PNC Park treats, Starch Madness fries, Empty Bowls, and more Pittsburgh food news

PNC Park
115 Federal St., North Side. mlb.com/pirates/ballpark

A new Pirates season means new culinary wonders at PNC Park. Longtime food vendor Aramark Sports + Entertainment announced a slate of Pittsburgh-specific items coming to the ballpark’s Cannonball Stand (section 146).

Chipped Ham Empanadas offer a new spin on the Islay’s classic, filled with barbecue chipped ham, cheddar cheese, and pickles. The Polish Cannonball deep-fries “croquettes” of egg noodles, kielbasa, cabbage, bacon, and cheddar cheese, served with an herb crema dip. Fried Almond Torte creates a portable fair food version of the Prantl’s favorite by dipping and frying funnel cake batter, then topping it with raspberry sauce, icing, and burnt almonds.

The season opener will also roll out two new souvenirs: a popcorn-filled bat and an uncanny cotton candy foam mask featuring the face of Pirates mascot Bucco the parrot. The Pirates’ 2025 regular season opens on Thu., March 27.

The Cheese Queen x Ripepi Winery and Vineyard
93 Van Voorhis Ln., Monongahela. thecheesequeen412.com

The Cheese Queen greets spring with a Sip & Savor: Spring Charcuterie & Wine Afternoon event. Head to Ripepi Winery on Sun., March 30 from 1-3 p.m. for a tasting experience and interactive class on pairing wines with local farm cheeses. Guests also curate a take-home charcuterie board using seasonal ingredients. Tickets cost $80 and are available through The Cheese Queen’s website.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank x Just Harvest
4905 Fifth Ave., Oakland. pittsburghfoodbank.org

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will, on Sun., April 6, host its 28th Empty Bowls fundraiser at Rodef Shalom Congregation. Launched in 1996, the event invites Pittsburghers to gather for a “humble dinner” featuring chef-created soup in handcrafted ceramic bowls. Bowls will be replenished throughout the event, which includes a silent auction and the Let’s Eat exhibit showcasing handmade plates with quotes from neighbors facing food insecurity. All proceeds benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest.

Attendees can join one of three dine-in seatings from 1-8 p.m., or order a Soup & Bowl Takeout option. This year, the third seating (6-8 p.m.) includes a Meet the Makers event featuring local potters who crafted bowls and soup chefs. Empty Bowls tickets include a handcrafted bowl, soup, bread, and “other tasty treats.” Pre-sale tickets, available through Thu., April 3, cost $30, with limited tickets available at the door for $35. Children under 3 eat free.

Iron City Distilling
150 Ferry St., Bldg. 2, Creighton. icdistilling.com

Taste whiskey straight from the barrel at Iron City Distilling’s Whiskey, Straight Up! event. On Fri., April 4 at 6:30 p.m., the distillery celebrates the second anniversary of its whiskey (when it becomes “straight whiskey”) with a dinner and guided sampling featuring six different whiskeys. Tickets cost $48, with a limited brewery
 tour available as a $10 add-on.

Aslin Beer Co. x Trace Brewing
1801 Smallman St., Strip District. aslinbeer.com/pittsburgh

Aslin Beer Co. released a 1980s-themed dark lager called Jean Jackets and Speeding Tickets. A collab between Aslin and Trace Brewing, the oak-aged Czech-style lager is described as “brewed with the kind of precision that Jaromir Jagr would approve of… balanced, bold, and absolutely hits the mark.” Try it at Aslin’s Taproom in the Strip District.

City Works Eatery and Pour House
Two PPG Pl., Downtown. cityworksrestaurant.com/locations/pittsburgh

March Madness has become Starch Madness at City Works. The Market Square restaurant invites Pittsburghers to catch a game and defend their brackets with a special, limited-time menu item. Starch Madness features house fries with pimento cheese gravy, smoked brisket, cheese curds, Fresno chilies, pickled red onion, and green onions. The fan-favorite Final Fourange drink, described as “a boozy Orange Crush” garnished with basketball-themed cocktail sticks and an orange peel,
also returns.

Freeman Family Farm and Greenhouse
1426 Juniata St., Manchester. freemanfamilyfarmstore.com

The Freeman Family Farm Store, a longtime project of neighborhood activist and food justice advocate Lisa Freeman, opened on March 11 in Manchester. The sustainability-focused farm store offers fresh, local produce, pantry staples, seasonal goods, and more. Last year, Freeman told NEXTpittsburgh about her efforts to establish the urban farm and grocery store in Manchester, a food desert and majority Black neighborhood, also portrayed in her book, We Don’t Want A F*cking Farm On Our Street.  With a mission to improve food equity, access, and community health, the project is also an urban farm, seasonal outdoor bistro, and breakfast and lunch spot.The Freeman Family Farm Store is now open Tue.- Sat. from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Walnut Grill/Blue Sky Kitchen and Bar
911 Freeport Rd., Aspinwall. eatwalnut.com

Walnut Grill permanently closed its Fox Chapel location on March 16. The restaurant operated on the Waterworks Mall campus for 16 years. The closure was not announced on social media channels. Operating partner and marketing director Marc Hourvitz posted on Facebook after the restaurant’s final night of service.

“Tonight we closed our doors at the Walnut Grill Fox Chapel for the last time,” Hourvitz wrote. “Since 2009, we participated in our community in every way we were able to. Such [an] outstanding group of guests, staff and neighbors. I would do it all over again.”

Walnut Grill Holdings also owns Blue Sky Kitchen and Bar in East Liberty, which has reportedly also closed after less than three years. The restaurant, billed as having the neighborhood’s largest outdoor dining area, has been listed as “temporarily closed” on Google, and a sign about the closure has been spotted on its doors.