Spooky foods, drinks haunt restaurants for Halloween
It’s that time of the year when spooky food turns up on local menus. We’ve scared up some of the best Halloween dinners, desserts and food-centric events in the region.
Frightening foods
Night of the Living Dead Burger & Beer Dinner: Feast on two burgers paired with specialty craft beers. The Impossible Burger, a burger made entirely from plants, will be paired with Griersons Ginger Cider from Arsenal Cider House. The Big Mamoooo features macaroni and cheese, barbecued brisket, Vermont white cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion mayo and will be paired with Sam Adams Octoberfest. 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 26, at Bill’s Bar & Burger, Downtown. $25. eventbrite.com (search for Bill’s Night of the Living Dead Burger Dinner).
Heathen Halloween Pig
Roast: Wear a costume for a chance to win a Spork gift card, enjoy Serenity Hill Farm roasted pork, and try local beer, wine and cocktails. 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 at Spork Pit, Garfield. $55 includes roast pig, mac ‘n’ cheese, greens, two adult beverages and swag bags for the first 50 guests. eventbrite.com (search for Spork Pit Heathen Halloween Pig Roast).
Halloween Dinner: The ghoulish menu includes Crispy Grilled Bats (grilled beef meatballs served on skewers with crisp kale), Mummy Guts (chicken potpie), The Kraken (roasted octopus with
potatoes and onions cooked in white wine) and Frozen Brains with Bugs (frozen rice pudding topped with chocolate-covered crickets). Two seatings: 6 or 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at Pastitsio, Lawrenceville. $40. greekpastitsio.com.
Devilish desserts
Monster Mash Macarons: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Carnegie Mellon University grad George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” with Monster Mash Macarons, which are filled with chocolate ganache and/or raspberry cream cheese and drizzled with mixed berry jam and chocolate. Available now through Oct. 31 at The Porch at Schenley, Oakland. $7 for a serving of four macarons. dineattheporch.com/schenley/what’s-new.
Halloween Smiley Cookies: Eat’n Park is making cases of individually wrapped mini pumpkinshaped Halloween cookies for households to hand out on trick-or-treat night. A case of 40 cookies costs $36.99. Cases of 80 and 160 mini cookies are also available, along with cases of regular-sized pumpkin cookies, cookies in other designs such as ghosts and aliens, and other Halloween treats. To order: smileycookie.com/shop-by-occasion-1/halloween-cookies2.html.
Petrifying parties
Wigle Halloween Party: Food from the Tango Food Truck, Halloween desserts from Amor de Acucar, creepy cocktails, costume contests for humans and dogs and music. 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 26 at Wigle Whiskey Barrelhouse, Spring Garden. Free admission. wiglewhiskey.com/events.
Heaven & Hell Halloween Bash: A Halloween party on two levels. Revel will offer hellish revelry and temptations with DJ-spun tunes, and Roost will serve a display of heavenly desserts and appetizers (until 10 p.m.) with more DJ tunes. 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at Revel + Roost, Downtown. $25; $50 for VIPs (includes reserved table for party of four or more). showclix.com/event/revel-roost2018-halloween-bash.
Fright Up Night: Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership presents Halloween fun at several Downtown locations. Food-centric stops include Harris Grill, Las Velas, Butcher & the Rye, Tako and Sienna Mercato. 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 at participating locations. For a full list of participants: frightupnight.com.
Dia de los Muertos: Acrobatique Creative and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce present a night of Hispanic appetizers, live entertainment and tequila shots. 8 to 11 p.m. Nov. 2 at Hotel Monaco, Downtown. $11.02; $50 for VIPs (includes face painting, exclusive VIP area, signature cocktail, additional live entertainment and desserts). showclix.com/event/diadelosmuertospgh.
Cryptic classes
Halloween Pasta Making Class: Learn to make Halloween-inspired pasta dishes with executive chef Daniel Walker, using seasonal ingredients like pumpkin and squash, and then enjoy your creations with a three-course meal of Caesar salad, the pastas from class and dessert. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Lidia’s Pittsburgh, Strip District. $85. Reservations: 412-552-0150.
Halloween Cookie Class: Learn to decorate fun Halloween cookies and then take home a half dozen. Two classes: 1 to 2:30 p.m. for children ages 6 and up, or 4 to 6 p.m. for adults. Oct. 27 at North Hills United Presbyterian Church, West View. $30. callmecrazycookielady.com (click on Events).