Sure, the month is almost half over… but look at it this way: You still have more than two weeks to mark these off your October to-do list.
1. Have a Kamayan feast at Kaya
Every Tuesday, Kaya hosts an eat-with-your-hands Kamayan dinner. The Filipino-inspired feast of seasoned meats and seafood, sliced tropical fruit, and vegetables, is served on a blanket of banana leaves, and guest are encouraged to dig in sans knife and fork. If you haven’t been to the weekly event yet, you’ve got to hurry – Kaya is only hosting Kamayan dinners through October 31, until the event is retired for the season.
2. Vote for your favorite wings at Butterjoint
Butterjoint’s semi-regular Wingoff is back on Tuesday, October 17 with three (really, four) stellar Pittsburgh chefs vying to become the next wing champion. Dave Anoia from DiAnoia’s Eatery, Drew Garbarino from The Twisted Frenchman and Dan and Sherri Leiphart from Thin Man Sandwich Shop will be serving up their own takes on chicken wings (think Pomegranate Cherry Lime or Dry-rubbed Wild Mushroom, two versions from previous Wingoffs). Order a plate that includes all three, and vote for your favorite from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
3. Raise a glass of Threadbare Cider
It’s been a long time coming, but Threadbare Cider (from the Wigle Whiskey folks) is officially opening their Northside cidery on October 20 with an opening night celebration. In addition to serving their own “bottle conditioned, interesting and approachable cider,” Threadbare will also feature oven-fired pizzas and a full menu of fermented foods.
4. Take a downtown lunch break
There’s nothing better to break up a work day than a BBQ sandwich or two. And on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., you can do just that because Pork & Beans is open for lunch. Grab one of their famous pulled pork sandwiches to go, and enjoy your lunch outside while the weather is still nice enough. And if you’re not feeling BBQ, you could head to tako just down the street, because they’ll be serving lunch until October 27, when their lunch service closes for the winter.
5. Meet Lidia Bastianiach at Lidia’s Pittsburgh
Chef, restaurateur and television host Lidia Bastianiach will be visiting her namesake Pittsburgh restaurant on Tuesday, October 24 for a book signing and four-course dinner. She’ll be signing copies of her new cookbook ‘Lidia’s Celebrate Like an Italian,’ while guests enjoy family-style dishes like Prosciutto with spicy Giardiniera, Pappardelle with Beef Guazzetto, Pear and Pecornio Ravioli with Cacio e Pepe sauce, and Mixed Seafood Brodetto. Tickets are $55 per person, and can be purchased online.
6. Scare yourself silly at Sweet Horror 3.0
East End Brewing Company is hosting a super scary pop-up event on Sunday, October 29, featuring sweet and savory vegan treats. Vendors like Relish, Sugar Spell Scoops, Sweet Alchemy Bake Shop, Chip and Kale, Onion Maiden and Salud PGH will be serving up all manner of vegan delights, and horror and pop-culture-inspired art from Pittsburgh-based artists will also be available for purchase.
7. Stave off autumn colds with a wheatgrass shot from Pittsburgh Juice Company
Feeling a little yucky? Though we can’t exactly prove why it works, we have a secret weapon when we start to feel the first signs of a sore throat: The wheatgrass shot from Pittsburgh Juice Company. These adorable 1-ounce bottles are packed to the brim with immune-boosting vitamins, protein and amino acids. We’re also big fans of their Immunity Fireball shots, made with orange, ginger, oil of oregano, cayenne, turmeric and colloidal silver.
8. Get The Plague at Draai Laag Brewing Company
Draai Laag’s annual release of The Plague, a fan-favorite brew that’s made with a Belgian-inspired stout and their French Oak Petit Syrah wine casks, then aged, blended and fermented over a trio of fresh briar berries. There are two chances to get your hands on the stuff: On Saturday, October 21, get to their brewery at 3:00 p.m. to purchase bottles and drafts, while supplies last. And on October 28, Caliente Pizza & Draft House in Bloomfield will have it available on draft starting at 1:00 p.m., with bottles available for purchase at all three Caliente locations.
9. Eat all the doughnuts at Just Good Donuts
Have you been following Just Good Donuts on social media? If not, then you may have missed their ever-changing daily flavor announcements – also known as your daily reminder that you need more doughnuts in your life. They’re killing it with varieties like Apple Jack, filled with house-made apple filling, Butterfinger with peanut butter icing, and Apricot Jam-filled, with vanilla and raspberry drizzle.
10. Take a pasta tour at Casbah
Casbah’s Fall Festa di Pasta is happening from Monday, October 16 through Thursday, October 19, featuring more than a dozen small plates of seasonal pasta dishes. Menu highlights include Sheep Milk Ricotta Tortelloni with butternut squash and brown butter, Gemelli with duck confit, Mushroom Bolognese Lasagna, and Cheese Agnolotti, with saffron, pistachio, honey and thyme.
11. Grab your honey and grab some…. honey
Is it just us, or is honey everywhere this October? Pizza Taglio’s Greenpointer pizza is topped with heavy drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey (along with some spicy soppressata for an extra kick), Pennsylvania Libations in the Strip District just got in an order of Manatawny Still Works’ Small Batch #14, a honey whiskey that’s made in Pennsylvania, and Pear & the Pickle Café and Market in Troy Hill is selling honey from neighborhood bees – which, of course, is one of the best home remedies for allergies known to man. Now that’s sweet!
12. Celebrate Halloween with good Pittsburgh chocolate
Fun-sized Snickers bars are for kids, amirite? If you want a real treat this Halloween, look towards one of Pittsburgh’s small-batch chocolate makers, like a519 Chocolate, which has introduced a new line of Fall flavors (including Cranberry Caramel and Pumpkin Spice), or Lux Artisan Chocolates, with their rich dark chocolate bars, topped with grown-up flavors like Black Fig & Pistachio and Brown Butter & Cocoa Nibs.
13. Get your tickets to the Rise & Shine Festival while you still can
Yes, we know that our Rise & Shine Festival isn’t until Saturday, November 11… but tickets are almost gone, so if you want to go, don’t wait to get one for yourself. We’re taking over Hitchhiker’s new brewery in Sharpsburg for a brunch-time coffee fest, which will feature unlimited samples from some of Pittsburgh’s best coffee roasters and tea vendors like Grounds and Hounds, La Prima Espresso, 19 Coffee Company and Tupelo Honey Teas, plus there will be tons of food vendors on site, serving up brunch favorites (hello, Just Good Donuts, Wise County Biscuits and Baby Loves Tacos) for purchase. Tickets are only $12, and there are less than 20 left right now… so if you want to come, don’t wait!
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