Every month, we create a post like this, sharing the best things to eat, drink and experience right now in Pittsburgh. Typically, we list limited-edition restaurant specials, in-season dishes, special events… everything that we think makes dining out in this city so great.
Right now, things don’t feel very great. Our country is in turmoil. Our city is in turmoil. We debated a lot about whether or not to continue posting as usual this week. And honestly? I still don’t know what the right answer is. I don’t know what feels right. I don’t know how to post about a doughnut road trip when people are being murdered in broad daylight, by the people who are supposed to protect them.
So.
Here we are, trying to figure out the best path forward. How do we muddle through right now, while still supporting the mission of this site, which has always been to highlight the small businesses, restaurants and bars that make up this city? How do we expand our focus to shine a light on businesses that we haven’t covered before, in communities that we have under-served and under-reported?
We’re going to do the best we can.
And we want to hear from you. If there are food + drink stories that you want covered, let us know. If there are restaurants or food businesses that you think we should be talking about, let us know. If there are holes in our coverage that we need to know about, let us know. Email me directly at [email protected] – I want to hear from you.
Anyway. Thanks for reading this far. If you’re still interested in 9 excellent things to eat, drink and experience this month in Pittsburgh, read on.
1. Support a Black-owned business. Show your support for the Black-owned businesses in this city by ordering takeout. Back in February, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did a fantastic roundup, with a list of restaurants like Arnold’s Tea, Carmi’s Soul Kitchen, Love Rocks Cafe and Leon’s Caribbean Restaurant. There’s also Chef’s Table in Ross, The Dream BBQ in Homewood, Back to the Foodture in Pitcairn, and Savoy in the Strip District. And dozens others. Other businesses we love include Power Bites protein snacks and First Sip Brew Box. Do you have any more suggestions? Let us know in the comments.
2. Donate to help fund racial justice. There are a lot of things you can spend money on this month. May we suggest educating yourself about some of these causes/fundraisers/organizations and throwing a little cash their way? Start with these: Black Visions Collective, Black Lives Matter, Campaign Zero, 1 Hood Media, Reclaim the Block, The Bail Project, Fair Fight and the ACLU.
3. Welcome back the Spork Pit. The Spork Pit in Garfield is back for another season. Starting June 1, they’re open for takeout, curbside pick-up and delivery, with their regular BBQ menu, plus family meal options. Look for ten-hour smoked brisket, jerk chicken, and local draft beer by the growler, plus frozen cocktails to go.
4. Take part in a virtual charity dinner at Scratch. Scratch Food & Beverage has been doing their part to help their community during the COVID-19 crisis, and now, they’re hosting a dinner “party” for a good cause. On June 4 at 6:00 p.m., they’ll be teaming up with Basic Health International, a Pittsburgh-based leader in research and treatment of viruses, to raise funds for a new rapid and affordable COVID-19 test. The dinner party will include a Zoom call link for a 30-minute cocktail session, and a three-course take-home meal (available for pickup or delivery), which includes a salad, Prime Rib (there’s a vegetarian option, too), and dessert. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the development of BHI’s test. Prices start at $138, and more information can be found online.
5. Treat yourself to an empanada dinner. Want fresh-baked empanadas? New business Empanada Fusion is here for you. They do weekly ’empanada drops’ in spots including Rosslyn Farm, Glenshaw, Pittsburgh, Seven Fields, Wexford and Sewickley, with flavors like Traditional Beef, Thanksgiving Dinner, BBQ Beef Brisket, Cauliflower Curry, Brie & Pear and Blueberry Lemon, plus house-made sauces like Chimichurri and Chipotle Cream. Order online.
6. Take a hike… and get a beer. Get lost at Lost in the Wilds Brewery in Shippenville. Located off of Route 66 in Clarion County (really close to the North Country Trail trailhead by the Clarion River), the brewery is open on the weekends, selling cans of their brews to go and growler fills.
7. Celebrate National Doughnut Day. There are tons of doughnut places to choose from to celebration National Doughnut Day on June 5 (our Ultimate Pittsburgh Doughnut Road Trip is a good place to start), but right now we’re especially loving Smoke’s housemade doughnuts (in flavors like Cinnamon Glazed and Butter Crunch) and Just Good Donuts‘ daily offerings. And, Doughnut truck Dahntahn Donuts will be back on the road on June 6 for all your on-the-go doughnut needs.
8. Get cooking with the City Paper’s first-ever Pittsburgh cookbook. J’eet Jet? is the first-ever cookbook from the Pittsburgh City Paper, featuring 50 recipes from Pittsburgh chefs and restaurants. Half of the proceeds will go to keeping the City Paper up and running, and the other half will go to 412 Food Rescue. Cookbooks are $35 during their pre-order time period, and are available online.
9. Enjoy a taste of summer with a lobster roll. We officially welcome summer this month, and what better way to ring in the season with a fresh-made lobster roll? Our picks: Cousins Maine Lobster truck (they’re out and about almost every day), Luke Wholey’s Wild Alaskan Grill, and Merchant Oyster Company.
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