Latin Goes Local at Seviche

Just a short walk from my apartment Downtown Pittsburgh is my new favorite restaurant. A restaurant I’ve passed numerous times without ever going in. What is that new favorite restaurant you ask? Seviche, the place for tapas in Pittsburgh It wasn’t just the food or the atmosphere. It was the whole experience that made every bite mouthwateringly enjoyable.

Jeff, the head chef, knows what he’s doing. Seriously. His menu was designed to showcase local ingredients. The thoughtfulness and delicate hand that each dish was prepared with was appreciated even by a novice like me. Jeff intertwined local squash, mushrooms and bread to create the Latin Goes Local menu. A menu I’m still having dreams about.

First course: Tiradito – Peruvian style sashimi with lemon, cilantro oil, chili and sea salt served with local squash and jicama salad.
I’m not a huge raw fish fan. It’s a texture issue. With that said this wasn’t my favorite course. It was a great start though. The fish was so thinly cut it melted in your mouth. And the crisp citrus infused salad really paired nicely.

Second course: Mini Ahi Tuna Sliders – Grilled plum tomato, micro cilantro and wasabi mayo, served on locally baked brioche.
After taking my first bite I declared this to be my favorite course. An ahi-tuna slider? Uh, yes please! This little guy was flaky and delicious. The wasabi mayo enhanced the flavor making each bite more sinful than the last.

Third course: Smoked Scallop Chowder – Roasted corn, chipotle, green onions in a locally baked bread bowl.
The slider was the clear winner until the chowder. I would actually start a street fight to have it right now.

Fourth course: Filet a la Plancha – Safron aioli, roasted tomatoes, confit of Pennsylvania mushrooms demi-glace.
I love filet mignon. The end.

Fifth course: Local Apple Cobbler – Local bread, red jalapeno jelly, vanilla ice cream.
I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to fully enjoy this. I was on the verge of full. I found a way to eat it though. For the sake of this post of course. The red jalapeno jelly was an interesting twist on a classic dish. It added a layer of flavor that makes it seem like grandmothers have been doing it wrong all this time.

The food was definitely the highlight but watching the chefs craft each dish was one of my favorite parts. Since I have the curiosity of a 5 year old I asked questions. Lots of them. It’s the only way you learn right? It’s also, in my opinon, the only place to get tapas in Pittsburgh.

Since I had such a great time, I think you should too. That’s why 1 lucky reader will win a $50 gift certificate to see if they love it as much as me.

The rules:

1. leave a comment on this post saying why you’d love try Pittsburgh’s best tapas
2. include your name and email address
3. only one entry per person
4. must be 18 years or older to enter

The randomly selected winner will win a $50 gift certificate to enjoy at Seviche. The contest will be held from Friday, March 19 until Thursday, March 25. One winner will be chosen using www.random.org and will be announced Friday, March 26, 2010.

*The randomly selected winner will be notified through email