Category Archives: Food & Drink

Don’t forget about Dave & Andy

Today, Tuesday, April 14, 2015 is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s locations around the US. That means everyone who walks into the shop (usually after standing in line) get a free ice cream cone of your choice.

I like to use Free Cone Day (I wrote about this last year) to everyone in Pittsburgh about Dave & Andy’s Ice Cream in Oakland. This fine ice cream establishment has been making and serving ice cream to Pittsburghers since 1983. If you want to skip the lines and spend a few dollars at a locally owned business, head over to Dave & Andy’s on Atwood Street in Oakland for an ice cream cone instead.

While we try to support as many local businesses as possible, the local Pittbsurgh Ben & Jerry’s is a pretty cool story too. You can read about the Pittsburgh Ben & Jerry’s partner shop that provides job training to at-risk youth here.

Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop

You can read our post from Free Cone Day 2014 to learn more about free stuff in Pittsburgh here.

What is your favorite local ice cream stand to visit in or near Pittsburgh?

Laser Etch Your Pumpkin Pie at TechShop Tomorrow

Not a baker? Not a problem. You can impress your family with a custom laser etched pie. TechShop Pittsburgh is offering a pretty cool class for Thanksgiving. You and your guest will get to use the Trotec laser cutter and will take home a custom laser-etched desert.

If you haven’t had a chance to explore TechShop yet – this is a great starter class. I am a huge fan of using the laser cutter and this pie workshop is a great way to spend an evening preparing a special Thanksgiving treat.

Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2104
Time: 7pm
Location: TechShop Pittsburgh, Bakery Square
Cost: $75 for 2 people, $55 for 2 people if one person is a TechShop member (If you want to attend solo – call the front desk for pricing)
Register Online here – http://techshop.ws/class_signup.html?no_back=1&a=1&i=114166188

Also – check out the upcoming Party at TechShop on December 4, 2014 for another great chance to check out what TechShop has to offer.

How TechShop DC-Arlington Enabled a High School Senior to Start a Business (tech.co)
Hardware Hackathon; Mark Hatch of TechShop to Introduce Team Pitches (websummit.net)
Maker Professional Training Program (eleventhstack.wordpress.com)
How TechShop is Bringing the Sharing Economy to Manufacturing (socialmediatoday.com)

Go to this: Whiskey Loves Beer Dinner on November 20

Hopefully this event wont be sold out by the time you read this blog post. The cool kids who run the Independent are teaming up with the folks at Wigle Whiskey for a four course dinner that will redefine the shot and beer. The food at the Independent Brewing Company is awesome and at $65/person this is a steal for what promises to be a delightful evening. Tickets are available here.

Beer: In Pittsburgh things really are hopping (powersource.post-gazette.com)
A new pocket guide tours you through local booze-makers (pghcitypaper.com)
Craft beer craze taps the Eastern suburbs (triblive.com)
Links N’At – What is the correct glassware for an IC Light? (iheartpgh.com)

Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville is Tonight!

Most of us ~~don’t~~ shouldn’t take off work early to go shopping – and there is nothing more frustrating than getting to your favorite store and realizing it closed while you were waiting for the bus. Fear not! While many shops in Lawrenceville stay open late every Thursday, shops and galleries will stay open until 9pm the second Thursday of every month as part of Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville (SLN). This year this event is better than ever with more shops, an online map, and specials at local restaurants and bars for SLN shoppers!

Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville! Make a purchase at one store and get 10% off at another participating store with proof of purchase. After 9pm get discounts and specials at participating bars and restaurants with proof of purchase. Many stores will also have drinks and snacks available while you shop!

SLN

Huffington Post Best Cake in America – Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte

I was taking a brief break from work this morning to check the headlines on the Post-Gazette and Huffington Post. Right below Don Draper and next to Bubba Watson is a picture of something that looks like it came from Pittsburgh….

I clicked through to find this post – Thank You, Pittsburgh, For the Greatest Cake America Has Ever Made.

But then we got our hands on a cake from Prantl’s Bakery in Pittsburgh and we realized that we couldn’t be more wrong. No cake made in any of the five boroughs of New York holds a candle to Prantl’s amazing burnt almond torte. It is probably the BEST cake America has to offer.

Yes, the rest of the world is discovering what Pittsburghers already know – Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte is something special.

Prantls is located in Shadyside on Walnut Street and is open 7 days a week. They also have a location downtown. And yes, Burnt Almond Tortes can be ordered online and shipped anywhere in the US.

You can like Prantl’s on Facebook here and follow @prantlsbakery on Twitter.

I am not crazy about the photos that Huffington Post used for this article, because they don’t really say anything about Pittsburgh or Prantls. Here are a few more Prantl’s pictures. Please add your own photos in the comments below.

Prantl’s Bakery (Photo credit: matt.mendick)

2012-12-24 08.51.08 Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte (Photo credit: CKeslar)

Here is a photo I took of some Easter cookies at Prantls a few years ago. I have friends that when they come back to visit Pittsburgh, immediately head to Prantl’s for a cookie covered in icing.