Good Taste Pittsburgh, Saturday, 11/7/09

[AmyRD]

Originally Posted by MJKNEeley ok, i am bumming....i'm not going. i didn't realize how far away the malls and stuff were and after driving around 2 hrs to get there, to drive another half hour / hour to get to the malls is just too much. all of the time and gas $ isn't really worth it. plus, my mom and dad are going to P-burgh next Sunday for a dr appt, so she will get to go to her malls then. she gets tired still from her stroke and i don't want to take her there just for this (i mean that in a nice way - she's not a couponer and not into cooking too much). So, after all of my questions, I thank you all SO much. Maybe you all could post some pics of each other and the different booths for those of us who aren't going. I would love to see them! I'll post a pic of me cleaning my house in the am and then going to Johnstown in the afternoon - without any kids! DH already promised to keep them for me to go to the show. If anybody sees any good Qs that you would like to share <hint hint!>, I would be more than happy to pay for postage!!!!!

But it is right near Monroeville mall and lots of other shops. The mall on McKnight Rd or Ross Park Mall is north of Pittsburgh and Monroeville is East. There really are a ton of shops and a mall right there.

I can't go because I have to go to a baby shower that my mom begged me to go to with her.

[pittsburgh24]

Is everyone READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a list of vendors:

• Allegheny Cellars Winery
• Allegheny Health & Rehab
• American Laser Centers
• Artesian Gourmet
• B & L Cream Co (Alber & Leff)
• Barnes & Noble
• Bay Valley Foods
• BBQ Stu's Inc.
• BeautiControl Cosmetics
• Bimbo Bakeries USA
• Bob Evans
• Breadworks
• Briar Valley Vineyards & Winery
• Bruegger's Enterprises
• Christian W. Klay Winery
• Colebrook Chocolate Co.
• Cookies by Rachel
• Crystallized Flower Co.
• Cutco Cutlery
• D'Andrea Wine & Liquor
• Dean Dairy Company
• Dean Supply Co.
• Dorothy's Candies
• Doubletree Hotels
• Dunkin' Donuts
• Everdry Waterproofing
• First Commonwealth
• First Investors Corp.
• Flickerwood Wine Cellars
• Gene & Boots Candies, Inc.
• Giant Eagle
• Glades Pike Winery
• GoodTaste! Pittsburgh
• The Green Mango
• Gutter Helmet Systems
• Hauser Estate Winery
• Heritage Wine Cellars
• Hillmon Appliance Distributors
• Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh
• Horizonview Farms
• Jessica Hunt, Blogger & Baker
• In The Kitchen
• Ikes Famous Crabcakes 2
• Kelchners
• King Arthur Flour
• Kitchen Basics, Inc.
• La Dorita Dolce De Leche
• Lancaster Trading House - Hempzels
• Legacy Remodeling
• The Library Restaurant
• Lori Bakes Gluten Free
• Lucci Kitchen & Bath Design

• LUSH Cosmetics
• Majestic Wine & Spirits
• Mama Rosa's Sauce Kitchen
• Max & Erma's Restaurant
• Mid's Homestyle Pasta Sauce
• Miller's Mustard
• Mitchell's Fish Market (Wtr Frnt)
• Mona Vie
• The Olive Tap
• Outback Steak House
• The Pampered Chef
• Penn Ag Ind. (AEB)
• Pastries A-La-Carte
• PA Maple Syrup Producers Council
• Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries
• Pflueger's Candy
• PitaLand, Inc.
• Pittsburgh Cookie Co.
• Pittsburgh Fudge Co.
• Pittsburgh Magazine
• Pizza Hut
• Plum Run Winery, Inc.
• Presque Isle Wine Cellars
• Pronios Food Service
• Rainbow Vacuum
• Reid's Orchard & Winery
• Renewal by Andersen
• Schwebel Bread Company
• Shearer's Foods
• Sillycone Inc.
• Silpada Designs Jewelry
• Smicksburg Community Cheese
• Snyder of Berlin
• Starr Hill Vineyard & Winery
• Stonekeep Meadery LLC
• Stone House Mixes
• Superior Electronics
• Sugardale
• Tastefully Simple
• Tilted Palm Beverages
• Trib Total Media
• Turkey Hill Dairy
• UPMC Health Plan
• Vangura Surfacing Products
• Verizon
• W.PA Chpt. US Personal Chef Assoc.
• Walnut Hill Winery
• Wilhelm Winery
• Windgate Winery
• WISH 99.7 FM
• WJAS 1320 AM
• WMNY 1360 WPXI

This is more vendors than were there last year IIRC so, I'm excited.

MJ - sorry you can't go!!!

I have to empty my trunk out so I'll have room for my goodies. I am bringing some of the pumpkin spice mix with me too. My best friend is coming with me so I'm hoping she'll have a good time.

I'm bringing some address labels with me for the contests, mailing lists, etc. - my handwriting sucks (according to my 15 yr old) so this will make it easier for me and them so they can call me with all of my winnings LOL.

I'm really excited that Kitchen Basics and King Arthur Flour are going to be there - they have the best products IMO.

[sagesonamabuster]

My mom and I are coming too. We are dropping off the kids at my Grandma's and I am really looking forward to it. Yahoo, I found a person to drive me there! I can't wait to see what the winery has to offer.

[FunnyFace]

I'm sorry you are not going MJ; I was looking forward to meeting you.

[tfinetwins]

We should be there for 12:30ish after we drop the kids off. DH likes this kind of thing. Not sure how we will find you all though. He is 5'11ish and wears glasses, kind of going bald. I am 5'5ish with short brown hair. I will wear jeans and so will he with tennis shoes.

Hope we find you all!

[willow78]

I hope that you changed your mind. You specifically asked about the North Hills! I didn't know that you would have been interested in any mall. We have a mall and a ton of stores around here.

Originally Posted by MJKNEeley ok, i am bumming....i'm not going. i didn't realize how far away the malls and stuff were and after driving around 2 hrs to get there, to drive another half hour / hour to get to the malls is just too much. all of the time and gas $ isn't really worth it. plus, my mom and dad are going to P-burgh next Sunday for a dr appt, so she will get to go to her malls then. she gets tired still from her stroke and i don't want to take her there just for this (i mean that in a nice way - she's not a couponer and not into cooking too much). So, after all of my questions, I thank you all SO much. Maybe you all could post some pics of each other and the different booths for those of us who aren't going. I would love to see them! I'll post a pic of me cleaning my house in the am and then going to Johnstown in the afternoon - without any kids! DH already promised to keep them for me to go to the show. If anybody sees any good Qs that you would like to share <hint hint!>, I would be more than happy to pay for postage!!!!!

[merima22]

i am not going... :(
i did not orger the tickets and i dotn have a babysitter...
i realy wanted to go and get some samples..
well there is always next year... and with me being unemployed as of dec.1
i will have a lot of time to plan stuff like this....
LOL
Have fun everyone...
when you get back please report to us what you got...
i cant wait.....

[jen276here]

I just got home - went at open. OMG it was insane!!! SOOOOO many people!! Like too many. The line was long to get your tickets (even if you preordered online you had to go to the one ticket window).

There were tons of samples - cookies, candies, pasta sauces, sandwiches, breads, and my sons' favorite: Pizza Hut wings, pizza, cinnamon sticks, and Sierra Mist.

Verizon Fios had mini footballs, Doubletree had cookies, The Pittsburgh Magazine had magazine samples, Schwebels had these cute little bread clips, most everyone had magnets...Arnolds gave out free loaves of bread and packs of Little Bites (I'm glad I brought my boys! lol),, Snyders gave out small bags of chips, someone gave out chips and mini cans of sodas in a bag,...there were a bunch of can coozies (sp?), trying to think of more....

There were a lot of things to sign up to win baskets, gift cards, hams, and such.

Coupons weren't really that prevelant -Here's what I got:

Sugardale Beef Franks $1/1 (1lb) 12/31/09
Sugardale Whole or Half Ham $2/1 12/31/09
Snyders Kettle-Style Potato Chips $.30/1 (8oz or larger) 12/31/12
Snyders Any Product $.20/1 (5oz or larger) 12/31/10
Shapers Whole Grain Chips $.35/1 (10oz or larger) 12/31/10
Shearer's Potato Chips $.35/1 (8oz or larger) 12/31/10
Tangos Tortilla Chips $.35/1 (9oz or larger) 12/31/10
Brownberry Product (ANY) $.35/1 DND5 12/31/09
Over the Moon Milk (ANY) $.50/1 DND5 12/31/09
Swiss Premium Iced Tea pint or half gallon $.25/1 DND5 12/31/09
Swiss Premium Iced Tea 1 gallon or 2 half gallons $.75/1 DND5 12/31/09
King Arthur Flour 5lb bag $.55/1 (starts w/ a 9, but no DND....) 12/31/10

I'm still getting through all the papers so I may have more!


The celebrity presentations that I glimpsed at were okay, but it was sooo noisy with all the people that it was hard (for me at least) to listen.

I didn't get into the Wine area - not my thing.

I talked with some of the vendor chefs while we were all out smoking and they said they were surprised with the number of people that came and they don't think anyone expected the number that were there. Even as I left there was still a huge line.

IMO it was worth the money to go, but only if you have the time and patience to go through it. My DM was driving me nuts after about an hour because there were too many people and I had her leave with the kids while I stayed a little longer to check more things out.

HTH's if anyone is deciding whether to go later today or next year!

[neekyme]

I was still debating on whether to go or not - but I think I'm going to have to sit this year out.... DD (3) hates crowds (she threw up at the mall during trick or treating because of her nerves LOL) so I can't imagine her there!

Thanks Jen for the synopsis hehe Glad to hear there wasn't too many coupons, although I'm still bummed about missing all the freebie stuff Hopefully next year she'll either be over her fear of people, or at least be old enough to go spend the day with pappy or my sister instead. sigh... My 10 year old son was really hoping we'd go too LOL He had a BLAST last year!

Here's to hoping next year is even BETTER!

[jen276here]

Originally Posted by neekyme I was still debating on whether to go or not - but I think I'm going to have to sit this year out.... DD (3) hates crowds (she threw up at the mall during trick or treating because of her nerves LOL) so I can't imagine her there! Thanks Jen for the synopsis hehe Glad to hear there wasn't too many coupons, although I'm still bummed about missing all the freebie stuff Hopefully next year she'll either be over her fear of people, or at least be old enough to go spend the day with pappy or my sister instead. sigh... My 10 year old son was really hoping we'd go too LOL He had a BLAST last year! Here's to hoping next year is even BETTER!

I don't think DS#3 likes crowds much either because he was definitely getting fussy!

I got through most of the freebies and I have 6 bags of Snyders chips, 3 loaves of bread, 6 reusuable shopping bags, 3 GE shopping list pads, 8 coozies, 3 cookies, 3 cans of Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash, 3 heart shaped stress balls, 3 cans of 7Up, and numerous pens, recipe cards, magnets, and whatnots. That didn't include what DS's ate/drank there - the Little Bites, some more sodas, Turkey Hill had gillatos (sp???) and a few more cookies. Not much at all...


Oh and can someone who went please tell me the red plastic thingy from Ringling Bros. is?? (Found in the Turkey Hill Halloween bags with the 7up and chips) I thought it was a change thingy but it just doesn't seem shaped right...