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Food & Drink category, Page 18

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Ponche Navideño is a warm Latin American Christmas drink 
Sipping on a warm spicy fruit punch is traditional in Latin American cultures. Ponche Navideño is a marker of the holiday season and a staple to Mexican Christmas festivities. Known as Merry Christmas punch, Dec. 24 is that date it is commonly consumed. “Maybe here in America, punch is for...
Oakmont Council approves Local Remedy Brewing’s conditional-use application
Oakmont residents will see a new addition to the borough’s shopping district in 2024 after council approved Local Remedy Brewing’s conditional use application in a 6-0 vote Dec. 18. Before the vote, a public hearing was held to discuss the conditional use of the proposed site. According to borough Solicitor...
Jak’s, a traditional Bulgarian bakery, opens in Bloomfield
As a freshman at what is now called the Professional High School of Tourism in his native Bulgaria, Zhelyazko “Jak” Latinov studied the standard math, geography and history. He studied English but it wasn’t a core subject. In addition to his regular classes, he attended a technical school where he...
Pittsburgh’s foie gras ban prompts threat of lawsuit
A New York company plans to sue Pittsburgh over its ban on the French delicacy foie gras. Pittsburgh City Council on Monday voted to ban foie gras. A spokesperson for Mayor Ed Gainey could not immediately confirm whether the mayor planned to sign the legislation or offer additional comment on...
Effortlessly gorgeous and easy to ship, drop cookies are what to bake for Christmas
I’m as dazzled by a beautifully decorated holiday cookie as the next person, but when it comes to wielding a pastry bag myself, I’m not a pro. I’m much more about the cookies than the piping. And while elaborately crafted cookies shaped like delicate snowflakes or sporting ombre frostings are...
Mancini’s Italian Bakery creates the leg lamp from ‘A Christmas Story’ out of bread
This piece of art weighs 190 pounds and is 4 feet high and 4 feet wide — and it’s edible. Mancini’s Italian Bakery co-owner Nick Mancini Hartner created a leg lamp made of dough to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic film “A Christmas Story.” The masterpiece reflects the...
Cup of cheer: Holiday bars are popping up all over Pittsburgh
Holiday pop-up bars are limited-time establishments with creative cocktails and mocktails — some also offer food — with a backdrop of decorations, perfect for posting photos on social media. Western Pennsylvania has plenty to choose from of these bars, which have become popular in recent years. Tinseltown Tinseltown, formerly The...
Prantl’s Terrible Torte — what it is and how you can get one
Prantl’s Bakery has created a version of its popular burnt almond torte inspired by Pittsburgh’s black and gold. This newest flavor is the Terrible Torte, which will be available by pre-order only for a limited time starting Friday. “It’s called the Terrible Torte, but it’s actually delicious,” said Prantl’s president...
Aspinwall community cookbook now for sale, benefits nonprofit Aspinwall Neighbors
A new cookbook features recipes from more than 60 Aspinwall area residents and business owners. “Home to Home: Shared Recipes from Your Aspinwall Neighbors” is described as a culinary journey around Aspinwall. The book is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Aspinwall Neighbors, a community organization dedicated to bringing people together...
O’Hara couple finds home for Tortured Souls brewhouse in New Kensington
The journey from home beer brewer to brewery owner has been a tortuous one for Scott Wyman and his wife, Angie. After the O’Hara couple’s plan to locate their brewery, Tortured Souls Brewing, in a former Sharpsburg church fell through, they looked at multiple places in and around the Pittsburgh...
Stew Wood Fire Fusion opens in former Fuel and Fuddle space in Oakland
Stew Wood Fire Fusion is set to open Monday, bringing an eclectic mix of meats, sandwiches — and yes, stews — to Oakland. It’s not the first restaurant venture for owners Karen Perdomo and John Ortiz. The couple opened The Colombian Spot in Pittsburgh’s South Side in 2017 and added...
Vento’s Pizza in East Liberty reopens under new family ownership
Vento’s Pizza, the East Liberty restaurant that has been home to “Franco’s Italian Army” for decades, is up and running again. After its longtime owner retired and closed the pizzeria in February, a new family has taken over. They’re working with the Vento family to keep the spirit of the...
McDonald’s bringing back McNugget Buddies in adult Happy Meal
As a child, seeing which mini-toy was inside a McDonald’s Happy Meal was always a thrill. Getting all the miniatures in the collection was a must, which meant multiple trips to the Golden Arches fast-food restaurant. McDonald’s is bringing that sense of wonder back — for kids and adults. “This...
Everyone had ‘a seat at the table’ at Best Buddies’ Tastebuds
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center’s grand concourse overflowed with love on Monday night. Pittsburgh area chefs and their helpers laughed and smiled at the sixth annual Tastebuds event, an evening to showcase the culinary talents of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The fundraiser for Best Buddies Pennsylvania, an...
Leona’s ice cream to open scoop shop in Lawrenceville
Ice cream wholesaler Leona’s is moving into the brick-and-mortar world and is set to open a scoop shop in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood next year. Co-owner Katie Heldstab said Leona’s has agreed on a spot inside the soon-to-be-complete Lawrence Hall on Butler Street in Lawrenceville. She said the location is perfect...
Ruth Reichl’s Town Hall South talk focuses on America’s poor food quality
Former Los Angeles Times and New York Times food critic, chef and author Ruth Reichl said the quality of American food isn’t nutritionally what it once was — or should be. The James Beard Award-winning writer took the stage at Upper St. Clair High School Theater, pulled her glasses down...
Raising Cane’s to open 2nd Pittsburgh-area restaurant
A popular chicken-finger chain is opening a second Pittsburgh-area location this week. Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s is opening a new location in North Versailles on Tuesday, according to a press release. The restaurant is located at 298 Lincoln Hwy. in the Mon Valley suburb and will become the second Raising Cane’s...
For a different take on latkes, try these ginger sweet potato pancakes with orange zest
Let’s start right up front by saying these are not traditional latkes. Classic Jewish latkes for Hanukkah are made with russet potatoes, occasionally Yukon golds, and are usually very simply seasoned with salt, pepper and onion. These are something else altogether — shredded sweet potato pancakes spiked with minced fresh...
Slice it up: Italian Village Pizza near Aspinwall serves pieces of the pie
It all started in 1980 with one slice of homemade dough with fresh tomato sauce and melted cheese cut into a triangle. Now, 43 years later, the 16 Italian Village Pizza shops in Western Pennsylvania have hit the 100 million mark — a 100 million slices of pizza sold. “That’s...
Heights Plaza buzzes with opening of Harvest Moon’s 2nd location
Scott Walmsley relaxed in a velvet armchair with a hot beverage Wednesday morning during the grand opening of Harvest Moon Coffee & Chocolates in Heights Plaza in Harrison. He couldn’t have looked more content. “This is exactly what I’d be doing at home,” said Walmsley of Freeport. “It’s a comfortable...
Wagon Wheel co-owner will continue selling ‘Our Famous Red Cake’
Mimi Kaufman of Salem isn’t starting a bakery. But she also wasn’t quite ready to give up the flagship red cake dessert at the Wagon Wheel, the restaurant she has owned alongside her sisters. The Wagon Wheel is closing its doors, but fans of the dessert will be able to...
Cranberry Township McDonald’s franchise owner fined over child labor violations
The Cranberry Township-based company that operates five McDonald’s restaurants in the region has been fined for violating federal child labor regulations. The U.S. Department of Labor said it found that Endor Inc. employed 34 children to work later and longer than permitted by law. The department’s Wage and Hour Division...
Some quirky ideas for repurposing those Thanksgiving leftovers
So you’ve arisen the day after Thanksgiving, perhaps feeling a little groggy and still recovering from the turkey coma — yes, I know, I’ve also read the studies that it’s not the tryptophan that makes you sleepy. Agree to disagree. Anyway, the question now becomes, what to do with the...
Holiday diners thrilled with return of Thanksgiving Day buffet in New Kensington 
Dan Leo barely had time to advertise his Thanksgiving dinner before he started running out of tickets. The former popular holiday buffet has returned to the ballroom at The Quality Inn in New Kensington, and diners were lined up in advance of the noon start time. The annual Thanksgiving buffet...
Catch of the day: Kretzler’s famous fish sandwich available in Hampton restaurant
Brandon Kretzler’s late father sent his son a message in his sleep. “My dad woke me up,” Kretzler said. “I heard him say he wanted me to make the fish sandwich again. I never realized how much people loved that fish sandwich.” That fish sandwich is the one that was...


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