Pittsburgh has so many good hometown products, you don't have to know how to cook to serve a full-fledged tailgate party. You just have to know how to shop.
Jump in the car and pick up the fixings from some of the 'Burgh's favorite purveyors. Many of the goodies are available from shops in the Strip District.
Cooked shrimp -- Shrimp cocktail is easy when you grab a bag of frozen, fully cooked jumbo shrimp from Robert Wholey's at 1711 Penn Ave. Each 2-pound bag, $44.95. Toss a jar of cocktail sauce and a bag of ice into the bag. (412-391-3737)
Corn chips and salsa -- Without a dip, there's no party. Pick up Mexican corn chips and salsa from Reyna's, 2023 Penn Ave., the Strip. Choose white, yellow, red or blue corn chips, all Reyna-made. The 8.5-ounce bags range from $1.59 to $1.99. For something different, try new chick pea chips. Match any of them with fresh salsa made from homegrown tomatoes, cilantro and lime juice. An 8-ounce container is $2.85. Or buy a 12-ounce jar of Reyna's bottled salsa, $3.25. (412-261-2606)
Kielbasa -- Mission Market is an ethnic Polish butcher shop at 2400 Mission St. on the South Side where you can find genuine kielbasa made the Old World way. Fresh or smoked, a coil of kielbasa is $2.98 a pound. The butchers make special 6-inch kielbasa links, just the right size to tuck into a bun, at $2.89 a pound. (412-431-0321)
Hot and sweet sausage -- All products are made in the store at Ernie Ricci's Italian sausage shop in McKees Rocks, 811 Broadway Ave. Sweet and hot sausage ropes packaged in a 5-pound box are $2.09 a pound. If you'd rather have sausage patties, they also come in a 5-pound box, priced at $2.19 a pound. Make your own red sauce and add Ricci's homemade, hand-rolled meatballs, 16 meatballs in a 2-pound bag for $4.98. (412-331-9531)
Mancini's bread -- While you're in McKees Rocks, stop by Mancini's bakery, 601 Woodward Ave., off Broadway. Nonstop ovens bake crisp-crusted breads, buns and rolls 24 hours a day except on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Ask for your warm loaf like a local: "A hot twist, please." (412-331-2291)
BreadWorks rolls -- On the other side of the river in North Side, BreadWorks has all the Italian rolls, mini baguettes, kaisers and sausage buns you need. A couple of olive focaccias would elevate any deli-meat sandwich. Swing by the retail shop on 2110 Brighton Road. (412-231-7555)
Pierogies Plus for, you know -- This is a must-stop for Polish pierogies, more than 26 varieties. Order cold, to heat and serve at home, or hot and ready to eat, served with butter sauce. The women in the back also make homemade haluskas and stuffed peppers. Expect to stand in line if you stop any time around noon. Find the tiny shop 1/4 mile south of the McKees Rocks Bridge at 324 Island Ave. (412-331-2224)
Biscotti -- It's hard to choose a favorite from the 15 flavors of really big biscotti at Enrico Biscotti, 2022 Penn Ave. Anise almond, vanilla with chocolate drizzle, macadamia white chocolate drizzle, cranberry pistachio are just a few to tempt you. They're $1.25 apiece, or $6.50 for 6. (412-281-2602)
Coffee -- What's that wonderful smell coming out of the Pittsburgh Produce Terminal at 20th and Smallman? It has to be java, because that's where La Prima Espresso roasts its coffee. Over at La Prima's coffee shop at 205 21st St., pick up the House Blend at $9 a pound or one of the 20 or so varietals. Owner Sam Patti says the biggest flavored-coffee of the fall is Pumpkin Spice. (412-281-1922)
Your supermarket
Beans, ham and pickles -- Grab a cart and load up on baked beans. Buy Heinz, of course. Heat and eat, or "doctor" them with a couple of glugs of molasses and Heinz ketchup. Any counter person will shave a couple of pounds of chipped ham. Buy a bunch of Heinz pickles, your choices, and pile them on a tray.
Klondikes -- Look in just about any supermarket's freezer case for Pittsburgh's favorite chocolate-dipped vanilla ice cream square, about $3.99 for a package of six. Love the crackle of the first bite.
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