Food & Drink category, Page 27
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 KensingtonVideo
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...
Turkey rules the table. But a poll finds disagreement over other Thanksgiving classics
Thanksgiving may be a time for Americans to come together, but opinion is divided over what’s on the crowded dinner table. We mostly agree on the deliciousness of pumpkin pie, say, but are split over the eternal turkey question of dark meat versus white meat. And don’t even ask if...
6 tips for eating as much as you can on Thanksgiving
America’s favorite feast is upon us. For those of you looking to enjoy as much Thanksgiving fare as possible during this year’s holiday meal, we turned to advice from dietitians, competitive eaters and other sources for tips. Get some exercise If you want to maximize your intake of mashed potatoes,...
Greensburg cafe marks decade of serving coffee, pastry, building community
Co-owner Tommy Medley bonded with customers of the White Rabbit Cafe and Patisserie when it opened in 2013, and that hasn’t changed as the Greensburg eatery marks its 10th anniversary today. Medley estimates as many as 30% of his customers are regulars who have been coming throughout the past decade...
No more Thanksgiving ‘food orgy’? New obesity medications change how users think of holiday meals
For most of her life, Claudia Stearns dreaded Thanksgiving. As a person who struggled with obesity since childhood, Stearns hated the annual turmoil of obsessing about what she ate — and the guilt of overindulging on a holiday built around food. Now, after losing nearly 100 pounds using medications including...
Building the Valley: Frankie’s Sausage in Sharpsburg making its mark on local food scene one link at a time
Frankie Marckisotto and Mike Conte weren’t looking for business partners when they met after Conte’s sister, Macrae, and Marckisotto began dating several years ago. But their partnership quickly bloomed with the realization that the unfulfilled dreams they both had were remarkably similar. The result was the launch of Frankie’s Sausage...
Cheers! A bottle of Scotch whisky sells for a record $2.7 million at auction
LONDON — A bottle of Scotch whisky billed as “the most sought-after” in the world sold Saturday for almost 2.2 million pounds ($2.7 million), an auction record for a bottle of wine or spirits. The Macallan Adami 1926 sold at Sotheby’s in London, after a bidding war between would-be buyers...
Winning Food Network’s ‘Summer Baking Championship’ sweetens life of pastry chef Zoe Peckich
Zoe Peckich has always had a sweet tooth. Growing up in Canonsburg, the town where Sarris Candies was founded, was a huge inspiration for her love of dessert. Things have gotten even sweeter for the pastry chef at Ritual House in Downtown Pittsburgh since claiming the title of Food Network’s...
Thanksgiving with your pup: Safety tips for your dog this holiday season
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are all busy planning and prepping each dish. However, it is important to be vigilant about this much food around your pup when you may not be able to give them your full, undivided attention. This leaves room for your dog to sneak food off the...
Patti’s Pasticceria bakery in White Oak moves to larger location
Patti Fiasco worked at the former Feig’s Bakery in White Oak while she attended college at nearby Penn State McKeesport, now Penn State Greater Allegheny. She manned the counter at the shop known for its specialty egg buns and bread and learned to bake and decorate cakes. Four decades later,...
Chuck E. Cheese’s animatronic band leaves all restaurants but 1
Saying its band will be in “residency” in California, Chuck E. Cheese’s has announced the animatronic group is being pulled from almost all of its restaurants. Munch’s Make Believe Band will be at Northridge, Calif., near Los Angeles, the company said in a news release. The location will be a...
‘It was time’: Bado’s Pizza Grill & Ale House in Mt. Lebanon has been sold
Staffing issues combined with an offer to buy the building were two key factors in the decision to close Bado’s Pizza Grille & Ale House in Mt. Lebanon. “I know it was a shock to a lot of people, but it was time,” Leah Badolato-Smith said Tuesday as she sat...
