Chef Don Winkie opened his Plum Borough restaurant 80 Acres in 2014. He’s been cooking up a storm ever since, bringing a palette influenced by his years in Santa Fe and his time working at a local Italian bistro.
Chef Don Winkie’s Plum Borough restaurant is a family affair. His wife, Amy, and son, Elijah, are part of the heartbeat of this warm and intimate place. When Chef Don joined TABLE Magazine for a day of cooking together, his son joined him, eager to share one of his scrumptious dessert creations: Blueberry Cobbler with homemade Banana Ice Cream — the latter made especially delicious with Elijah’s unique way of infusing banana into the body of the ice cream.
What is Cobbler?
Cobbler is an old-fashioned word for an old-fashioned staple of family kitchens across the United States. It’s a mix of fruits, spices, and sugar poured into an oven-proof dish under a luscious cake or biscuit batter and baked until the fruit is rich and bubbly, and the topping is caramelized and golden brown. Try Elijah Winkie’s recipe at home! It will become a go-to dessert for special feasts or for everyday meals.
Scallops have a wonderful way of absorbing and enhancing flavor profiles. Fat, salt, and acid all play a part. They harmonize in this wonderful dish, thanks to harissa and chimichurri, without losing silky texture we all love in a fresh scallop. You won’t want to wait a second longer to make this Brown Butter Scallops recipe.
Choosing the Best Fresh Scallops
When choosing fresh scallops for searing, look for plump, white scallops with a slightly sweet aroma. You want to avoid any scallops that are slimy or have a strong fishy odor. The edges of the scallops should also be firm and slightly translucent. You can also opt for scallops that are uniform in size for even cooking. Additionally, consider the type of scallops. Diver scallops are often considered the best for searing due to their sweetness and texture.
Brown Butter Scallops Recipe
Brown Butter Scallops Ingredients
10-12 large scallops
Harissa spice
1 stick unsalted butter
½ cup finely chopped shallots
5 cloves of garlic, crushed/minced fine
1 Thai green chili minced
¼ cup red wine vinegar
½ tsp shawarma spice
½ tsp za’atar
Salt
Black pepper
1 cup chopped parsley
½ cup of olive oil
Scallops Instructions
To make the chimichurri, place the shallots, garlic, green chili, shawarma spice, za’atar, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Pour red wine vinegar over this and let sit for 5 minutes. Then add the chopped parsley and place in a small blender container. Pulse 2-3 times, before adding the oil. Stir and adjust seasonings as needed.
To make the brown butter, place the stick of butter in a pan on medium low heat and melt. Once the butter is melted, stay close, stirring often. You will first see the butter beginning to foam as the milk solids rise to the top. Keep stirring, watching for the butter to change color. Once you notice the color becoming more golden, you may want to remove it from the heat so it doesn’t burn. Let cool slightly, then pour the browned butter into a container and refrigerate if not using right away.
To make the scallops, first rinse and pat them dry with a paper towel. Then sprinkle as much of the harissa spice as you want on all sides of the scallops. Heat a pan to medium high and add enough brown butter to coat the bottom of the pan.
Place a single layer of scallops, making sure to not have them touch each other in the pan. Let them sit undisturbed for 2 minutes so that they get a golden crust on one side before gently flipping them over to cook for an additional minute on the other side. Generously add more brown butter if needed to spoon over the scallops. Remove the scallops from the pan so that they don’t overcook.
To plate, either spoon some chimichurri over the scallops, drizzling on more melted brown butter to finish or add the chimichurri to the center of a plate, placing the scallops on top, finishing with the melted brown butter.
Recipe by Veda Sankaran / Photography by Dave Bryce
For the Gerasole family, eating and cooking Italian is in their heart. It is in their soul. Escarole and Beans is a dish with humble origins, peasant food in Italy. Made from some of the cheapest ingredients, home cooks just add bread and wine, and feed the family.
”We always had this in our home,” says Chef Jennifer Gerasole. This home cooking staple is now one of the most popular dishes on Girasole’s menu.
Make it a meal by serving it over polenta, or with crusty bread. Add sausage, chicken, or shrimp for a heartier dinner version.
Looking to pair it with a wine? We recommend an Italian or Mediterranean white. Soave or any blend with Garganega works. They are light to medium, dry, lemony, sometimes nutty, but fruity enough to tame the bitterness of the greens. Also try a Vermentino, an aromatic white that’s a little herbaceous and lemony, which will compliment all the elements of this dish. A light-bodied red, like Schiava— dry, fruity, and floral— would also pair well.
Escarole and Beans Recipe
Ingredients
1 bunch escarole
Extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chili flakes
1 15-ounce can Great Northern beans
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup marinara sauce
Grated Parmesan
Instructions
1. Clean and spin-dry escarole.
2. In large pan, sauté olive oil, garlic, and escarole over medium heat until escarole is slightly wilted and garlic is aromatic. Season with salt, pepper and chili flakes.
3. Add beans, chicken stock and marinara sauce. Simmer on medium heat until soupy.
4. Top with grated Parmesan.
Recipe by Jennifer Gerasole / Photography by Adam Milliron / Styling by Ana Kelly
Welcome to 2024, Pittsburgh! Let’s start the year off right with events filled with all your favorite passions. Are you a sports fan? A book lover? A dancer? No matter what your hobby is, the city has an activity for you.
David Throckmorton is a jazz drummer who leads his quartet with a passionate performance. He has performed worldwide with artists including Maynard Ferguson and David Fiuczynski and now brings his quartet to Pittsburgh for a night of soulful music.
This one’s for the classic book nerds out there! Get your literary expertise ready to enjoy three cocktails famously featured in classic books, plus enjoy a mini charcuterie snack plate. Take a guess at what you think one of these cocktails could be. Here’s a hint, “It’s always shaken, not stirred.”
Teetotal Initiative presents a free and fantastic tasting experience featuring The Open Road non-alcoholic beverages, Athletic Brewing, and Two Frays Brewery. As you sip on your favorite drinks, test your luck in a game of Bingo for a chance to win amazing prizes.
Start off that New Year’s resolution to be more active with a free dance class from Crossbody. Check out an intro Salsa and/or Bachata class, both of which need no experience nor partner. It’s a great way to get some exercise and meet new people.
Celebrate the 2024 Pirates baseball season with this all-day event. Bring the whole family for interactive games and attractions perfect for fans of all ages. Pirates players, alumni, coaches, broadcasters, and mascots will be on-hand for autographs, photo opportunities, and more.
What does your zodiac say about you? Are you a fiery Scorpio with plenty of loyalty and energy? How about an empathetic Cancer with a deep love for the people close to you? Or maybe you’re an expressive Libra who makes friends everywhere you go? No matter which sign you are, horoscopes can be a way to discover more about yourself and how you sail through life and relationships. Much like a horoscope, our Zodiac Cocktails are based on what makes you tick, what flavors you prefer, and what overall vibe you give off through your sign. So get ready to gather your friends and throw a zodiac cocktail party where everyone can bring their sign’s cocktail. You might just learn a little more about each other and yourself along the way!
Leave it to Aquarius to overthink the obvious. At its core, the Paloma is a simple, humble highball with just two ingredients: tequila and grapefruit soda. But an Aquarian, always the innovator, would immediately ask: What if it could be more? They can’t resist making improvements. Because tequila is the most important ingredient in a Paloma, this is where the Aquarian opportunity to tweak and evolve comes in. Plus, the perfect menu for Aquarius here.
Absinthe and necromancy in a cocktail. Pisces, do we have your attention? Prescient Pisceans will be drawn to all the weird vibes the Corpse Reviver #2 has to offer. The fish is ruled by not just one, but two planets. Jupiter, god of abundance, would be happy with a drink with no less than five ingredients. Neptune, god of mystery, would love the dark and intriguing flavor profile. Plus, the perfect menu for Pisces here.
Strong and opinionated Aries should find plenty to endorse in this classic quaff cocktail. The Boulevardier’s “go big or go home” flavor, which comes from use of rye whisky, echoes the life strategy embraced by most Rams. This variation on a negroni is often the topic of heated conversation amongst bartenders and Aries sure won’t shy away from a debate.
The bull of the zodiac, Taurus, may at first appear like a stubborn beast but really they just want to sit quietly in green pastures amongst the clover and dandelions, inhaling the scent of wildflowers from a gentle breeze. Dependable Taurus needs only the quiet luxury of a well-made gin and tonic–it’s something you can find just about anywhere and it’s affordably priced.
Gemini is that girl or guy: the one with the je ne sais quoi the rest of the zodiac just can’t outdo. Or keep up with. Their zest for life makes the Twins a perfect match for the versatility of the daiquiri. In a silly, goofy mood? Try a bright pink strawberry daiquiri. The mercurial moods of most Geminis will create openings for all of the above at one time or other so keep the bar cart well stocked.
The margarita is well-loved by just about everyone for its ability to bring people together. Compassionate, understanding Cancer is sure to relate. To Cancer, “midnight margaritas” a la Practical Magic is their idea of a perfect time: dancing around a beautiful kitchen, pouring drinks for their loved ones by the light of the moon, and a communal attempt to cope with how unhinged life seems to be. Plus, the perfect menu for Cancer here.
Leos are fiery creatures filled with passion, fueled with self-confidence, and unafraid of being the center of attention. Could there really be any other drink to represent the lions of the zodiac than the Aperol Spritz? Leo is already daydreaming about their starring role in a stunning film about life and love in the Italian countryside. Similarly, the spritz is no stranger to the spotlight. Plus, the perfect menu for Leo here.
Classic gin martinis are one of the most under appreciated cocktails out there. It takes time to select and perfect the ingredients and methods required for an impeccable gin martini. Meticulous Virgo will no doubt have mastered this meditative ritual: the perfect cocktail party cannot proceed without a martini. A very Virgo pro tip: make a large batch of martinis ahead of time. Plus, the perfect menu for Virgo here.
Fun, flirty, and aesthetically pleasing Libra couldn’t be represented by any drink besides the lovable Cosmopolitan, immortalized in HBO’s Sex and the City. The cocktail embraced by fictitious NYC socialite Carrie Bradshaw (canonically a Libra!) is the obvious choice for the sign ruled by Venus, the authority on all things relating to love and beauty. Plus, the perfect menu for Libra here.
Though they may be a water sign, Scorpio when provoked is notoriously fiery. Still, it’s not all battle and brooding with Scorpios. There’s deep attachment and loyalty. The Scorched Earth would be like any other Negroni variation were it not for mezcal and amaro. Both mezcal and amaro have rich history in their respective cultures for being closely guarded family secrets–something staunch and loyal Scorpio can relate to. Plus, the perfect menu for Scorpio here.
What better way to get the party started than putting an espresso martini into the hands of a Sagittarius? They appreciate the bright, social side of things, but also something more nuanced and complex. That’s why we’ve altered the traditional espresso martini a bit. In this version, Maggie’s Farm coffee liqueur and Averna elevate this classic into something special that all the signs of the heavens will adore. Plus, the perfect menu for Sagittarius here.
Hardworking, ambitious Capricorn sometimes takes a minute off to appreciate the finer things in life, and a Black Manhattan is just that. The usual sweet vermouth, however, is too easy for the rock-climbing goat, so we instead suggest Averna, which provides a luxurious flavor that more than holds its own against rye whisky. Plus, the perfect menu for Capricorn here.
Story and Recipes by Kait Fellers Styling by Star Laliberte Photography by Laura Petrilla
Gemini (May 21-June 21) is that girl or guy: the one with the je ne sais quoi the rest of the zodiac just can’t outdo. Or keep up with. Their zest for life makes the Twins a perfect match for the versatility of the daiquiri.
In a silly, goofy mood? Try a bright pink strawberry daiquiri. Want to examine the human condition? The tart, no-sugar-added Hemingway Daiquiri is the right option. Or maybe you want to vibrate at a higher frequency than the people around you. In that case, an overproof daiquiri with Jamaican rum is what you want. The mercurial moods of most Geminis will create openings for all of the above at one time or other. Keep the bar cart well stocked.
The margarita is well-loved by just about everyone for its ability to bring people together. Compassionate, understanding Cancer (June 22-July 22) is sure to relate.
Of course, you can split a few heavy pitchers among friends at your local restaurant. We’ve all enjoyed that, and a few of us know of children conceived after such revelry! That’s not what a Cancer has in mind. The Crab loves to give to those who really appreciate the intention behind their gestures, so the best margarita would involve just a close friends, some well-made nibbles, and lots of conversation. To Cancer, “midnight margaritas” a la Practical Magic is their idea of a perfect time: dancing around a beautiful kitchen, pouring drinks for their loved ones by the light of the moon, and a communal attempt to cope with how unhinged life seems to be. Plus you can pair this cocktail with the perfect meal for Cancer and learn a bit more about this special sign.
Though they may be a water sign, Scorpio (October 23-November 21) when provoked is notoriously fiery, which makes the Scorched Earth the perfect cocktail. Still, it’s not all battle and brooding with Scorpios. There’s deep attachment and loyalty. There’s a love of beauty. With the right partner, there’s fire and romance, too. A sprinkling of prickly, critical moments just adds spice to all of the above just adds to the excitement, doesn’t it?
The Scorched Earth would be like any other Negroni variation were it not for mezcal and amaro. Both mezcal and amaro have rich history in their respective cultures for being close family secrets–something staunch and loyal Scorpio can relate to. Agave plants take years to mature so that they can be distilled. The same goes for making amari…it’s a long wait for a low yield. These two ingredients define what’s most important to Scorpio: loyalty and passion. Plus you can pair this cocktail with the perfect meal for Scorpio and learn a bit more about this special sign.
Hardworking, ambitious Capricorn (December 22-January 19) sometimes takes a minute off to appreciate the finer things in life, and a Black Manhattan is just that. The usual sweet vermouth, however, is too easy for the rock-climbing goat, so we instead suggest Averna, which provides a luxurious flavor that more than holds its own against rye whisky. The Goat will appreciate sipping on this beautiful juxtaposition of flavors…while they consider the next step in their progress toward world domination. Plus you can pair this Black Manhattan with the perfect meal for Capricorn and learn a bit more about this special sign.
Absinthe and necromancy in a cocktail. Pisces (February 20-March 20), do we have your attention? Prescient Pisceans will be drawn to all the weird vibes the Corpse Reviver #2 has to offer. The fish is ruled by not just one, but two planets. Jupiter, god of abundance, would be happy with a drink with no less than five ingredients. Neptune, god of mystery, would love the dark and intriguing flavor profile.
In true water sign fashion, a few Corpse Revivers will leave Pisces swimming in the deep end of their feelings, so please be sure to practice caution here: just one is enough. Unless you’re looking for a crying jag. Plus you can pair this cocktail with the perfect meal for Pisces and learn a bit more about this special sign.
