Local wineries using Pennsylvania grapes are turning out some easy-to-love libations
France, Italy, California, and Australia are well-known wine regions. Pennsylvania, alas, doesn’t crack the top 50 for most people. But don’t count out local wineries. Pennsylvania has a winemaking tradition that dates to the late 1600s, when William Penn himself established a vineyard in Philadelphia, as documented by the Pennsylvania...
Skip dinner. Valentine’s Day is better at brunch
Ah, the romantic Valentine’s dinner. It’s the gold-standard date. High pressure. High stakes. And often high-priced steaks. It comes with reservations to secure, outfits to plan, expectations to meet — and a ticking clock that insists romance be perfectly executed between appetizers and dessert. But is that the only way...
Wendy’s closing hundreds of U.S. restaurants to focus on value amid falling sales
Wendy’s is closing several hundred U.S. restaurants and increasing its focus on value after a weaker-than-expected fourth quarter. The Dublin, Ohio-based company said Friday that its global same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, fell 10% in the October-December period. That was worse than the 8.5%...
Western Pa. dairy farmers welcome return of whole milk to school cafeteriasVideo
The recent passage of the federal Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act marks a strategic effort to reverse a decade-long decline in dairy consumption. By rolling back 15-year-old guidelines to let schools put whole and 2% milk back on menus, the law is aimed at providing a long-sought economic boost...
Kingfly Spirits in Strip District abruptly closes
Distillery Kingfly Spirits has closed its doors for good after seven years of serving the Strip District. In a social media post on Wednesday, the distillery wrote “as of today, we are moving on to the next chapter of life,” stating that Kingfly would not be conducting future bottle sales,...
Sly Fox Brewing space at Highline on South Side available, equipment up for sale
A realty company is looking for someone to serve out the remainder of Sly Fox Brewing’s lease in Pittsburgh’s South Side, suggesting the Pottstown-based company’s only production facility in Western Pennsylvania is winding down. Legacy Realty Partners announced last week the nearly 6,000-square-foot space in the neighborhood’s Highline complex —...
Pino’s gets shoutout in ‘The Pitt’ as ‘the best Italian in town’
The owners of Pino’s Contemporary Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar in Point Breeze were met with an exciting surprise last week: Their restaurant was mentioned on an episode of the hit HBO Max show “The Pitt.” “We did a double take,” said Jen Mico, who owns the restaurant with her...
Flashback foods: The hunger for favorite foods from the past
You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone (as Joni Mitchell sang). Many beloved foods once enjoyed throughout the Pittsburgh region are no longer available. They’re missed and still talked about. But some live on in new iterations — or DIY versions. We spoke to some Southwestern Pennsylvanians about...
TribLive Taste Taste: We venture off the beaten path to try some weird salsaVideo
We need to warm up, being that it’s minus-11 degrees out or whatever it happens to be today. And so the TribLive Taste Test team decided to try out some off-the-beaten-path salsa varieties from the American Spoon company. They’re made with some unique ingredients like cherries, peaches and even pumpkin...
Giant Eagle again offers free home grocery delivery in wake of snowstorm
Once again, Giant Eagle will offer free home delivery for eligible grocery orders this Thursday through Saturday. The offer comes as Western Pennsylvania residents are restocking their refrigerators and trying to stay warm amid frigid temperatures. Eligible orders must cost at least $35 and be placed through the website or...
Iron City Distilling to host whiskey encore with online release
Whiskey lovers who missed the first release of Iron City Distilling’s Bessemer Rye Whiskey are getting a second chance at the limited spirit sooner than expected. Following what the East Deer distiller is calling a “rapid sellout” of the first round, a second sale of the single-barrel rye will be...
Bonfire Restaurant owners pass torch to new family in Allegheny Township
Jay Snyder has worked at the Bonfire restaurant for most of his life. Born and raised in Allegheny Township, Snyder, 59, began working at the restaurant when he was 14 after his parents, Patty and Jerry, bought it in 1981 from the Mannarino family. Snyder can’t help but reminisce about...
Body & soul: Familiar comfort foods, thoughtfully balanced
Comfort food is often automatically labeled as indulgent and bad. It’s not fair. How can we hold the food we turn to when we are tired, stressed or craving familiarity responsible for giving us exactly what we need? Tough times are when food matters most — not just as fuel,...
Cronuts and cruffins among Mexican-themed delights at newly opened Gordo’s Cafe & Cantina in O’Hara
Don’t settle for an average doughnut when you could grab a gourmet cronut. That’s the message from Brian Gorder to patrons at his new eatery in O’Hara, Gordo’s Cafe & Cantina. He’s showcasing made-from-scratch desserts, pastries, pizza, salads, meat sandwiches and specialty meals in the building that housed a Max...
Building the Valley: Veteran-owned 12 Bravo BBQ seeks to spotlight Harrison VFW
Frank Frantz isn’t afraid of a little heat. The South Buffalo resident is becoming known locally for his tangy “Bravo” barbecue sauce and slow-cooked brisket, sold the past few years from a roving food truck. He has joined fellow chef James Palumbi of Saxonburg in opening an indoor version, 12...
New restaurant coming to Union Trust Building in Downtown Pittsburgh
The Union Trust Building in Downtown has another restaurant opening in the spring. The Common Good, located on Grant Street, will offer a new casual breakfast, lunch and snack concept designed by Ritual House and Palm Palm Chef Ed Smith and his team. “The desire and need to have an...
Pittsburgh chef, restaurant receive semifinalist nods in James Beard awards
A Pittsburgh area chef and restaurant were honored as semifinalists by the James Beard Foundation for its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards. The semifinalists were announced Wednesday in the prestigious national awards, which recognize “leaders who collectively embody the breadth of American culinary excellence.” Jamilka Borges, executive chef and co-owner...
Shaler’s Ruckus Cafe expands to 2nd location in Pittsburgh
A Shaler couple who filled a need for a coffee shop in the township hopes to fill a similar, if somewhat different, need in Downtown Pittsburgh. Christine Rauktis and Daryl Kuczynski, who opened Ruckus Cafe on Babcock Boulevard in Shaler in July 2021, opened a second location at 625 Liberty...
Greensburg Restaurant Week offers great values, unique menus
If your New Year’s resolution was to try different foods or to patronize local businesses, the upcoming Greensburg Restaurant Week has you covered. More than a dozen local eateries will be dishing up special menus at discounted prices Sunday to Jan. 24 throughout the Greensburg area. The event was organized...
Craft distilleries make industry, community connections
Throughout the 1700s and 1800s, Western Pennsylvania was the epicenter of American whiskey production. Before the Prohibition era, Pennsylvania cornered the market in rye whiskey. It wasn’t until 2011 that a distillery returned to the state. Matt Strickland, the master distiller for Iron City Distilling, wants to honor that history....
Georgie’s Corner Cafe to close indefinitely Sunday in Shadyside
Georgie’s Corner Bakery & Café announced it will close for good this weekend. The Shadyside coffee shop at 5743 Walnut St. will have its last day of business on Sunday, according to a post on its Instagram account. As of Friday afternoon, though, the account no longer exists. The announcement...
Coffee Village in Sewickley is a welcoming place for all
The Coffee Village serves more than a mug of espresso or cups of cold brew. It is a place to meet with colleagues, for church groups to gather, a location to reconnect with an old friend or a place to do out-of-the-office work. “I see coffee shops as positive spaces...
Trump signs law returning whole milk to school lunches
Whole milk is heading back to school cafeterias across the country after President Donald Trump signed a bill Wednesday overturning Obama-era limits on higher-fat milk options. Nondairy drinks such as fortified soy milk may also be on the menu in the coming months following adoption of the Whole Milk for...
Will Bearista cups return to Starbucks? Here’s the latest
After the “Bearista” cups sold out at Starbucks before the holidays last year, many people have been clamoring for another chance to snag one. The 20-ounce Bearista cold cup, made of glass, was initially sold as part of Starbucks’ holiday merchandise drop for $29.95. Shaped like a bear holding its...
Cava Mediterranean restaurant to open in East Liberty
Cava, a popular Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain, is opening Friday in Pittsburgh’s East End. The chain’s second Pittsburgh location is part of The Meridian, a new development at the border of Shadyside and East Liberty. Sourcing its food from Greece, Cava serves bowls, pitas, dips, and sides like pita chips...
