5 Ways to Experience Fermented Foods in Pittsburgh

Here’s how you can enjoy the delicious, ancient process of preserving food and beverages through fermentation in Pittsburgh:

See Fermented Films

Need plans tonight? Pucker up for “a perfectly aged blend of vinegar, H.J. Heinz, and 16mm films” at Eberle Studios in Homestead from 8-9:30 p.m. There will be fermented food and beverages to try! Tickets are $10.

Try This Pickle Pop-Up

The VanFrankenPrüss pop-up at Scratch and Co. in Troy Hill was everything I dreamed that Picklesburgh could be. The three chefs behind the concept focus on fermented, locally-sourced, and sustainable products. Don’t skip the pickle plate packed with beets, green beans, peaches, cucumbers, and cauliflower. Follow their Instagram so you don’t miss the next pop-up.

Get a Jar of Kraut or Kimchi

Sauerkraut pairs perfectly with kielbasa and pierogi, making it a quick Pittsburgh favorite. Take home a container from S&D Polish Deli or go the spicy route with a jar of Korean kimchi from Sambok in the Strip District. My favorites are from Bae Bae’s Kitchen in Downtown and the pop-up Mandu Handu.

Sip on Some Kombucha

Pittsburgh Juice Co.’s new cafe in Aspinwall, Vibrant Sunshine, serves healthy, plant-based eats, and their house-made kombucha — a fizzy sweet-and-sour drink made with tea. My pal Kristy Locklin at Pittsburgh Magazine paired it with “two pieces of Mediterra Bakehouse farm bread covered in roasted root vegetables, cannellini bean puree, and fresh arugula.”

Take a Fermentation Workshop

Trevor Ring of Community Cultures hosts workshops where you can learn how to make sauerkraut, kimchi, koji, miso, pickles, wine, mead, pop, and more. The next class is at Velum Fermentation in the South Side next Saturday.