Phipps Cafe

We’re eating our way through Pittsburgh as you guys know by now. My new quest is to find gluten-free options that aren’t just salad without dressing. I can eat that at home. Just sayin’. Our latest conquest is the cafe at Phipps Conservatory. Natalie had a Girl Scout event there on Saturday morning so we stayed for lunch then went to the origami demonstration where my girls folded for 20 minutes straight until I begged them to leave paper for others who might come behind them.

But first a few photos from our walking around waiting for Natalie to be done. (and fyi – this nursing thing has me hungrier than birds in winter. I was hun-gray by the time we met the oldest at noon in the lobby. Hun-gray.)

This is what I get when I ask him to look at the camera nicely.

His older sister did a better job.

In the market – – the kids’ favorite stop in the whole place. Ryan must’ve been hungry too.

Sweet P was awake on and off, but mostly took a morning nap in the wonderful, tropical feel amongst the botanicals.

We finally sat down to eat at the cafe located right inside the front doors. I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu contains markings for vegetarian and gluten-free items so there was no having to ask.

AND, the kids menu featured GF pasta! Whut? Love it.

The two glutenavore kids ate 1/2 a cheese pizza with a few carrots, orange slices, and greens as sides (they come standard), plus got a fizzy juice drink that no one at the table really liked. Boo.

Gluten-free girl tried the quinoa pasta and meatballs with the same sides.

I had GF vegetarian chili with a 1/2 portion chicken pear salad.

The sad news is that I’m the only one who got full. Let’s be honest, my kids are eaters. The piddly little 1/2 pizza wasn’t enough to fill them and Ryan doesn’t play lettuce on a plate. He plays bread or cookies or crackers, but certainly not a side salad. I ended up getting a bowl of chili for them to split between the three of them (since they quickly ganged up on me to take mine). That satisfied them. If I were to do it again (the food was tasty enough to repeat) I’d just get the kids a cup of chili each and call it a day.

After lunch, we made our way into India to find the origami club who was doing a demonstration. We met them last year and I knew the kids would have fun folding paper again. This kind lady helped Ryan make a boat and then told me she thought he might be tired (of folding). It was her way of telling me she was tired perhaps? At any rate, he played with that boat the rest of the day sailing it through the air and over plants.

Ainsley really wanted to make a swan but settled for a tulip instead.

And in case you aren’t aware, today is Pi day… 3.14  In honor of it, go make a pie!  Here’s a great recipe and crust tutorial for your convenience!