By MARTY LEVINE

Pitt finally has its own signature treat: Panther Paws, a Sarris Candies milk chocolate-covered caramel concoction with chopped pecans, topped with a mini-pretzel twist, available for sale all over campus.

“A partnership like this isn’t unusual,” says Sandy Barsotti, spokesperson for Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services. “Many leading public universities have a signature treat. When we sought a partner to help us develop a recipe, we wanted to work with a business that is all Pittsburgh, all the time. Sarris has been a part of our campus and community for years, so it was a logical choice.”

She hopes the turtle-like confection “fosters a sense of connection among students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters with the University.”

It turns out that even non-leading, non-public universities have been ahead of Pitt in the signature treat game. The University of Toronto has a signature granola bar using honey from its Mississauga campus bee hives, while signature ice creams are very popular, from Weber State’s Wildcat Wripple (really just vanilla and grape sorbet) to Penn State’s Berkey Creamery offerings.

When Joe Biden was between White House stints in 2017 and spoke at Cornell’s graduation, the Cornell Dairy whipped up his favorite vanilla with chocolate chips as a temporary signature flavor and had a naming contest, with semi-finalists including Bits n’ Biden and Big Red, White and Biden.

The College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri, has a fruitcake. So they can’t all be Panther Paws.

“Sales have been brisk at our retail locations” for the new Pitt chocolate, Barsotti says. They are available a the Pitt Shop, University Store on Fifth, the University Club, Forbes Street Market and Unwind (the coffee and gelato shop outside The Eatery). “Many departments within the University have inquired about getting Panther Paws for their meetings as a treat for attendees. We’ve already placed another order with our partners at Sarris Candies.”

They are available for purchase individually or in a box of six, and soon can be ordered online.

Marty Levine is a staff writer for the University Times. Reach him at martyl@pitt.edu or 412-758-4859.

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