Category Archives: Food & Drink

Pittsburgh Fish Fry Season is Here!

Today is the day! The first Friday of lent kicks of 40 days of fish fry Fridays.  The Friday fish fry is an annual church fundraiser. During the 40 days of Lent, many Catholics give up meat on Friday and so churches offer a fish dinner (sometimes a fish lunch).  Even if you aren’t Catholic or if church isn’t your thing, all are welcome to dine at the fish fries.   I think it is fair to say that the fish fry has developed a cult following of Pittsburghers searching for the best fried fish, fried side and pierogi that a church basement can offer. Over the past few years we’ve seen some non-church related fish fry events pop-up around town.

Important Resources for Finding Fish Fry Events in Pittsburgh

 

The Pittsburgh Fish Fry Bracket

It’s a very Pittsburgh approach to March Madness. The Incline is running a Pittsburgh Fish Fry bracket for folks to vote for their favorite fish fry establishments.  Submit your voters for Round 1 by 10 am on Monday, March 6, 2017.

UPDATE: The Final Four in the Ultimate Fish Fry Bracket

The Incline’s Ultimate Fish Fry Bracket has been narrowed down to the final four locations. Check out one (or more) of these four and cast your vote for who will move to the final round.

  • Corpus Christi Parish, 803 Market St. (McKeesport)
  • Holy Angels Parish, 408 Baldwin Road (Hays)
  • St. Alphonsus, 201 Church Road (Wexford)
  • St. Joan of Arc Church, 6470 Library Road (South Park)

Click here to cast your vote for the best fish fry in Pittsburgh.

More Fish Fry Events

Friday, March 24 – Cod for Pittsburgh @ St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Hall

Join the Code for Pittsburgh team (the brains behind the amazing Pittsburgh Fish Fry Map) for a meetup at the St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Hall. Here is a little bit of history about the church from the Code for Pittsburgh MeetUp page:

St. Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish friar who was martyred in Auschwitz after harboring Jews in his monastery, as well as a harboring a seditious printing press. He was canonized in 1982.

This parish, in West Homestead was formed as the St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in 1992, merging six previous parishes. St. Maximilian Kolbe Church became so in 2009, prior to which it was St. Anne.

The fish fry is famed as one of the region’s classics. It’s potato haluski is a well-known treat.

St. Max Kolbe is open from 10AM to 7PM on the 24th. We’ll aim to meet up at 4.

Saturday, April 15 – Keep Pittsburgh Fishy @ Spirit

  • Keep Pittsburgh Fishy is an annual secular fish fry benefiting local progressive organizations.  This year proceeds will benefit New Voices Pittsburgh, a local organization dedicated to the health and well-being of Black women and girls through leadership development, Human Rights and Reproductive Justice.
  • $10 Menu includes:
    • Classic spiced cornmeal-crusted FISH SANDWICH on a hearty bun with a tasty Sriracha mayo “tartar” sauce – OR – a vegan sun dried tomato hummus/pickled carrots/arugula sandwich prepared by 52nd Street Market.
    • Coleslaw (vegan!), prepared by Apteka.
    • Macaroni & cheese (vegetarian!), prepared by The Vandal
  • Additional item which can be pruchased: Plus, for a few bucks more…
    • Desserts provided by Ben Houck
    • Drinks both alcoholic and non from Spirit’s fully-stocked bar (don’t forget your ID!)

#PGHFishFry

Share your fishy fry fan photos with the #PGHFishFry hashtag.

https://twitter.com/i/moments/845010565118513152

Redhawk Coffee Now Open in Oakland

For a neighborhood that is home to a population of guaranteed coffee drinkers, Oakland has 3 universities and a handful of hospitals, there has been a lack of coffee shops especially since the Pete’s Coffee closed a few years ago.

Redhawk Coffee which launched a coffee truck last year now has a storefront at 120 Meyran in Oakland. Thank you for Natrona Bottling for sharing this snapshot on Instagram.  The shop opened in January and is just a popup location through March. You can read more about Redhawk coffee’s Oakland location in the Pitt News here.

Follow Redhawk coffe online:

A word from our sponsors…

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home made pierogi

“every day is pierogi day, in pittsburgh”

National Pierogi Day

I was browsing the Pittsburgh subreddit which is a great place to find out about local events, news and interesting facts about this town. There is a post about the fact that Thursday, October 8 is National Pierogi Day. I don’t know who created National Pierogi Day or why it is in October. I come from a family that is pretty serious about pierogi making, I associate pierogi with the holidays, especially January. I do know that the lone comment on the Pittsburgh subreddit explains how most Pittsburghers react to National Pierogi Day: “every day is pierogi day, in pittsburgh.”

There isn’t much information about National Pieorgi Day online.  There is a Facebook page here. In Pittsburgh the only event I found for National Pierogi day is at the casino, which I don’t even think is worth linking to.

ihp-beer+pierogi

Quite possibly the best possible idea for a food pairing event, ever.

Next week, there is a pierogi & beer dinner in Braddock at The Brew Gentlemen with Casey Barber – author of book about pierogi @GoodFoodStories, author of the book Pierogi Love.

If you are looking for some pierogi gear, sadly the Commonwealth press store is sold out of the pierogi pillow, but Garbella has some pierogi attire for Pittsburghers of all ages.

How do you plan to honor the pierogi on national pierogi day (or every other day of the year)? Where are the best pierogi in Pittsburgh? Share your pierogi thoughts with #everydayispierogiday.

more pierogi reading…

For the Love of Local Pizza: Plan to Have Spak Brothers Pizza This Weekend

Show Spak Brothers some love this week

Photo credit: Fitsburgh

Photo credit: Fitsburgh

Spak Brothers is an awesome pizza shop in Penn Avenue in Garfield, awesome because they make delicious food and they are awesome neighbors who have supported lots of community initiatives.  I know they kept many of the toy drive volunteers fed last Christmas.

Due to a break-in and refrigerator break down, they have had a rough week.  Spak isn’t asking for money, but you can support them by stopping by for some food.

Spak will reopen at 5pm on Thursday and be open until Tuesday when the new fridge arrives.

These small businesses are the heart and soul of this city, I don’t personally know the Spak guys, but I know they have contributed to this city, especially their neighborhood in many ways. Send a little love to this local shop by stopping by for a slice and sharing this with your friends on Twitter, Facebook etc.

You can follow Spak Brothers Pizza on Twitter @SpakBrothers

Spak Brothers is located at 5107 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224

via NeverTellMeTheOdds

North Side Restaurant Round Up

Going to Fringe Fest this weekend and looking for food? Try these local North Side restaurants.

North-Side-Restaurants

Max’s Allegheny Tavern is a German restaurant and the weekend home for Storyswap storytellers, Michael McGovern: Stand Up Horror and several other performances. Grab a schnitzel or bratwurst and enjoy. Max’s is located a few blocks from Fringe Central, Bistro To Go and several other venues.

Bistro To Go hosts several performances. Pick up a salad or sandwich before, during or after Major, Songs from a Lost Civilization, Tales Too Tall for Trailers or The Food at our Feet. Located less than a block from Fringe Central. @bistrotogopgh

James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy offers a broad food and drink menu and live Jazz performances. Try their craft beer selection or menu of comfort food favorites. @JamesStreet422

When? Friday and Saturday 11am-1am; Sunday 11am-11pm

Proximity to Fringe Fest: Located at 422 Foreland Street. 2 blocks from Max’s Allegheny Tavern; 1 block from Allegheny Commons Park

El Burro is a takeout taco and burrito joint with daily vegan options. Snag a burrito from El Burro and eat it outside between shows. @ElBurroPGH

When? Friday and Saturday 11am-9pm

Proximity to Fringe Fest: Located at 1108 Federal Street. Less than ½ mile from Randyland and the City of Asylum Tent

Legends of the North Shore is a classic Pittsburgh American Italian restaurant. Bring a bottle of wine (it’s BYOB) for a meal after a performance.

When? Friday 11am-9:30pm; Saturday 4pm-9:30pm (Reservations Recommended)

Proximity to Fringe Fest: Located at 500 East North Ave. 3 blocks from Max’s; less than ½ mile from Neu Kirche and Fringe Central

Wilson’s Bar-B-Que, known for traditional barbecue, is another place to stop of you want to grab food and eat in the park.

When? Friday and Saturday 12pm-8pm

Proximity to Fringe Fest: Located at 700 N. Taylor Ave. 3 blocks from City of Asylum Tent; ½ mile from Randyland

Benjamin’s Western Avenue Burger Bar is the newest restaurant on this list, recently bringing gourmet burgers and a broad craft beer and cocktail selection to Western Ave. Try it for brunch and Build Your Own Bloody Mary’s before a performance on Saturday or Sunday. @BenjaminsPGH

When? Friday 11:30am-11pm; Saturday 10:30am-11:00pm; Sunday 10:30am-9:00pm

Proximity to Fringe Fest: Located at 900 Western Ave. 3 blocks from the Western side of Allegheny Commons Park. A short drive from all venues.

Many thanks to Pittsburgh Happy Hour’s  Lou Kroeck for input!