Corn tortillas in California now must contain folic acid. More states are looking at it
Fifteen years after she lost her first baby to a rare and devastating birth defect, Andrea Lopez takes comfort in knowing that other Latina mothers might finally avoid the same pain. In January, California became the first state to require food makers to add folic acid, a crucial vitamin, to...
Drinking raw milk is risky. Should people be able to buy it anyway?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, once declared that he drinks only raw milk. Earlier this year, at a state legislative hearing in Michigan, state Rep. Matt Maddock, a Republican, theatrically sipped from a glass of raw milk and declared, “There’s few things in the world that are better...
Passover and Easter are just days apart this year — here are some dishes that can be adapted to both holidays
A holiday table says a lot about tradition. During Passover, the meal follows centuries-old rules about what can and cannot be served. At Easter, the centerpiece might be a glazed ham with rich, festive breads and pastries surrounded by spring vegetables and sweets. But when the holidays fall just days...
PAPS, a new retro pizza and sub shop, searches for the perfect slice
Penn Avenue Pizza and Steaks — or PAPS — hasn’t officially opened, but the restaurant’s name has already been made into a verb. “I got PAPSed today,” read a Reddit post earlier this month. “A gorgeous slice.” “That lit us up,” owner Chris Firman told TribLive. “We’re happy to be...
Friendship Donut Co. opens in Leechburg, fostering community spirit
Virginia Lindsay and Karen Heilman have been business partners for a long time. From gardening and antiquing to two successful local coffee shops, the women have long mastered the balance of friendship and business. “I always say, ‘Women in business: You either support each other or fail,’ ” said Heilman,...
Innamorato issues order to improve restaurant permit process following Health Department changes
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato on Monday signed an executive order aimed at streamlining the county’s restaurant permitting process. The effort will engage multiple departments to assess where the food permitting process could be improved while maintaining public health and safety. A news release from her office states the order...
Jersey Mike’s raises funds for nearly 100 Special Olympics athletes
Jersey Mike’s Subs locations across Pennsylvania are turning sandwiches into support, raising money to help send Special Olympics athletes to the 2026 USA Games. At sandwich shops across Western Pennsylvania, every sub sold on Wednesday will aid nearly 100 local qualifying athletes planning to compete on a national stage in...
Longest line at Philly airport? Cheesesteaks, not security
PHILADELPHIA — Travelers passing through Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday may have expected long security lines. But the longest line was made of cheesesteaks. Organizers say they achieved a new Guinness World Record for the longest line of cheesesteak sandwiches, with 1,291 lined up inside a departure hall to mark...
AI is coming for the sommeliers
Like many people, Spencer Herbst finds choosing wines in restaurants to be stressful. He likes wine, he said, but considers himself relatively uninformed. “It feels like a quiz you didn’t prepare for,” he said. So, six months ago, Herbst, who builds artificial intelligence capabilities at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York, did...
World Food Prize goes to food safety scientist for preventing millions of cases of foodborne illness
DES MOINES, Iowa — A scientist who pioneered the modern food processing safety standards used around the world was awarded this year’s World Food Prize, the organization announced Wednesday, crediting his work for averting millions of cases of foodborne illness and reducing food waste. Huub Lelieveld of the Netherlands earned...
Sheetz to hire 500 employees across Pennsylvania
Sheetz plans to hire 500 new employees at its stores across Pennsylvania. The hiring day takes place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at all of Sheetz’ 315 locations in the commonwealth, the company said in an announcement. Sheetz got its start in Altoona in 1952. Each of...
Pierogi plot twist: A roundup of Western Pa.’s strange-but-true dumplings
There are few foods Western Pennsylvanians are more devoted to than the pierogi. While nearly every culture has its version of the dumpling, the region remains fiercely attached to the Polish comfort food brought over by Eastern European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th century. With Pittsburgh standing...
Plaza at North Shore to open ahead of Pirates’ 1st game at PNC Park
The North Shore will gain a new dining and entertainment space ahead of the Pirates’ home opener and the NFL Draft. Legacy Hospitality Partners announced Thursday that The Plaza at North Shore, along with its first restaurant concept, SugarBird, will open April 2. The 30,000-square-foot Plaza is at the corner...
Milanes Mobile expands from Cuban food truck to brick-and-mortar restaurant in McKees Rocks
It’s a tall order to make Western Pennsylvania feel like the Caribbean, but Collyn and Carlos Milanes Jr. were up for the challenge. The couple, owners of the popular Cuban food truck Milanes Mobile, which launched last May, are expanding with a brick-and-mortar restaurant in McKees Rocks. Milanes Cuban Corner...
Guide to Strip District eateries for NFL Draft
Dedicated football fans visiting Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft have their mock draft boards ready – now it’s time to build a winning dinner lineup. The Strip District serves up some of the city’s best between-picks meals, just a 10-minute drive away from the stadium or a 30-minute walk...
RFK Jr. makes food sound like a miracle drug. Researchers say he often overstates the science
In the Trump administration’s campaign to promote healthy eating, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not stopped at his slogan urging people to “eat real food” to prevent disease. In recent speeches and podcast appearances, the nation’s health secretary also has claimed that diet can “cure” schizophrenia and diabetes and allow...
A fresh menu takes the field at PNC ParkVideo
New ballpark bites are on deck at PNC Park for the upcoming Pittsburgh Pirates season. The team unveiled the new lineup Wednesday, featuring creative spins on Steel City staples — from pierogies and kielbasa to chipped ham favorites. In total, nine new menu items will be available at select spots...
Meadows Original Frozen Custard aims for summer opening in Ross Township
Nathaniel Jackson, co-owner of Meadows Original Frozen Custard in New Alexandria, knows his frozen treats — and there’s a big difference between ice cream and custard. “The main thing is the egg yolk. For custard to be called custard, it has 1.4% egg yolk,” Jackson explained (or about...
Juniper Grill, Atria’s and 1930 Cigar Bar now open in Pittsburgh’s Strip District
Three restaurant concepts have opened in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Juniper Grill, Atria’s and 1930 Cigar Bar opened on Tuesday at 2350 Railroad St. The two restaurants and cigar lounge occupy 11,000 square feet and replace the former Italian restaurants Osteria 2350 and Cioppino. The new establishments are operated by Restaurant...
Well Well (Market) scraps plans to open Downtown Pittsburgh grocery store
Well Well (Market), a grocery store expected Downtown, has scrapped its plans to open, the Downtown Neighbors Alliance confirmed Tuesday. The new store, first announced last July, was slated to open at 817 Liberty Ave. in time for the NFL Draft in April. John Valentine, CEO of the Downtown Neighbors...
Pizzaiolo Primo opens largest location yet at former Atria’s in Murrysville
Regional restaurant Pizzaiolo Primo opened the doors of its newest location this week in the former Atria’s on Route 22 in Murrysville. Restaurant officials noted that they had been waiting for their authentic pizza oven to arrive from Italy to join an array of fresh ingredients also imported from the...
Urban Tap earns clean inspection report weeks after video of rat walking near its tapsVideo
The South Side bar made locally famous by a video of a rat walking on its beer taps has gotten a clean bill from the Allegheny County Health Department. Urban Tap on East Carson Street posted a copy of the inspection report, which notes “no evidence of rodent activity” and...
New hospitality group cooking up more dining, entertainment for Downtown Pittsburgh
There’s a new hospitality group ready to ramp up the Downtown Pittsburgh dining and entertainment scene this year — and beyond. The news of Legacy Hospitality Group was announced on Monday. It’s the newest business collaboration from the hospitality team of professionals behind restaurants Ritual House, Palm Palm, Shorty’s and...
The March monthly bake: Chocolate Guinness cake
When I first discovered Nigella Lawson, I felt as if I had met my soul sister. She shone through my television (I was a total Food Network kid, of course), and I was completely smitten. She was hilarious, innovative, gorgeous, relatable — everything I idolized as a young boy whose...
Celebrate an Italian table with St. Joseph’s Day recipes
When it comes to cultural celebrations in March, the Irish tend to take center stage with St. Patrick’s Day. But just two days later, on March 19, Italians get a spotlight with St. Joseph’s Day. The difference? Irish-American dishes may not be Emerald Isle-authentic, but they are well known: corned...