Meeting set for Giant Eagle liquor license

The Seven Fields council will hold a public meeting to discuss the prospect of Giant Eagle obtaining a liquor license to sell six-packs of beer and malt beverages from inside the supermarket. The chain has also applied for liquor licenses at six other locations around Pittsburgh. More from the Post-Gazette and KDKA.

Giant Eagle has entered into an agreement to purchase a liquor license, but Seven Fields is required to hold hearing to allow residents to voice their opinions on the issue.

The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. July 13 in the Seven Fields borough building.

The Seven Fields' Giant Eagle currently has a wine and liquor store adjacent to the grocery store.

Oak Tree Place update

First Cracker Barrel dropped out, now Golden Corral has walked away. Starbucks has also said "no thanks" after they decided to slow expansion. What's left? From the Post-Gazette:

Building permits for a Mexican restaurant, Chipotle, and an Aspen Dental office are about to be issued by the township. Also in the queue are Sawa Japanese Steakhouse and Five Guys Burger and Fries.

Construction should begin in a few weeks.

Local Domenico's is now open

A carry-out/delivery version of Cranberry's Domenico's is now open in the new strip next to the Fitness Factory.

I'm going to be trying something new - restaurant reviews. Vote in the poll (which should be added shortly) and add your review to the comments if you wish.

Oak Tree Place restaurants set

The Post-Gazette has a short article on the restaurants planned for the new Oak Tree Place on Rt 19. Since Cracker Barrel has backed out yet again, the lineup changed a bit. (The original plan had Cracker Barrel and another Starbucks.)

• Sawa Japanese Steakhouse -- There's another location in Monroeville. The township has already approved a liquor license transfer.


• Chipotle -- The national burrito chain that will give Moe's a run.


• Golden Corral -- The family steakhouse with a buffet.

Barista battle in Cranberry

Coming this weekend to the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry will be "For the Love of Coffee," a regional barista competition. From the Trib:

Coffee aficionados can get their fix of caffeine and watch the best cafe baristas in the East this weekend at two simultaneous coffee competitions in "For the Love of Coffee," presented by the Specialty Coffee Association of America. The competitors will ply their skills Friday through Sunday at the Pittsburgh Marriott North, Cranberry, in either the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic Regional Barista Competitions. Local baristas participate in the Mid-Atlantic competition. Attendees also can browse an accompanying trade show.

About 60 baristas will compete in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic competitions. The finals for both regions will be Sunday. Winners from each region will be awarded all-expenses-paid trips to compete in the national competition later this year in Portland, Ore.

In 15 minutes, each barista will brew 12 specialty beverages -- four espressos, four cappuccinos and four signature drinks -- using music, choreography and patter.

"It is very entertaining," Wethli says. "It's very theatrical."

It may be fun for the audience, but competitors will perform before four "sensory judges" who will watch the barista and taste the coffees; two technical judges who will evaluate how the competitor used the machines and the size of the drinks; and a head judge, who will preside over all.

In addition to making the coffees with precision and flair, baristas will tell the audience where the coffee beans came from, whether from a small village in Mexico or the slopes of a mountain in Sumatra.

The competition runs 11am to 5pm Friday through Saturday this weekend. Admission is free. The schedule of events (in pdf form) can be found here.