Pittsburgh Food Events – October 2010

I am apparently quite confused. As I went to compile my list of October events, my first thought was, “Oktoberfest!” But, uh, despite the name, that’s mostly over… though you can still enjoy Oktoberfest-style beers at most of our neighborhood German restaurants. So we’ll have to settle for a non-Oktoberfest October, and I’ll make a note for next year. In the meantime…

Beer List at Bocktown

Pittsburgh Food Blogger Meet-Up
Thursday, October 8, 6:30pm – RSVP required
Bocktown Beer and Grille, North Fayette

Based on our conversations at Podcamp Pittsburgh, food bloggers are getting together! If you’re a food blogger (or you’re thinking about starting one) and we didn’t find you, join the Meet-Up now and RSVP for our first gathering. We have no agenda other than eat delicious hand-cut fries and talk about as-yet-unformed ideas for collaboration. I’m willing to bet you’ll also love the great pumpkin beers on tap at Bocktown, which is the only good non-chain place to eat in the whole mess of Robinson/North Fayette.

Sharpen your skills

Knife Skills Class
Monday, October 11
In the Kitchen, Strip District

I took my first cooking class last weekend in Cincinnati, and I am now hooked. In addition, I recently received a Global chef’s knife from a friend who apparently wanted me to be forever in his debt. This is a dead-sexy and super-dangerous piece of kitchen equipment that is so sharp that you don’t even feel it when you cut yourself. So, in the interest of my fingers, one of my goals is to take a knife skills class like this one, offered at In the Kitchen in the Strip District, a locally-owned kitchenwares store. Since they expanded their space a while back, In the Kitchen also has a lovely, intimate demonstration kitchen space where they offer a number of different classes. $40 for this one includes sharpening of your favorite baby.

Image source

Alice Waters Apple Tart

Urban Apple Festival
Saturday, October 23, 11am – 2pm
Union Project, East Liberty

This is one of my favorite Pittsburgh food events. Apple growers from around the region bring apple varieties for sampling and purchase along with all sorts of apple accoutrements: cheeses, ciders, and of course, pies. The signature event during the festival is the Pro/Am Apple Pie Baking Contest. Even if you don’t bake, you can purchase slices of the winning pies a la mode after judging is complete. See that little photo over there? Two years ago I won “Most Beautiful Pie” with this little number (which, due to generally poor photography and the fact that I had to let other people eat it, never made it to the blog.) New this year is the impromptu poetry pie-ku contest, see double-dutch jump-ropers and $5 for grown-ups and $2 for kids. Other details on their website are still a little sketchy, so check back there for updates.

Tagged as: Bocktown, Food Bloggers, In the Kitchen, Knife Skills, Urban Apple Festival