theme: I believe it was suggested originally by Mark, and supported by tonypoli that we should do Italian –I'm in for that if others are as well. Keep it simply Italian; any need to specify region or price-range?
Anything else to cover?

Sept. 18, 5:00pm - bring stems, cash and Italian. Think I've got it.

I'm out

We will miss you!

I'm in (just me), and I was able to get some Freisa d"Asti, so we can try a new varietal. It is a Domenico Stella, from IWC New York. The SLO for the Cascina Gilli from PLCB fell through. See you on the 18th.

So...do we want to say what we're bringing, to try to avoid duplicates? I'm thinking we probably shouldn't try this blind, seeing as the venue is casual (to put it mildly) and there may not be a lot of room to spread out.

Sorry can't make it.

Non-blind is probably a good idea for this one Mark; not much table room. I will be bringing a Tuscan: Felsina Fontalloro 2006

Do they have an outside dining area? Weather is projected to be great.
If so, might give us more room.
Probable 3 to attend - me, bro-in-law (Jim) & son (Ed).

Hawk,
Yes, there is an outside dining area and it's quite exquisite, dinner jackets are required and Pittsburgh Penguin logo's are not permitted ;-)

Black tie it is!

I'm in for one. Maybe two, but probably one.

I'll be there, bringing Castello di Meleto Rainero Toscana 2004, after jlburd's glowing review am anxious to give it a try.

http://www.pawinetalk.com/detail/?id=1001251

I will bring a box of 12 inexpensive stems to share in case anyone needs one.