Seltzer’s Lebanon Bologna

Palmyra, Pa.

seltzerssmokehousemeats.com

THE NUMBER OF GRILLED sweet Lebanon bologna and cheese sandwiches I ate as a country kid is, in a word, staggering. This overly smoky, overly sweet, somewhat greasy processed sandwich meat has fed many eastern Pennsylvanians, myself included. It remains one of the few things I miss as a vegetarian, a past favorite that has become more of a temptation now that Seltzer’s Lebanon Bologna has appeared in local stores including Giant Eagle.

No other cold cuts compare to presliced Lebanon bologna, especially the sweet Lebanon variety. Seltzer’s naturally smokes their version — a mix of beef, sugar, salt, and spices — with hardwood. I sometimes compare the taste to venison. Newcomers can best experience Lebanon bologna rolled up with a slice of cheese, like hors d’oeuvre served by a WASP-y grandma, or in a sandwich where the strong flavor of it can really take center stage. Even better, DiAnoia’s Eatery in the Strip District uses Seltzer’s Sweet Lebanon Bologna in its stuffed cornetti breakfast pastry, and its sister restaurant, Pizzeria

Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes

– caffeine-free – fizzy – strong minty flavor

Appalachian White Birch Beer

Harrisburg, Pa. abcbrew.com

WHAT IS

WHITE BIRCH BEER,

and why is it the best soda ever produced? This effervescent treat smells something akin to minty Skoal chewing tobacco, a familiar, maybe even nostalgic comparison for anyone who grew up in the mostly rural wilderness of eastern Pa.

White birch beer stands on its own regardless of brand. I was surprised to come across it recently as, over the years, I have only ever encountered the dark, reddish version of birch beer in Pittsburgh.

While I can’t recommend my favorite white birch beer, as it’s only available at my childhood Weis supermarket chain, I can suggest one variety available in Pittsburgh.

Spotted in Market District, Appalachian Brewing Company touts its white birch beer as being brewed with “pure cane sugar, a touch of honey and an essence of birch extracts.” It comes free of artificial flavors and colors and free of caffeine, making it one of the few fizzy indulgences you can enjoy any time of day. Chugging what I consider to be the equivalent of liquid Altoids should be enough to wake you up anyway. • the coming change.

In spring of 2022, City Council passed a bill setting in motion a total ban on the distribution of plastic bags by retailers. While the ban was initially set to take effect in April 2023, Mayor Ed Gainey’s office announced last month it will be delayed to give officials more time to roll out the plan.

Councillor Erika Strassburger, the bill’s prime sponsor, says, though simple in theory, the process of ensuring every store in the city can make the transition involves a complex series of logistics.

“We’re really hoping that this sixmonth delay will help us with education on this bill in every possible way, including strategic and equitable education,”

To bridge those gaps with resources and education, the Department of Public Works is hiring a dedicated program coordinator, Strassburger says.

“What we’ve seen from other cities is that you need at least one full-time position just to field all the questions in the box,” Strassburger tells City Paper . “It needs to be one person noted the ban moved ahead with full council support and was drafted with input from a range of advocates, businesses, and labor groups.

Plastic bags are notoriously slow to deteriorate and are difficult to recycle. Once in effect, the ban is expected to eliminate more than 100 million bags from circulating annually. •