Living in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it is remarkable the bounty of locally raised and produced foods we have available to us. Local Goodness--Pittsburgh is our way of connecting you to some of these incredible treasures we've found in our own backyard.
In 2010, our Simply Seasonal column in TABLE Magazine continues, along with other Local Goodness articles, and original recipes in TABLE's on-line Recipe Box.
Watch for us on KDKA's Pittsburgh Today Live where we regularly appear with TABLE Magazine, and for special appearances throughout the year to share more Local Goodness:
- NEXT APPEARANCE: Friday, April 9. 9AM-10AM ... we'll be talking local maple syrup & festivals!! Check out the Beaver County Conservation District 33rd Annual Maple Festival April 10 and 11, 2010 at Brady's Run Park. They tap more than 3000 trees each year to make their own maple syrup. Click HERE for more information about the festival. Crafters, Live Entertainment, Kid's Activities, Civil War Reenactment and of course MAPLE SYRUP made right at the park! Admission is free. All you can eat pancake breakfast is only $6 for adults and $4 for kids.
If you missed the show...watch us HERE.
- Come see us April 23 at the Sewickley Spring Gallery Walk. We'll be at the Sewickley Gallery on Beaver Street. Mark Fallone, a brilliant director-cinematographer has put his eye to photography and debuting his work as the featured artist with his work From My Car: Pittsburgh. Visit the Sewickley Gallery site HERE for more information.
- Check out Rhonda's cooking classes at the new Cooking School at the Market District in Robinson. Next Class: May 11. See school calendar and registration information HERE. More classes coming this summer!
In 2009 we were thrilled to continue our partnership with TABLE magazine, writing our Simple Seasonal column and feature articles, appearing on KDKA and at special events.
Some 2008 LOCAL GOODNESS happenings we were proud to be a part of:
September 6-27, 2008: Sewickley Farm Show
Celebrate the beauty and bounty of our local farms through the eyes and art of local artists. Local Goodness will be at the St. James Farmers' Market for the Farm Show opening on September 6 and the Artists' Reception at Sewickley Gallery on September 12.
September 21-27, 2008: Local Food Week A week-long celebration of all things local here in Western Pennsylvania. Local Food Week is a great opportunity to eat, drink and be very merry with those who make it their life's passion to bring us great things!
September 25, 2008: Farmers' Market Dinner Cooking Class at CRATE in Greentree.
During Local Food Week Rhonda presented a fun evening cooking dinner with seasonal ingredients fresh from the farmers' market. More cooking classes with Rhonda can be found on the CRATE website.
Local Goodness--Pittsburgh 2007
During the 2007 growing season Local Goodness--Pittsburgh featured a Farm Series on KDKA's Pittsburgh Today Live. See below for information on all the farms and local food producers featured in our 2007 shows. If you missed them, click here to watch video of our 2007 segments!
to all the farmers and local producers for a GREAT 2007 season!!
2007 Local Goodness--Pittsburgh Holiday Specials
December 3, 2007 -- Holiday Entertaining Local Goodness Style
Wines, Cheese and Charcuterie perfect for a holiday party, all from local producers.
We found local cheeses at a variety of places including Whole Foods, East End Coop, Penn Mac in the Strip, and Soergel's Orchard. Local apples and fresh kolbassi were served with our fondue along with freshly baked local bread.
Classic Cheese Fondue
Beer and Cheddar Fondue
Our Charcuterie is from a longtime treasure in the Strip District, Parma Sausage, that has been making fine Italian meats in Pittsburgh since 1954...stop by see how family tradition tastes! We served Pennsylvania wines available at state stores along with incredible beers from East End Brewing. A relative newcomer, this microbrewery has been making great beer since 2004 and is gaining a strong following and receiving rave reviews. We made a fabulous beer cheese fondue using their Fat Gary Nut Brown Ale and local cheddar cheese.
Parma Sausage
East End Brewing visit them for Growler Hours (Tues, Thurs, Sat). Better yet, go to their Charity Open House on December 8 for great food and 10 of their beers...all to benefit PLEA (www.plea-agency.org)
Locally made sweets rounded out our Local Goodness holiday spread, including chocolates we discovered from Fudgie Wudgie...they're right next door to Parma Sausage so we decided to stop in. With nearly 30 different fudges lined up as you step in the door and a huge array of other cholcolate goodies, this is a must-stop if you're a chocolate lover.
November 19, 2007 -- Giving Thanks Locally
Like the original Thanksgiving, with just a few pantry items, our delicious feast used all locally raised ingredients.
Giving Thanks Locally -- Menu and Recipes
Here are two great sources for local ingredients in the Pittsburgh area where we found most of the items for our Thanksgiving dinner:
East End Food Co-op
McGinnis Sisters
2007 Local Goodness--Pittsburgh Farms and Seasonal Ingredients
October 22, 2007: Harvest Festivals Galore!
Harvest Vally Farms, Valencia, PA, Beaver County
Triple B Farms, Monongahela, PA, Washington County
Woodward's Orchard, Beaver Falls, PA, Beaver County
Today's Local Goodness:
Pumkins, squash & gourds, oh my!
Across our region, and our nation for that matter, farms are celebrating the end of the season and the harvest of their final crops. Many hold fall festivals -- from simple to elaborate -- as the last hurrah before cold and snow sets in. This is the perfect opportunity to visit a local farm, whether it's to pick out the perfect pumpkin for a Halloween jack-o-lantern or to stock up on the incredible variety of hearty winter squash. Coming in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures, winter squash make not only beautiful fall decorations, they offer a winter's worth of delicious simple-to-make dishes.
This summer we visited a number of farms, three of which have incredible fall festivals you shouldn't miss. So load up the car and head to one of these farms. Enjoy the colors of the season, breath in the crisp autumn air, pick your own pumpkin, take a hay ride, have some refreshing cider, and enjoy the many acitivites they've arranged for kids of all ages...but most of all, get out and celebrate the bounty of the season that remains!
Harvest Valley Farms -- Celebrating the 23rd anniversary of its Fall Festival!
Triple B Farms -- Trick or Treat on the Farm October 27-28!
Woodward's Orchard -- Hayrides, pick your own pumkin, apples & cider galore at this Fun For Ya'll fall festival!
Featured Recipe
Winter Squash
October 8, 2007: Showcasing Woodward's Orchard, Beaver County, PA
Today's Local Goodness:
Apples!
As John Love, III takes me through the family's apple orchard on an unseasonably warm fall morning, it's hard to believe he didn't know much, if anything, about growing apples four years ago. That's when he and wife Marcie, Marcie's mom Pauline and two of Marcie's brothers purchased the 40 year old 70+ acre orchard that was formerly known as Buchholz Orchard in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. In danger of residential development, this family-run farm has preserved a beautiful orchard that now provides 24 varieties of apples along with vegetables and other fruit throughout the season. To revitalized the orchard, they've torn out 1/2 of the 3000 trees that once crowded the land and the remaining trees and new plantings are bearing gorgeous fruit. As if he's been doing this his entire life, John knows by variety, size, color and taste just the moment when these beauties are ready for us to enjoy.
The more fresh the apple, the more crisp and juicy it will be. So, Woodward's Orchard picks their apples daily and can be found throughout the week at six farmers markets around the Pittsburgh area. For a real treat, visit them at their farm store to pick up a bag (or two or three) of apples, a jug of cold apple cider, home made apple butter and other farm fresh fruits and vegetables. For a fun fall family outing, check out their "Fun for Y'all" fall festival going on now through the end of October. Pick your own apples and pumpkins, pick up some farm-grown popcorn, take a hay ride and lose yourself in their five-acre corn maze. However you choose, be sure you don't miss what this new family of farmers has to offer!
For more information on Woodward's Orchards go here.
Woodward's Orchard
727 Achortown Road
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Contact: John Love, III
Phone: 724-891-0102
E-mail: woodwardsorchard@msn.com
Featured Recipe:
Easy Homemade Applesauce This is a great recipe to make with kids!
September 24, 2007: Showcasing Laurel Vista Farms, Somerset County (Part II)
Today's Local Goodness:
Potatoes and Sweet Onions
I'm a HUGE potato fan. Well, for that matter I'm an equally huge onion fan. There is nothing that tastes better than potatoes and onions freshly dug from the ground. So this time of year is one of my favorites when Pennsylvania potatoes and sweet onions are unearthed from their fields and make their way to our markets...and eventually my table.
In Somerset County in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, the bitter cold winters prepare the land for perfect potato growing conditions. And although Pennsylvania is one of the largest potato growing states for chip potatoes, the folks at Laurel Vista Farms have transitioned from decades of chip potatoes to growing absolutely delicious red, white and Yukon Gold table potatoes, best enjoyed this time of year. Potatoes fresh from the farm--there is nothing that tastes better! Try them and you'll learn how potatoes are REALLY supposed to taste!
In addition to the incredible potatoes they grow amazingly sweet Somerset SweetsTM onions. Once you've tasted sweet onions grown in Pennsylvania, and particularly Somerset Sweets, you'll never go back to Vidalias! Especially given that these are grwon right in our own state and travel less than 100 miles to our stores. They're so sweet that Rick of Laurel Vista Farms even bites into them and eats them like apples!
Laurel Vista Somerset Sweets onions and Somerset Spuds can be found in select Giant Eagle and their Market District Stores, as well as McGinnis Sisters stores. If you don't see them, as the produce manager to give them a call to get their farm-fresh products in a store near you!
Learn more about Laurel Vista Farms at www.laurelvistafarm.com.
Laurel Vista Farms
1665 Coxes Creek Road
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: 814-443-2415 or 814-443-1112
E-mail: laurelvistafarm@yahoo.com
Feature Recipes
Sweet Onion and Potato Soup (reminiscent of French Onion Soup, this was created to celebrate the onions and potatoes from Laurel Vista Farm)
Marian's Potato Pancakes (Marian Soldano of Laurel Vista Farms shared this family recipe with us to share with YOU!)
September 10, 2007: Showcasing Eleven restaurant, Pittsburgh, PA and their supplier of locally raised and wild edible greens -- Three Sisters Farm, Sandy Lake, PA
Today's Local Goodness:
Organic Baby Greens (delicately harvested by Tara at Three Sisters Farm)
and local restaurants committed to seasonal, locally-raised ingredients!
One life's greatest pleasures is going to restaurants who are committed to and inspired by food raised in their own region. These are the restaurants we seek out when we travel and certainly the ones we enjoy most when at home because we know we will always be surprised, extraordinarily satisfied, and never disappointed. Eleven in Pittsburgh's Strip District is such an establishment. Chef Derek Stevens is brilliant. I recently stopped in for a light lunch and was mesmerized by his crab bisque, creamy without cream, with a mildly spicy blend of flavors reminiscent of cioppino, and topped with a littleneck clam and crouton. But, it was for the baby greens salad with shallot vinaigrette that I went.
The day before I traveled about an hour north of Pittsburgh to visit Darrell Frey at Three Sisters Farm, supplier of gourmet baby and wild greens to Eleven and other select Pittsburgh-area restaurants. On the five acres that Three Sisters Farm occupies, Darrell and his family grow an incredible array of organic greens, vegetables, and harvest wild edibles. We walked among cultivated rows of greens, rambling patches of wildflowers and what looked like ordinary weeds (to me!). But to Darrell we were walking through a veritable Seasonal Salad garden. He plucked dandelion leaves, Chinese chrysanthemum, chickweed, lambs quarters, tet soi, wild amaranth, nasturtium blossoms -- handing each to me to taste as we walked along. We continued throughout the farm gathering cultivated and wild edibles that have given me a completely new view on what constitutes the perfect salad. The unique flavors and textures of the greens and wild edibles Three Sisters Farm provides are expertly presented in Eleven's salad I had at lunch. The shallot dressing was merely a hint, letting the delicate flavors of the greens to shine. Thank you, Derek and thank you Darrell!
Featured Recipes:
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Mesclun
Goat Cheese Agnolloti
Three Sisters Farm
contact: Darrell Frey
134 Obitz Road
Sandy Lake, PA 16145
724-376-2797
visit them on the web, here
Eleven
1150 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-201-5656
vist their website, here
more restaurants from the big Burrito Group, here
August 27, 2007: Showcasing Cityparks Farmers' Markets, Pittsburgh, PA
Today's Local Goodness:
A Farmers' Market Dinner Party
We took a trip to a small but ample farmers' market in downtown Pittsburgh to see if we could get everything we needed for a dinner party in the evening. The market on the veranda of the City-County Building, hidden by scaffolding, held a bounty of treasures from farms and local producers. For our dinner party we got a varity of farm-fresh veggies and fruit from Dillner Farmily Farm in Gibsonia, beautiful cookies from Joyces' Homemade Cookies in McCKees Rocks, rice and spice mixes from Evelyn's Incredible Edibles in Canonsburg, and fresh herbs and cut flowers from Pisarcik Greenhouses in Valenica.
With just olive oil, a box of pasta, and salt and pepper from our pantry, we were more than successful in finding what we needed for a fabulous dinner party for 6 right at that little farmers' market.
We also picked up a few other items. We couldn't resist Mrs. Jones' potato salad (we at this for lunch) and her Multi-Purpose Sauce (for pasta, pizza or barbeque, we'll decide later!). Fudge and other goodies tempted, but we were loaded down with our dinner party treats...we'll have to come back another time!
For a listing of all the Cityparks farmers' markets in Pittsburgh, click HERE. To find other farmers' markets in your area, visit www.buylocalpa.com.
Featured Recipes:
Farmers' Market Dinner Party
Links and Contacts:
Dillner Family Farm
Evelyn's Incredible Edibles
Mrs. Jones (Multi-Purpose Sauce)
Joyces Homemade Cookies
647 Broadway Avenue
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
412-771-7124
Pisarcik Greenhouse & Cut Flowers
Elaine Pisarcik
365 Browns Hill Road
Valencia, PA
724-8981434
or e-mail
August 13, 2007: Showcasing McConnells' Farm, Aliquippa, PA
Today's Local Goodness:
PEACHES!!
Nine generations of the McConnell family have worked this farm since 1787 when it was awarded to Captain John B. McConnell as payment for his services in the Revolutionary War. He received 1000 acres for forming and commanding a militia outside Philadelphia. Today, brothers Cal McConnell, Naval Academy grad and retired military, and Ed McConnell, Harvard grad and high school teacher, farm the remaining 200 acres and grow the best peaches I have ever eaten.
No wonder. They begin pruning their peach trees in January and continue tending the trees and thinning the fruit until it is time to pick. Their hard work results in softball size peaches whose juices run to your elbows after the first bite.
Cal's daughter Amy, her husband David and their six month old daughter are the newest generations to work on the farm. In fact, they believe McConnells' Farm is the oldest farm west of the Alleghenies to be farmed continuously by the same family.
Their peaches can be found at a variety of farmers' markets around Pittsburgh from late July to mid September. But if you have time, be sure to stop at the farm and visit with Cal's mother, Anna, who just celebrated her 90th birthday and has been working on the farm for 73 years. What ever you do, try their peaches...they are like nothing you've ever tasted!
Learn more at their new website -- www.mcconnellsfarm.com.
Hours: Mon to Fri 10Am - 7PM, Sat 10AM - 6PM, and Sun 10AM - 4PM.
McConnell's Farm
294 New Bethlehem Church Road
Aliquippa, PA 15001
Contact: Amy McConnell Schaarsmith
phone: 412-608-3618
Featured Recipes:
Fresh Peach Bellinis
Grilled Fresh Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream
1963 Fresh Peach Cobbler
July 30, 2007: Showcasing Laurel Vista Farms, Somerset, PA
Today's Local Goodness:
Somerset SnapsTM Green Beans
Laurel Vista Farms, owned by Rick Stafford, Ken Saldono and their wives (sisters Rita and Marian), has been a working family farm for more than 100 years with a gorgeous view of the Laurel Ridge (thus the farms' name!. Rick and Ken purchased the farm from its orginal owners in 1988, saving a pristine area of Somerset County from residential development and preserving an important agricultural asset that Rick, Ken, Rita and Marian have transformed from a bulk potato farm into one of our areas great farms. They have transformed their crops and strive to keep their products serving consumers no more than 100 miles from their farm, ensuring quality, freshness and minimal transportation impact.
Our trip to Laurel Vista Farm greeted us with the first rainy day we had visiting farms this season. But, that didn't keep us from going into the field with Rita to pick green beans right off the plant and sampling their earthy green goodness right on the spot. We took home a bushel and we're happily knee deep in beans for a few days!
Luckily for us, their uniquely branded products, including their Somerset SnapsTM Green Beans can be found in select Giant Eagle stores. Their green beans are picked and in stores within 24 hours...now THAT's fresh!. Just look for Ken and Rick (see logo above) when you're doing your grocery shopping. If you don't see them, ask the produce manager to give them a call to get their farm-fresh products in a store near you!
Learn more about Laurel Vista Farms at www.laurelvistafarm.com. If you're in the area, stop by. They love visitors...but give them a call first or they'll likely be in the field!
Laurel Vista
1665 Coxes Creek Road
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: 814-443-2415 or 814-443-1112
E-mail: laurelvistafarm@yahoo.com
Featured Recipes:
Green Bean and New Potato Salad
Soy Glazed Sauteed Green Beans
July 16, 2007: Showcasing Mobilia Fruit Farm, North East, PA
Today’s Local Goodness:
Cherries!
Mobilia Fruit Farm is a fourth generation family farm run by Nick and Kathy Mobilia. Located in North East, Pennsylvania, just miles from Lake Erie, a visit to Mobilia Fruit Farm is a great start to a day trip or weekend visit to this area. It was just days away from the height of cherry season when we visited the cherry orchard and snatched a few juicy treats from the loaded cherry trees. Kathy was our host in the orchard as Nick tended to a bus load of visitors from Pittsburgh who made a stop at their winery to sample (and buy) some of their award-winning wines. While their wines are a visitor favorite year-round, for us and many families who have been coming for generations, we came for the fresh cherries just coming into season. Mobilia offers you the chance to go in the orchard to pick your own – whether sweet dark or Queen Anne cherries, or sour cherries, perfect for baking. Try what we did…pack a picnic lunch, load up the car, take the drive to North East and visit the Mobilia’s. After picking your cherries head to the beach at Presque Isle and make a day of it with the whole family.
Mobilia cherries (and other products) are available at their farm store in North East, PA. In the Pittsburgh area, they can be found at Soergel Orchards in Wexford, PA and Trax Farm Market in Finleyville, PA.
12073 East Main Road
North East, PA 16428
also visit them at Arrowhead Wine Cellars: http://www.arrowheadwine.com/
Contact Person: Kathy Mobilia
Phone: (814) 725-4077
Featured Recipe:
Cherry-Almond-Ricotta Strudel
July 2, 2007: Showcasing Triple B Farms, Monongahela, PA
Today's Local Goodness:
Red & Black Raspberries
Sweet Corn
The gals of Triple B Farms -- Carolyn Beinlich, her daughter in law Sue Beinlich, and granddaughters Nancy, Natalie, and Abigail -- greeted us as we arrived on a hot summer morning. A 400-acre working farm, Triple B grows a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but on our visit it was all about raspberries and sweet corn...two fantastic summer treats arriving just in time for July 4th celebrations. Visit their farm store where you can get fresh produce direct from the fields, great jams and spreads made from their farm's fruit...and don't miss the pies, all made in-house by Carolyn. Their produce can also be found at Whole Foods Market in Pittsburgh's east end. A true family farm, they host a variety of festivals and events throughout the year, host scout and school tours and offer birthday parties on the farm; so make plans to visit them soon!
To find out more about Triple B Farms, their harvest schedule, and upcoming events visit their website at www.triplebfarms.com.
Phone: (724) 258-3557
Featured Recipes:
Fresh Raspberries in Phyllo Cups Made with Triple B fresh red and black raspberries
Grilled Sweet Corn with Herbed Butters
June 18, 2007: Showcasing Harvest Valley Farms, Valencia, PA 
Today's Local Goodness:
Kohlrabi & Strawberries
Larry King, his brother Art King, and Art's son David run this fourth generation farm in southern Butler County, PA. Larry and Art's grandparents raised eight children solely off of the farm's profits, and they continue that tradition today...not only supporting their families but helping to sustain a good community economy. On their 132 farm they grow more than 60 varieties of produce and hand pick every vegetable that they offer. You can find Harvest Valley products at their farm store, through their CSA program, at farmers' markets throughout the Pittsburgh region, and on the menu of a number of our area's finest restaurants.
For more information, directions to their farm store, a listing of farmers' markets and restaurants where you can find their produce, and information about their Fall Festival (now in its 23rd year!), click HERE.
Phone: (724) 898-FARM (3276)
Email: kings5@nauticom.net
Sauteed Kohlrabi
Strawberries in Merlot with Cracked Black Pepper
Morgan's Favorite Strawberry Pie a GREAT recipe for kids to make and the whole family to enjoy!
June 4, 2007: Showcasing Dillner Family Farm, Gibsonia, PA
Today's Local Goodness: Rhubarb & Asparagus
This third generation family farm actively farms half of its 250 acres just north of Pittsburgh, rotating its crops to strengthen and nurture the land. Jane and Don Dillner and their four children offer more than 100 varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers and fruit from their orchard throughout the growing season. To make the most of their efforts, subscribe to their CSA program with drops in Mt. Lebanon, Wexford, or their farm in Gibsonia. Their seasonal products can be found at eight farmers' markets throughout the city of Pittsburgh.
For more information and directions, click HERE.
- Contact Person: Jane Dillner
- Phone: (724) 444-6594
- Email: ddillner@nauticom.net
Rhubarb "Pudding"
Roasted Asparagus Bundles(we grilled these on the show!)
A huge thank you to the following who are helping us bring
Local Goodness--Pittsburgh to you! 
KDKA Pittsburgh Today Live
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture -- Western Division
Buy Fresh Buy Local -- Western PA
providing wardrobe and great house wares for Local Goodness
Steinmart
8050 McKnight Road Suite 1-B
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
in the North Hills of Pittsburgh