What's Cooking: Slurp-N-Burst to open second location in Ambridge; plus news from Bruster's & Chick-fil-A

(What's Cooking takes a monthly look at the Beaver Valley dining & drinks scenes.)

The boba tea business is booming in Beaver County.

And so, Slurp-n-Burst Boba Tea will open a second location, at 566 Merchant St., in Ambridge.

"Sept. 1 is my target," said owner Angela Vorderbrueggen, whose first Slurp-n-Burst shop opened last December in downtown New Brighton, introducing the boba tea concept to many Beaver Valley residents.

Vorderbrueggen, of Ambridge, began selling boba tea five years ago from a mobile table and tent, then a trailer, at local festivals and sports activities.

"From the moment I started selling it at events, I knew it would be a hit," she said.

People enjoy sipping and slurping the Taiwanese-originated beverage, typically served cold as a bubble milk tea or with fruit flavored syrup, highlighted by bite-sized, chewy tapioca pearls.

Just like at the New Brighton store, Ambridge customers will be able to pick a flavor like kiwi, peach, pineapple, tropical or watermelon, then a base − tea, green tea, lemonade, pink lemonade or blue raspberry − then a boba flavor like blueberry, lemon, mango, kiwi, pomegranate, taro crystal, cherry blossom crystal or crystal.

Might sound complicated, but it isn't, and creating your own favorite concoction is half the fun.

Banana, chocolate, strawberry and honeydew are other options, as are soda floats, Thai tea, coffee or smoothies and slushies also flavored with the boba pearls you slurp up a straw into your mouth (thus the name "Slurp-N-Burst".)

"And there's fun things I've added, like my cotton candy novelties," and trendy freeze-dried candy, Vorderbrueggen said.

Waffles-on-a-stick are one of Slurp-N-Burst's newest treats. Learning from TikTok, Vorderbrueggen uses a special waffle iron that makes seven doughnut-hole sized waffle balls that are then speared onto a kabob stick then drizzled with your choice of strawberry sauce, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, peanut butter, Nutella, Fruity Pebbles, chocolate crunch, strawberry crunch or syrup.

Waffle taste, you can savor while standing.

The New Brighton shop, at 1033 Third Ave., gets customers from as far as Pittsburgh, who will have an easier drive to the Ambridge location, next to the future site of Harkins Mill Winery and in the same block as Stangl's Bakery, featured in Tom Hanks' "A Man Called Otto."

"I have been searching in Ambridge for a while and that just became available, and we came to an agreement, and I loved it," Vorderbrueggen said. "What better way to bring this back where I started, in Ambridge? The town has been really revitalized. I have really good vibes about it. There's a lot going on there now, and I just felt like this was the time."

The Ambridge site will have a similar menu and family-friendly decorative theme as the New Brighton one.

"It's going to be pretty much the same vibe there. The same colorful, fun atmosphere," said Vorderbrueggen, who found the perfect purple velvet couch for the Ambridge shop.

More Merchant Street news

Two food/beverage-minded Ambridge businesses shared good news last week.

Merchant Coffee Co. in Ambridge passed the electrical inspection for its new and larger kitchen and is proceeding with plans for an expanded food menu rebranded as Merchant Coffee & Cafe. Owner Kim Fabrizio told the shop's Instagram followers she will post progress photos soon.

Ice Cream Therapy began offering what's expected to be periodic food truck visits. Quick-E food truck was there this past Saturday, selling fast food-inspired items to pair with Ice Cream Therapy's towering ice cream cones.

Ice Cream Therapy's Facebook page said the ice cream stand at 400 Merchant St. plans "to bring in a variety of food trucks as often as possible … mainly on the weekends but that may change. So, stay tuned for updates on what food trucks will be here and when."

Bruster's and Steeler team up

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward again has partnered with Beaver County-based Bruster’s Real Ice Cream to release a limited-edition sweet treat, the Heyward Blitz Sundae.

The Heyward Blitz Sundae starts with Bruster’s homemade cookie dough ice cream, topped with chocolate syrup, Oreo cookie pieces, brownie bites, whipped cream and a cherry on top. For each Heyward Blitz Sundae sold, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream will donate $1 to The Heyward House, which positively impacts the lives of youths.

The Heyward Blitz Sundae is available during August. Prices vary by location, $6-$8.50 plus tax.

Mall's Chick-fil-A gets new owner

After a year of corporate ownership, Chick-fil-A at the Beaver Valley Mall announced Aug. 1 it's now owned and operated by a local man, Matt Roach, who spent the past decade in Ranson, W.Va.

"Chick-fil-A has played an integral part in Matt's life for over a decade, and his dedication and passion for creating a positive impact on communities have always shone through," the fast-food eatery said on Facebook. "Now, we have the privilege of having him and his wife, Jessi, as part of our own Beaver community. They have always been community people and hope to build relationships, (offer) a place where people come together, and serve the community of Beaver County well for many years to come."

New in the 'burgh

One new Pittsburgh restaurant has got people buzzing:

Fat Cat, at 520 E. Ohio St., on the North Side created a menu inspired by after-school and late-night snacks.

Items include elevated takes on bologna and cheese ($11.99), patty melts ($12.99), turkey wraps ($13.99) and loaded waffle fries, plus more contemporary items like buffalo seitan wraps ($13.99) and the birria crunch wraps with braised short rib, Oaxaca and smoked cheddar, pickled onions, oven roasted tomato, Fritos and tomato au jus ($14.99).

"We offer a from-scratch playful take on classic favorites," the Fat Cat website said, "with eclectic, eye-catching decor and cozy seating reminiscent of your grandma’s house."

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: What's Cooking: Slurp-N-Burst Boba Tea to open second location in Ambridge