>>> THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF WQED'S PITTSBURGH HISTORY SERIES.

>>> IT'S WEEK NUMBER THREE.

THIS PROGRAM FIRST AIRS NOVEMBER 17, 2010, AND AS WE RUSH FULL SPEED TOWARD THE HOLIDAYS, WE'RE GOING TO TOAST PITTSBURGH AS A GREAT GLASS CITY.

I THINK WE FORGET ABOUT THAT SOMETIMES, BUT THE FOLKS AT THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER IN GARFIELD HAD A DESIGN COMPETITION RECENTLY THAT MAY REMIND YOU HOW GOOD WE CAN BE WITH GLASS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SHARE THE SAGA OF OUR PBS BREAKFAST SPECIALS.

LOOKING AT ALL 17 OF THE STORIES THAT WE SHOT, CONCENTRATING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THOSE PLACES THAT WE HOPE WILL BE INCLUDED SOON IN BREAKFAST SPECIAL TWO.

WE ALSO HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE FRESHLY EDITED LONG VERSIONS OF ALL THOSE STORIES ON THIS PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM THAT WE CALL "IT'S PITTSBURGH AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF."

THIS TIME WE OBVIOUSLY GET INTO SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF, OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

YOU COULD CALL THIS A THREE MARTINI BREAKFAST.

IT'S A GIDDY MIX OF THINGS.

I'M RICK SEBAK, YOUR HOST AND WHATEVER.

DO WE HAVE TIME FOR A MARTINI?

>> "IT'S PITTSBURGH AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927.

AND BY HUNTINGTON BANK, HELPING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WITH THEIR MONEY SINCE 1866.

WELCOME.

>>> WE'RE INSIDE ONE OF THOSE OLD BUILDINGS ALONG ROUTE 8 THAT USED TO BE PART OF GLENSHAW GLASS.

GLENSHAW GLASS IS NOW CALLED KELMAN BOTTLES, BUT IN THIS BUILDING, THERE'S A SMALL DISTILLERY WHERE THEY MAKE BOYD & BLAIR POTATO VODKA, OUR LOCAL VODKA.

I SAY THIS UPCOMING STORY STARTED JULY 30, 2010, WHEN I GOT AN E-MAIL FROM PRENTISS ORR.

PRENTISS IS ONE OF THE OWNERS AND FOUNDERS OF THIS DISTILLERY.

THAT'S PRENTISS RIGHT THERE.

AND HE WANTED TO KNOW IF I WOULD BE A JUDGE AT A MARTINI GLASS DESIGN COMPETITION AT THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER.

I SAID, "YES."

I SAID, "COULD I BRING A CAMERAMAN ALONG?"

PRENTISS SAID THERE WOULD BE FREE MARTINIS.

SO IN MID-AUGUST, CAMERAMAN FRANK CALOIERO AND I HEADED FOR GARFIELD FOR THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF JUDGING.

>> TODAY IS AUGUST 13, FRIDAY THE 13th, AND IT'S HOT OUTSIDE.

IT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED DEGREES TODAY.

>> LUCKILY THE CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE GLASS CENTER IS AIR CONDITIONED.

THIS WOMAN NAMED PAIGE ILKHANIPOUR WHO'S MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR THE GLASS CENTER WAS OUR HOSTESS.

THERE WERE ABOUT A DOZEN JUDGES, A CURIOUS GROUP FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS, AND SOME TRADITIONAL MARTINI GLASSES FILLED WITH GOOD LOCAL VODKA.

>> TODAY WE'RE HERE JUDGING THE MARTINI GLASS DESIGN COMPETITION.

THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER, BOYD & BLAIR VODKA AND "PITTSBURGH MAGAZINE" SPONSORED A COMPETITION TO FIND A NEW DESIGN FOR A MARTINI GLASS.

>> I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUNKY AND COOL AND DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A FEW OF THOSE HERE.

>> WE'VE ALWAYS WONDERED IF THE ICONIC MARTINI GLASS WAS THE PERFECT DESIGN FOR A MARTINI, AND SO WE SAID LET'S LET THE ARTISTS AND THE DESIGNERS AND THE MARTINI DRINKERS TELL US.

>> PITTSBURGHERS LOVE MARTINIS.

PITTSBURGHERS LOVE COSMOS.

THEY LOVE THEIR POMEGRANATE MARTINIS.

THEY LOVE APPLE MARTINIS, AND MOST PEOPLE THAT I'VE RUN INTO WILL DRINK PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING YOU PUT IN FRONT OF THEM IN THAT ICONIC GLASS, SO -- [ LAUGHING ] >> SO THERE'S SOME GET ACQUAINTED TIME.

JUDGES MEET JUDGES.

>> I SELL GLASSES TO RESTAURANTS AND COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS, SO I'M KIND OF LOOKING ALSO AT THE FUNCTIONABILITY OF IT IF IT WOULD WORK IN A COMMERCIAL SETTING.

>> WELL, I MAKE DRINKS FOR A LIVING, CREATE DRINKS FOR A LIVING, SO THIS AFFECTS MY JOB.

BASICALLY, IT COULD CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE DRINK MARTINIS.

[ LAUGHING ] >> WE HAD ABOUT 50 ENTRIES, AND THEY CAME FROM AS FAR AWAY AS CHINA.

>> SOME DESIGNS ARE SIMPLE FELT MARKER DRAWINGS.

OTHERS ARE GLOSSY COMPUTER-GENERATED IMAGES OF GLASSES THAT DON'T EXIST BUT LOOK AS THOUGH THEY MIGHT.

>> OH, I THINK THE ENTRIES ARE SPECTACULAR.

I LOVE THE CREATIVITY AND LOTS OF -- TECHNICALLY THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO WORK REALLY WELL.

>> FEEL FREE TO PICK UP A CLIPBOARD.

AND THERE'S A PEN HERE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE NOTES, BUT ON EACH CLIPBOARD THERE ARE SEVEN SMILEY FACES.

YOU HAVE SEVEN VOTES IN THE FIRST ROUND.

SO GO AROUND -- AND THERE'S A WHITE PIECE OF PAPER IN FRONT OF EACH DESIGN.

PUT A SMILEY FACE ON EVERY ONE THAT YOU LIKE.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT TO REITERATE THE CRITERIA OF THE COMPETITION WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF FORM VERSUS FUNCTION THAT THE VESSEL CREATED, DESIGNED, PRESENTED WOULD REPRESENT SOMETHING THAT WOULD KEEP A MARTINI COLD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

>> THE FIRST ROUND GOES RELATIVELY QUICKLY, CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES.

>> THERE WERE FOUR OR FIVE THAT JUMPED UP AND HIT ME FAST.

>> I DON'T NEED TO READ THE WHOLE THING.

SPIKETINI.

>> MAYBE JUST HOLD IT TO THE CAMERA AND -- >> YEAH.

SPIKETINI.

THIS WAS 5 VOTES FOR THE SPIKETINI.

>> THERE'S ONE STUCK OUT THAT HAS REALLY INTERESTING DESIGN BASE.

IT'S KIND OF CIRCLES ON THE BOTTOM -- CIRCLES AT THE BASE OF THE GLASS.

>> THE MANIFOLD WORKS ON THE THEORY OF CONDUCTION.

>> HOW MANY VOTES?

>> MANIFOLD HAS SIX VOTES.

>> AND I THINK AS A MARTINI DRINKER, IT WOULD BE REALLY FUN TO HOLD SOMETHING THAT'S SO ARTISTIC.

>> ONE COOL DADDIO HAD THREE VOTES.

[ LAUGHTER ] "A MAN MUST DEFEND HIS HOME, HIS WIFE, HIS CHILDREN AND HIS MARTINI."

IT'S A JACKIE GLEASON QUOTE.

THE VOLCANO HAD FOUR VOTES.

TWO PART FORM, USING MIRRORED GLASS.

>> WELL, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM -- A LOT OF THEM HAD DOUBLE WALLS WITH THE WATER FILLED.

PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER, IT TURN TO ICE, IT'S GOING TO SHATTER THE GLASS.

I FELT BAD FOR THESE IDEAS BAU THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WORK IN REAL LIFE.

>> SO THIS ONE IS STILL ON THE TABLE.

>> I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE DESIGNS AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE JUDGING.

THE SECOND AND THIRD ROUNDS WENT FASTER STILL.

THE SCORING GOT A LITTLE CONFUSING.

>> BECAUSE THESE TWO HAVE TOP TOTALS, THAT CLOSE TOGETHER -- >> RIGHT.

AND IN WHICH CASE -- >> WHICH TWO HAVE TOP TOTAL?

>> WELL, THIS ONE.

>> THE MANIFOLD, IF YOU ADD UP THE FIRST VOTE AND THE SECOND VOTE, THIS ONE -- >> THAT HAD THE MOST ORIGINAL VOTES.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING REALLY WELL.

I MEAN, WE'VE NARROWED IT DOWN A LOT MORE THIS TIME.

THERE ARE A FEW DESIGNS THAT I THINK AFTER PRODUCTION IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO DRINK OUT OF THEM AND SEE HOW IT WORKS.

HOW IT KEEPS A MARTINI COLD.

>> SUROCS HAD THE MOST ORIGINAL VOTES.

>> THREE.

THEN IT WAS A TIE FOR ONE, TWO, THE NEXT THREE ARE ALL TIED.

>> AS THE FINAL ROUND OF VOTING APPROACHED MORE ATTENTION WAS PAID TO PRACTICAL MATTERS.

COULD YOU REALLY MAKE THE DESIGNS THAT THESE PEOPLE HAD COME UP WITH?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S HEATHER'S ROLE HERE.

SHE KNOWS.

SHE'S A GLASS ARTIST.

SHE KNOWS WHAT CAN BE DONE AND WHAT CAN'T BE DONE.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS A CONCERN.

>> HEATHER McELWEE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE GLASS CENTER, IS BROUGHT FORWARD TO DETERMINE WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE ONE WITH THE STRANGE POCKET ON THE END THERE WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.

I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S AT LEAST IN THIS GROUP OF FIVE OR SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS MAKABLE.

THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT I HAD A CONCERN ABOUT.

LIKE I SAID, IF THEY WERE MADE IN TWO SEPARATE PIECES, AND PERHAPS THE TEARDROPS WERE -- WASN'T GLASS.

IT COULD WORK.

>> COULD YOU MAKE THIS HOLLOW?

AND THEN HAVE THE -- >> A FINAL ROUND OF VOTING BRINGS THE DESIGNS DOWN TO THREE.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S ANNOUNCE OUR WINNERS.

WE HAVE THREE WINNERS!

HELLO!

EVERYBODY WANT TO KNOW WHO THE BIG WINNERS ARE?

WE ALREADY KNOW THE SPIKETINI.

THE SPIKETINI WAS THE BIG WINNER FROM THE LAST ROUND.

THE NEXT ONE THAT WE HAD -- THE NEXT WINNER WAS THE VOLCANO GLASS.

TWO NESTING MIRRORED FORMS, ONE TO DRINK FROM AND ONE TO, AS SORT OF THE RESERVOIR.

AND THE THIRD ONE WAS THE SUROX, THE STRAIGHT-UP ON THE ROCKS GLASS.

>> SO THESE THREE FINALISTS WILL BE NOTIFIED.

WE FIND OUT TWO ARE FROM HERE IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA AND ONE IS FROM MANASSAS, VIRGINIA.

EY ARE STILL UNKNOWNS AT THIS POINT.

>> IF THEY'RE GLASS ARTISTS, WE'LL GIVE THEM THE STUDIO TIME TO MAKE THE GLASS.

AND THEN IF THEY'RE NOT A GLASS ARTIST, WE'LL PAIR THEM UP WITH ONE OF OUR GLASS ARTISTS HERE AT THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER AND MAKE THEIR GLASS.

WE'LL MAKE SIX PROTOTYPES OF THEIR GLASS.

>> WELL, NONE OF THE FINALIST DESIGNERS WORKS WITH GLASS, SO ARTISTS FROM THE GLASS CENTER WILL HAVE TO MAKE ALL THREE FINAL DESIGNS.

THEY'RE UP FOR THE TASK.

>> OH, IF YOU CAN LOOK ALL THE WAY DOWN, YOU DON'T FIND HOT SHOPS THIS BIG THAT ARE NON-PROFIT.

THIS IS A COMPLETELY PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE EIGHT GLORY HOLES AND TWO FURNACES.

SO WE HAVE 2,000 POUNDS OF GLASS THAT'S ALREADY READY TO BE USED.

>> WE SHOW UP ON SEPTEMBER 27, WHEN THE TWO LOCAL FINALISTS ARE THERE TO SEE THEIR GLASSES IN PROCESS.

ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WHERE THE GLASS FURNACES ARE, TWO TECH APPRENTICES, BILLY GUILFORD AND CHRIS HOFMANN ARE WORKING WITH INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER TOM KUBILIUS WHO LIVES IN MOUNT LEBANON.

TOM DESIGNED THE TWO-PART VOLCANO GLASS.

>> AND THE WAY THEY WORK, IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE THE GLASS IS 2,000 DEGREES.

I DON'T WANT TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR IT, AND THESE GUYS WORK IT.

THEY'RE FORMING IT.

THEY'VE GOT SCISSORS WHERE THEY'RE SNIPPING PIECES OF IT OFF.

THEY'RE SHAPING IT.

>> WE'RE JUST ARTISTS.

YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE THE FACILITIES HERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE FACTORY SETTING.

>> THESE GUYS, IF THEY STOP TO PLAN, THEN THEY'VE ALREADY MESSED IT UP, SO THEY HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> MEANWHILE, DOWN ON THE FIRST FLOOR, BOB GREER, A RETIRED RESEARCH GLASS BLOWER WHO WORKED AT U.S. STEEL AND AT PITT, IS WORKING WITH LEAH VIGNEAU, A GRAPHIC DESIGNER FROM SARATOGA SPRINGS WHO MOVED TO PITTSBURGH RECENTLY AND WHO DESIGNED THE GLASS CALLED THE SPIKETINI.

>> HERE'S THE FIRST PROTOTYPE THAT BOB'S BEEN DOING.

IT LOOKS GREAT.

IT FEELS REALLY COOL IN YOUR HAND, LIKE THE LITTLE ROUNDED ENDS OF ALL THESE.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY APPROACHED ME ABOUT THIS.

I SAID, "HECK, YEAH.

I'D LOVE TO TRY THIS."

I MEAN IT'S A CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW.

>> IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY COOL WATCHING HIM MAKE IT.

IT'S MIND-BLOWING.

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THESE GUYS CAN MAKE JUST SOLID GLASS INTO THESE CRAZY SHAPES.

>> I ENJOY WHATEVER I'M DOING WITH GLASS.

>> THOSE TECH APPRENTICES, BILLY AND CHRIS, ALSO HAVE TO CONSTRUCT THE THIRD OF THE WINNING DESIGNS.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING OUT THE KINKS FOR THESE THREADS AND EVERYTHING.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE FUNCTION.

LIKE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A WATER TIGHT SEAL, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ICE CUBES MELTING.

>> ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, A GROUP OF JUDGES GATHERS AGAIN TO SEE AND INSPECT AND EVALUATE THE FINISHED TRIO OF GLASSES.

THERE ARE MARTINIS.

AND A SECRET FINAL DECISION THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE BIG UPCOMING GALA, CELEBRATING THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GLASS CENTER.

THAT IS ON OCTOBER 15 AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THE PARTY IS ON THE SIXTH FLOOR IN A VERY NICE COMPANY CAFETERIA.

IT'S A GRAND EVENING.

HERE WE GET TO MEET THE THIRD FINALIST, SHIRLEY UNDERWOOD, A RETIRED NAVAL OFFICER FROM MANASSAS WHO READ ABOUT THE CONTEST IN HER LOCAL PAPER.

>> ALL IT SAID WAS THEY WANTED A GLASS THAT WOULD KEEP A MARTINI COLD WITHOUT THROWING ICE IN IT, WHICH WATERS IT DOWN.

I THOUGHT, HELL, I DID THAT YEARS AGO.

>> BEFORE LONG, SHIRLEY AND EVERYBODY ELSE GATHERS FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> SO, FIRST PLACE IN THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER'S MARTINI DESIGN COMPETITION GOES TO THE SPIKETINI.

LEAH VIGNEAU OF PITTSBURGH, COME ON UP.

>> SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND I SAID HER NAME WRONG.

SHE'S THE WINNER.

IT TURNS OUT OKAY.

>> I'M THRILLED WITH THE WAY IT TURNED OUT.

I THINK BOB DID AN AMAZING JOB MAKING THESE.

IT'S PERFECT FOR A BIG MARTINI.

>> BIG MARTINIS, OLD GLASSES, NEW GLASSES AND WELL-DRESSED TECH APPRENTICES.

>> THE SPIKETINI WAS MY VOTE AS WELL.

THAT WAS THE MOST INTERESTING GLASS TO ME.

BUT SEEING THE WHOLE PRESENTATION AND EVERYTHING THERE AND DONE.

IT FELT GOOD.

YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF CONQUERED SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T THINK WAS POSSIBLE.

SO WE DEFINITELY -- WE WERE PROUD.

YEAH.

>> THAT NIGHT AT THE GLASS CENTER, THEY AUCTIONED OFF TWO OF THOSE SPIKETINI GLASSES.

THEY WENT FOR $850, THE PAIR.

THEY'RE PRETTY GREAT.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO TURN IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR THE REST OF THE SHOW.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HEAD IN A LOT OF DIRECTIONS.

THIS NEXT STORY HAPPENS FROM THE FALL OF 2009 THROUGH THE SPRING OF 2010.

IT'S A TRAVELOGUE.

IT'S A MAKING OF.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CALL "COOKING UP A BREAKFAST SPECIAL."

WHEN YOU'RE IN THE KITCHEN OF A BREAKFAST PLACE, IT CAN GET HECTIC AND CRAZY.

AND THE COMMUNICATION REQUIRED FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CREATION AND DELIVERY OF SO MANY VARIATIONS ON EGGS AND SIDE DISHES AND TYPES OF TOAST AND FRENCH TOAST AND PAN CAKES AND OMELETS AND GRITS AND WHATEVER, IT CAN ALMOST SEEM TO BE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.

BUT THEN YOU REALIZE IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SCIENCE, A STUDY IN ORGANIZATION AND CONCENTRATION.

AND THE DISHES GET DONE.

AND THE SERVERS SERVE THEM, AND YOU GET YOUR FOOD, AND IT ALL WORKS OUT.

MAKING TV PROGRAMS IS NOT ALWAYS LIKE THAT.

WE STARTED TO MAKE "BREAKFAST SPECIAL" IN LATE SEPTEMBER OF 2009.

WE SHOT A PROMOTIONAL SPOT THAT FEATURED DISHES OF BREAKFAST FOOD THAT WERE EATEN AND TAKEN AWAY AND REPLACED, AND WE SPED IT ALL UP TO MAKE A 30-SECOND SPOT.

IT WAS A SORT OF TEASER BEFORE WE REALLY BEGAN SHOOTING ANYTHING FOR THE PROGRAM.

WE SHOT THIS AT A PITTSBURGH BREAKFAST PLACE CALLED THE SQUARE CAFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED REGENT SQUARE.

AND THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD AND IT'S SO CLOSE TO MY HOUSE THAT I KNEW WE'D BE BACK.

OUR FIRST REAL STORY SHOOT WAS AT THE HOT METAL DINER IN WEST MIFFLIN, A SUBURB OF PITTSBURGH.

IT'S A RELATIVELY NEW PLACE.

>> ARE YOU TRYING TO BE A PROFESSIONAL?

YOU KNOW THE RULES.

NO PHONE CALLS HERE AT THE DINER!

>> OWNED AND OPERATED BY A WOMAN NAMED WENDY BETTEN.

SHE AND HER STAFF AFFECT A ROUGH AND TOUGH ATTITUDE, DISHING OUT SOME PLAYFUL ABUSE ALONG WITH SOME REALLY PRETTY PLATES OF FOOD.

>> PEOPLE LOVE BREAKFAST.

THEY EAT IT 24 HOURS A DAY.

>> WE SELL A LOT OF PANCAKES, LOT OF WAFFLES, LOT OF EGGS -- LOT OF EGGS.

LOT OF EGGS.

>> THE NEXT DAY WE MADE OUR SECOND VISIT TO THE SQUARE CAFE WHERE WE'D SHOT THAT SPED-UP PROMO, AND WE TALKED TO OWNER SHERREE GOLDSTEIN ABOUT HER POPULAR BREAKFAST PLACE.

>> WE'VE HAD A CHEF SINCE WE STARTED, AND THAT'S NOT JUST FLIPPED EGGS.

IT'S YOU KNOW WE HAVE REALLY UNIQUE, INTERESTING FOOD.

>> WE ALSO CHATTED WITH SOME OF THE REGULARS THERE.

>> IT'S ALWAYS LIKE HAVING BREAKFAST WITH FAMILY DOWN HERE BECAUSE YOU KNOW EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU.

>> I WANT A LITTLE BIT OF IT ALL.

I CAN NEVER JUST DECIDE.

PANCAKES STRICTLY?

OR EGGS STRICTLY?

>> BUT IT WAS A WEEKDAY AND WE WERE JUST LEARNING.

BREAKFAST PLACES ARE BUSIEST AND MOST PHOTOGRAPHABLE ON WEEKENDS.

SO OUR NEXT TRIP WAS A WEEKEND-BASED JOURNEY TO COLUMBUS, OHIO.

WE ACTUALLY SHOT AT THE BEST BREAKFAST AND SANDWICHES IN WESTERVILLE ON A FRIDAY AND AT SKILLET IN COLUMBUS ON SATURDAY.

WE SPENT THE NEXT MORNING, SUNDAY, GETTING QUICK SHOTS OF OTHER BREAKFAST PLACES IN COLUMBUS THAT WERE SUGGESTED BY NICK DEKKER OF BREAKFAST WITH NICK, BUT WE DIDN'T USE ANY OF THEM IN THE SHOW.

NEXT WE DECIDED TO DRIVE TO PHILADELPHIA.

WE ARRANGED TO SPEND A SATURDAY MORNING AT CARMAN'S COUNTRY KITCHEN IN SOUTH PHILLY.

THE FOOD HERE IS AMAZING, ALL COOKED IN A TINY KITCHEN BY CARMAN LUNTZEL.

>> I JUST COOK FOOD THAT I WANT TO EAT.

AND I DO.

FROM PANCAKES TO FRENCH TOAST, EVERYTHING IS EXACTLY WHAT I FEEL LIKE EATING FOR THE WEEK.

AND THEN I CHANGE IT FOR THE NEXT WEEK.

>> AND THE MENU CHANGES EVERY SATURDAY.

SO IT'S ALWAYS THE FOUR CATEGORIES -- THE FRENCH TOAST, PANCAKES, WAFFLES, OMELET, THEN A BIG PROTEIN.

AND IT'S ALWAYS CREATIVE AND FUN AND COMPLEX, LIKE CARMAN.

[ LAUGHING ] >> SHE TAKES ALL THE PROTEINS, WHATEVER SHE'S DOING -- DUCK BREAST, ROCK SHRIMP, FLORIDA STONE CRAB, WHATEVER, AND SHE ALWAYS SERVES IT WITH EGGS AND TOAST SO IT QUALIFIES AS A BREAKFAST.

>> YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THIS MAN -- HOLLY MOORE.

HE WAS IN OUR SHOW CALLED "SANDWICHES THAT YOU WILL LIKE."

HE TOLD ME ABOUT CARMAN'S AND TOOK ME HERE YEARS AGO.

IT'S UNFORGETTABLE.

AND DELICIOUS.

WE SHOT HERE AT THE END OF JANUARY 2010.

IN MID-FEBRUARY, WE HEADED SOUTH.

FIRST TO TYBEE ISLAND TO CHECK OUT THE BREAKFAST CLUB.

WHO DAT?

THEN WE HEADED BACK NORTH ABOUT A HUNDRED MILES TO COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE, AT ANSON MILLS, WE MET GLENN ROBERTS AND HIS CREWS WHO MILL, SIFT, BLEND AND PACKAGE SOME OF THE FINEST GRITS IN AMERICA.

THEN WE TURNED AROUND AGAIN AND HEADED FARTHER SOUTH TO ST. AUGUSTINE AND OUR MORNING AT LA HERENCIA, THE CUBAN CAFÉ.

THE NEXT MORNING, UP EARLY, WE DROVE NORTH ON I-95 TOWARD RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE WE SPENT A TASTY FEBRUARY MORNING AT BIG ED'S CITY MARKET.

THEY HANG A LOT OF STUFF FROM THE CEILING HERE, BUT THEY MAKE A GREAT SOUTHERN BREAKFAST.

HOMEMADE BISCUITS.

RED-EYE GRAVY.

GOOD STUFF.

WE INTERVIEWED THE OWNERS SAM HOBGOOD AND HIS PARTNER CLAY CULPEPPER AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO SEEMED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BREAKFAST.

>> IT'S TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN.

>> MOST DEFINITELY COUNTRY HAM, GEORGIA ICE CREAM.

>> WE REALLY FOCUS ON DOING THINGS THE TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN STYLE FOODS THAT HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON FARMS AND FARM LIVING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

>> IT WAS A HARD CHOICE THIS MORNING BETWEEN THE BACON AND THE FATBACK.

[ LAUGHING ] >> AND THE RED-EYE GRAVY, YEAH.

>> THE RED-EYE GRAVY KIND OF MADE UP FOR THE FATBACK.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S GOOD.

>> THAT WAS MID-FEBRUARY.

ON MARCH 11, WE FLEW TO PORTLAND, OREGON, WHERE WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME ON ALBERTA STREET.

WE SHOT FIRST AT HELSER'S ON A FRIDAY, THEN AT TIN SHED ON SATURDAY.

ON SUNDAY, WE FLEW FROM PORTLAND TO SAN FRANCISCO, AND THE NEXT DAY WE GOT TO SHOOT AND HAVE JOOK AT HING LUNG RESTAURANT IN CHINATOWN.

THEN, AFTER SAN FRANCISCO, WE FLEW TO HAWAII, WHERE WE MET JAMES RUBIO AND HIS WIFE BEVERLY.

WE SHOT FIRST AT KEN'S HOUSE OF PANCAKES IN HILO ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII.

JAMES WRITES A FOOD BLOG CALLED BIG ISLAND GRINDS, AND HE AND BEV WERE WILLING TO LEAD US TO A COUPLE OF THEIR FAVORITE SPOTS FOR THE HAWAIIAN BREAKFAST CALLED "LOCO MOCO."

>> I THINK THE FIRST TIME I HAD A LOCO MOCO MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE ON THIS ISLAND.

I THINK.

I KNOW I HAVE HAD MORE LOCO MOCO EXPERIENCES HERE ON THIS ISLAND THAN ON OAHU.

SO IT COULD BE JUST BECAUSE I'VE HAD MORE EXPERIENCES.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE LOCO MOCO IS BIGGER HERE THAN ON OAHU, BUT IT'S REALLY A STAPLE ON ALL ISLANDS HERE.

>> THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED A LOCO MOCO.

THIS ONE IS DONE WITH EGGS OVER EASY.

OKAY.

UNDERNEATH THERE YOU'LL SEE A PATTY, HAMBURGER PATTY, WITH GRAVY ON TOP OF IT.

AND UNDERNEATH THAT, TWO SCOOPS OF RICE.

>> WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME IN AND OUT, ALWAYS TALKING GOOD ABOUT OUR FOOD, HOW GOOD IT LOOKS, HOW GOOD IT TASTES, HOW MUCH FOOD THERE IS.

THEIR BIGGEST COMPLAINT A LOT OF TIMES IS TOO MUCH FOOD.

>> KEN'S HOUSE OF PANCAKES IS A LANDMARK IN HILO, AND THE FOOD IS OUTSTANDING.

THE NEXT DAY, JAMES AND BEVERLY SUGGESTED WE DRIVE TO THE TOWN OF WAIMEA IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF THE ISLAND.

BEFORE WE GOT ON THE ROAD, THEY CONFESSED THAT THEY OFTEN STOP EN ROUTE TO WAIMEA TO HAVE MALASADAS AT BAKER TOM'S.

THIS WAS AN UNEXPECTED STOP, BUT FRESH PORTUGUESE DONUTS WITH SWEET AND SAVORY FILLINGS AT A ROADSIDE BAKERY WAS TOO ENTICING TO PASS UP.

BAKER TOM AGREED TO LET US TAPE A QUICK STORY HERE.

>> WHAT'S THE MOST POPULAR ONE?

MOST POPULAR MALASADA?

>> MY MOST POPULAR MALASADA PROBABLY IS -- I STARTED WITH THE APPLE, THE STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE AND THE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY ARE TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR I GOT, SO -- >> THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

>> WE DO THAT PIZZA MALASADA AND CANADIAN BACON.

THOSE ARE ALWAYS GOOD MOVERS.

>> PRIMED WITH DONUTS, WE ARRIVED MID-MORNING AT THE HAWAIIAN STYLE CAFÉ CALLED HAWAIIAN STYLE CAFÉ IN A SMALL SHOPPING CENTER IN WAIMEA.

WE TALKED TO OWNER GUY KAO'O AND TO THE COOK KALANI GUERRERO WHO CAME IN ON HIS DAY OFF TO SHOW US SOME SPECIALS.

>> YOU EAT WHAT YOU WANT.

I MEAN LIKE, SAY, WITH OUR HAWAIIAN PLATE, PEOPLE EAT IT FOR BREAKFAST.

PEOPLE EAT IT FOR LUNCH.

YOU CAN HAVE IT FOR DINNER, SO, I MEAN, HAWAIIAN FOOD OVER HERE, THERE'S NO RULES.

WE SERVE LUNCH FROM 7:00.

WE SERVE BREAKFAST AT 12:00.

1:30, WE'RE CLOSING.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW THIS COUNTER'S BEEN HERE FOREVER, AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN ADDED ON PIECE BY PIECE.

THE COUNTER WAS HERE, THEN THIS SECTION WAS ADDED AND THE BACK SECTION WAS ADDED, SO YOU KNOW IN ACTUALITY, THE WHOLE PLACE HERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE, BUT WE MAKE IT WORK.

[ LAUGHING ] >> I WISH I LIVED CLOSER TO THE HAWAIIAN STYLE CAFE.

WE WEREN'T HOME LONG BEFORE WE MADE OUR FINAL BREAKFAST TRIP, NORTHEAST TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHERE I REMEMBER EATING ONE OF THE GREATEST BREAKFASTS OF MY LIFE AT THE HISTORIC AND BEAUTIFUL HOTEL CALLED WENTWORTH BY THE SEA, NOT FAR FROM PORTSMOUTH ON THE COAST.

I HAD STOPPED HERE BACK IN 2006 AND HAD LOBSTER HASH WITH POACHED EGGS.

INCREDIBLE.

THIS TIME WE GOT TO GO IN THE KITCHEN, AND WE TALKED TO SOUS-CHEF MATT LOUIS AND THE ALWAYS BUSY MORNING SUPERVISOR CHRIS BURNETT.

WE LEARNED ABOUT MAKING LOBSTER HASH.

>> YOU KNOW IT IS ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE ITEMS.

IT'S ONE THAT PEOPLE COME HERE FOR.

IT'S ONE THAT WHENEVER WE CHANGE THE MENU, THAT ONE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO.

>> NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO WAIT A LONG TIME FOR BREAKFAST.

THEY WANT IT AS SOON AS THEY ORDER IT.

>> AND WE TALKED TO SOME OF THE EARLY MORNING CROWD AT THE WENTWORTH.

>> I HAD SCRAMBLED EGGS.

YUM.

HOME FRIES AND RASPBERRIES.

AND I WILL GO BACK FOR EGGS, HOME FRIES AND RASPBERRIES.

[ LAUGHING ] >> IT'S A GREAT BREAKFAST IN AMAZING SURROUNDINGS.

WE SHOT THERE ON FRIDAY AND A WEE BIT ON SATURDAY MORNING.

ON SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 25, IT WAS RAINING, AND WE WERE AT THE POST ROAD DINER ON U.S. HIGHWAY 1 IN NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

THIS PLACE WAS SUGGESTED BY OUR OLD FRIEND GY ZEMOLA, THE SUPER DUPER WEENIE MAN, WHO WAS FEATURED IN OUR DOCUMENTARY CALLED "A HOT DOG PROGRAM" BACK IN 1999.

HE MAKES MAGNIFICENT DOGS IN FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, RIGHT OFF 1-95, BUT HE ALSO STILL LOVES A DINER.

>> IT WAS HEALTHY.

YOU FELT GOOD ABOUT GOING THERE.

EVERYBODY KNEW ONE ANOTHER.

YOU KNOW, THE CAMARADERIE, THE BANTERING AT THE COUNTER.

WATCHING THE COOK, THE SHORT ORDER, DO HIS -- AS MY FRIEND JOHN BAEDER CALLS IT, DO THE "DINER SHUFFLE."

I MEAN, THE SMELL OF HOT BACON SIZZLING, COFFEE, IT'S -- YOU JUST DON'T FIND THAT ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> WE CHATTED WITH THE OWNER AND RESTORER OF THIS OLD DINER, TEDDY GIAPOUTZIS.

>> AND ONE GOOD THING ABOUT DINERS IS THAT I'VE NOTICED THAT PEOPLE COME BACK WITH THEIR KIDS AND SAY, "I USED TO COME HERE WITH MY FATHER.

I USED TO COME HERE WITH MY PARENTS."

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING EVERY SATURDAY OR EVERY SUNDAY.

"WE USED TO COME HERE FOR BREAKFAST."

AND IT'S A CUTE THING, AND THE KIDS KNOW IT.

WE TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS, AND THOSE KIDS, THEY KEEP ON COMING BACK, AND IT'S JUST SO MUCH FUN.

>> WHEN WE FINISHED HERE, IT WAS TIME TO START EDITING.

AS WE PUT OUR PROGRAM TOGETHER, WE REALIZED WE HAD WAY TOO MUCH GOOD FOOTAGE.

WE HAD 17 OR 18 PLACES TO FEATURE, AND WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST 8 OF THOSE STORIES ASSEMBLED, WE SAW THAT WE WERE ALREADY AT OUR FINISHED LENGTH OF 52 MINUTES.

SO WE HAD TO ADJUST OUR PLANS.

SHOULD WE CUT ALL THE STORIES IN HALF?

OR MAKE TWO PROGRAMS?

WE DECIDED THE LATTER WAS SMARTER.

SO WHILE YOU'VE SEEN BREAKFAST SPECIAL, WE WANT TO TAKE YOU FOR LONGER VISITS TO ALL THESE OTHER GREAT PLACES, FROM HOT METAL DINER TO POST ROAD DINER, SHARING THE STORIES AND HISTORIES, THE WONDERFUL PLATES OF FOOD, AND THE INSIGHTS ABOUT BREAKFAST FROM ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE WE MET.

WE HOPE YOU'LL GET TO SEE "BREAKFAST SPECIAL PART TWO" VERY SOON.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN "BREAKFAST SPECIAL" YET, YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE DVD.

YOU CAN GET IT AT SHOPWQED.ORG ALL THAT INFORMATION'S COMING UP.

WHAT DID WE LEARN IN THIS SHOW?

THAT THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER IS ONE OF THOSE WONDERFUL SURPRISES THAT PITTSBURGH HAS SO MANY OF.

AND THAT YOU CAN RUN A ROADSIDE BAKERY WHERE YOU SELL SAVORY AS WELL AS SWEET DONUTS.

WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT.

STICK AROUND FOR THE CREDITS.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE OTHER PRODUCTIONS FROM RICK SEBAK AND HIS COHORTS AT WQED, CHECK OUT THE MANY DVDS OFFERED AT SHOPWQED.ORG OR CALL 1-800-274-1307.

>> I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT PITTSBURGH WHEN I MOVED HERE.

THE FIRST TIME I CAME HERE, I TOOK A PLANE AND ACTUALLY HAD NO IDEA WHERE IN PENNSYLVANIA PITTSBURGH WAS LOCATED.

I HAD TO LOOK AT A MAP AND BE LIKE, "OH, I'M ALL THE WAY OVER HERE."

[ LAUGHING ] I'M LEARNING STILL BUT -- AND ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS I GET CONFUSED WITH.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD THIS IS, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE SEEMS TO KNOW.

>> TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE STORIES, TO LEAVE A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION, GO ONLINE TO WQED.ORG/ITS-PITTSBURGH WE ALSO HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE, AND ON TWITTER, FOLLOW RICK AROUND HERE.

"IT'S PITTSBURGH AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927.

AND BY HUNTINGTON BANK, HELPING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WITH THEIR MONEY SINCE 1866.

WELCOME.