The story of Aida’s Cucina begins in 1914. Aida Fierro was born in a small mountain town in Southern Italy just south of Napoli named Bellosguardo (meaning “beautiful view,” due to the view one has of the Isle of Capri from the town piazza on a clear day).

Bellosguardo is located in the Parco Nazionale del Cilento, the second largest park in Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to the natural beauty and history of the region (the area abounds with Greek temples and ruins, as at Paestum, for example). Bellosguardo itself is a tiny village, currently with approximately 1000 residents.

Aida’s father, Giuseppe Fierro, was mayor of the town for many years, and was also an opera lover; he named Aida after the famous Verdi opera (she loved to point this out to people), the most often-performed opera of all time. He was also (and both pictures and loal lore confirm this) the tallest man in the town.

In 1933, Aida married Antonio Pepe, a Bellosguardo native who had been in America for many years working as a laborer. Antoniuccio, as he was known to his family, had returned to Italy to find a bride. Together he and Aida returned to America, settled in Bridgeville, and began raising a family.

Aida’s two Grandsons, John and Michael traveled to Bellosguardo in 2008, staying with their great uncle Ugo (Aida’s brother). John had decided on the spur of the moment to prepare a meal for Ugo and the other relatives. He spent the day purchasing ingredients at the local markets, and after throwing it all together in Ugo’s tiny kitchen, everyone sat down to eat.

Having devoured his food with much gusto, Ugo proclaimed, “Dovrebbe aprire un ristorante.” (He should open a restaurant.) Everyone present agreed, and John took the suggestion to heart.

Aida’s Cucina became a family venture in 2010 where John and Olga (Aida’s daughter) do the cooking and Michael provides the research. This is our way of honoring Aida’s memory.

Always Summer Herbs is a local, woman-owned family business whose mission it is to provide our clients with the highest quality herb and vegetable plants, herbal products and teas, and personal, one-on-one, customer service to ensure that your gardening and overall life experiences, large or small, are a huge success. Our goal is to make it easier for you to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the road less traveled.

Babouche, a shop filled with Moroccan craft culture, will bring a little bit of the souk to the Pittsburgh Public Market. Morocco is a dazzling combination of many cultures… Berber, Andalusia, French, Jewish, and African… and visitors to this shop will find unique, hand–crafted products that may become gifts, wearable pieces, or items that add a touch of warmth to their homes.

Fabio offers authentic, high–quality crafts including:
–Leather Goods: sandals, belts, purses, babouches (slippers)
–Jewelry: unusual necklaces and bracelets
–Pours: handmade leather cushions and foot stools
–Ceramics: decorative plates and bowls influenced by Moorish, European, and African cultures
–Scarves: colorful, fringed, silky, cotton, gorgeous pashmina
–Tea Glasses: exquisite, brightly colored tea glasses with a multitude of uses

As the shop’s proprietor, Fabio is looking forward to bringing the culture, the craft, and the stories of his country and his hometown – Casablanca – to visitors enjoying the vibrancy of The Strip’s newest marketplace – the Pittsburgh Public Market.

In Chris’s words:
I am a Pittsburgh native and have lived here my entire life. I have been drawing and doodling as long as I can remember. My notebooks and text books in grade school and high school were filled with little drawings and sketches.

While in college I came up with the idea of drawing collages in the shape of a larger image, and filling them in with smaller images to tell a story. My first major collage was drawn on the wall of the Acacia House at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstowncampus in 1998. As I drew it, I anticipated the artwork to be temporary since the University typically painted the walls of the dorms each year, but I am proud to say that 10-years later the collage is still there. The University, at no request of mine, has taken upon themselves to paint around it for over 10-years.

Recently, I have been doing a lot more drawing again, and I love it! I love being able to sit down with a clean sheet of paper, and with just me, my mind, and a pen, be able to create something truly unique that many people can enjoy.

Each original collage is drawn freehand with fine, black art pens on high quality bond. The entire processes takes approximately 3 months elapsed time and 60 to 70 hours of drawing time. It’s just me, a pen and a piece of paper.

My favorite media is pen and ink. Collages have always interested me. I like being able to hide things in plain sight. I like to be able to tell an in depth story through smaller images, in the shape of the overall and prominent image. I like to draw pieces that make people think, intrigue the viewers mind, and hold attention. I don’t want people just to look and think “That’s kind of neat.” I want people to be to be infatuated and feel like they must pick it up and hold it to find all the images; and laugh and point as they do it. I want the viewer to think “this is greatest artwork I have ever seen.” The sole purpose of me drawing a collage is for the “wow factor.” So be sure to look close because you never know what you may find.

Chris’s Favorite thing about the strip:
I love “The Strip” because the Strip helps to define Pittsburgh. If you think of 10-things about Pittsburgh, I’m sure The Strip will be on your list. The Strip is the “ebay” of our town. If you want to find something neat, or cool Pittsburghers go to the strip. I also love the open market feel, and the immense about of blue-collar commerce. Pittsburghers selling and buying from Pittsburghers.

Contact Chris at:
412-527-1697
xinsirhc@yahoo.com

The farms that make up Clarion River Organics (CRO) are predominantly Amish. CRO farms include Sam Byler’s River View Diary, Greener Pastures CSA, Hidden Valley Farm, Food From the Earth CSA and Rippling Brook Farm – just to name a few!

The Common Plea Restaurant began as a small eatery on Ross Street in Pittsburgh’s legal district in 1970. At that time, only breakfast and lunch were served, but we were able to quickly develop a loyal following among the City’s judges, lawyers and government staff. The Restaurant expanded in the late 1970’s when it bought out The Ross Dairy Bar and from that point, we developed into one of downtown’s premier fine dining restaurants.
The restaurant further expanded in 1983, adding two private dining rooms on the second floor and has received numerous local and national dining awards. Last year we were again named as one of the “Legends” of the Pittsburgh restaurant community.

We began off-premise catering in 1984, serving numerous clients from the restaurant. As our catering division grew, we knew that the only way to support this growth was to develop a large scale commissary kitchen that was strategically located. To that end, we built a commissary operation on Smallman Street and have been growing our catering business ever since. Today, we employ over 100 people and serve as the exclusive caterer for The Senator John Heinz History Center, Heinz Hall and the Fort Pitt Museum. We are also preferred caterers at numerous venues across the city, including the August Wilson Center, The Frick Museum, Carnegie Mellon, The Hillman Corp. and dozens of other venues and corporations.

We have catered some of the City’s most famous events, including the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Dinner for 5,000 people, the 2009 NFL Kick-Off Party for 2,000 people, and the Visit Pittsburgh Event at Heinz History Center. Common Plea Catering has also won numerous national catering awards, including the CATIE nomination at the 2009 Catersource convention. This year we were named as Pittsburgh’s best wedding caterer in The Knot Magazine’s “Best of Weddings” 2010.

Our mission is to contribute to the production of world class events, with high-end food, culinary excellence and customer service. Our wonderful staff includes numerous culinary and event planning experts that have been with us for over 25 years and are dedicated to serving the needs of our customers and making sure that every detail is attended to.

We are continually striving to add value to our customer’s experiences and we are going to start an operation in the new Pittsburgh Public Market in the Strip. Our concept, which will be called Pastaria in the Strip, is to provide simple yet delicious food that our customers can easily prepare for parties and family dinners in their homes or offices. We will provide gourmet appetizers, soups, dressings and, of course, many varieties of pasta and sauces. All of our products will be made with the freshest ingredients and we will provide simple cooking instructions that will enable our customers to present a perfect meal at their parties every time for a very affordable price. We will also be offering some daily selections for a quick and delicious meal at the Market or back at the office. The Common Plea looks forward to serving the customers of Pittsburgh’s Market in the Strip another Uncommonly Good food experience…….

What Common Plea says about the Strip: The Common Plea Group has been buying and selling products in the Strip District for more than 40 years – The Strip has a great past and a great future as part of the City’s urban redevelopment.

Our cured meats are made and aged using traditional methods. All of our products are locally sourced. The Crested Duck will be selling locally raised, natural rare meats including bison, elk, venison, goat, rabbit, ducks, geese and game birds. They will also be making charcuterie goods from those meats like smoked bison pate, lamb bacon, and ginger orange duck galantines.

John currently works as the Director of Information Systems at Pittsburgh’s preeminent academic institution. He moonlights as a wannabe farmer. He and his wife April own a produce farm about 100 miles from Pittsburgh. Their long-term goals include growing the farm and learning more about sustainable living.

The couple has four seasons of CSA under their belt, and they are itching to begin their fifth one. They love growing food for their community members. Ranking second on their list of fun jobs is helping their members find other local foods.

John and April believe it is important to grow crops which are free of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Healthy soil is the key factor in growing nutrient-rich foods. They use green manure, natural fertilizers, compost, and crop rotation to enrich the soil. Weeds are controlled with a tractor or by hand. Pests are controlled only when absolutely necessary using organically certified means.

We prepare our recipes from scratch using the freshest cream and butter from select local creameries and all-natural ingredients that are not overly processed and are as close to nature as we can find. Fresh fruits, spices, pure cane sugar, imported Belgian Chocolates, Tahitian and Madagascar vanillas are gently blended in 50 pound batches using Vermont maple-wood paddles and stirred in copper kettles over an open flame. Our dedication to quality ingredients and small batch production helps us to create our award-winning confections.

Our farm is certified naturally grown and we grow as nature intended, without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.

Their story: Terry’s grandmother passed down her secret recipe to Terry for her pierogies that originated in Poland. Jan tried these pierogies and fell in love with them because they were a taste from home.

Jan enjoyed the pierogies so much that in the summer of 2001, Jan invited his sister Gosia to come from Poland for a visit. WhenGosia got here, she, Terry, and Terry’s family decided to make pierogies for a hobby. Never realizing that their hobby could make them some money also while doing something they enjoyed too.

Gosia had a fun and eventful time here in America but she returned to Poland after her visit

In 2001 Jan and Terry began making those tasty pierogies and then took them Ligonier farmers markets, in the first day of trying to sell at farmers markets they sold 30 dozen pierogies in just a few hours. They got rave reviews and to their surprise and delight, sold 90 dozen by the end of the farmers markets season.

In the summer of 2006 they took their pierogies to the Pittsburgh farmers markets. The following year the Pittsburgh farmers market contacted Jan and Terry and requested that they return as vendors. Their pierogies were a big hit! Word of mouth had spread and people were requesting their pierogies.

Since those beginnings they did not expect at the farmers market, Gosia’s Pierogies has continued to expand and change, but their delicious authentic pierogies haven’t changed!

What are pierogies? They are the Polish version of filled dumplings. For us, they are always sautéed in butter, and served with finely chopped fried onions and maybe a dollop of sour cream.

If you are familiar with the amount of time and effort that goes into pierogie making, then you will appreciate what the staff at Gosia’s does. It is easy to see that love goes into every tender pinch and the wonderful authentic taste proves this.

All of our products are: Soy free, GMO free, Raised on pasture, and Raised without antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, or herbicides.

Several years ago, prompted by some personal and family health crises, I began investigating diet. I had been a vegetarian for more than a decade and was shocked to learn that deficiencies caused by my way of eating were probably behind the many health problems I was experiencing. With the help of the Weston A. Price Foundation, I dramatically changed the way I ate and saw immediate health benefits. The more I learned about food, the more dedicated I became to finding wholesome, sustainable, humanely-raised, nutrient-dense foods for my family and friends.

We raise our pastured poultry at Mickley Organic Farms in Volant, PA, near Slippery Rock. The Mickley family and I have teamed up to cooperatively raise and market our unique pastured poultry. In addition, I will continue to sell the 100% grass-fed beef raised at the farm I formerly rented, Willow Springs Farm, under the Green Circle Farm label.

Rafael’s Story: Some of my most vivid childhood memories are of a magical place in the mountains called “Hope” at Uncle Fidel and Aunt Nidia’s. The days there never seemed long enough as my cousins and I picked berries, drank fresh milk and explored the fields on horseback.

Sadly, by the early 1960’s agro-industry was already affecting the balance nature had known for generations. As a six year old chasing fire flies around the porch at night, I would overhear the grown-ups talk about how hard it was to keep the ranch going. Although they eventually had to sell, their love of the land provided me with enough inspiration for a lifetime.

Now, more than forty years later at Horizon View Farms, we are again raising the type of beef our ancestors would recognize. Our cattle thrive on lush green fields and fresh mountain water. Instead of artificially accelerating their growth, we allow them to fill out naturally on rich bio-diverse grasses. Like with fine wines, we say, “no beef before it’s time.”

Chefs have described our cuts as nutty and flavorful. They are lower in calories and richer in vitamins and beneficial fatty acids than most. We urge you to invest and nurture local sustainable farming efforts. Horizon View Farms, like many of our neighbors, is about a mindset, helping us to rethink what we feed ourselves and our families.

Favorite thing about the Strip District: We love the Strip because it’s earthy and real!! It reminds us of the countryside and of festivals; we love its enticing aromas and the memories of adventure filled days, shopping with family, and the anticipation of delicious meals to be prepared.

Contact Info:
Rafael and Marcela Velez
horizonviewfarms.com
hviewfarms@gmail.com
412.720.7497

Horizon View will also be serving:

La Dorita Dulce De Leche
www.ladorita.net

La Dorita homemade Dulce de Leche is an all natural, preservative free, milk caramel spread made in the USA—right here in the green hills of Pittsburgh, PA. We use top quality ingredients, including fresh-from-the-farm raw milk provided by a local creamery, Le-Ara Holstein Farms, that only produces antibiotic free milk. Its authentic flavor is irresistibly smooth and creamy—it’s simply dulce delicious! (Did we mention its gluten free and a healthy alternative spread to peanut butter for parents of children with nut allergies?)

You can feel good about craving a dollop of La Dorita Dulce de Leche. It’s not only a healthy choice for you, it’s a show of support for Pennsylvania’s dairy farming families.

Jane Carey, R.N., B.S.N., N.C.M.T., Artist

What does all that mean? It means that every 4 or 5 years I re-invent myself, or so my husband of some 30 years says. Actually, I believe, that every so often, I stumble upon a new part of me. That discovery leads to the development of a new aspect of Jane. Over  the years I evolved from a nurse, to a mom, to a youth leader, a woman’s leader, a community leader, a counselor, a massagetherapist, a business woman, and finally, as artist.

I have a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh. After working at Magee woman’s Hospital, and in public health Nursing for a season, I married and raised 4 children. During that time, I was elected to serve as a local school board director for 11 years, was a boy scout leader, 4-H leader, homeschooled my daughters for high school, did mission trips, served on several boards including a library board, leader of several woman’s organizations.

As my children grew older, I went back to school to study counseling, and did counseling for my church for a season, which I still do occasionally.

Next, I went back to school to learn massage therapy and become nationally certified in pregnancy & infant massage, geriatric massage, & neuromuscular massage. I owned & operated the Sewickley Massage Therapy Clinic and 2 branch offices for a season. I use massage now to help my husband & daughter prepare for & recover from running marathons & tri-athalons.

Each season was was a special time of my life. I entered into it whole heartedly, discovered, nurtured, & developed an important part of me in each season of my life. But something was missing. The mosaic of my life had an unfinished area.

That brings me to the present. At the age of 60, I stumbled across the creative side of me. I always used to say & believe; “I don’t have a creative bone in my body”. I have always loved the arts, and marveled at and wished I could be “the artist”. I finally began taking some lessons. I started making Christmas gifts (jewelry, purses, scarf’s, pillows, throw blankets, ect.) and couldn’t stop! Christmas came and went and I just kept making everything I could. I had found a new passion – creativity! I cannot describe the thrill I feel every time I design and make something. This is what I always wanted to do , but never thought I could! I love it so much! But I found I had to create an outlet for all this creativity, so I began selling jewelry and purses at local stores. I just hope that those who buy my creations enjoy them half as much as I enjoy making them!

Jenn’s Jems is a mother-daughter team consisting of Debbie Maier Jacknin and Jenn Orefice.  When Jenn was 14, we decided to turn their hobby into a business, creating Jenn’s Jems. We have been in business for over 8 years and our line includes one of a kind jewelry, hand knit and crocheted items, a skill Debbie learned from her mother.  The knit and crochet items include head bands, hats, scarves, and Debbie’s personal favorite – a market bag.  They are a stylish way to reduce plastic waste.

We enjoy making unique jewelry so that our customers get something that is truly special!  One of our favorite things to do is create jewelry to match a specific outfit.  We have created jewelry for weddings, Bat Mitzvahs, christenings, proms, and other occasions.

We are very excited about the opening of the public market.  Once again, Pittsburgh was declared to be a most livable city.  The strip district is one of the great things about Pittsburgh.  Pittsburghers have been working for many years to make the public market and flea market a reality and it is this type of hard work and dedication makes Pittsburgh such a wonderful city.

You can contact Jenns Jems at:

JennsJemsJewelry.etsy.com

debo1960@aol.com

412-427-5500

In 1988 La Prima Espresso was founded by owner, Sam Patti. His original business plan was to sell and service commercial espresso machines from the first store located at the corner of Penn Ave. and 21st Street in the Strip District. The showroom soon evolved into an Italian style espresso bar when the locals began to enjoy the ambiance and good tasting coffee available. They enjoyed it then and still do now.

Our Philosophy at La Prima is:
–To source, roast, and serve quality coffees. We believe in using only the best green beans from specially chosen growing regions around the world. We use small-batch roasters to ensure the optimal quality found only in small roasts.
–To sell and service high quality brewing equipment for espresso and drip coffee. We believe in selling only equipment that brews the most ideal coffee and espresso. We service all of the equipment we sell with a staff that is committed solely to espresso and brewed coffee machines.
–To be a valuable member of the local community through our employment practices and of the world community through our green coffee selection. We are proud of our relationship with the community and we strongly believe in investing in local businesses and local people. We are partners with Building New Hope (a local non-profit organization) to offer their rain-forest certified, organic, fair trade coffee to our customers. We also are pleased to work with Achieva (an employment company for physically and mentally challenged individuals) on the labeling of our coffee bags.

Our ice is a blend of the finest purees, fruit concentrates, and fruit acids available. LaScola’s Italian Ice is made from a secret family recipe, please don’t ask how we make it so creamy without any dairy products, fats or cholesterol, with approximately 80 calories in a small size serving, our ice’s are very light and refreshing. Please stop by the market to enjoy a free sample of LaScola’s Italian Ice.

Escaping the Southern California suburban scene, Jeff and Shelley Mott sought to create a homestead where their lives would embrace sustainably raising their own food and livestock, using renewable energy resources and including their children in all aspects of life. Deeply committed to God’s mandate to “be good stewards of the earth”, every activity, crop and purchase is thought out to ensure a more sustainable end. They believe that if they feed the soil, the food they grow will then nourish them, their family and the community around them. Using permaculture ideas, draft horses (and a small tractor!), dairy goats, a family cow, solar panels and a wind generator, they have been able to enjoy a more sustainable life.

Mott Family Farm has been Certified Naturally Grown since 2007. You can enjoy their widely diverse choice of fruits and vegetables through multiple farmers’ markets and their CSA program.

What we love about the Strip District: The cultural diversity in the Strip District is what we miss from California! Since we are also an ethnically mixed family, we feel right at home here.

Also, a wide varity of Heirloom tomato plants and many hard to find herb plants. Plus, unique blends of spinning fibers and one-of-a-kind hand painted yarns to tease the creative spirit of the spinner and knitter.

Rowdy BBQ Take-Out & Catering began five years ago when Steve Kingsland decided to leave the Banking industry and do something totally different. Working with a partner, they opened an Ice Cream, Hot Pretzel, and food take-out business in Brentwood, PA. A few years later, Steve with his wife Wendy and her brother Sam took over and turned that business into what it is today – Rowdy BBQ!

We have an amazing team and without them we could never do it. We have learned everything we could about the BBQ business over the past few years, and absolutely love what we do. It’s an amazing feeling when people compliment your food. Our pork, chicken and beef are smoked fresh daily on our three outdoor smokers. We use only quality meats, cheeses, and produce and buy local whenever possible. All of our side dishes are homemade, and our breads are delivered fresh every day from a local Bloomfield bakery. This marks our 6th year in business and we are really excited for what lies ahead with the Strip Market!

Steve and Wendy’s favorite thing about the Strip: is the food! We absolutely love to shop in the strip and then go home and make and amazing dinner! Nowhere else in Pittsburgh is such a fantastic variety of food available from so many different vendors!

Check out Rowdy BBQ’s website

Sito’s offers not only delicious and wholesome dressings and marinades; it also offers nutritional value in its ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, pomegranate juice, and natural spices, such as mint. Sito’s takes enormous pride in offering honest, pure ingredients that are naturally good for your body!

Let Sito’s Dressings transform your meals into delicious culinary experiences — the kind typically found in the Mediterranean diet — which is one of the healthiest and most delicious diets on the planet. The Mediterranean diet is essentially based on how people in the Mediterranean region live, eat and think. Its simple style incorporates the basics of healthy and delicious eating.

The lifestyle involves enjoying generous amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, whole grains, seeds, and flavorful spices, complemented by small amounts of fish, chicken, lamb, or beef, as well as a moderate amount of wine. Most of all, however, is the attitude of well being — of relaxation, enjoyment, and celebration of life.

We humbly say “Sahtan”… “To your health!”

Leila’s Memories of the Strip: The Strip District was a place forgotten in time. Yet, in all of its crazy chaos and excitement, there was a peacefulness that surrounded us all. A profound, unspoken, common knowledge which said that everything was going to be all right. Because, as the madness was going on, something much more important was happening. The Italians, Greeks, Jews, Arabs and others were working together in harmony, truth and prosperity. And by doing so, they had paved the road for the on beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoons they can wake up, and stroll through the pretty, next generation, so that smoothly paved streets in the Strip district, and buy their French baguettes, Italian Cheese and Salami, Greek gourmet gift items, Kosher meats, Arabic foods, and beautiful bouquets of flowers. And for this I say, “To all those who have made the Strip District a beautiful place to be, I Thank You.” I am proud and honored to continue the tradition, Thank You Pittsburgh Public Market.

Contact Sito’s at:
4757 Baum Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-414-5209 or 412-682-4757
leila@hellos.com
sitosfoods.com

Who are we? We are Pittsburgh locavistas preparing wholesome foods, the right way, with time, care and dedication. Our meats, dairy and produce are sourced directly from local neighboring farms. We are a partnership between Chef Elizabeth Schandelmeier-Gilgunn and Farmer Erika Peterson of Green Circle Farm, with personal relationships with many other local farms and dairies.

What do we do? Chef Elizabeth graduated from culinary school with honors and has worked in a professional kitchen. However, her passion is in old fashioned and traditional cooking methods, using recipes reminiscent of those passed down from our elders. The inspiration for all dishes is the ingredients brought from the farm, there is no particular emphasis on a particular ethnic cuisine or technique. Farmer Erika raises her animal stock on locally sourced feed she mixes herself, her vegetables and herbs are organically grown. All foodstuff is local, organic, soy free and chemical free. Together, Chef Elizabeth and Farmer Erika’s work together to bring the farm to your table, using only local and seasonal fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses. We prepare the types of meals many of us would like to have the time to prepare for ourselves in our homes.

What will we sell? We plan to sell freshly produced prepared foods and pantry items, with all major ingredients sourced exclusively from local farms and mill houses. We will also offer certain items as special order options, including lacto fermented vegetables, house made yoghurt and farm fresh mayonnaise. Our menu is highly variable and entirely dependent on current market availability. Our menus are designed for the local eater, that is, the customer who seeks out the freshest foods our local area has to offer. We seek to sell and support the concept that year-round local eating is possible–and delicious! We also support the idea that using old fashioned, slow cooking methods and chemical free, low carbon footprint ingredients is a path to good health, vitality and is in harmony with the rhythm of our Earth.

So…What is our menu? When cilantro, lemongrass, garlic and hot peppers are taking over the garden, we will make Thai green curry paste, when cilantro wilts and coriander pops, we will make pantry sauces scented with tomato and coriander. We plan to sell hand held savory and sweet pastries (think Mexican empanada or Scottish pasty), stews, slow marinated and roasted meats, ethnic dishes to celebrate occasions (Matzoh soup, charoset with local honey), during zucchini time we will sell them roasted, stuffed, in soups, in bread. In the fall months, we will offer apple sauce, pumpkin soup, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin butter, pumpkin seed brittle, chestnut purees, pork glazed with apple butter, pumpkin pie filling, gravy (with and without gizzards), stock and broth (chicken, vegetable and beef when available). During the winter we will offer homey comfort foods that include lots of meat, potatoes and onions (and whatever else we can scrounge up!)

Slow Cooked Pittsburgh can be reached via email, slowcookedpittsburgh@gmail.com or on Facebook.

Tracy’s Story: My name is Tracy Artman and I am the owner and founder of Tracy’s Treats, Inc. I live in Whitehall, PA which is a small suburb just outside of Pittsburgh with my husband, David and our two boys, Conner and Dean. My company was born out of my own personal skin care needs. I have extremely sensitive skin and have tried everything that I could get my hands on hoping that it would make a difference. After much research, I concluded it was the store bought soaps and lotions that I had grown up using on a daily bases that were doing more damage than good to my skin.

As I read and started experimenting, I quickly discovered and gradually perfected my passion of mixing, formulating and harmonizing these truly remarkable natural ingredients, and turned that energy into a business in 2003.

I have since grown into a unique line of 14 skin care products, all handmade right here in my Tracy’s Treats Workshop just South of Pittsburgh.

Here at Tracy’s Treats, I only use all natural ingredients, no artificial colors or preservatives and never test my products on animals, just family and friends.

My products are made with Raw, Certified Organic, Wild Crafted Shea Butter exclusively from the village of Nasia, near Tamale, in the Northern Region of Ghana. Shea Butter, which is an all natural moisturizer that you can use head to toe, comes from the Karité Tree and is high in fatty acids and rich and vitamins A, E and F, which makes it very healing on all skin types. I have received many customer testimonials with eczema, psoriasis, cracked heels, calluses, razor burn, skin rash, scar tissue, etc.

I hope you will give my products a try!! My products not only smell great, but are healing too. Every day, as a mother of two, I look forward to the time I treat myself, whether it be a long soak in a Dead Sea Salt bath or the feeling I get when I feel and smell the Shea Butter Lotion Hearts between my palms. I am sure you too will enjoy these “Me Times” in your busy day.

Take a few moments and Treat yourself to some of my Tracy’s Treats and remember… You Deserve It!

Find Tracy’s Treats on the Web.

Contact Tracy at:
PO Box 98134
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
1-800-676-2916 or 412-885-2902
orders@mytracystreats.com