Finding Community, Conversation + Locally-Sourced Creations at Troy Hill’s Scratch & Co.

“We carry that sense of place into each shift,” he says. “Like all Pittsburghers, we are fiercely loyal to the region, and uncommonly welcoming to all. Like Pittsburgh itself being conveniently tucked away among mountains and rivers, and yet boasting world-class industry, art and tech, the restaurant is a gem nestled in the Troy Hill neighborhood that features best-in-class food and drink focused on sourcing, technique and hospitality.”

Throughout the years, Scratch has hosted a number of pop-up concepts and startup food businesses in its homey space, serving as an incubator or sorts for other budding entrepreneurs. Over time, though, the team learned that the sustained resource and dedication needed to mature each pop-up concept was out of reach for them with such limited engagements. “When our current chefs saw an opportunity to pivot our concept with a great deal of intention and focus on our local food footprint,” Mahaney says, “we made commitments to one another to advance our shared vision. I can think of no more important instance of nourishing the entrepreneur spirit than the work chefs David Bigbee and Josh Pruss and the team have been engaged in these past 10 months.”

Recently they’ve begun sourcing a good deal of their food (upwards of 90%) from Three Rivers Grown, Be.Wild.Er farm, Footprints Farm and Weiss Provisions. “Our dedication to our local foodshed is serious and takes into consideration not just the miles that our food is traveling to get to our backdoor,” Mahaney shares, “but also the economic impact on the farmers and distributors we are buying from.”

Mahaney believes building strong relationships with farming cooperatives, smallholder farms and those engaged in regenerative farming practices is key to their effort to forever refine and improve a sense of sustained community impact. He knows they’re not a very big restaurant, seating only 80 guests, and he also knows they cannot change the world. Yet he trusts they can make a difference — even a significant one — for their staff, guests and growing partners, as they continue to focus on the health of those relationships. Mahaney’s local pride is evident, and his hope strong for what this city can be, especially for budding fellow business owners.

“Pittsburgh has a unique entrepreneurial spirit, with a deep sense of community and pride driving people to continually invent and reinvent, even in tough times,” he says. “Whether in the restaurant scene or in other industries, Pittsburghers are proud of their sense of place and are committed to contributing to the city's ongoing growth.”

*Stay tuned for ever-evolving events at Scratch, like a new Tuesday night program called Compliments. This means that, from 5 to 10 p.m, chefs send out tasty snacks (at no charge) that will rotate each week (for example, week one involved wings, pakora, seasoned popcorn, hoagies and veggie sandwiches served on fresh focaccia).

These bites can be enjoyed amid hip beats and tealights galore, while chatting with friendly neighbors and sipping on wine, beer or cocktails — including innovative and delicious “dealer’s choice” creations. Some weeks will feature themes and guests, too, from a magician to New Orleans jazz pianist, while other Tuesdays will support causes like local nonprofits. Mahaney’s overall aim with these unique gatherings? To remove financial pressure and create an opportunity for everyone to show up — and to be in conversation and community.