Summer wine games, WQED sweets, spicy chicken tendies and more news from Pittsburgh’s food scene | Food | Pittsburgh
Photo: Courtesy of Beer Garden at Hotel Monaco
Beach party on the roof of the beer garden of the Hotel Monaco with Maggie’s Farm
Beer Garden Hotel Monaco x Maggie’s Farm Rum Distillery
620 William Penn Pl., downtown. thecommonerpgh.com/pittsburgh-biergarten
Soak up the sun and surf downtown when the Beer Garden at Hotel Monaco hosts its second annual rooftop beach party from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, August 15. Pittsburgh residents are invited to “escape from the everyday and enjoy an evening of summer bliss” at the “weekday pick-me-up” event, featuring beach cocktails and summer snacks.
This year, in celebration of National Rum Day (August 16), the beer garden is partnering with Maggie’s Farm to serve a number of new craft cocktails, including Put it in Reverse Sherry (with Maggie’s Sherry Cask Rum, strawberry sherry and sour egg white) and Hooked on a Feeling, made with Maggie’s Spiced & Dark Rum, rum liqueur, avocado orgeat, orange and lime. Live entertainment includes a DJ, beach blanket bingo with prizes (including a night at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh), a sandcastle-building contest and “life-sized” Jenga and Connect Four. No reservations are required for the event.
Braddock Carnegie Library Association
609 Sixth St., North Braddock. braddockcarnegielibrary.org
The end of summer is in sight and the Braddock Carnegie Library Association is saying goodbye with an ice cream party. On Friday, August 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Braddock Battlefield History Center, youth of all ages can bid farewell to the season with one last scoop of ice cream. Visit the event page for more information.
WQED
wqed.org
WQED conjures up desserts with America’s Comfort Food: Sweetsa new cooking show Host: Chris Fennimore of the award-winning QED Chefs Series. Premiere on Saturday, August 17, sweets promises to “take viewers on a culinary journey through some of (Fennimore’s) most popular dessert recipes,” according to a press release from WQED. Fennimore and his guests will provide step-by-step instructions for making Kentucky Derby Pie, Loaded Chocolate Biscotti and Nana’s Italian Love Cake, based on a family tradition. Viewers can sweets how it is broadcastn WQED-TV or via Live stream.
Photo: Courtesy of WQED
America’s Comfort Food: Sweets with Chris Fennimore
Pittsburgh City Winery
1627 Smallman St., Strip District. citywinery.com/pittsburgh
After the Olympics and hot dog eating contests, it’s a great time for food-related sports. On Monday, August 19 at 7 p.m., City Winery will present the finals of its Summer Wine Games, where wines from around the world will compete in head-to-head tastings. The fifth and final Sparkling edition will pit French Champagne and Prosecco against Brut Rosé and Italian sparkling wines. A sommelier from Dreadnought Wines will guide guests through the event. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online.
Made in PGH
Multiple locations. madeinpgh.com
Best Bites, a restaurant and drink tasting tour of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, is heading to East Liberty. Organized by Made in PGH and billed as the largest Best Bites tour ever, the tour will take place on Saturday, August 24 from noon to 4 p.m. with 22 select tasting locations from Shadyside to Bakery Square. Guests will embark on a self-guided walking tour and “foodie experience” where they’ll sample food and summer cocktails, then vote for their favorite bites in the People’s Choice Awards. The East Liberty tasting tour’s offerings range from Mexican food to milkshakes to sushi, and stops include Alta Via Pizzeria, Blue Sky Kitchen & Bar, Jeni’s, Lorelei, The Urban Tap and the Yinzer Dogs food truck. Tickets are $70 and can be purchased online.
Revel x Wigle Whisky
242 Forbes Ave., Downtown. revelpgh.com
Revel, billed as Downtown’s “sophisticated American restaurant,” is showcasing Wigle Whiskey for its Chef’s Pairing Series this month. Join them on Thursday, August 29 at 6 p.m. for a curated four-course menu of fine foods and Wigle Whiskey beverages. The menu includes a bacon and white chocolate ganache appetizer paired with Wigle’s Bourbon or an espresso martini, an arugula salad course with Wigle’s Honey Bourbon and basil fettuccine, and seared duck breast with Wigle’s Madiera or Single Barrel Bourbon. View the full menu and purchase tickets ($90 per person) on the event page.
CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Wigle Whisky Distillery
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity
985 Providence Blvd., McCandless. holytrinitypgh.org/festival
Pittsburgh’s Greek food festival season concludes with Taste of Greece at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in North Hills. The festival runs Thurs., Aug. 29 through Sun., Sept. 1 and celebrates its 52nd year with Greek food and pastries, music, dancing and booths. Foodies can preview the festival menu in advance, which includes braised lamb shank, souvlaki (pork skewers), moussaka (beef and eggplant casserole), Greek meatballs, spanakopita, and traditional gyros and desserts. Tours of the church and its iconography, as well as artisanal woodwork, will be offered daily throughout the festival. Admission is free.
Kick-off and rib festival
100 Art Rooney Ave., North Side. acrisurestadium.com/ribfest
Also Thurs., Aug. 29 through Sun., Sept. 1, the Kickoff and Rib Festival returns to Acrisure Stadium to celebrate the start of football season. Launched in 1990 at Three Rivers Stadium, the annual festival celebrates Western Pennsylvania’s “rich football history” with concerts, carnival food (think funnel cakes), games, booths, appearances by the elusive Pittsburgh Steelers mascot Steely McBeam, and, of course, ribs. Twelve restaurants and catering companies will be on site, including Homestead-based Jim’s Smokin’ Que and South Side-based Bad Azz BBQ, both of which claim to make Pittsburgh’s best barbecue. Visit the Rib Festival website for a full schedule and event updates.
Photo: Courtesy of Dave’s Hot Chicken
Dave’s Spicy Chicken
Dave’s Spicy Chicken
www.daveshotchicken.com
Pittsburgh will soon expand its status as a hotspot for chicken tendies with a slew of new Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants. The Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain – which started as a pop-up in a parking lot in 2017 – announced that it has signed a deal to open 10 new locations in the Pittsburgh area over the next five years. Dave’s specializes in Nashville-style spicy chicken, offering tenders and sliders ranging in heat from “No Spice” to “Reaper,” as well as sides like homemade kale salad, mac and cheese, and crispy or cheese fries.
