Taste of the Weekend: Cookout Classics

Hillbilly Potato Salad is the perfect side for any cookout!

I think we can all agree: if summer has to end, there better be good food involved. That’s why, this weekend, we’re inviting you to savor the unofficial end of warm-weather grilling days and long, cocktail-soaked evenings with a cookout. Gather your friends, break out those fit-for-a-crowd recipes, and get ready to drink in all that summer has left.

To make things easy for you, we’ve outlined a few of our favorite summertime recipes, perfect for your Labor Day gathering. Tomatoes, squash, and strawberries star our cookout-worthy dishes, along with a few picks for top-notch, to-go eats. And of course, beer!

Appetizers

There are few things more cookout-worthy than a dip. Perhaps the most notorious in Pittsburgh is buffalo chicken dip, a sickeningly rich, creamy concoction of shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and cream cheese that is practically guaranteed to show up at every Steelers tailgate. We, however, have better options for you. Try one of these four dips – jalapeño popper, spanakopita, roasted eggplant, and tomato bruschetta, and curried cauliflower – to elevate your starter game.

And, what party would be complete without a charcuterie board? Make things easy by ordering from Salty Pork Bits, Justin Severino’s sustainably sourced, handmade, and all-around delicious salami and cured meats company. Pick one of their pre-sliced, pre-curated charcuterie boards, pair it with a few blocks of cheese from Chantal’s Cheese Shop, and you’re done!

Mains

Grilling is a Labor Day tradition! If burgers aren’t your thing, head to Fallen Aspen Farm, located in Plain Grove, for pasture-raised and grass-fed lamb, chicken, and pork. The farm handmakes pork sausage – hot Italian, sweet Italian, and apple fennel – hot dogs, and bratwurst.

Looking for takeout options? Order catering from Burk’s BBQ in Oakmont. The eatery offers all of their house-smoked meats by the pound, served with their signature sauce, along with the family-style package, a party-perfect mix of two pounds of meat, two racks of ribs, two quarts of sides (go for the mac n’ cheese and coleslaw!) and a half-dozen jalpeño cheddar corn muffins.

Sides

Lighten up your barbeque with a few summer-perfect sides. We’re big fans of this Hillbilly Potato Salad, an updated version of the classic, creamy salad. Celebrate the best of the season with a Tomato Peach Salad, bursting with the zing of a sweet and tangy vinaigrette, or bring a bit of Tuscany to your backyard by making this traditional Italian dish with a twist, Mango Panzanella Salad.

If you’re looking for simple, no-cooking options, try the deli at Mayfly Market and Deli on the Northside. This small, neighborhood market carries the dishes you need to make a great cookout: macaroni salad, pasta salad, and more. Check their online inventory to see what’s available before you go!

Drinks

No one should have to grill without a cold drink by their side… especially in this heat! Find summer flavors on the beer list at Hitchhiker Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg and Mount Lebanon. Their recently-released, blueberry-watermelon version of their Fruit Rush smoothie sours begs for a hot summer day. It’s sweet and smooth, like an adulted-up version of lemonade.

If beer isn’t quite your cup of tea, head over to Goodlander Cocktail Brewery in Larimer. The new-to-Pittsburgh brewery sells super-carbonated, fresh-tasting cocktails by the growler. Our favorites are the Eastside, a mix of gin, lime, mint, and cucumber, and the straightforward, refreshingly delicious Tom Collins. Grab a growler (or two!) to go, and don’t forget the ice!

Desserts

If you’re willing to brave the oven, this sweet, simple Ginger Cake is a great crowd-pleasing dessert. Though warmly spiced with cardamom and ginger, the zing of cream cheese icing and a few fresh berries make it ready for summer. Blackberry-studded cobbler is another warm-weather favorite, especially when topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

But, we understand if the heat of an oven is too much. In that case, call ahead to Page Dairy Mart for an ice cream cake. Their signature soft serve is the base for this party-sized dessert stacked with chocolate crunchies, gooey hot fudge, and wrapped with a fluffy, light-as-a-feather whipped icing.