New Castle

New Castle is only 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Recently we've discovered culinary gems popping up in this town, making for a great road trip! Here are two places definitely worth the trip.

• May's Donuts

  May's Donuts
  1225 East Washington Street
  724.654.4141

  Making delicious donuts since 1944, May's Donuts has not changed a bit. The place consists of two tables, a small counter, and it's usually smoky, since smoking is permitted to both the customers and employees. The place hasn't changed much since 1944, and that's how the customers like it.

  They only make one thing, and they are sure good at what they do: make donuts. Everyday, May's makes 35 different kinds from jelly-filled, to cinnamon-dusted, to glazed twists, and for the chocolate lovers, you've gotta try the chocolate filled topped with delicious chocolate icing. "The best time to get here is 5:30 in the morning, when they're hot." says Elaine Porterfield who's been working at May's Donuts for 11 years.

  "Most are still scratch recipes", says owner David May, whose parents founded May's back in 1944. He started in the donut biz at a young age, icing donuts, and packing the multitudes of orders needing to be filled, but has been owner since about 1970.

  "We're always busy around the holidays, because people who have moved away come back," May says. "People come from Florida and buy dozens of donuts!"

• M&P Coney Island

  M&P Coney Island
  9 East Washington Street
  New Castle, PA
  724.654.6761

  2712 Wilmington Road
  New Castle PA
  724.654.4522

  New Castle, PA is known to have two nicknames: "Little New York", and "Hot Dog Capital of the World". "New Castle's chili dogs are the product of Greek immigrants who came to New Castle in the early 1900s and established restaurants along with their homes. These were among the first in the country," says the New Castle local visitors' bureau. Opened in 1923 by John Mitsos and George Papazickos the Coney Island has been selling their infamous chili dogs to locals in New Castle and natives of the town.

  Today, the Coney Island has two locations, but still remains faithfully in the family, run by cousins John Mitsos and Chris Mitsos. The Mitsos-Papazickos clan is partly responsible for the "Hot Dog Capital" moniker. A steady stream of loyal customers stop by Coney Island to eat in and take out, some ordering their dog with ketchup, some mustard, some onions, but all with the famous chili sauce!

  The dogs are Sugardale, and the buns Schwebel, but the sauce is a secret. Its base includes a mix of 15 different spices, and the sauce is a brown sauce made with lean ground beef; that's all we know... the rest is a secret. But, whatever is in it, people love it! Whether you enjoy it on a chili dog, or take a pint home to share, it's well worth the trip!