Pretzel Month
Soft pretzels and their classic dipping sauce, mustard.
Though I believe every day is a great day to celebrate (and eat) pretzels, the month of April brings with it both National Soft Pretzel Month and National Pretzel Day.
So, before the month of pretzels comes to an end, honor the snack in style. Treat yourself to a buttery, thin, mall-stand pretzel, grab a bag of your favorite, seasoned, crunchy pretzel pieces, or try one of these locally-found versions of the classic soft pretzel.
siemprealgopgh.com
Growing up in Lancaster County, I was privy to all of Pennsylvania’s pretzel variations, from the crunchy, crumbly buckets – yes, buckets – of Martin’s Hard Pretzels to the handmade, freshly-baked sticks from a roadside Amish-run stand.
The housemade, Bavarian-style sourdough pretzels, baked-to-order at Siempre Algo are the closest I’ve found to the Amish stand of my childhood. A flaky dusting of chunky salt dusts each pretzel, adding a sharp tang to the underlying funk of sourdough, finishing nicely with the punch of sweet tang from a swipe of whole grain mustard. Eating them warm is a true delight, the dough pillowy and wrapped in a firm, chewy crust.
mediterrabakehouse.com
A staple at many local breweries and available on Saturdays at their two cafes, Mediterra’s gigantic soft pretzel is not for the faint of heart. Gigantic is an understatement; the family-owned bakehouse twists dough into a buttery, open-textured pretzel bigger than your face.
Though tasty on its own, the massive pretzel is best served with a beer. Grab a brew from the draft list at Mediterra’s Mount Lebanon location or, find it on the menu at ShuBrew in Zelienople, paired with beer mustard and cheese.
thepretzelshop.net
For almost a century, The Pretzel Shop has been treating Pittsburghers to their fluffy, golden-brown pretzels. The classic, salt-dusted pretzel is a must-have, though their menu goes far beyond. Try the snack topped with parmesan and garlic, jalapeños and cheddar, or pepperoni and mozzarella. Custom creations are also available, with almost no threshold; the legendary shop has turned pretzels into spiders, sharks, bunny-scapes for Easter, and much more.
claussencafehaus.com
New to Bloomfield, Claussen Cafehaus is serving up another Pittsburgh staple: Axel’s Pretzels. The Liberty Avenue cafe is owned by the son of Axel and sells their organic, German soft pretzels by the dozen. Pair your pretzel with one of their housemade sauces, ranging from black truffle mustard to chocolate hazelnut.
STORY BY MAGGIE WEAVER
12 Month - 6 issue subscription
Indulge in the taste spring with this delicious Cherry Galette