Meatball Showdown: Highmark’s International StrEAT Festival Meatball Eating Contest

Sep 17

Written by Allison Frazer

Day two of Highmark’s International StrEAT Festival provides Yinzers the chance to set a precedent in Pittsburgh - to become this city’s first meatball eating champion. The first floor of Sienna Mercato’s three-story restaurant, Emporio: A Meatball Joint, is sponsoring the contest and will provide as many meatballs as it takes to crown a winner after the three minute eat-off is complete.

The brain behind this contest is Susan Certo, founder of Sienna Mercato. While traveling in New York City, she came up with the idea for the restaurant’s first floor concept, Emporio: “We wanted a unique concept that is new to Pittsburgh, that we have never seen done before, and meatballs are customizable and affordable which resonates with this city.”

This first time competition is something that Certo hopes “brings attention to Pittsburgh” and “becomes a yearly thing.” She shared her excitement over the competition being in the heart of the Cultural District, which contains Downtown’s multiple theaters and many restaurants. Certo finds it an asset to be located near so many other restaurants, stating, “When a new restaurant moves in, it only brings more business because customers see other restaurants like us that they would like to try, bringing them back Downtown.”

On October 5-6, Highmark’s International StrEAT Festival will feature 40+ food vendors from around the city, allowing you to get a taste of Pittsburgh’s diverse restaurants while enjoying live music and entertainment. Be at The Backyard at 8th & Penn on Saturday from 12-8 P.M. and Sunday from 12-6 P.M. to enjoy this celebration.

Don’t miss this chance to become Pittsburgh royalty as the winner of Pittsburgh’s first ever meatball eating contest!

To enter Emporio’s Meatball Eating Contest, you must: