When Carl Funtal was young, he often watched his mother rolling out dough for pierogi. She'd flatten the soft dough, cut it into circles, and stuff it with mashed potatoes and cheese. Funtal didn't help out toooften, but he always enjoyed the comfort food when it was served.

After serving his community as a sergeant with the Shaler Township Police Department, Carl made a return to the comfort food of his youth by launching Cop Out Pierogies, winner of the People's Choice award at the 2013 Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival. Today, he rolls dough just as his mother used to, but he has expanded beyond his mother's offerings. Though traditional fillings such as sauerkraut and cheese are available, he also stuffs pierogies with unconventional ingredients, such as pepperoni, lump crab meat, and cherry cheesecake. Customers receive 14 pierogies in the Cop Out dozen, and can also order a gluten-free version of the dumplings or request custom fillings such as sliced-up pages of their family cookbooks.