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 Gordo’s Cafe & Cantina owner Brian Gorder to patrons at his new eatery showcasing made-from-scratch desserts, pastries, pizza, salads, meat sandwiches and specialty meals in the building that housed the former Max and...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Mineo’s Pizza House opens at the Pittsburgh International Airport
Mineo’s Pizza House has been cleared for takeoff. More than a year in the making, the fourth location of the iconic pizza business opened Monday morning inside the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport. The first pies came out of the new ovens this morning. “It took a little longer...
‘Pierogi Paradise’ awaits at old-school Starlite Lounge in Blawnox
An authentic taste of a yinzer staple awaits at Starlite Lounge in Blawnox, dubbed “Pittsburgh’s Pierogi Paradise” by owner Ronny “Moondog” Esser. Pinching pierogi dough has evolved into a way of life for Esser and the staff members who make his family’s Slovak-inspired pierogi. Starlite is casual, no fuss and...
A look at the classic diners still holding on in Western PennsylvaniaVideo
The sizzle of frying potatoes and the scent of fresh coffee and grease. Gleaming chrome fixtures and brightly colored booths. Oldies playing softly in the background. Servers dropping off heaping plates of steaming comfort food. Welcome to the Western Pennsylvania diner. Diners peaked in popularity in the mid-20th century, when...
Hemingway’s Cafe closure prompted by family matters, changing drinking habits, owner says
When John Elavsky took over Hemingway’s Cafe in the early 1990s, one of the building’s owners — a mentor of his — imparted wisdom that stuck with him. “John, you better be here,” Elavsky, 68, remembers Leo Xyftis telling him. In other words, absentee ownership wasn’t going to cut it....
Voodoo Brewery closes Erie location after 10 years
Voodoo Brewery is bidding adieu to Erie, Pennsylvania. The national beer brewer, which was founded in 2005 in Meadville, announced in a post on its website that it is closing its location in downtown Erie, which has been in operation for a decade. “Erie, this one hurts,” the post read....
Pittsburgh eateries go big for 2026 Winter Restaurant Week
Adventurous eaters and foodies of all ages have an opportunity to try new dishes and old favorites from dining establishments during 2026 Winter Pittsburgh Restaurant Week. With discounted menus and new flavors, some of the region’s best eateries are pulling out all the stops for this weeklong event. Running from...
Why whole milk is back, and what local providers say
Alianna Anselmi was surprised to see the pyramid structure make a comeback when the Trump administration released new dietary guidelines this week. Anselmi, lead dietitian for medical weight loss at Allegheny Health Network, said the MyPlate visual has been used since 2011, when it replaced the MyPyramid model as a...
Paczki are back at Western Pennsylvania bakeries
Paczki season kicked off Jan. 6 at Oakmont Bakery where customers were at-the-ready to get their hands on the fried polish pastry known for sweet fruit or cream fillings inside a crispy dough. Similar to a doughnut, but richer, bigger and filled with a hearty helping of fruit or cream,...
New rocky road-inspired Girl Scout cookie hits shelves
The Girl Scouts of the USA’s cookie season has officially kicked off with the discontinuation of two cookie classics and the introduction of brand new rocky road-inspired treat. Exploremores, filled with the flavors of chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond-flavored crème, are designed to capture the spirit of Girl Scouts, according...
From Paris to Western Pennsylvania: Escargot gains popularity at local restaurants
Escargot is popping up on menus at more eateries around the Pittsburgh region. While not quite as prevalent as the Pittsburgh salad, wings or pierogis, escargot provides a funky, French food option for those willing to nosh on something more exotic. Technically classified as a mollusk seafood, escargot (pronounced es-car-go...
Zero proof, pure pleasure: Mixing up Dry January mocktails
It’s a bright, shiny new year full of resolutions and commitments. The tough part is finding ways to match your good intentions with your good taste. If you are looking to avoid sugar, that can just be a matter of finding a good diet soda or a recipe for low-carb...
Here’s why we eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day
We Pennsylvanians know that on New Year’s Day, we are obligated to eat pork and sauerkraut. But why? Yes, it’s a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition that we all follow, but it’s important to know its history. (It’s also fun.) So here’s why we eat pork and sauerkraut as well as other...
