The vision was to give Pittsburghers a caliber of event they might expect from a bigger city.
A summer evening spent tasting food from some of the finest up-and-coming Black-owned culinary businesses in the city, complete with live music, craft cocktails, and as Catapult Executive Director Tammy Thompson put it, “sexy vibes.”
“We’re starving for something other than going to a bar,” she shared in her welcome remarks. “We want to create the types of events that feel like you are out of town.”
And that’s exactly what we did at the summer edition of the Taste of Catapult on August 22nd. Held at Catapult Culinary’s home base in Bellevue, the space was transformed into a garden oasis by visionary designer, Natasha Jativa of Opulent Occassions.
The event featured drinks from Ja’Meme Bartending and food from six Catapult Culinary entrepreneurs:
Keesha Marcelle, owner of PeacefulPlatez Catering, is a member of the 2024 Catapult Culinary cohort and a chef who prides herself on creating “flavor infusions for every taste bud.” At the event, she served up crispy wings with peach barbecue sauce, alcohol-free bourbon salmon, and braised beef ribs.
Brandi Allen of We Cook, We Eat offered attendees vegan corn cakes with heirloom tomatoes and sweet corn salsa alongside a “peach paradise” salad with greens and a peach vinaigrette. Her dishes were prepared with primarily locally sourced ingredients.
“To be featured in the Taste of Catapult really means the world to me. There’s so much stigma about being plant-based or vegan...I want to show that eating vegan can be cost-effective, easy, and that we can keep our dollars in our communities by eating local, in-season produce that provides optimal freshness.”
Another of the evening’s featured chefs, Musa Wamalwa of Meza by Musa, brought a taste of Africa to Pittsburgh, blending traditional Kenyan flavors with a modern twist.
“My culinary style is all about creating authentic, vibrant dishes that reflect the rich heritage of Kenyan cuisine while making them accessible and enjoyable for everyone. As my first catering experience, Taste of Catapult was an opportunity to introduce Kenyan cuisine to a new audience and start a conversation about the culture behind the food.”
As guests dined they enjoyed live music from Jere Addo Music & Friends, giving the evening an elevated atmosphere.
But the night was not only about delicious food and fun times — it also served as a reminder of Catapult’s important mission and message.
As we continue to foster the kind of future that we want to live in at Catapult, we look forward to hosting many more events like this to gather the community in celebration and recognition of the many talented people in our own backyard.
