Does Pittsburgh have a defining cuisine? (neighborhoods, living in, foods)

[steindle]

Pierogies have been mentioned several times, and shot down as "not unique to Pittsburgh." Sure, but it's not like buffalo wings are unique to Buffalo at this point either. The fact is that Pittsburgh has a pretty extraordinary link to Eastern European cuisine that is not shared by many American cities, by virtue of having one of the largest Eastern European populations anywhere in the country. (E.g., largest Croatian population in the country, third largest Hungarian population of any major city (by percentages), fifth largest Ukrainian community, huge Polish community for its size, etc.) That has an inherent, if subtle, effect on our food.

I would wager that there is a heck of a lot more haluski, stuffed cabbage, stuffed peppers, paczki, sauerkraut, goulash, etc., here than in the vast majority of U.S. cities, and even/especially the most lauded local chefs routinely incorporate that influence into their very modern dishes. That is at least relatively unique, and definitely a "defining" aspect of this region's cuisine. (In comparison to, say, Nashville -- where it was rare to find one package of Mrs. T's pierogies, rather than the two freezers full that is standard in Pittsburgh.)

[steindle]

Originally Posted by Hopes

It lists a lot of gross food I don't like.

Haha... you have just been a ray of sunshine in this thread.

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Here's the Pittsburgh Wiki's Food and Drinks section:

Culture of Pittsburgh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It lists a lot of gross food I don't like.

Not sure how all of missed Chipped Ham

[Evergrey]

Paczki is present in Pittsburgh... but most people here have no idea what it is. Paczki is huge in Detroit and Cleveland, however.

The Eastern European culinary heritage is certainly a significant element in Pittsburgh... but it is shared with Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee. It's part of Pittsburgh... but it's not Pittsburgh's like the Cheesesteak is Philly's.

The Buffalo Wing is a creation of Buffalo. Pierogies are something brought over from Eastern Europe that happen to be popular in places where those immigrant settled... today's Rust Belt. It's a subtle difference.

[OZ2012]

After I announced I was moving to Pittsburgh, several people told me I had to try the pierogies and Primanti's. It is what it is, just accept it. The fries on the sandwiches and salads is another phenomenon I've not seen or heard of anywhere else.

Here is what I can't understand..... there are so many Italians in Pittsburgh but the pizza here is definitely below par. Did the Italians who emigrated here come from the part of Italy where they didn't make Pizza??

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by OZ2012

After I announced I was moving to Pittsburgh, several people told me I had to try the pierogies and Primanti's. It is what it is, just accept it. The fries on the sandwiches and salads is another phenomenon I've not seen or heard of anywhere else.

I sometimes have a hankering for fries on a salad. Have you tried it yet?

Originally Posted by OZ2012

Here is what I can't understand..... there are so many Italians in Pittsburgh but the pizza here is definitely below par. Did the Italians who emigrated here come from the part of Italy where they didn't make Pizza??

There were a few great pizza places decades ago. The owners sold the businesses when they retired, and the new owners changed the recipes to safe money on ingredients.

My husband's family is supposedly Italian. It's really sad to say this, but they are terrible cooks. I make better Italian food than they do, and I'm Irish. It really has to do with most of Pittsburgh's Italians aren't really Italian. They're watered down by marrying non-Italians for many generations. All that is Italian about most of them is their last name and some weird misplaced Italian pride even though they are less than 25% Italian. Case in point, my sister married a man who with a Italian last name but he's only 12.5% Italian. The rest of him is Irish. My sister is 100% Irish. They gave their children VERY Italian first names to go with the Italian last name, even though the children are over 90% Irish. People will think those kids are 100% Italian with the names they are sporting, but they are only 6% Italian, if that.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Q-tip motha

Philadelphia has the cheese steak and Anger

Originally Posted by OZ2012

Here is what I can't understand..... there are so many Italians in Pittsburgh but the pizza here is definitely below par. Did the Italians who emigrated here come from the part of Italy where they didn't make Pizza??

I have a theory that when you remove Italians from the coast, they forget how to make their own food. I was shocked to discover I knew more about Italian cuisine than most of my Pittsburgh friends of Italian descent, and my knowledge was merely the (indirect) consequence of my (Jewish) grandparents growing up in South Philadelphia and learning the tricks of the trade from their Italian neighbors.

Originally Posted by jay5835

Weirton: like Morgantown without the pretense.

As far as "Pittsburgh Cuisine" goes, the Devonshire sandwich used to be it. Toast points topped with bacon topped with crabmeat or turkey topped with cheese sauce, then run under a broiler/salamander to heat it up. You can still get them here and there from time to time, but they're not the same as they used to be. Sodini's and Poli's served the best ones.

Fish sandwiches are not unique to Pgh. Love of fish sandwiches, maybe.

Weirton was the first place in West Virginia I went to as a college student. I had some delicious wings at a late-night greasy spoon and my (of-age) friend bought some cheap alcohol at one of the local liquor stores. I got a kick out of seeing the small, (but distinctly marked) kosher wine stock, which had accumulated a good bit of dust.

I recall the Union Grill on Craig Street having an excellent turkey Devonshire. This is very similar to Kentucky's "hot brown."

Foods/food terminologies I discovered in Pittsburgh (whether or not they're indigenous of and/or unique to the region):
The aforementioned turkey Devonshire
Pizza boats (as opposed to French bread pizza)
Stuffed banana peppers (never had anything like it in Philly)
Zucchini planks (as opposed to zucchini fries)
French fries as a sandwich or salad "garnish" (strictly served as an appetizer or side dish in Philly)
Chipped ham (Taylor ham was our go-to processed pork, although that's a different product entirely)
Haluski (I know this isn't Pittsburgh-specific, but I first ate it there)

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by steindle

Haha... you have just been a ray of sunshine in this thread.

She just needs a hug! I nominate Copanut.

[steindle]

Originally Posted by OZ2012

Here is what I can't understand..... there are so many Italians in Pittsburgh but the pizza here is definitely below par. Did the Italians who emigrated here come from the part of Italy where they didn't make Pizza??

...And thus began the Great 248th City-Data Pizza Argument.

[Hopes]

Pizza did originate in southern Italy. Maybe most of our Italians came from northern Italy.