We’re getting into the (early) holiday season, and that means that there are endless dishes to eat, cocktails to drink, and fun experiences to have… and we’ve tried to round up as many of the best ones in November that we can.
1. Get cozy with a bowl of Mac & Cheese
As the weather gets colder, all we want is comfort food. Especially cheesy comfort food. We’ve fallen in love with a few Mac & Cheese dishes around town, including the Brisket Mac & Cheese from Meat & Potatoes, the piping-hot made-to-order Mac & Cheese from Kelly’s Bar & Lounge and the Quack Mac from Home in the Smallman Galley, a fancy version made with cavatelli pasta, duck confit, truffled onions and fontina cream sauce. Looking for more Mac & Cheese? Check out our picks for the best in Pittsburgh here.
2. Learn how to make a classic dish.
(Cooking) school is in session! There’s lots of awesome classes to take in Pittsburgh this month, to get you ready for all of the holiday hosting coming up. Learn the fine art of pierogi-making on November 7 at Gaynor’s School of Cooking, or take a traditional red sauce class at Enrico Biscotti Company on November 22. And, before baking season begins in earnest, take a holiday pie-making class at the Market District Cooking School in Robinson on November 16.
3. Have the Lobster Egg Benedict at Muddy Waters Oyster Bar
Weekend brunch at Muddy Waters Oyster Bar is always a decadent affair, but the Lobster Egg Benedict is the most decadent dish you can enjoy. Pair it with a glass of Champagne and some fresh oysters over ice for the best Sunday morning you’ve had in a long time.
4. Toast the upcoming holiday season at an elegant new pop-up bar.
From November 22 through December 29, there will be a brand-new holiday bar to enjoy downtown. Pittsburgh Magazine reports that tina’s (holiday) bar will pop-up in the Americus Club, and will feature stirred cocktails and punches, from the team behind tina’s in Bloomfield, and 4121 Main. See more on the pop-up’s Instagram page.
5. Order dessert at DiAnoia’s Eatery.
DiAnoia’s Eatery in the Strip District is a lot of things – a stellar breakfast place, one of the best delis in the city, and an excellent spot for handmade pasta in the evening. And they’ve also recently been killing the dessert game, thanks to head pastry chef Rachel Walton (@iamrachelbakes). She’s been churning out a rotating list of sweets, like a Pumpkin Roll with cream cheese frosting, Pumpkin & Chocolate Cheesecake, Italian Almond and Raspberry Torta, Strawberry Mascarapone Eclaires and Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes. You never quite know what’s going to be on the menu until you get there, but trust us – it’s going to be delicious.
6. Make a pumpkin recipe from a Pittsburgh blogger.
Here’s three to get you started: Pumpkin Cacio e Pepe from How Sweet Eats (so creamy!), Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips from Brown-Eyed Baker (so easy!), and Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats from the Almond Eater (so good!). Plus, this isn’t exactly a Pittsburgh blogger, but Dorie Greenspan’s Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good is a Fall classic, and worth the effort.
7. Try a winter brew at the Beers of the Burgh Winter Warmer
On Friday, November 22 at 31st Studios in the Strip District, Beers of the Burgh is hosting their annual Winter Warmer, with brews from more than 30 western Pennsylvania breweries. As a bonus, attendees at this year’s event will be able to take in the sights at the incredible light gardens at Lumaze Pittsburgh, before it’s open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online.
8. Head to Brick Shop for dinner.
The newly-opened Brick Shop at the TRYP Hotel in Lawrenceville has been serving breakfast and lunch for awhile now, but they just announced that they’re now open for dinner, too. The menu is heavily influenced by Central and Eastern European flavors, and features dishes like Potato Kugel, Palmeni Dumplings, Brick Chicken with farro, turnip, pomegranate, and sumac, and Khachapuri, with farmers cheese, cultured butter and a poached egg. Brick Shop (177 40th Street)
9. Have a Fall (pizza) pie.
From Dinette’s Chorizo secco, Jonagold apple, candy onion and Manchego pizza to Driftwood Oven’s cider-braised pork, honey crisp apple, parsley, herbed ricotta and mozzarealla pie, all of our favorite pizza shops around town are pulling out their favorite autumnal recipes. Our recommendation? Order as many special pies as you possibly can while they’re still on the menu.
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