{"id":238687,"date":"2026-07-08T19:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T19:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/238687\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T19:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T19:58:10","slug":"dig-in-with-graver-fun-finger-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/238687\/","title":{"rendered":"Dig in With Graver: Fun Finger Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Diginrolliestruck\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

One of my favorite movies is \u201cMermaids\u201d starring Cher as Mrs. Flax and Winona Ryder as her moody teenage daughter, Charlotte.<\/p>\n

\u201cA word about Mrs. Flax and food: the word is \u2018hors d\u2019oeuvres,\u2019\u201d Charlotte says, exasperatedly. \u201c\u2018Fun Finger Foods\u2019 is her main source book and that\u2019s all the woman cooks. Anything more, she says, is too big a commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Diginmermaids\"<\/a><\/p>\n

SCREENSHOT FROM \u201cMERMAIDS\u201d \/ KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a fan of the Mrs. Flax Diet.<\/p>\n

These days, I don\u2019t need a big meal with all the fixins; I just want the fixins. And dessert. And a beer.<\/p>\n

Below are some bites and brews that have \u201cmermaid\u201d me happy this summer:<\/p>\n

\"Diginrollies\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Fried Spring Rolls from Rollies<\/p>\n

I ran into Rollies at the Ambridge Do It Best Home Center<\/a>, my go-to store for power tools and food trucks.<\/p>\n

The mobile business<\/a> specializes in handmade, Vietnamese-inspired fried spring rolls, and they\u2019re amazing. I ordered four \u2014 Original Viet Roll, Cheeseburger Roll, Pulled Pork Roll and Pizza Roll \u2014 but should\u2019ve sprung for a baker\u2019s dozen.<\/p>\n

The OG, filled with ground beef, vermicelli noodles, carrots, wood-ear mushrooms and onion, was my new snack obsession even before I added the house spicy yum yum sauce.Follow the family-owned business on Instagram<\/a> to see where their next stop will be and get rolling!<\/p>\n

\"Diginapplepie\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Apple Pie Tiramisu at Nothingman<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve raved about the food at Nothingman<\/a> before, but nothing prepared me for their Apple Pie Tiramisu.<\/p>\n

In Italian, \u201ctiramisu\u201d means \u201cpick me up.\u201d By fusing this joy-inducing dessert with an all-American favorite, pastry chef Katie Peric became a one-woman United Nations.<\/p>\n

I split this towering stack of cinnamon lady fingers, apple pie spice mascarpone, apple butter, apple pie filling and Dutch pie crumble with my dad on Father\u2019s Day at the Mt. Washington spot, along with the best Strawberry Pretzel Salad in the Steel City.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to be our new Italian-American-Pittsburgh tradition.<\/p>\n

\"Digincookie\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Chocolate Chip Cookie at Common Oven Pizza Co.<\/p>\n

Eating a colossal chocolate chip cookie from Common Oven Pizza Co.<\/a> in New Kensington was the sweetest part of my summer staycation.<\/p>\n

I was already stuffed from downing half a hot honey pie and a Strange Roots beer, but an employee urged me to take the treat to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll thank me later,\u201d he said as he handed me the bag.<\/p>\n

Consider this my formal letter of gratitude, sir!<\/p>\n

This simple, over-sized sourdough cookie is dotted with a mix of semi-sweet chips and dark chocolate chunks and sprinkled with flaky salt.<\/p>\n

A dozen of them would be the death of me.<\/p>\n

\"Diginlolev\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Beer and Pastry Pairings at Lolev<\/p>\n

Lolev Beer<\/a> in Lawrenceville makes amazing brews and has an equally stellar food partner in ippa<\/a>, a Tuscan-inspired sandwich purveyor permanently parked on their Butler Street lot.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, July 9, Lolev is upping the ante by hosting a pour and pastry<\/a> pairing guided by Sean Wehr, owner of the Highland Park bakery Food Glorious Food.<\/p>\n

Sounds like a glorious way to spend an evening. Don\u2019t forget to \u201cCher\u201d!\t<\/p>\n