There are few things in this world that never get old. And a hot dog is one of them. What do you eat at the ballpark? What’s on your grill at picnics? What appears on almost every menu?
Hot dogs. Hot dogs. And more hot dogs.
America is ruled by them like an army of steamrollers. They are grilled, placed on a bun, eaten, and rebuilt with condiments again and again.
So there shouldn’t be any reason to explain why hot dog shops are just as common. They are the perfect Saturday get-away: …

Each autumn, I go to an orchard to pick fruit at the peak of ripeness, when each apple, peach, and plum is so ripe and heavy that the branches dangle downward and each bite — straight from the tree — sends dribbles of nectar down my chin.
Unfortunately, I can’t savor such freshness all the time, but several restaurants in the area feature sustainable, seasonal, and locally grown ingredients that come pretty darn close to the orchard experience. Besides pampering taste buds, these restaurants are also gentle on the earth.
The menu …

Pizza. As the quintessential comfort food, just the name itself conjures feelings of warmth, harkening back to earlier days of sleepovers, summer picnics, and late nights in college. Handheld, convenient, and oh-so-delicious, pizza — that glorious meld of piping-hot toppings and sauce — is like a little dose of love in a slice.
But the dish has come far since its unassuming tomato-sauce-and-cheese beginnings, elevated to the gourmet with the use of fresh ingredients and complex flavor combinations.
Luckily, in Pittsburgh, options aren’t limited to mass-produced pizzas from national chains, and our …

There is no question about it — Pittsburgh’s a food town. From classic dishes to experimental delicacies, regional restaurants are serving up tastes we crave with a fresh twist. More chefs are turning to local farmers to provide them with only the freshest seasonal local and organic produce for their menus and at this time of year, there is an abundance.
One of my early summer favorites is arugula. Originating from the Mediterranean region, arugula is a spicy green often added to salads to give them a peppery kick. This flavor-packed …

The return of the collective conscience has had people seriously thinking about vegetarianism lately — and why not?  It’s cheaper, easier on the environment, and can be healthier for the body.  Done correctly, the vegetarian diet is healthy, nutritious, safe – even sexy!  Studies have shown that — on average — vegetarians are thinner, live longer, and have lower rates of cancer and heart disease than meat eaters.  So carnivores, un-crinkle your noses and open your minds (and mouths!) to a world of meatless meals you never thought possible.
Unless you …