Strip District World Festival

In just two weeks, the annual Strip District World Festival will begin.  Have you attended the festival held in Pittsburgh every year.  This event includes music, entertainment, and food from around the world.   This event has something for all ages, and it is a must see for every resident of Pittsburgh.  You can learn more here.

The Festival

Join us for food, fun and music from around the world as the Strip District World Festival celebrates the cultures of Pittsburgh’s melting pot. In 2013 the top-notch entertainment included everything from reggae, Irish and Italian music to a Chinese lion dance and Bruce Springsteen and Rolling Stones tribute acts. Ethnic food as well as festival favorites ensure that no one goes home hungry. Stay tuned for this year’s entertainment schedule.


Friday September 12 – 6pm-9pm
Saturday September 13 – 12pm-9pm
Sunday September 14 – 12pm-7pm

What to Expect

• Great music & entertainment
• Ethnic food booths
• Games & activities for kids
• Sponsor booths and giveaways
• Sidewalk sales
• Plus much more!

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Little Italy Days in Bloomfield

We love Italian food!  This weekend in Bloomfield you can check out the annual Little Italy Days.  This event starts Thursday and lasts until Sunday.  There will be free parking at this event along with food, games, and family activities. Keep reading and check out Living Pittsburgh for more information.

Event: Bloomfield Little Italy Days
Location: Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh, PA
Date:Thursday, August 21 through Sunday, August 24, 2014
Time: Thursday 6-10pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm-10pm, Sunday 12pm – 7pm
Cost: Free to attend (food & games additional)
Description: Bloomfield Little Italy Days is that time of the year when Bloomfield wears its rich Italian heritage proudly and loudly on its sleeve. Complete with all the bocce & cannoli you can possibly play & eat, the lively three-day festival culminates with a spectacular and dazzling Madonna della Civita procession along Bloomfield’s Liberty Avenue commercial district.

The family-friendly celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture features live music, children’s activities, contests, dancing, and of course Bloomfield’s signature cornucopia of tasty food offerings.

For event-goers traveling to Bloomfield, Little Italy Days features free parking in all metered lots and spaces. Please visit the Little Italy Days website for a complete schedule of events and additional information.

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Great New Items at Heinz Field

Will you be attending the first home game of the season this weekend? The Steelers take on the Bills and a new team is not the only thing new at Heinz Field. There are many new amenities that fans will get to enjoy this season. You can learn more here.



A new scoreboard, wifi, and new hamburger choices highlight the list of new features.


It’s not going to take Steelers fans long to notice what is new at Heinz Field for 2014, as the bright new scoreboard in the Northwest corner of the stadium is a beacon for diehard fans and hard for anyone to miss.

The Steelers installed the 35-foot by 73-foot high-definition scoreboard this offseason and it will thoroughly enhance the game day experience for fans, showing game highlights, statistics and scores from around the league, and visible to those who can’t easily see the scoreboard in the South Plaza.

The Heinz Field grass field looked lush and green, ready for football, and will be re-

sod midway through the 2014 season and after the WPIAL Championship games.

But that isn’t all that’s new this year, and fans will be able to enjoy all of it when the Steelers host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Aug. 16 for their first home game of the year.

Additions to the Heinz Field food menu always get fan’s taste buds going and this year they will be able to enjoy incredible burgers on a stick and gourmet artesian sausages in the clubs and concourses, my favorite the carved turkey and pasta-stuffed meatballs in the clubs all prepared by Aramark and Burgatory sliders and milkshakes in the suites.

The highlight of the new menu is Aramark’s Emperor (Chuck Noll) Gourmet Burger on the main concourse, named for the legendary Steelers’ coach that passed away this offseason. And it got rave reviews from those who tasted it during the “What’s New at Heinz Field” tour on Tuesday. Fans will also be able to enjoy personal pan pizzas from Fox’s Pizza on the main concourse and the D-Line Burger in the club, and you might want to bring a defensive lineman along with you to finish it.

“Every year we sit down and look at items we eat every day and think how can we make it in the stadium and get it to the guests the way it would be on your dining room table,” said Aramark Executive Chef John DiMartini. “We’re trying to make this fun food, different ways to do things, fun novelty ideas. Once the season is over we start talking about ideas for the next year.”


While fans are enjoying the latest culinary delights they can follow the Steelers on the mobile app, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram thanks to Wifi that is now available in the FedEx Great Hall and West Main Concourse. Clubs and suites also have free Wifi, and customer service reps will be stationed throughout Heinz Field to deal with issues.

Another feature this season is the Bud Light Deck, located under the Northwest Scoreboard. The deck is a private area and tickets will be distributed by Bud Light through retail activations, customer events, contests and promotions.

Heinz Field will also host the Joe Greene jersey retirement on Sunday, Nov. 2 when the Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens.

Other highlights for 2014 include:
- The Steeline Drum Line will entertain fans from the field level this season.
- Digital menu boards have been added to the club level, in both the East and West Clubs, to enhance the ordering process.

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Take a Cooking Class on Vacation

Do you want to learn how to cook from various cultures around the world?  Have you ever thought about taking a cooking class on your vacation?  We have some great tips on how to find and take a cooking class on vacation.   You can learn more at The Kitchn.



1. Research, research, research.

The more you search beforehand, the better prepared you'll be. My favorite sites for research are Tripadvisorand Yelp — they provide plenty of feedback from people who have actually taken the classes and even photos of the food they cooked.


Learning how to make nyonya laksa at Food Playground in Singapore

2. Look local.

Many large cities have professional culinary schools that offer classes to travelers. However, my best experiences have been with small cooking classes at restaurants and peoples' homes. Look for native cooks if you're interested in learning home cooking and professional schools for honing techniques.


Expert spring roll preparation at Food Playground cooking class in Singapore

3. Decide how hands-on you want to be.

Are you looking for an interactive experience behind the cutting board, or do you want sit back and watch dinner being prepared as you sip a glass of wine? This distinction can make or break the experience, so be sure to ask if you'll be preparing the food or observing.

4. Book early.

Book early, especially if you're planning on trying out a small class, as peak travel time slots fill up quickly. You don't want to be left without a spot just because you put off making a call to Switzerland to get more details, for example. And don't fret if your favorite class is already filled up — try reaching out and they most likely can squeeze in another seat.


Making ricotta basil tortelloni outside of Lake Como, Italy

5. Think post-vacation.

If you're like me, my favorite part of taking a cooking class away from home is coming back to cook those dishes in my own kitchen. This can be tricky if you took a class with local ingredients that you're unable to find back home (pandan leaves, I'm looking at you!). Prepare for this by asking to take home the recipes and asking for any suggestions on where to find or how to substitute these special ingredients closer to home.

Do you take cooking classes on vacation? What tips do you have for finding a good one?

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