Briefs: Cake ‘Ace’ Geof Manthorne to be at Market District store
Geof Manthorne, cake designer on Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” will make a special appearance and demonstrate his cake decorating skills at noon Saturday at Robinson Market District to celebrate the store’s one year anniversary. The event is free.
Details: www.marketdistrict.com .
McGinnis Market, Route 88 and Castle Shannon Boulevard, South Hills, has opened a new prepared-foods department for those looking for a quick, affordable home-cooked meal.
The department will feature hot or cold homemade dinners available each day for customers to pick up and take home. Dinners will include lasagna, meatloaf, stir fry, stews and dishes featuring lamb, veal, chicken and seafood. Accompanying foods to complete the meals will be shelved nearby to simplify week-night dinners. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Details: www.mcginnismarket.com .
Wines from Rioja, Spain, are making a big splash in Pennsylvania this fall with tastings in some of the state’s best wine stores. Coming up locally:
5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday and Nov. 18, Murray Avenue, Squirrel Hill
4-6 p.m. Nov. 12, Wharton St., South Side
2-4 p.m. Nov. 20, Penn Circle South, East Liberty, and Westmoreland Mall, Greensburg
4-6 p.m. Nov. 20, Cochran Road, South Hills, and Monroeville Mall
Register to win a trip to Rioja on the wine region’s web-site, where you can also find a list the of times and locations for in-store tastings. Details: www.freetriptorioja.com.
Details: www.freetriptorioja.com .
It doesn’t compare with fresh vegetables, but it’s a start. Ronzoni has created a new pasta line to help moms to get picky eaters — kids or husbands — to get more vegetables in their diet. Ronzoni Garden Delight pasta offers a serving of vegetables in each 4-ounce portion. The pasta is available as spaghetti, fettuccine, rotini, radiatore and penne rigate in 12-ounce packages for $1.89.
If you’re a fan of Pillsbury’s ready-to-bake biscuits and breads conveniently popped from the can, then you’ll love the new options from its Simply line. The buttermilk biscuits and rustic French bread are true to the brand’s flavors with the added bonus of the Simply promise of wholesome ingredients. The cans are available at grocery stores nationwide for about $2.50.
Kettle Tias! tortilla chips want your Doritos (or other stand-alone, flavored tortilla chip) business — that’s all there is to it. The choice is yours, but we will say that these toasted organic-corn tortilla chips’ promises of all-natural colors and flavors, and no preservatives, have our attention. Our testers were enthused over the Zesty Ranch, Nacho Cheddar and Salsa Picante flavors. Buy an 8-ounce bag for $3.69 at buykettlechips.com , and look for them in select grocery stores nationwide in the new year.