When the Food Network put out a Pittsburgh and Seattle-themed menu for the Super Bowl, cooking experts around the country cried foul.
“The foods suggested for a Pittsburgh party are not Pittsburgh foods,” wrote Pittsburgh Tribune-Review food writer Karin Welzel. “They are from Philadelphia and from Amish country (Lancaster county). Pittsburghers do not consider that these regions are even part of the commonwealth – they are far, far away.”
The Food Network list included Emeril’s Pennsylvania Dutch corn chowder, spiral sliced ham and Jezebel sauce (which is from Louisiana), Shoo-Fly and Whoopie pies (Amish), grilled “Philly” cheese steak, and ham and apple dumplings “schnitz and knepp” (Pennsylvania Dutch).
“We are a highly ethnic community – favorite foods are pierogies, sauerkraut and noodles (haluski), cabbage rolls, kielbasa, Iron City beer and Italian sausage with grilled peppers and onions. Also, salads and sandwiches topped with French fries, and Heinz ketchup on burgers, fries and scrambled eggs,” wrote Welzel in an e-mail to food journalist colleagues.
That prompted a response from former Seattle resident Jon Bonné, lifestyle editor for MSNBC.com, who said the Food Network’s “grilled Dungeness crabs with kicked-up seasoned butter” also could come from Oregon, California or Alaska.
On the spaghette with crab sauce/spaghettini al sugo granchio: “Now this is just reaching; and again with the crab,” said Bonné.
Raw oysters on the half shell: “Again: California, Louisiana, Long Island … ”
Cedar-planked salmon with Washington State merlot reduction and garlic spinach: “OK, score one for them.”
Hazelnut, coffee and chocolate ice cream bombé: “Coffee, maybe, but hazelnuts would be Oregon.”
“Meantime, what about: Penn Cove mussels, Washington apples, Rainier cherries, chanterelles or morels?” pleaded Bonné in a group e-mail.
Former Denver Post food writer Hsaio-Ching Chou, now food editor at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and Marlene Parrish from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, are facing off in their respective papers. “There’s lot’s of trash talking involved, of course,” said Chou. “Marlene talks up the Primanti and other sandwiches. I give props to our favorite seafoods. If the Steelers lose, she’s sending five pounds of kielbasa. If the Seahawks lose, I’m overnighting Copper River salmon (OK, it’s from Alaska, but Seattle is Copper River central for the lower 48).”
Denver Post editor Greg Moore sent his old friend David Shribman, editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a package of grass-fed bison ribeye steaks and burgers from Buffalo Groves in Kiowa (buffalogroves.com, 303-621-1111). We would have feasted on kielbasa had the game gone the other way.
Mayor John Hickenlooper sent Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O’Connor buffalo ribeye steaks, baked beans, pumpkin walnut muffins and “Shinin’ Times” Special Blend Coffee from The Fort, which is offering a package of nine buffalo burgers and eight buffalo bratwurst for $60 with shipping or $45 for pickup at the Morrison restaurant (the fort.com, 303-697-9831).
