NFL Draft-driven restaurant traffic a tale of haves and have nots
McFadden’s Irish pub boasted a line down North Shore Drive on Thursday afternoon. The bar between PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium usually doesn’t get jam-packed until late at night, but business was booming most of Thursday and Friday. The reason why is hard to miss. McFadden’s is within eyesight of...
Food21 explores building a dairy hub in Western PennsylvaniaVideo
Pittsburgh nonprofit Food21’s mission is to improve the design, operation and regulation of local and regional food economies, and to work to find funding to achieve it. A recent feasibility study commissioned by the group examined ways to establish a dairy processing plant, agricultural research center and demonstration farm, potentially...
Western PA experts offer what to serve at your Kentucky Derby party
The Kentucky Derby may be nicknamed “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” but hopefully your Derby party will last significantly longer than 120 seconds. This year will be the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, which takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The race takes place May...
Table for who? Some restaurants see drop-off in diners during NFL Draft
With the 2026 NFL Draft taking place only a few blocks away, Peppi’s sandwich shop on Pittsburgh’s North Side simplified its menu, stocked up on ingredients and brought in extra staff ahead of what owner Jeff Trebac expected to be a hectic three days. Business on Thursday — the draft’s...
NFL Draft’s Pittsburgh food vendors proud to be ‘local 1st’
Pittsburgh fans perusing the food options at the NFL Draft Experience might recognize a few restaurant names. Six local eateries are serving concessions at Point State Park through Saturday, and five more make up a Taste of Pittsburgh concessions area on the North Shore — offering food ranging from pizza...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: April 24-26
Most Pittsburghers will fall into one of two camps this weekend: those excited to attend the NFL Draft and those on “snowstorm protocol,” staying home with lots of snacks. But never fear — there is a happy medium. Here are some events to check out if you don’t want to...
Taste of the Draft fundraiser celebrates local foods while helping students
Downtown visitors could hear the Pittsburgh Steeline drumming for blocks as it kicked off the Taste of the Draft fundraiser Wednesday evening. Considered to be an unofficial start to the 2026 NFL Draft, the philanthropic and tasting event drew about 700 people to sample food from more than 20 local...
Researchers have spent decades breeding better potatoes for chips, and their work isn’t done
EAST LANSING, Mich. — There’s a surprising amount of science in a bag of potato chips. Researchers have spent decades developing potatoes for chip makers that can grow in all kinds of climates, avoid diseases and pests, sit in storage for months and still deliver a satisfying crunch. They’ve also...
Pittsburgh restaurants prepare for NFL Draft surge as closures raise concerns
With hundreds of thousands of football fans expected in town, restaurants near the NFL Draft footprint in Pittsburgh say they’re anticipating large crowds — but worry that widespread road closures could make it difficult for employees to get to work. “We are used to volume, whether it’s football or opening...
New seafood restaurant coming to Pittsburgh’s Cultural District
A new coastal seafood restaurant is coming to Downtown Pittsburgh. Meredith Boyle and Fernando Navas, owners of the Argentine eatery Balvanera in the Strip District, will open another concept, Casa Anchoa. Set to launch this fall, the restaurant will take over the space formerly occupied by Nine on Nine at...
Consumers are lost at sea as seafood sustainability grows more complex
BOSTON — Don’t overfish. Don’t trawl the seabed. Keep aquaculture healthy for the fish as well as the ocean. Some aspects of sustainable seafood are obvious and well-trod, even if the how-to intricacies likely are lost on most consumers. But sustainability today is complicated terrain, as much about business as...
Where to eat on the South Side during the 2026 NFL Draft
Tourists visiting Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft, and seeking to avoid the North Shore crowds by staying in Pittsburgh’s historic South Side, have plenty of walkable dining options in the neighborhood. East Carson Street — known as one of the nation’s longest Victorian-era main streets — is lined with...
Primanti’s for beginners: Do’s, don’ts, tips and tricks for eating Pittsburgh’s legendary sandwichVideo
The region’s restaurants have been busy preparing for a massive influx of guests. Frequently topping visitors’ “must-try” lists is Primanti Bros., maker of the so-called “Pittsburgh sandwich” that has become synonymous with the city itself. As locals well know, the iconic sandwich, served on thick-cut Italian bread, features grilled meat,...
To make hosting less stressful, strive for connection and not perfection
Inviting friends and family members over for a celebration, holiday or routine dinner provides an opportunity for connection, but pressure to serve good-tasting food in a clean and welcoming environment can deter many people from hosting or prevent them from being fully present with their guests when they do. But...
Western Pennsylvania’s wing culture remains something to cluck about
A hot batch of freshly fried chicken wings never goes out of style. Chicken wings are one of America’s favorite finger foods, and there’s no shortage of wing joints throughout the Pittsburgh region. Wing lovers apparently flock to join the private Facebook group “Pittsburgh Pizza, hoagie and wing joints,” with...
Here are some places to dine in the North Hills during NFL Draft
North of Pittsburgh lies an array of restaurants for NFL Draft visitors seeking a break from the crowds. The North Hills suburbs include Ross, Shaler, McCandless, Pine and Hampton. Within these areas are a wide variety of cuisines, from Thai joints to Italian establishments. Here is a selection: Barrel Junction...
Gatorade, inventor of the sports drink, is getting a rebrand targeting non-athletes
Sixty years after it invented sports drinks, Gatorade is making a surprising pivot: It’s no longer focusing primarily on athletes. PepsiCo, Gatorade’s parent company, said Thursday that the brand wants to broaden its reach to non-athletes who are looking for ways to hydrate, whether they’re on a long flight, going...
412 Food Rescue to host dinner with leftover NFL Draft food
Amid the extensive NFL Draft planning process, 412 Food Rescue has been planning an event of its own — utilizing uneaten food from the draft to host a dinner. 412 Food Rescue said it’s coordinating with event organizers to collect good food that’s uneaten and transport it to nonprofits serving...
Walmart is repackaging its Great Value brand to reflect changing consumer habits
NEW YORK — Walmart is redesigning the packaging of its Great Value products to help customers instantly spot whether a bag of spicy chips is gluten-free or how much protein is packed into a serving of chicken nuggets. Encompassing 10,000 different products, Great Value is Walmart’s biggest store brand and...
F&F Pizzeria in Mt. Lebanon introduces spring spritz menu featuring olive oil cocktail
When F&F Pizzeria opened in Mt. Lebanon six months ago, its famed slices and Italian fare made a splash with their fresh ingredients and artisanal style. The Brooklyn-based pizzeria boasts a 72-hour fermented sourdough crust, and even has its own brand of olive oil produced and cold-pressed in Sicily. The...
Bud Light to offer free beer while fans’ teams are on the clock at NFL Draft
Football fans will have a chance to get ahead of their favorite team’s cringe-inducingly bad draft decisions or celebrate team-building foresight at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh — provided they’re into downing a Bud Light draft. According to a Tuesday press release from Anheuser-Busch, during the NFL Draft from...
Iron City Distilling prepares for 3rd whiskey release, book signing
Iron City Distilling is hosting two releases today, combining the launch of its third Bessemer Rye Single Barrel release with a book signing by Master Distiller Matt Strickland. The third single barrel release is available in the East Deer distillery’s gift shop. No bottles will be sold online. “Crafted entirely...
Western Pennsylvania CSAs bring produce to your table
Eating in spring summer is all about fresh and flavorful produce, from juicy tomatoes and vitamin-rich greens to sweet and tangy berries. Salads, skewers, sorbets and sangrias will cover picnic tables, and farmers markets make mouths water. For those looking for the freshest produce that the season has to offer,...
Pastry chef Casey Renee opens bakery cafe in Regent Square
Chef Casey Renee is known for her high-end pastries, elaborate cakes, and whimsical, creative touches — but still loves her classic chocolate chip cookies. “I don’t know what it is about chocolate chip cookies,” she said. “Maybe it’s you loved eating the batter when you were a kid. (But) I...
Nutella goes viral during Artemis II livestream
If you’ve ever wondered how far Nutella can travel and still hold up, the answer is: more than 250,000 miles. During a Wednesday Artemis II livestream, viewers got an unexpectedly viral moment when a jar of Nutella floated through the cabin in zero-gravity, casually drifting across the frame as the...
