The Carlton Restaurant

We would like to invite you to one or both of our final two Wine Dinners prior to the beginning of our ambitious summer renovation!  Both of these Friday evening dinners are labeled as Staff Appreciation Dinners because the proceeds will be used to help our valued staff navigate eight difficult weeks of unemployment!

As you know, most of what makes The Carlton special is our people! We are so proud of our dedicated staffand fortunate to have so many team members with us for 10, 15, 20 or even 25 years!  This is a chance for you to say thank you and wish them a good rest!  We are breaking out some real treats from the Cellar accompanied by some of Chef Mark’s creations that have been well received in the past!

“STAFF APPRECIATION” CELLAR WINE DINNER
Friday, June 11, 2010, 6:30 PM

Wine Selections by Kevin Joyce
Culinary offerings by Executive Chef Mark Swomley
$129 per person excluding gratuity

DESANTE NAPASAUVIGNON BLANC’06

SHELLFISH COCKTAIL
Chilled Chardonnay poached Crab, Shrimp and Sea Scallop
with Citrus Orzo Salad, Cranberry Cocktail Sauce and Lemon Zest

TALBOTT MONTEREY”KALI HART” CHARDONNAY’08
BERINGER NAPA”PRIVATE RESERVE” CHARDONNAY’07

AUSTRALIAN LOBSTER TAIL
Chardonnay & Citrus roasted and served with Macadamia Crab Slaw,
Caviar and Honey Citrus Vinaigrette

CROSSINGS MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR’08
CAMBRIA SANTA MARIA “JULIA’S VINEYARD” PINOT NOIR’06

VENISON LOIN
Oven roasted and served with a sweet Corn Cake Griddle Cakes,
Fennel-Sausage Ragout, Smoked Paprika Butter & crisp Arugula

CHATEAU ST. JEAN “CINQ CEPAGES” CABERNET SAUVIGNON’96
CHATEAU ST. JEAN “CINQ CEPAGES” CABERNET SAUVIGNON’97
CHATEAU ST. JEAN “CINQ CEPAGES” CABERNET SAUVIGNON’99

TENDERLOIN ROULADE
Tender Filet stuffed with Roast Pepper, Spinach & Asiago.  Served with
Truffle Roasted Potatoes, Vegetable Ratatouille and Red Wine Glaze

COVEY RUN YAKIMASEMILLON ICE WINE’06

FRESH BERRY-BUTTER PECAN SHORTCAKE
Homemade Shortcake topped with fresh Berries,
Butter Pecan Mousse and Triple Berry Syrup

“STAFF APPRECIATION” CELLAR WINE DINNER
Friday, June 18, 2010, 6:30 PM

Wine Selections by Kevin Joyce
Culinary inspirations by Executive Chef Mark Swomley
$129 per person excluding gratuity

SAVION VOUVRAY LOIRECHENIN BLANC’08

SMOKED SALMON BLT
Smoked Salmon layered on toasted Brioche with Sun-dried Tomato Aioli,
Panchetta, and Arugula. Served with Potato Gaufrette and grated Parmesan

RAMEY SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY’05
FRANK FAMILY NAPA CHARDONNAY’08

CRAB STUFFED SHRIMP
Oven roasted and served over Tomato-Artichoke Risotto with Spinach & grilled
quash Sauté, Cracked Mustard Beurre Blanc and Herb Crème Fraiche

TURNBULL OAKVILLE NAPA MERLOT’06
BERINGER HOWELL MOUNTAIN BANCROFT RANCH
“PRIVATE RESERVE” MERLOT’97

BRAISED SHORT RIBS
Served with Ricotta Gnocchi tossed with Tomato Cream, Roast Asparagus,
Cremini Mushrooms, Pan Jus, Manchego Cheese and Black Truffle

CHATEAU MARGAUX’81
RAYMOND NAPA “PRIVATE RESERVE” CABERNET SAUVIGNON’99
GEYSER PEAK ALEXANDER “WALKING TREE”
CABERNET SAUVIGNON’05

FILET MIGNON
Served with creamy Fingerling Potatoes,
Veal stuffed Cremini Mushrooms, Rosemary Demi-Glace and fresh Thyme

CAMBRIA SANTA MARIA”LATE HARVEST” VIOGNIER’08

LEMON TART
With fresh Berries

We turn our attention to Italy tonight when Roland Marandino, the Wine Ambassador for Cecchi Winery and Sartori Winery visits The Carlton Restaurant to present a “Best of Italy” Wine Dinner.  It is always fun to pair wines with Italian offerings because Italian wines are built for the table – complementing the cuisine.

We have three wines rated over ’90″ points including a blockbuster Amarone/Chianti comparison course.  This is an evening that will please the palate and Roland is sure to entertain and educate you about the world of Italian Wine!  Hope to see you here for a wonderful time out in Pittsburgh!

“BEST OF ITALY” WINE DINNER

With Roland Marandino, Wine Ambassador for Cecchi & Sartori
Culinary selections by Executive Chef Mark Swomley
Thursday, April 15, 2010, 6:30 PM
$99 per person excluding gratuity

SARTORI FERDI BIANCO VERONESE’07

KIWI GLAZED STUFFED SHRIMP
With Mascarpone-Ricotta Figs, Micro Green Salad,
Champagne Vinaigrette and Macadamia

CECCHI MORELLINO di SCANSANO RISERVA’05

GRILLED WILD MUSHROOMS
Served over Root Vegetable Strudel with crisp Pancetta,
Sherry Butter and Parmesan Arregiano

SARTORI REGOLO ROSSA VERONESE’05

VEAL RAGOUT
Slowly braised Veal, Plum Tomatoes, Spring Vegetables & Chorizo over Caccereccia Pasta with Fontinella and Dijon Cream.

SARTORI AMARONE CORTE BRA’03
CECCHI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA di FAMILGIA’06

TENDERLOIN BRUSCHETTA
Peppercorn crusted Tenderloin served over grilled Crostini with Arugula, Balsamic, Roma Tomatoes and fresh Mozzarella

SARTORI RECIOTO di SOAVE VERONESE

PANNA COTTA
With Balsamic Strawberries & sugared Tuille

Tonight is our “Best of California” Wine Dinner showing the wines from the outstanding portfolio of Vintage Imports.  We will be sampling wines from Monterey, the Central Coast, Russian River Valley, Napa Valley and Paso Robles with three courses of wine comparisons.   Lee Kuehn will be Vintage’s expert host for this great evening! Hope to see everyone here!



The Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Parade is this Saturday, and though this is typically a beer drinking holiday, there are some great wines out there perfectly suited for a great St. Patrick’s Day celebration! Here’s a good list for you to start off with from VinVillage.

Try wineries that began with Irish vintners like Murphy-Goode, which was founded by Tim Murphy, Dale Goode and Dave Ready, DuMOL Winery, owned by Kerry Murphy, or Owen Roe Winery in Oregon, named after the seventeenth century Irish Patriot of the same name and owned by Jerry Owen and Irish-born winemaker David O’Reilly. Or perhaps you would like to try the wine from Limerick Lane Cellars, who has also sold fruit to another winery of Irish heritage, Gary Farrell.

Here are The Carlton’s Quick Picks for the week of March 8th.

Remember, you can always find more events on the Post-Gazette’s Event Calendar as well as the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Calendar.

These are just a few of our favorites!

Grease. The musical Grease opens up at the Benedum Center on Tuesday, March 9th!  Time Magazine’s 2007 pick for “#1 musical of the year,” GREASE is rockin’ across the country in this new production direct from Broadway.  Make sure you stop by the Carlton beforehand for dinner and we’ll give you a free limo ride over to the show!

Best of California Wine Dinner with Vintage Imports.  I hope to see all of you here Friday, March 12 for our Best of California Wine Dinner featuring Vintage Imports.  We will be sampling wines from Monterey, the Central Coast, Russian River Valley, Napa Valley and Paso Robles with three courses of wine comparisons.  Click here for more details!

St. Patrick’s Day Parade. A Pittsburgh favorite!  Don’t miss the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh Saturday, March 13th.  We want to see you decked out in your Irish gear, so please stop by the Carlton for lunch and/or dinner to continue the St. Patrick’s celebration with us!

Enjoy extensive sample offerings from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state’s Founding Winery and a key player in obtaining federal recognition of the Columbia Valley as a unique wine growing region or American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Market Watch named Chateau Ste. Michelle the Wine Brand of the Year in 2008 and Wine Enthusiast named it the “American Winery of the Year” in 2004.  Once again, all of the wines have been rated above “90″ points and we reaching into the cellar to taste the 1997 “Reserve” Chardonnay and the 1995 “Artist Series” Meritage – a “91″ point blockbuster that cost over $60 in Pennsylvania when I purchased it many years ago!

“CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE” WINE DINNER

With Chateau Ste. Michelle’s John Sarich
Culinary offerings by Mark Swomley
Wednesday, April 7, 2009 – 6:30 PM
$109 per person – excluding Gratuity

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE “HORSE HEAVEN” SAUVIGNON BLANC’08

TUNA THREE WAYS
Tartare, Tuna Napa Spring Roll & chilled Wasabi-Pea crusted and served with Mango Scallion Relish, Yuzu Glaze, Pickled Ginger & Soy Crème

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE-DR. LOOSEN RIESLING “ERIOICA”’05

CRAB & ARUGULA SALAD
Jumbo Lump Crab, Baby Arugula, toasted Almonds and Cranberries served in a crisp Parmesan Basket with Citrus Vinaigrette and reduced Balsamic 

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE “CANOE RIDGE” CHARDONNAY’06
CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE “CANOE RIDGE” CHARDONNAY’07
CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE COLUMBIA “RESERVE” CHARDONNAY’97

LOBSTER WELLINGTON
Tender Lobster roasted in Pastry with fresh herbs and Boursin Cheese.  Served with Spring Vegetables and served with Tomato Basil Beurre Blanc 

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE “CANOE RIDGE ESTATE”‘CABERNET’06
CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE “ARTIST SERIES” MERITAGE’95

FILET MIGNON
Herb seared and served with Roast Pepper-Prosciutto Bread Pudding,
Roast Squash, Red Dragon Cheese and Garlic Butter

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE “LATE HARVEST” CHENIN BLANC’06

GRILLED PEACH SHORTCAKE
With Chocolate Mousse, Mandarin Orange Syrup and Caramel

Join us as we welcome Matt Mitchell and sample some of the best offerings from the extensive Wine Portfolio of Jess Jackson.  In the past 25 years, Jackson has gone from being an obscure and struggling winery owner (Kendall Jackson) to one of the dominant players in the California Wine industry.

Today, Jackson Wine Estates operates 24 wineries and vineyards around the world, selling 5 million cases of wine a year!  All of our offerings are rated above 90 points. Cambria “Julia’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir earned “93″ points and was named Wine Enthusiast’s #1 Wine of the Year!  We open with a La Crema’s “90″ rated Chardonnay and our Cabernet course pits the “93″ rated Kendall Jackson “Hawkeye Mountain” versus the “92″ rated Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon.  Another great California lineup you do not want to miss!

“JESS JACKSON PORTFOLIO” WINE DINNER

With Majestic Fine Wines Regional Manager Matt Mitchell
Culinary selections by Executive Chef Mark Swomley
Tuesday, March 30, 2009
$99 per person excluding gratuity

LA CREMA MONTEREY CHARDONNAY’07

LOBSTER-CRAB & SCALLOP GNOCCHI
Jumbo Lump Crab, Lobster & Scallops served over homemade Gnocchi
with Spinach, Caramelized Onions and Tomato-Ketel One Cream

CAMBRIA “JULIA’S VINEYARD” PINOT NOIR’06

SHORT RIBS
Oven braised and served with Cauliflower Mousse,
Demi-Glace, Manchego Cheese and grilled Chard

ARROWOOD RUSSIAN RIVER”SARALEE’S VINEYARD” SYRAH’04

GRILLED RED & GOLD BEETS
Served chilled with Panko crusted Black Currant infused Chevre,
Triple Berry Vinaigrette, local greens and toasted Almonds

KENDALL JACKSON HIGHLAND ESTATES “HAWKEYE MOUNTAIN”’05
ARROWOOD SONOMA COUNTY CABERNET SAUVIGNON’05

VENISON LOIN
Seasoned with Cracked Mustard & Cumin and served with Sweet Corn Cakes, Fennel Sausage Ragout, Smoked Paprika Butter and crisp Arugula

CAMBRIA “LATE HARVEST” VIOGNIER’08

CITRUS CRÈME NAPOLEON
Crispy sweet Phyllo layered with Lemon Crème, Mandarin Oranges,
Cherries and Cinnamon-Mint Whip Creme

Don’t forget to join us tonight, February 19 at 6:30 p.m. for our very special Brancott Wine Dinner!

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History and The Carlton are happy to announce a Wine Dinner featuring New Zealand’s Brancott Winery on Friday, Feb. 19. Brancott Winery is one of New Zealand’s’ oldest and literally put New Zealand on the world wine Map.  They’re a sustainable winery that has vineyards in Marlborough, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and Otago. We will feature eight wines – three rated over 90 points – served around Chef Mark’s creations.  This dinner celebrates the moving exhibit on “Whales” that will be at the Carnegie Museum until May. Everyone attending will receive two free tickets ($30 value) to see this outstanding exhibit!  Click here for the full dinner menu. Seafood substitutions are available for meat courses for those observing Lenten traditions.  All of our Wine Dinners are available at a reduced price without wine selections.

I was proud to be recognized by my peers in the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association earlier this week as the “Restaurateur of the Year.”  I am sure it was an acknowledgment of our 25 years in downtown Pittsburgh.  Those first 25 would not have been possible without your loyal support!  Thank you for your patronage!

Here are The Carlton’s Quick Picks for the week of January 25.

Remember, you can always find more events on the Post-Gazette’s Event Calendar as well as the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Calendar.

These are just a few of our favorites!

Cats. Cats opens up at the Benedum Center on Tuesday, January 26th.  There’s no better way to introduce your family to the wonders of live theater than with the magic, the mystery, the memory of CATS. Join us at The Carlton for dinner beforehand and get a free limo ride to the show!

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Tribute Concert. Head over to Heinz Hall on January 26 for the Pittsburgh Symphony’s fourth annual concert celebrating African American Culture. This celebratory performance showcases a fusion of musical styles that reflect the diversity of music. This year’s concert features local jazz trumpeter Sean Jones performing with the PSO on a commission by Darin Atwater specially written for the concert. Stop by The Carlton for dinner and get a free lift over to the show!

Pittsburgh Penguins Game. The Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Ottawa Senators Thursday, January 28 and if you’re headed to the Mellon Arena, make sure to stop by and see us at The Carlton Restaurant.  Located just a few blocks away from the Arena, we are the best place to stop by for a pregame drink or meal.  And, if you’re not going to the game, watch it in our lounge and enjoy our Happy Hour prices!