We’re going to talk about my two favorite food groups today: ice cream and pizza.

Let’s start with ice cream. We live in a great state for it, as Pennsylvania ranks third in the country for ice cream production. In fact, the commonwealth is such an ice cream powerhouse that there’s an official state ice cream trail that highlights our standout scoop shops and creameries, and a digital passport where you can log your visits to earn cool swag—like a branded insulated bag for making a purchase at six stops. (Visit and make a purchase at 10 stops, and you’ll earn an entry to win an ice-cream-themed vacation.)

If you’re interested in setting off on the ice cream trail and need some suggestions, our food and travel writer (and resident ice cream expert) Kalena Thomhave is here to help. Kalena has recommendations on her favorite spots for ice cream in western Pa., the Lehigh Valley and NEPA, and a statewide roundup, which includes some of most well-known ice cream in the state like the Penn State Berkey Creamery and Bassetts in Philadelphia, the oldest ice cream makers in the country.

Twin brothers Marc, left, and Joey, right, Kubushefski left their jobs at Mack Trucks in Macungie to open Paranormal Pizza in Bethlehem in 2022. (Contributed)

A few years back, I accepted a vegan friend’s invitation to lunch at Philadelphia’s plant-based 20th Street Pizza. I entered as a skeptic. Two slices later, I was a true believer that this stuff with non-dairy cheese and pepperoni made from seitan could hang with the genuine article.

The pizza at Bethlehem’s Paranormal Pizza, the first and only plant-based pizzeria in the Lehigh Valley, hit me similarly.

Marc Kubushefski, who owns Paranormal with his twin brother, Joey, said he’s heard similar feedback from other non-vegan eaters like myself who are surprised by how much his shop’s plant-based pizzas taste like “real” pizza. 

“We’ve had customers who aren’t vegan try it, and tell us how they can’t believe how good it is,” said Kubushefski. “At the end of the day, we’re just trying to make really good pizza that happens to be vegan. We consider ourselves a traditional pizzeria.” 

I’ve got the story on Paranormal Pizza right here, from the brothers’ path from Mack Trucks to plant-based pizza, to how their loyal customers came to their support following a fire that knocked them out of business for nearly three years.

And if you’re interested in learning more about Pennsylvania’s pizza scene, I invite you to sign up for my twice-monthly newsletter Pizzavania, where I highlight the best in Pa. pizza.

• Pennsylvania is among the more than two dozen states who sued the Trump administration this week over its latest tariffs, calling them a pretext for replacing import taxes the Supreme Court struck down in February. Find out more here.

• With students preparing to head back to school and measles cases hitting historic levels in the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Health introduced a new tool that tracks the immunization rates at public and private schools. Get the details here.

• In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Republican challenger, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity received the endorsement of an organization that wants to turn Pennsylvania into a right-to-work state. Our Sean Kitchen has the story.

• Montgomery County officials are warning the public about a “sophisticated” new jury duty scam that cost at least one victim $23,000. Learn about it here.

(Plymouth Alive)

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, we’ve got some ideas, from a kielbasa fest in NEPA, to a sunflower festival in Erie, to Musikfest in Bethlehem.

Check out our round up of weekend events across the state here.

Have a great weekend, Pennsylvania!

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Kalena Thomhave, Sean Kitchen, The Associated Press, and USA Today via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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