Pittsburgh Happenings: November 7-13

An aerial view of a six cookies drizzled with a red glaze and covered with cranberries. — Photo by Nadine Primeau

Now that Halloween has passed, we’ve officially jumped into festive holiday mode. *Cue “All I Want for Christmas Is You“* Haven’t you heard that Mariah Carey is defrosted!? So, keeping in the spirit of the season, we reached out to Pittsburgh chefs and restaurants to see who is offering menu items with one of the most popular winter ingredients: cranberries. Bye bye pumpkin! Well, maybe not totally; we at TABLE do love pumpkin pie…

Mediterra

Start your morning with a candy-like confection. Mediterra uses cranberries, roasted with orange juice, orange zest, and a little bit of sugar to top their French Toast, alongside roasted Soergel Orchards apples and sweetened crème fraîche.

Casbah

Pasta, with cranberries? Yep, Casbah offers an orecchiette dish with grilled chicken, dried cranberries, Goat Rodeo Chevre, and sage cream.

Con Alma

An easy way to fuel up on veggies is to drink them in a tonic or smoothie. Con Alma’s Cranberry Cocktail is kind of like the same thing, right?

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The Speckled Egg

For a healthy and hearty cranberry dish, dig into The Speckled Egg’s It’s Fall Y’all salad, found at their Downtown location, featuring local greens, farro, roasted sweet potato, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and a red wine vinaigrette.

Fig and Ash

Another salad option can be found over on the North Side. Fig and Ash’s Kale Salad radiates fall and winter flavors with its mix of squash, apple, cranberry, goat cheese, spiced maple vinaigrette, and sunflower seeds.

Altius

Roasting brussel spouts with a balsamic glaze is a popular way to prepare the little green vegetables. Altius takes it to the next level with a cranberry balsamic glaze — the tangy sweetness erasing any bitterness from the spouts. Finish off your meal in Mount Washington with Altius’s Ay cute Yogurt Bowl, a dessert with yogurt and white chocolate crémeux, rosé confit cranberries, caramélisé oat crunch, lemon honey gelée, and cranberry yogurt glacé.

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Eighty Acres Kitchen & Bar

Always making sure to use fresh, farm-to-table ingredients, Eighty Acres Kitchen & Bar utilizes seasonal flavors in its handheld Chicken Salad Sandwich with dried cranberries, pecans, apples, and arugula nestled in between a croissant.

Bonus: Make Thanksgiving a Breeze with Bistro to Go

Bistro to Go offers Thanksgiving Pan Pick-ups so that your focus can be on your guests while also serving a delicious, gourmet meal. Several items feature cranberries, including their cranberry chutney and a few different salad selections, like their roasted butternut squash salad, with kale, cranberries, and a pomegranate vinaigrette.

For the sweet potato fans among us, one of Bistro to Go’s take-out options is a Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole. They were kind enough to share the recipe with TABLE readers here.

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COLDCO Farm Winter Salad

By

Kylie Thomas

-

November 2, 2023

Varigated purple lettuces for a winter salad on a dark speckled plate with a creamy dressing and chopped nuts.

While salads may seem exclusive to those happy summer months we spend in the garden, or eating things from others’ gardens, a winter salad can be just as gorgeously appetizing. By using cold-weather veggies, you can craft a substantial salad whose flavors and textures can fuel you through even the snowiest day. Plus, this winter salad comes with a homemade vinaigrette recipe that you’ll want to keep handy for salads all year long. It mixes Dijon mustard with shallots, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and honey for a tangy and sweet touch.

COLDCO Farm and Their Unique Winter Salad Greens

This COLDCO Farm Winter Salad recipe uses special with bitter Italian greens, parmesan, hazelnuts, and a tangy vinaigrette. COLDCO co-founder Joddo Ends has made a deep study of rare and heirloom Italian lettuces, radicchios, chicories, and more. Because his travels to Italy and his conversations with farmers there have inspired him to grow these photogenic (and entirely wonderful) cold weather salad making essentials, we recommend you toss up a bowl as soon as you can.

COLDCO Farm Winter Salad

Author: Anna Franklin

Description

If you’ve never tried a salad with bitter greens, this recipe is your perfect introduction.

Ingredients

Scale

For the salad:

15–20 bitter greens leaves from COLDCO Farm
1/2 cup shaved parmesan
1/4 cup hazelnuts, chopped

For the vinaigrette:

1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 shallot, minced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp honey
Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Arrange salad ingredients on a plate. Set aside.
In a Mason jar, add all vinaigrette ingredients and top with lid. Shake until everything is evenly incorporated.
Drizzle on top of salad and serve immediately.

Recipe and Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Charred Radicchio Salad from COLDCO Farm

By

Kylie Thomas

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November 2, 2023

A head of radicchio cut in half and charred on a dark plate with shaved parmesan.

A Charred Radicchio Salad is the perfect first course for a winter meal. Radicchio — beautifully magenta, leafy, and cabbage-like — offers up a pleasing vegetal bitterness around which to assemble other delicious flavors.

Why Char Radicchio?

Charring the radicchio takes down the bitterness a notch, introducing some smoky notes, and extending its virtues into lots of wintery options. You could try a small plate of charred radicchio with just a sprinkle of good olive oil, a crack of pepper, and a dash of salt. Or you could go a bit further with this Charred Radicchio Salad recipe from TABLE Magazine Contributing Editor Anna Franklin. It is simple but filled with flavor.

Anna found the beautiful radicchio she used here at Coldco Farm, where Joddo Ends grows unusual and heirloom varieties of Italian lettuces.

COLDCO Farm Charred Radicchio Salad

Author: Anna Franklin

Description

Charring radicchio can create a less bitter, more flavorful approach to this winter green.

Ingredients

Scale

1 head radicchio
2 tbsp olive oil
1 pinch sea salt
1 pinch fresh cracked black pepper
1/4 cup shaved parmesan

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Instructions

Cut radicchio in half lengthwise and brush with olive oil.
Charr on a grill or under a broiler until the leaves are slightly blackened.
Top with salt, pepper, and cheese.
Serve immediately.

Recipe and Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Soothe Your Nerves with These Local Natural Remedies

By

Jordan Snowden

-

November 2, 2023

an aerial view of three cups of tea, golden in color. nerve-calming natural remedies

Family gatherings, an overwhelming workload, climate change, impending elections: the list of reasons your nerves can be fried in the 21st century goes on and on… take a deep breath, set aside some self-care time, and indulge in one of the below nerve-calming natural remedies.

Buy

Triple Moon Alchemy

Herbalist Loukeisa Denise combines her training in Western herbalism, a personal practice of African hoodoo, a passion for alchemy, and the wisdom of her family’s matriarchs in her herb shop, Triple Moon Alchemy. The Wilkinsburg business offers products to nourish and heal, like the “herbal chill pill,” Not Today Satan Tea Blend, for the days where you find yourself thinking, “I just can’t right now,” or the Golden Goddess Bath Soak, crafted with calendula, chamomile and other delicate flowers. Be careful; you might become so relaxed you fall asleep in the tub.

Hippie & French

Hippie & French opened its doors in 2018, becoming Pittsburgh’s first CBD Boutique. It has since evolved to offer both THC and CBD products, dubbing itself as a Cannabis Boutique to encompass the wide range of available items. (No medical marijuana card is needed to shop with them.) From gummies to oils and teas, tinctures, topicals, and more, this is your one-stop shop for holistic medicine.

Levity

There’s just something about water that is just, oh, so relaxing… maybe because it’s one of the elements? Whatever the case, at Float Studio, Levity, you can swim your way to inner peace and wellness. Levity’s floatation therapy sessions help calm your mind, body, and spirit as salt water made of dissolved Epsom salts — which makes it extremely easy to float — allows you to become weightless in a sensory deprivation tank. When you lose all your senses, what’s left to worry about?

Mix

Chamomile tea is known for its calming properties, making it a great option for promoting relaxation and reducing stress. The following cocktails all feature chamomile in some capacity, so you can zen out on a mixture of herbal tranquility and alcohol.

Relaxing Chamomile Guava MOMosa

Don’t let the name of this cocktail divert you from taking part in its tranquil properties. It’s not just for the mamas. Think chamomile tea, vitamin C, and your own personal esthetician is a glass. Your new favorite health and relaxation shot.

Manzanilla y Fresas

With its mix of elderflower, sage, and chamomile, say bye-bye to stress and hello to calm.

The Beauty School Dropout Negroni

A fun take on a Negroni cocktail. The herbal notes of chamomile-infused Bluecoat Gin join with the sweetness of strawberry-infused Aperol and the light, floral delicacy of Lillet Rosé.

First Bloom

While ‘First Bloom‘ brings to mind visions of new flower sprouts, its inclusion of lemon juice, honey simple syrup, and chamomile tea makes it a soothing drink choice for any time of year.

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Braised Fennel

By

Star Laliberte

-

November 2, 2023

A round gray dish with braised fennel and white beans sitting in a broth.

Simply put, this Braised Fennel recipe is beyond delicious. The rich umami flavor of homemade mushroom stock combined with the slight sweetness of fennel, and earthiness of white beans, offers such depth of flavor. Nearly spreadable, the fennel bulb softens to a consistency similar to that of roasted garlic. While the last three words under the instructions read “serve with baguette,” trust us, last is not least. Do not skip the baguette. It swoops in like the Caped Crusader to save the day while you are murdering the dish set before you.

Braised Fennel Recipe

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 bulbs fennel, cut in half, with tops removed
2 cups mushroom stock
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can great northern white beans
1 lemon, juiced
1 tsp red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

In a saute pan, heat oil over medium heat, add garlic, onion, and fennel.
Cook until slightly brown then add stock, beans, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Simmer on low for 1 hour or until the fennel bulbs are very tender.
Add fresh lemon juice at the end before serving.
Serve with baguette.

Recipe and styling by Anna Franklin / Photography by Dave Bryce / Story by Star Laliberte

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Mushroom Stock

By

Star Laliberte

-

November 2, 2023

A stock pot with a variety of mushrooms and vegetables in a brown stock, with a wooden spoon in the upper left corner and some pepper and seasonings on a plate in the upper right corner.

Simmer yourself up a steaming pot of umami goodness with this rich, earthy Mushroom Stock recipe. A fragrant mix of fresh mushrooms, chopped veggies, and aromatics, yields a tasty broth. It adds depth of flavor to all of your recipes calling for stock. As a result, while we think there are countless recipes you’ll want to ladle this into, you will undoubtedly find it equally irresistible to sip all on its own for a light lunch. Or, try it with a sprinkle of cheese and green onion for a first course at dinner. Or, simply load with delicious noodles and veggies as a main.

Ways to Use Mushroom Stock

Mushroom stock is a versatile ingredient that can add a deep, savory umami flavor to a variety of dishes.Use it as a base for soups, stews, and risottos, enhancing the earthy notes.It’s also excellent for deglazing pans after sautéing vegetables or meats to help create a rich sauce. You can even substitute mushroom stock for vegetable broth in recipes to add complexity, or use it to moisten stuffing for poultry. Plus, it’s perfect for vegetarians or vegans to make a gravy.

Print

Mushroom Stock

Author: Anna Franklin

Description

Rich and warming, this homemade mushroom stock will keep you from buying the canned stuff every time.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb button mushrooms
1 lb crimini mushrooms
1 lb mixed wild mushrooms (we suggest oyster and shiitake)
6 cloves garlic, whole
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 bulb fennel, chopped
3 sprigs thyme
3 sprigs rosemary
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup tomato paste
4 quarts water
Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place all prepped vegetables on a roasting pan and roast until the vegetables are brown around the edges.

Place all the roasted vegetables into a stock pot, and add tomato paste. Sauté until the tomato paste is toasty.

Add herbs and water, and simmer over medium heat for 1-2 hours.

Finally, strain and season with salt and pepper.

Recipe and Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

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A Grinch Cocktail, the Mean and Green

By

Star Laliberte

-

November 1, 2023

A green cocktail in a clear textured glass with dill

Mean and green. Grumpy and greedy. Sour as a pickle. He’s a mean one, that Mr. Grinch. So mean, that he very memorably stole Christmas back in 1966. He’s also painfully relatable for those of us who have a grumpy person we’re trying to lure into the spirit of the season.

Our Mean and Green cocktail is here to help. Brighten a grumpy someone’s day with this unexpected, delightfully delicious Grinch cocktail inspired by the classic film.

What Makes this Grinch Cocktail Green?

Very little sweetness here, just pickle brine, lemon juice, and honey to get that Grinchiest green. Unless we’re quite mistaken, we saw Cindy Lou Who (by now pushing sixty) propped up at a local bar, sipping nostalgically on a green drink, muttering about the one who got away. Was her bright green beverage a Mean and Green? She looked a bit pickled, so we’re pretty sure it was.

Mean and Green

Author: Anna Franklin

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 ounces whiskey
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 ounce pickle brine
1 teaspoon honey
Chopped dill for garnish

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Instructions

Rub the rim of a rocks glass with lemon juice and dip into chopped dill.
Fill glass with ice.
Add all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake with ice.
Strain over fresh ice and serve.

Because we all need a movie snack to with our Grinch cocktail, try these Fennel and Coriander Cashews.

Recipe and Styling by Anna Franklin / Photography by Laura Petrilla

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7 Vegetarian Soups to Spice Up Your Weekend

By

Kylie Thomas

-

November 1, 2023

An aerial shot of a green soup in a small ceramic bowl. A black spoon sits to the left side. Kale Soup Recipe

Soup is good food! And good for everyone. There are creamy soups, hearty soups, noodle soups…and a range from simple to complex within each subcategory. Because many of us are trying to pull back on eating meat everyday for both health and environmental reasons, we decided to explore vegetarian soups this week. Craft yourself a healthy pot of warming goodness and snuggle up to a crackling fire.

7 Vegetarian Soups to Spice Up Your Weekend

Vegetarian Italian Wedding Soup

Don’t worry. You don’t have to get rid of the meatballs in this Vegetarian Italian Wedding Soup. Instead of using regular hamburger, use impossible burger meat, with plenty of seasonings, for a flavorful touch. It’s the soup you know and love but in a more sustainable form.

Zucchini Soup

Enjoy the creamy green goodness of zucchini in this simple Zucchini Soup recipe. The zucchini comes to life in this dish thanks to small additions of garlic, onion, and yellow squash. Plus, top the soup with zoodles (spiraled zucchini) for a fun garnish.

Celery Root Soup

This Celery Root Soup is perfect for the winter weather. It’s flavorful, creamy, and topped with crispy oats instead of the more usual choice of croutons. It also freezes well so that you can have an extra meal waiting for you at a moment’s notice.

Creamy Kale Soup with Halloumi

Our Creamy Kale Soup uses Lacinato kale to achieve a slightly sweet, delicate taste. The soup is topped off with Halloumi cheese for a burst of umami flavor.

Caramelized Fennel, Onion and Pea Soup

We take pea soup to an elevated level with savory caramelized fennel and tasty onion. It doesn’t take long to cook, making it a good choice for a last-minute supper. It’s garnished with pepitas for a little crunch and a hint of complex flavor.

Kuri Squash Soup

Taste a spicy South African take on squash with our Kuri Squash Soup. This recipe uses the best farm-fresh squash with a bit of yellow Thai curry and coconut milk. It’s an aromatic and distinctive soup with plenty of personality.

French Onion Soup

The caramelized onions are what make this French Onion Soup so addictive. Browning or carmelizing onions is an exercise in patience but it pays off with a punch of serious gourmet flavor. Freshly grated Gruyère cheese is broiled on top for ultimate deliciousness.

For more ways to warm up your cold hands and put a smile on your face, try

Story by Kylie Thomas

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Easy Keto Pumpkin Spice Frosty

By

Jordan Snowden

-

November 1, 2023

A creamy brown beverage with a sprinkle of cinnamon sits in a clear glass. cinnamon sticks on a plate with blue floral pattern sits to the right. Keto Pumpkin Spice Frosty

This fall, Wendy’s brought the taste of autumn to fast foodies across the country with the addition of the Pumpkin Spice Frosty to its menu. But with a small order of the creamy beverage featuring a whopping 51 grams of sugar, it’s not exactly a keto-friendly treat. Enter our low-sugar version of Wendy’s Pumpkin Spice Frosty — all of the fall flavor, none of the guilt.

What Makes This Pumpkin Spice Frosty Keto?

The ketogenic diet or “keto” is meant to change the way your body processes food. It puts your body into ketosis, a state where it burns fat for energy instead of storing carbohydrates. You’ll often see keto recipes, like this keto pumpkin spice Frosty, using monkfruit sweetener instead of sugar. This is because monkfruit sweetener has no calories or carbs, which keeps your body from storing them. Monkfruit sweenter is actually made of the extract of a fruit known as lo han guo or Swingle. Always do your research about diets, though, and be informed about what you’re eating and drinking, low calorie doesn’t always mean better for. you! .

Easy Keto Pumpkin Spice Frosty

Author: Jordan Snowden