The Pittsburgh Dish

Flaky pie crust isn’t magic—it’s method. We sit down with Chef Alekka Sweeney to unpack the science and the small choices that turn holiday baking from stressful to satisfying. 

We go beyond pies to build a full, flexible holiday playbook. Stock the pantry with non-perishables now, refresh tired baking powder and soda, and freeze multiple dough discs so you can bake on your schedule. Alekka shares her favorites—bourbon cho...

A private chef who learned pasta in an Umbrian cellar, sold out DC markets with recipe cards, and now feeds Pittsburgh with allergy-aware comfort food? That’s Barbara Ann of A B Kitchen, and her story is a tour of how real-world cooking can be both nourishing and exciting without getting fussy.

We visit the nuts and bolts of Barbara's off-site private chef model: custom meal prep, catering that accommodates varied die...

We pull up a seat with Chef Danielle Cain and front‑of‑house lead and bar creator Rob Hirst of Hey Babe, the new East Liberty lounge inside the Maverick Hotel that’s fast becoming Pittsburgh’s coziest third place. From a crispy eggplant that rules social media to a five‑spice pork belly and salmon tartare, the menu’s range is deliberate.

The drink menu including an espresso martini that pours with a creamy cascade like Gui...

(00:55) A state-of-the-art kitchen hidden beside a glasshouse, garden-fresh herbs clipped minutes before class, and a room wired like a studio so every chop and sauté is easy to follow—this week we head inside Phipps’ Botany Hall Teaching Kitchen with Culinary Programs Manager Tess Monks to see how Pittsburghers learn to cook together. 

(08:24) We dig into the secret sauce: produce from the Phipps gardens, botanical beverages that b...

Craving a dining scene that welcomes everyone at the table? We dive into the moves Pittsburgh restaurants and bars are making to create truly inclusive menus—thoughtful vegetarian mains, standout zero-proof cocktails, and the kind of service that makes every guest feel seen. 

(00:36) We kick off with an update from author Maria C. Palmer and the story of her father Joseph Costanzo Jr. and the legendary Primadonna Restaurant. From pr...

(00:40) The leaves are changing, there's a chill in the air, and our host is embracing the seasonal transition on this deliciously varied episode of The Pittsburgh Dish. Doug shares details from his recent end-of-summer cooking class that perfectly bridges the seasonal gap – featuring a mouthwatering menu of prosciutto-peach salad, basil-infused risotto topped with fresh corn relish, and fruit trifles showcasing summer's ...

We explore how GoodTaste! Pittsburgh and Nosh and Curd are bringing new flavors and experiences to local food lovers through events, cheese education, and creative pairings. We're on location at Mazzotta Winery where our guests share their journeys from personal passion to business success in Pittsburgh's vibrant culinary community.

• Dee Weinberg of GoodTaste! Pittsburgh has been creating food events for over a ...

(01:03) Lisa Ray of Hammajack Heat Company joins us to share the delightful origin story behind their uniquely named hot sauce brand – a four-year-old's adorable mispronunciation that became the perfect business name.

(16:12) Lisa walks us through the fascinating fermentation process that gives their sauces distinctive depth and complexity. Though she admits she wasn't initially a hot sauce enthusiast herself, Li...

Have you ever wondered what makes Bangladeshi cuisine distinctive in a world where "curry" often becomes the default descriptor for South Asian food? This week, we learn about the vibrant food culture of Bangladesh with Anika Chowdhury, food blogger and contestant from PBS's The Great American Recipe.

(01:04) Anika shares her Bangladesh – "a country obsessed with food" – where she grew up surrounde...

(01:08) As we step into Sultan Döner Kebab and Baklava on 6th Street in downtown Pittsburgh, owner Sinan Camozu moves with practiced precision as he operates a specialized machine imported from Turkey—one of a kind in our region. From it emerges impossibly thin sheets of phyllo dough, translucent enough to see your hand through, destined to become his extraordinary baklava.

(07:43) "Nobody does this other than us,&quo...

Ever feel too exhausted to cook a proper family meal after a long day? Or wish you could help a loved one going through a difficult time without showing up with another lasagna? The latest episode of The Pittsburgh Dish explores how one local Chef and his family are solving these exact challenges.

We begin with Bonny Diver's inspiring journey from breast cancer survivor to founder of Hair Peace Charities. Her annual f...

Meet Kate Romane, the culinary force behind Black Radish Kitchen who's quietly reshaping Pittsburgh's restaurant landscape by opening her doors to emerging talent. What started as a catering business in a light-filled warehouse has evolved into an incubator for the city's next generation of great chefs.

After learning to cook in the Strip District at Enrico Biscotti Company, Kate opened E2 (E-squared) during...

Step onto Brownsville Road with us as we immerse ourselves in the sights, smells, and flavors of the Mount Oliver Farmers Market. This episode takes a delightful detour from our usual format as we wander through this vibrant community gathering, microphone in hand, meeting the passionate entrepreneurs who make this neighborhood special.

The market reveals itself as a microcosm of Pittsburgh's diverse food scene. Chef ...

A culinary road trip across America reveals the heart and soul behind three of this season's Great American Recipe contestants on PBS, each bringing their unique cultural heritage and personal journeys to the kitchen.

(00:35) From the warm hospitality of Durham, North Carolina, Fran Wescott welcomes us into her Southern kitchen where traditional local ingredients meet global influences. "I am, at heart, a Souther...

(00:36) We get to know a 40-year farming legacy that's become one of the region's most beloved agricultural destinations, Triple B Farms. Ron Beinlich, a former metallurgical engineer who always dreamed of being a farmer, took a leap of faith in 1985 when he left US Steel to focus full-time on the abandoned 205-acre property he'd purchased years earlier. Together with his wife Carolyn, they transformed overgrown land...

(00:57) A disappointing cup of lemonade at the Big Butler County Fair ignited an unexpected entrepreneurial journey for Shiquala Dukes and Vonn Jennings. Their quest for something more refreshing and less sugary resulted in Burghade Lemonade, a business that began as a quick money-making venture but rapidly evolved into something much more meaningful.

The couple shares how they crafted their first batches in summer 2022, f...

(01:06) Scott Baker, a fifth-generation baker and president of Five Generation Bakers, unveils the rich legacy behind Pittsburgh's beloved Jenny Lee Bakery. It's all about family tradition, resilience, and reinvention.

Through fascinating family anecdotes, Scott traces the evolution from that first bakery to the Seven Baker Brothers wholesale operation, to the birth of Jenny Lee in 1938—named after a popular Guy ...

(00:55) Kate Clemons reveals the journey of Brown Bear Bread Company, a story of passion, persistence, and finding your true calling. What began in 2020 as home baking experiments during the pandemic transformed into a church basement operation, then a full café in Mount Oliver, and finally found its perfect home in New Brighton's vibrant small-town setting.

(10:03) Their five-year-old sourdough starter (affectionatel...