If we are being honest, this bread is more of a chocolate cake with a bit of zucchini. But hey, at least we’re trying to be more nutritious, right?! So while you sip your coffee in the morning and take a bite of this rich and delicious chocolate zucchini bread, you can feel satisfied knowing that you’re also getting a healthy dosage of vitamin A, manganese, and fiber!
Preheat oven to 350°F and grease and line your loaf pan with parchment paper.
In a medium-sized bowl, grate zucchini until you have 2 packed cups worth. Transfer the zucchini to a cheesecloth and squeeze the moisture out of it until almost no juice comes out when you squeeze. Set the squeezed and de-juiced zucchini aside.
In a saucepan or in the microwave, melt your butter. Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl add your flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine.
In a clean medium-sized bowl, add the sugars and the melted butter, and whisk to combine completely.
Add the eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk and whisk together until you have a homogeneous liquid mass.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until everything is just combined and there are only a couple of streaks of flour left.
Add your zucchini and fold it into the batter using the rubber spatula. Make sure it gets evenly distributed.
Pour your batter into your prepared loaf pan and top with chocolate chips if desired.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
An opera, a plant sale, a book festival, and a visit from a superstar pop queen: no matter your taste, there’s something for you happening this week in Pittsburgh.
Photo by Alex M. Philip
Nana Kwame Adjei Brenyah Bottlerocket Social Hall, May 12
New York Times-bestselling, author of Friday Black, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, is touring to promote his latest release, Chain-Gang All-Stars, a fictional tale about two women gladiators fighting for freedom in a for-profit private prison. Local author Damon Young joins Adjei-Brenyah during his Pittsburgh stop for a conversation that promises to be riveting and insightful.
Photo courtesy of Nemacolin
Mother’s Day Weekend Nemacolin, May 12 to 14
Treat your mom. If you’re a mom, treat yourself. From crafts for the little ones to painting dates and wine galore, this weekend is all about mothers and mother figures.
Photo courtesy of Madagascar The Musical
Madagascar the Musical Benedum Center, May 12
We hope you like to move it, move it! Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria have escaped the New York Central Park Zoo and are headed to the Benedum Center stage.
Photo by Erda Estremera
Sewickley May Market Sewickley, May 13
Are you ready for the fast-approaching garden season? If not (or even if you are), you’re not going to want to miss Sewickley’s May Market. Here, plant enthusiasts will find 50+ vendors offering flowers, garden wares, repurposed items, eco-friendly merchandise, and nature-themed gifts for those last-minute Mother’s Day shoppers.
Photo by AB+DM
Lizzo PPG Paints Arena, May 13
It’s “About Damn Time” Lizzo visits Pittsburgh! The Grammy-award-winning musician’s “Lizzo: The Special 2our” makes a stop with special guest Latto and, of course, her flute.
Photo by Fang-Wei Lin
Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, May 13
After a successful inaugural year, the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books returns for a second time, uniting Pittsburgh’s rich literary scene with book lovers and authors alike. Featured speakers include Ross Gay, Rebecca Yarros, Leon Ford, Laura Warrell, and many more.
Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Opera
We Shall Not Be Moved August Wilson African American Cultural Center, May 13 to 21
Co-produced by Opera Philadelphia, The Apollo Theater, and Hackney Empire and developed in partnership with Art Sanctuary, We Shall Not Be Moved, a combination of spoken word, contemporary movement, video projection, classical, R&B, and jazz singing, tells the story of five runaway teens who find themselves living in the exact location where a monumental historic moment took place some 30 years earlier.
Mother’s Day 2023 is rapidly approaching. In a recent poll of 2000 moms conducted by OnePoll, it found that the one thing moms want most on this special day is your time. A day when they can take a break from being the family super hero, and just relax with those she so lovingly tends to on a regular basis. If you have yet to decide on a plan for the day, why not start by giving mom a break in the kitchen at one of these local restaurants?
Sister-owners Dalel and Leila Khalil have designed a Syrian and Mediterranean Brunch to celebrate Mother’s Day. Usually closed on Sundays, the Middle Eastern restaurant will open its doors for the special occasion. The Syrian spread includes a complimentary mimosa for Mom, with Lebanese wines, Mediterranean cocktails and beers also available for purchase. Reservations are required.
Please email reservation information to: info@khalilsrestaurant.com
Pittsburgh’s newest modern American restaurant features global flavors and artful cocktails in the iconic downtown Pittsburgh Union Trust building. Offering spirited food and drink in an atmosphere designed for the senses, Ritual House is an experience unlike any other in the city. Grab a seat under the eighteen chandeliers suspended over the central bar and pamper Mom with a Spa Day cocktail crafted with cucumber-infused vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, fresh lime, and agave coconut water or treat her to a Blushing Bellini with Stoli Peach, white peach puree, peach bitters, and topped with prosecco. Explore the extensive food menu, featuring Weekend Rituals like Croque Madame served with a sunny side egg, mornay sauce, and truffle fries. For something sweet, enjoy the show stopping the Lemon Meringue Pancakes made with lemon curd, glazed pecans, granola, and
topped with fluffy bruleed meringue.
May 9th through May 15th
The colorful and inviting East Liberty Cafe will serve its brunch hits for all Moms and families on Mother’s Day weekend. In addition to the cafe’s staples, guests will be able to order from their weekly specials available from May 9th through May 15th. Cheers to Mom with a Sangria Blanca, crafted with white wine sangria made with grapes, oranges, lemons, limes, strawberries, fresh orange juice, triple sec, and a splash of sparkling water. Or, a Peach Vanilla Iced Oat Latte; iced espresso latte with oat milk, brewed with peach-vanilla syrup, and cinnamon brown sugar.
The downtown staple is ready to honor Mom with a legendary brunch with Executive Chef Dave Racicot’s signature brunch menu. Guests can choose from the extensive brunch favorites like the Fried Chicken Sandwich with kimchi, yuzu kosho mayo, mint, and cucumber on a brioche bun or the Malted Waffle, made with strawberry jam, vanilla whipped cream, and pistachio butter. Beautiful brunch cocktails are plentiful at The Commoner and offer the perfect complements for Mother’s Day Brunch. Toast Mom with a large-format style mimosa with the Mimosas for a Bunch served with one bottle of bubbly and the choice of two juices, serving 2-4 guests.
Treat mom to brunch from 11am-3pm at EYV. EYV is a vegetable forward restaurant located in Pittsburgh’s Deutschtown Neighborhood. The restaurant focuses on making vegetables the center of the plate with meats and seafood playing a supporting role. Utilizing the bounty of Western Pennsylvania and East Ohio Farms whenever possible is a priority.
Hyeholde’s rich history and natural beauty have made it a destination for both locals and visitors alike. Treat mom to a meal fit for a queen. Select a Mother’s Day Brunch upstairs, or a brunch buffet in the Round Room. After brunch, enjoy a stroll through the restaurants vegetable garden. Reservations are available from 11am-4pm.
Family owned and operated for over 50 years, Vallozzi’s uses fresh, quality ingredients, as well as Italian meats and cheeses flown in from Italy every week. Their extensive wine list is one of 19 in the state of Pennsylvania to receive the Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence and features an extensive collection of Italian and Domestic wines. Treat mom to a memorable Mother’s Day anytime between 12-6pm on Sunday, May 14. The menu includes Smoked Salmon Frittata, Steak and Eggs, and Beef Short Ribs as well as a variety of handmade pasta dishes, like the Pappardelle Bolognese, and tasty starters.
Reservations required. Call 412-394-3400 or find them on Opentable.
STORY BY STAR LALIBERTE / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CORRESPONDING RESTAURANT
Sure, you could celebrate Mexico’s victory against the French at a restaurant or bar, but personally, there’s nothing more alluring than festivities held in the comfort of my home (especially if there’s drinking involved). So, if you’re like me, the following eight recipes will allow you to bring the Cinco De Mayo fun wherever your heart desires, whether that be at your house (yes, please!), a friend’s, or a family member’s.
For their clear and crisp finish, unaged agave or Blanco tequilas are ideal for margaritas, which present strong and citrusy flavor profiles. This classic prickly pear margarita recipe offers a refreshing cocktail with a touch of acidic sweetness.
We challenge you to come up with a better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or any day of the year, than with this Pork Belly Taco recipe featuring Oyster Mushrooms and Pajeori.
Spaghettini is Spaghetti’s little bambino cousin. People often confuse it with “angel hair,” which is a thinner spaghetti. Spaghettini is thicker than angel hair, but thinner than spaghetti. Picture the pasta spectrum like this: angel hair is the thinnest, spaghettini is thinner, spaghetti is the middle, and spaghettoni is the thickest, an O.G. spaghetti that can hold the maximum amount of sauce, if you will. Bucatini is then thicker than all three and the best for red sauces. Spaghettini is better with olive oil drizzle and seafood because of its lighter texture, as it appears in this recipe.
1 ½ cups whole Liokareas black olives, pitted and crushed with a heavy mug
4 anchovy fillets
½ cup fresh carrots peeled and thinly sliced
1 tbsp capers
¼ tsp Greek oregano
4 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 tbsp lemon zest
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ tsp pepperoncino flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
16 oz spaghettini pasta
Instructions
In a large skillet, sauté the garlic in Liokareas lemon olive oil until tender but not brown. Add black olives, carrots, anchovies, and capers. Stir and sauté gently for 5 minutes. Let rest.
Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil and season with salt until it tastes like seawater. Cook until not quite al dente. Before draining, add ½ cup water to the skillet.
Once pasta is drained, add it to the skillet with parsley, lemon zest and juice, pepper, and perhaps just a dash of extra salt. On high heat, Stir constantly until the pasta is al dente.
Plate with a sprinkle of finely chopped parsley and enjoy!
Recipe by Keith Recker Styling by Justin Matase Photography by Dave Bryce
These chicken or turkey meatballs are a runaway hit.
HERB-CRUSTED CHICKEN MEATBALLS WITH SMOKED GARLIC AIOLI
INGREDIENTS
For the meatballs:
1 pound ground chicken (or turkey) 2 eggs
2 Tbsp. bread crumbs
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. cracked black pepper 1⁄4 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp chopped rosemary
1 tsp chopped thyme
salt to taste
For the garlic aioli:
1 bulb of garlic, roasted 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise juice of one lemon
1 tsp smoked sea salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Chop herbs and set them aside; use these last.
DIRECTIONS
Drizzle the whole head of garlic with olive oil and smoked sea salt. Wrap a bulb of garlic in a piece of foil nice and tight, pop it into your oven, and roast at 375 degrees for about 30-40 minutes or until the garlic is nice and soft.
Once the garlic is roasted, cool it down until you are able to handle it. Squeeze the bulb and the roasted garlic cloves should easily pop out of the papery part around the garlic. Smash this with the side of your knife to create a paste.
Mix together roasted garlic paste, lemon, mayonnaise, and a little extra smoked sea salt. Set aside to serve with your meatballs.
In a bowl mix together ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, and seasoning. Stir until evenly incorporated.
Roll into 1-inch balls and then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast at 375 degrees for 20 min or until the meatballs reach an internal temp of 165 degrees.
Toss cooked meatballs in the freshly chopped herbs and serve with the garlic aioli.
RECIPE AND STYLING BY ANNA CALABRESE / PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE BRYCE
Dive into this Citrus Salmon Carpaccio with Green Goddess Sauce. When you can, we suggest utilizing sunny, sweet-and-tart citrus varieties from quality produce departments like your local food co-op or grocery store. Perhaps take a vinegar trek out of town to farm-fresh naturally-fermented offerings into your dressing. However you slice it, this salad brightens the mood in nutritious and delicious ways. You can try this and other winter citrus recipes to brighten up the season for yourself and your loved ones.
What’s the Difference between Mandarin Orange, Blood Orange, and Cara Cara Orange?
For this Citrus Salmon Carpaccio, we tripled the amount of citrus. You’ll notice we have three varieties: Mandarin orange (needs no introduction, the classic orange), blood orange, and cara cara orange. Part of this aesthetics. Their sweet insides have different colors, so they create a more varied-looking plate. Blood oranges have a deep, almost maroon color, while cara cara oranges are paler pink-orange, and Mandarin oranges are somewhere in between with a yellower tone of orange. Cara cara oranges tend to be sweeter than the other two, also, making them a favorite in citrus-forward cocktails and salads since they complement other ingredients on the bitter or sour side of the palate.
We challenge you to come up with a better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or any day of the year, than with these Pork Belly Tacos featuring Oyster Mushrooms and Pajeori.
Pork Belly Tacos Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 lb pork belly, sliced to your preference (thick or thin) Sesame oil Black pepper 1 package oyster mushrooms 8 tortillas 9 large scallions (green parts only) ⅓ cup Kewpie mayo 2 tsp Doenjang paste Sesame seeds for garnish
Pour a little sesame oil over the sliced pork belly. Season generously with black pepper.
Sear the pork belly on a grill or cast iron skillet. Set aside.
Then, grill the oyster mushrooms in the same pan and set aside.
Thinly slice the green parts of your scallion lengthwise with a sharp knife. Combine all the ingredients for the pajeori marinade, but do not add to the green onions until you are ready to assemble the tacos.
Stir the doenjang paste and mayo together. Adjust the amount of the paste you use to your taste preference.
Heat your tortillas on a hot pan and assemble while still warm.
To assemble the tacos, spread the seasoned mayo on a tortilla, top with the pork belly, mushrooms, and the green onion pajeori. Garnish with some sesame seeds and enjoy!
Recipe by Veda Sankaran / Styling by Anna Franklin / Photography by Dave Bryce
Ever since I was a young girl reading the story of a racehorse in A Horse Called Wonder, I’ve dreamt of attending the Kentucky Derby. The flamboyant hats, the red-carpet-worthy ensembles, the signature mint juleps, the quest for the Triple Crown, and the rose drapes combine to create an iconic event, a celebration of Southern culture, and incidentally, the longest-running sporting event in US history.
A DIY Kentucky Derby Party Rooted in Sustainability
While attending the derby remains high on my bucket list, I’m also a big believer in making my own fun in the meantime. I’m not alone in my DIY-derby sentiment. If you’re lucky enough to be a close friend of Becca Ringham Myerburg and Mike Myerburg, you don’t have to travel to Kentucky for the first Saturday in May. You simply have to arrive at their home, where they have been hosting derby parties for decades. You do, however, have to wear the appropriate millinery.
Collecting Flowers the Right Way
Becca does come from a long line of Southern belles, and some things are sacred. Among those things: using locally and sustainably grown flowers to embellish your hat and your table.
The Kentucky Derby, known for its iconic crowns of roses, is often called the “Run for the Roses.” While you will see horseshoes, family heirloom julep cups, pecan pies, and a flight of bourbons at the Myerburgs’ derby party, you will not see a single rose. What you will see are the fruits of Becca’s labors as an organic flower farmer.
Making Eleven Mile Farm a Dream Come True
Sharing a passion for gardening and the outdoors, Becca and Mike dreamed of moving to a farm where they could learn about and practice sustainable growing methods while raising their family. They purchased a 50-acre farm and named it after a farmhouse located on the property that dates back to the late 1800s. According to an old map, it was called “Eleven Mile House” because it was located approximately eleven miles from downtown Pittsburgh, and very fittingly for a derby party, it was a stagecoach stop where patrons could water their horses.
The flower component of Eleven Mile Farm emerged after Becca took an online floral farming course. The following spring Becca turned a 25 x 50-foot plot of land into an experiment to answer the questions, “Can I do this?” and “Do I like this?” The answer was a resounding yes, and the farm has been growing ever since, as has Becca’s mission to educate others on the slow flower movement.
Support Local Growers at Your Kentucky Derby Party
Through her Instagram posts (@elevenmilefarm), flower sales, and workshops, she aims to highlight how challenging farming is, why we all need to support local growers, and how we can adapt more sustainable practices into gardening projects of all sizes. Her goal is to cultivate healthy soil, so she can grow the healthiest flowers possible. It turns out that healthy, locally-grown blooms look as, if not more, beautiful on wide-brimmed hats as red roses.
This spring, take a few cues from Becca and Mike, so you can celebrate the pomp and circumstance of a two-minute race. Then take a few more cues from Becca and Mike, so that your party can be part of something bigger: a movement to appreciate and support local blooms and all the hard work that goes into growing them.
Be sure to check out the farm’s website to learn more about their CSA bouquet program, workshops, and special events, or simply, to learn how you can buy local blooms to deck out your derby hat.
Tips to Host a DIY Kentucky Derby Party
To Eat: The Derby Grazing Board
Make like a winning racehorse, and … graze! A variety of fixings means your guest can pick and choose their own adventure, and nothing keeps up with the alcohol content of Mint Juleps more than an authentically Southern Wise County Biscuit with Pimento Cheese.
To Drink: The Quintessential Julep Station & A Pennsylvania Bourbon Flight
Kentucky and bourbon go together like, well, they go together like Kentucky and bourbon! However, the good folks at PA Libations would like to give Pennsylvania its fair share of the aged-and-oaked spotlight. They’ve rounded up a julep-worthy station from their tried-and-true collection, as well as some special releases. There’s always something new and interesting, so be sure to talk to an employee for the back stories, flavor profiles, and sustainability initiatives. A distillery that grows its own grains? Yes, please! palibations.com
Eight Oaks is a grain-to-glass distillery. It creates world-class spirits from the grains grown right on their farm in New Tripoli, PA, in the heart of the Lehigh Valley.
After purchasing an old Hershey company facility and renovating it into a top-notch distillery, their handcrafted approach to whiskey making has made them a fast-growing favorite across the Keystone State.
Liberty Pole Spirits, Bourbon (made with heirloom heritage Bloody Butcher corn), Rye Whiskey Peated Bourbon
In the heart of Washington County, where the infamous Whiskey Rebellion took place, the name is a reference to the liberty poles that were erected to protest the whiskey tax levied on distillers in the earliest days of the new republic during the 18th century.
Their Vatting House concept is an attempt to find some of the most delicious whiskey and spirits casks from Pennsylvania and around the world. Each product is unique and limited in quantity, giving an aspect of hunt-and-chase for each release.
A Classic Farm-Fresh Mint Julep
When serving a crowd, skip the muddling, and just pack each glass with a hearty bunch of farm-fresh mint.
1/4 oz simple syrup (try making it with raw cane or coconut sugar)
A hearty bunch of farm-fresh mint
Instructions
Combine the bourbon and simple syrup in a julep cup, then pack the cup tightly with crushed ice. Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside.
Firmly slap the mint sprigs on the back of your hand before garnishing to release the oils, making the mint more aromatic. Garnish generously with mint, and enjoy!
To Entertain
Engage in some friendly wagers. Ask each guest to contribute a donation in the name of their charity of choice. Place all the competing horse names in a (stylish) hat, and have each party guest draw their “bet.” Whoever wins gets to donate the whole pot to the charity of their choice. Conversely, you can also play what the derby calls the “lucky longshots” and follow the same process to bet on the losing horse. Since everything goes to a good cause, it’s still a win!
Story and Styling by Quelcy Kogel Photography by Christine Armbruster
April showers seemed to have carried over to May — don’t let that stop you from exploring Pittsburgh!
Photo courtesy of City of Asylum
Jazz Poetry Month City of Asylum, May 3 to 31 City of Asylum’s International Jazz Poetry Month kicks off Wednesday, continuing the tradition of celebrating “experimentation, collaboration, and connection between art forms and between artist and audience.” View the performances from over 50 artists in person or online.
Photo courtesy of Contemporary Craft’s Facebook
Meet the Makers Contemporary Craft, May 5 You’ve seen their work at Contemporary Craft’s store; now meet the creatives behind the creations. Artists local to the Pittsburgh area — including glass artists Drew Kail and SaraBeth Post, jewelry artists Tammy Schweinhagen and Maia Leppo, and basket maker Dan Brockett — will be available to chat about their art and practice as well as share demos.
Installation view of Lyndon Barrois Jr., Guardians Gate (Farfanicchio), 2022, and Masters of Fine Arts, 2011/2022.
Lyndon Barrois Jr.: Rosette Carnegie Museum of Art, May 5 to August 27 Through film stills, posters, sets, and props, Pittsburgh-based artist Lyndon Barrois Jr. explores the heist genre and acts of art conservation and forgery in his newest exhibition. He asks the question, “How can the preservation of a thing lead to it being replaced with its simulation?” Running until August, the exhibition opens with an artist talk and celebration this Thursday at 6 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Phipps Conservatory
Flowers Meet Fashion: Inspired by Billy Porter Phipps Conservatory, May 6 to June 25 As the name suggests, horticultural displays intersect with fashion designs in Phipps’s latest flower show — all inspired by local icon Billy Porter’s work as a singer, composer, actor, and more. Prepare for the term bespoke to be taken to an all-new level.
Photo courtesy of Kelsa Blaine
Flowers & Freedom Workshop Fulton Commons, May 6 Alexa, play “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus. During this workshop hosted by Shatter Studios Kelsa Blaine, enjoy a garden-themed brunch featuring floral-themed cocktails and mocktails before taking part in a conversation about the meaning of freedom and creating a floral arrangement with flowers from The Farmer’s Daughter.
Photo by Sam Levy
Hanya Yanagihara Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland, May 8 If you ever feel like crying, pick up Hanya Yanagihara’s acclaimed bestseller A Little Life. The novel, which won the Kirkus Prize in 2015, stunned the literary world, leaving readers craving more Yanagihara. Last year the author released another sweeping epic: the three-century-spanning tour de force, To Paradise. Yanagihara discusses the newest book as part of Pittsburgh Arts & Lecture’s Ten Evening series.
