CONTENTS From the Editors The only local voice for news, arts, and culture. Where do you feel Editors-in-Chief: March 13, 2019 like eating tonight? Brian Graham & Adam Welsh just wanted to set the table for Managing Editor: Gem City Playbook: Pineapple Eddie’s Jean Paul – 5 Nick Warren you. It seems like you needed a little break. This winter has been Copy Editor: I Matt Swanseger a long one, but spring is coming in Contributing Editors: right around the corner. It’s been Ben Speggen a weird couple of months, I know. Jim Wertz But you’ve done a great job. I know Contributors: it doesn’t always feel like that’s the Mary Birdsong case, but it’s true. Charles Brown You look hungry, are you hungry? Jonathan Burdick Lisa Gensheimer Where do you feel like eating? We Miriam Lamey could try that Pineapple Eddie’s Tommy Link place if you think we can get a table. Aaron Mook Oh what? It’s Pineapple Eddie? Are Kalli Oberlander Dan Schank you sure? I don’t think that’s right. Tommy Shannon I’m pretty sure it’s Pineapple Ed- Ryan Smith die’s. Like it’s Eddie’s place. That just Jen Sorenson makes sense. Here let me pull it up Rebecca Styn Cara Suppa on my phone. Forest Taylor Hmm. This might be wrong. Let me Bryan Toy see if they have an image of the sign. Cover Photo: Well, okay. I don’t know. I guess it Jessica Hunter is just Eddie. It’s like that Mandela Cover Design: HUNTER JESSICA Affect. Nick Warren What? Are you sure it’s the Man- Photographer: Wise words from Erie’s Best Chef at Erie’s Best Restaurant dela Effect? I think you might be re- Jessica Hunter membering that wrong. Here, let me Intern: The Burger Report – 9 just look that up again and we can Hannah McDonald Tracking down some of Erie’s Best Burgers – nevermind. Berenstain Bears you 1001 State St. Suite 1315 say? Erie, Pa., 16501 The Need for Mead – 10 Okay, let’s try to get out there. [email protected] Maybe I didn’t actually need to set IronStone Meadery crafts libations fit for Valhalla the table for you in that case. In The Erie Reader is published every any event, Rebecca Styn talked to other week and distributed at Shamrock Around the Clock – 12 Jean Paul, who won the Erie’s Best over 350 high foot-traffic locations Chef award the past two years in a in Pennsylvania from North Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Erie row. And Pineapple Eddie’s has won East to Girard to Edinboro. In Best Restaurant the past three years, addition to appearing in print, Erie The Mulligans: Erie’s Wild Rovers – 13 Reader adds new content daily at wow. ErieReader.com as well as social Irish trio never, nay never disappoint on St. Patrick’s Day I did it again? Oh jeez, I’m sorry. media sites. All rights reserved. All Or do you feel more like, say, a burg- content © Flagship Multimedia, er? I know Nick Warren went around Inc, 1001 State St., Suite 1315, Spotlight on Erie – 14 to a bunch of local places and really Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of this publication may be reproduced Love knows nothing of rank, or riverbank liked them. He must really like burg- without permission. The opinions ers. You know, one time, I actually of our columnists and contributors Movie Reviews – 24 saw Michael Shannon eating a burg- are their own and do not always er. It was intense. reflect that of the editorial board Superpowered pilots and dangerous piano teachers He’s the guy from The Shape of or organization. Direct sales Water. Not the fish man. You know, inquiries to 814.314.9364. For Music Reviews – 26 editorial inquiries, email contact@ the sorority letter guy. I don’t know,I ErieReader.com. Lil Pump, Sun Kil Moon, Sundara Karma, and The Japanese thought it was interesting. Well we could try out this new waf- House fle place out by Presque Isle? I kept Crossword Puzzle – 27 hearing about it all last week, I could go for some breakfast food. This week’s latest stumper from David Levinson Wilk What? He’s a dog? Oh that’s ador- able. I’m really glad they found him then. Although now I’m kind of in the mood for waffles, or at least pan- Correction: In the Feb. 27 piece "Fouling Erie's Future,” the location cakes. of the nearest air monitor was incorrectly noted as being located on Oh, you decided? I’ll clear the table Presque Isle, when in fact the nearest monitor is on Marne Rd. then. Let’s go! March 13, 2019 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 Expert IS IN SPEAKER SERIES The Expert Is In series is FREE and open to the public. All programs are held at The LECOM Medical Fitness and Wellness Center located at 5401 Peach Street. To reserve a spot, please call (814) 868-7800. Colorectal Cancer: the Importance of screening for early detection Friday, March 22, 2019 at 12:00 PM William H. Wismer, DO Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Dr. Wismer will discuss risk factors that can raise your chances of developing colorectal cancer, why screening is so important and the David Beaton, DO Paula Ballarin, MD Chevelta A. Smith, DO Gary Ritten, MD Stefanie Young, CNM types of screening tests that are available. L E C O M Obstetrics & Gynecology Obstetrics & Gynecology Obstetrics & Gynecology Obstetrics & Gynecology Certified Nurse-Midwife WOMENS HEALTH Visit LECOMHealth.com TimeTime IsIs RunningRunning OutOut OnOn TheseThese AVAILABLE SweetSweet Deals!Deals! ONLY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2019 500 Stag-N-Drag 500 AND Business Cards 1,000 50/50 Tickets ONLY ONLY$29. 50!* $80.00!* DETAILS: 2 sided, full color, 16 pt. Cover. *Tickets are printed in black ink only on your choice of 4-5 day turnaround *Some graphics fees may apply. 65# color cardstock. Numbering on tickets will be extra. 814-833-9020 Presque Isle 4318 W. Ridge Road 2014 •2015 •2016 •2017 Erie, PA 16506 Printing Services www.presqueisleprinting.com @GoAskAlice08 4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com March 13, 2019 NEWS & VIEWS Gem City Playbook: Pineapple Eddie’s Jean Paul Wise words from Erie’s Best Chef at Erie’s Best Restaurant [left] The homemade dessert Pineapple Eddie has been rec- selection at Pineapple Eddie ognized as Erie’s Best Restau- Southern Bistro has tantalized from the get-go, hugely influential rant thrice (2016-18) and once in its being honored as Erie’s Best for boasting its Best Dessert Restaurant in the 2018 Best of (2014). Jean Paul has been hon- Erie Awards. [bottom right] “It’s all ored as Best Chef the past two about the seasoning,” says Chef Jean Paul about the food that’s years. won him Best Chef in back-to-back “Everyone that comes here Best of Erie awards, a fusion of the has great things to say about flavors of his native Haiti and the it. It’s overwhelming to hear.” American South. I learn that before any dish goes out, it must meet his fam- and my wife and children if ily’s approval. “I ask my wife we would move to Erie to help or my sister-in-law to try it. If open a restaurant.” So, they there’s a moment of hesitation, did. “When I first moved here, I I go back to the drawing board. worked at Presque Isle Downs I’m making it for the custom- restaurant and also opened er and I want it foolproof. If up O’Charley’s restaurant. It I’m missing something, I will was definitely a challenge and work on it. I expect bad and I had to take a pay cut.” But good comments, fortunately, I then came Pineapple Eddie. hear many good ones,” he adds “With faith and family, the laughing. “If you love what restaurant took off. That was you do and cook from your nearly eight years ago.” heart, you can’t go wrong.” JESSICA HUNTER JESSICA The response has been in- Being part of an independent credibly positive ever since. restaurant affords Jean Paul By: Rebecca Styn remained here ever since. His “I got into cooking in New Since the Reader launched its an opportunity to express his tarting a restaurant isn’t foray into the culinary world York City. At the time, I didn’t Best of Erie Awards in 2014, culinary finesse. “It’s all about easy. Keeping one open began in New York City. know the value of this skill. Sis even harder. I can per- “I had no idea I was going to I had no background except sonally attest to this. be who I am today,” Jean Paul cooking at home with my The fact is, up to 90 percent says as we started our phone mother.” His mother, Marie of independent restaurants Paul, had once owned and op- will close during their first “New York City erated her own restaurant in year of operation. Of those Haiti. that make it one revolution was cutthroat. It Although he would go on to around the sun, 70 percent was impossible to spend many years cooking at will close within three to five own a restaurant top restaurants in New York years. by yourself in the City and Chicago, he expressed But thankfully, that’s where city.