Aldo Coffee Company

Slave-Free Chocolate Still Not a Reality Everywhere

The older we get, the more activist we find ourselves becoming.  We've always sourced our core products as ethically as possible, coffee (direct trade), cocoa (slave-free) and tea (living wages, sustainable).  More and more of our food offerings have become organic and locally-grown wherever reasonably possible.

Additionally, we're dead-set against GM (genetically-modified) foods and have a particular distaste for a couple of companies that have so fully integrated themselves with key members of the federal government that it's all but impossible to legislate against these companies and actively pursue a course toward global food security.

Still, it comes as a shock every year when the annual report on slavery at cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast comes out.  Today was that day.

Power On

Seems a few area coffeehouses and other hangouts are still without power.  In these economic times a day or two of no sales can be disastrous, so we hope all our colleagues will have lights on by tomorrow. 

While we appreciate all the business that came our way today because of the ongoing outages, as soon as your regular shop re-opens, please patronize them as soon as you can so they can make up for lost business days. 

Meantime, we'll be open as usual.  Wi-fi and everything else is fully operational.  We ask only that all of you with laptops use common courtesy and not take up a larger table space than is needed so your neighbors can enjoy the cafe as well.

Back to 6pm Closing Come October

We've been tossing folks out into the street after 5:00 for the last week and plenty of others are knocking on the door while we're cleaning, which means it must be Fall!

We'll start closing at 6:00pm come October.  As October 1 is a First Friday we'll be open till 9:00pm anyway, but starting that Saturday, we'll be open every night except Sunday until 6pm. 

We'd make the change sooner but we're waiting for Jess to get back from her cruise and Johnny C. to come on board, both of which won't happen until the end of the month.

Football season has always been an issue here - it's tumbleweeds when the Steelers play - so we're also going to start closing at 2pm on Sundays, effective October 3.

The new hours as of October 1 will be:

Monday-Friday: 6:30am-6:00pm
Saturday: 7:30am-6:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am-2:00pm

When to Leave It to the Masters: Dining at Salt of the Earth

Melanie and I had a rare splurge last night - went to the public opening of Salt of the Earth. 

In the eight years I've been here, I can't think of a more anticipated restaurant opening in Pittsburgh.  Which makes it easy to imagine how much pressure the staff was under to pull off their vision flawlessly.  Last night they did.

Kevin is a cook from whom I'd probably try anything. In fact, the website menu had a chicken appetizer that included livers, hearts and combs.  I had talked myself into that on the drive up intrigued as to what he'd do with them - and whether I'd actually enjoy it.  Unfortunately that preparation was no longer on the menu once we arrived (ok, since I had a stunning beef tartare with marrow instead).

To say we enjoyed our meals would be a tremendous understatement. It was an absolute joy, in part because everything was delicious, but also because of the imagination and playfulness that goes into each dish.  Unusual preparations of standard ingredients, introduction of foreign ingredients, contrasting textures... it's a party for your entire mouth.  And top-notch unobtrusive service to boot.

If you go (and you should, soon), please just go for it.  If you like the main protein, don't even think about not ordering because of some unfamiliar accompaniment or an ingredient you're not crazy for.  Just order and put your trust in the fact that it'll be unlike any dish you've ever eaten and it'll be absolutely delicious. (As an example, the walleye was served with brussel sprouts kimchi. I'd never order brussel sprouts in a restaurant. But it was Kevin preparing them. So I did.)

There are some chefs who've earned the right to not make substitutions (save for potentially fatal allergic reactions, of course). Kevin is one of those chefs.  Just put yourself in his hands and enjoy the evening.

Disclosure: Salt is a client.  They serve our coffee.  And they do that well too.

About That Remodeling...

With Jess on vacation through the 27th and Johnny C. not coming on board until that same date, we've been a bit stretched out just handling shifts.  So we're behind schedule on getting to the painting, floors and rearranging the bar area.  We're not the spring chickens with boundless energy we used to be :(

That pile of stuff in the back corner training area keeps growing, though.

Thanks for your continued patience... it'll be worth it.

Johnny C. Returns

We can finally publicly announce that former MARBC finalist and USBC competitor Johnny C. will be returning to Aldo Coffee Co. as of September 27.

Johnny will be behind bar doing what he does best as well as helping us launch that not-so-secret new project we'll be adding in the next couple of weeks.

We're delighted that one of Pittsburgh's best baristas is coming back home to Aldo Coffee Co.

Hulu: Two Free Documentaries Worth Watching

The Future of Food

This was an eyeopener.  Did you know that corporations can patent seeds?  Not seeds they developed. Seeds that nature created centuries ago.  A handful of corporations owns agriculture in the US and seeks to own agriculture globally through the wonders of patent harmonization.  Regardless of your political affiliation, you have to find that disconcerting.

If that all sounds complicated, it's really not.  There are some heartbreaking and touching stories in this film, which tells some amazing and disturbing stories that affect every single American. 

Why food security and food policy isn't right up there with Social Security and immigration as A-number-one election issues shows you how thoroughly Big Food is in bed with our elected officials and their appointees.

Independent America

A look at how three retail chains have changed forever how we shop and how our communities have changed as a result.  This one can be a bit self-indulgent, but does have its merits, especially when interviewing people who themselves are conflicted on their own buying behaviors.

Food, Inc. used to be on Hulu but is no longer there.  But it's definitely also a must-see if you care at all about food security and what the megacorporations are doing to our food supplies, farmers and our economy (not to mention the economies of third world countries).

Open Labor Day Until 1pm

We'll be OPEN on Labor Day, September 6, from 8:30am-1:00pm.

We hope you're enjoying your 3-day weekend. If you didn't go away for the holiday, we hope to see you Monday morning.