The 2nd Annual Que For The Troops will be a National BBQ Cook-off, and a BBQ Brethren event. On this Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20, teams will be barbecuing pork, chicken [...]]]> There’s nothing I like better than eating that also benefits a good cause. Three events are coming up this weekend.

The 2nd Annual Que For The Troops will be a National BBQ Cook-off, and a BBQ Brethren event. On this Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20, teams will be barbecuing pork, chicken and beef in the hopes to take home $6500 in cash and prizes (and bragging rights). There will also be entertainment for the whole family including live music, arts and crafts vendors, kids rides and games. Saturday will feature a classic car show and Sunday will finish up with the BBQ Awards Ceremony and a motorcycle show. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Liberty USO, the only USO unit in the country that serves a full hot meal for troops deploying overseas to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Last year alone they served over 20,000 troops and their families. The only funding that they receive is by private donations and fund raisers. The event takes place at the Falls Township Community Park, 9125 Mill Creek Rd in Levittown, PA from 12 pm to 5 pm each day.

This Sunday, May 20 the youth charity CB Cares will host their annual fundraiser, CB Cares’ Celebrity Chef & Waiter Gala 2012. The four-course sit-down dinner is served by a “celebrity” wait staff consisting of local celebrities, community leaders and elected officials. This year FOX29’s Good Day anchors Mike Jerrick and Jennaphr Frederick will host the event. A unique aspect of the dinner is that a majority of the food will be locally grown or produced in Bucks County. This year’s line up in the kitchen includes a VIP Reception to be hosted by Earl’s Bucks County, Caleb Lentchner from Marsha Brown’s, Jon Spivak from Chive Café, and John Ripley of the Doylestown Country Club. Tickets are $125 per person. See their website for more information.

Pearl S. Buck International presents the 8th Annual Taste of the World Gala, an elegant, evening affair showcasing the area’s best restaurants, caterers and other food and beverage purveyors. The event takes place Friday, May 18, on the beautiful grounds of the charity’s headquarters in Perkasie. To learn more about the organization see their website. Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased online here.

Wine aficionados will enjoy some special events at area wineries like “Wine Tasting for Moms” at Crossing Vineyards on Saturday. The Mother’s Day Wine Trail will take place at [...] Related posts:

1. Weekend Eats in Bucks County
2. What's Up, Dad?
3. Firehouses, markets and art

Strawberries? Yep, it’s time for Peddler’s Village Annual Strawberry Festival, happening Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Did you know that May is National Strawberry Month? And you may even find strawberries [...]]]> It’s shaping up to be a nice weekend weather-wise, which is good because there is lots to do.

Strawberries? Yep, it’s time for Peddler’s Village Annual Strawberry Festival, happening Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Did you know that May is National Strawberry Month? And you may even find strawberries at your local farmers’ market because of the early spring we’ve been having. If you stop by Peddler’s Village there will be plenty of strawberry things to eat – from cream-topped strawberry shortcakes and freshly baked pastries to warm strawberry fritters, strawberry preserves, and pies, to strawberries dipped in chocolate, strawberry smoothies, and strawberry pastries cooked in an old fashioned iron kettle and then sprinkled with powdered sugar. Parking is free and come early because this festival draws a big crowd.

To market, to market. What will you find at area farmers’ markets this first weekend of May? Strawberries, as mentioned above, believe it or not. The Milk House Farm which brings its produce to the Wrightstown Farmers’ Market and the Stockton Market has been bringing in sweet strawberries from the field. Look also for freshly picked asparagus, spinach, kale, chard, dandelion greens, radishes, rhubarb, locally foraged ramps and mushrooms, leeks, spring onions and a variety of herbs. Most markets will also have freshly baked goods, eggs, pasture-raised meats and free range poultry, honey, jams, and even pickles! The Ottsville Farmers’ Market takes place Fridays from 4 pm to 8 pm, the Doylestown Farmers’ Market is every Saturday morning 7 am to 12 pm and the Wrightstown Farmers’ Market opens for the season this Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm. See their websites for more information (click above).

Carousel Village Grand Opening Fest. Many people remember Carousel Village from years ago, maybe even remember riding the gaily painted carousel and the train. Well, Carousel Village is going through a rebirth of sorts. oWowCow Creamery opened their second location there last July and now they are attracting interesting food trucks every weekend. On this Saturday they are celebrating by running the carousel, having face painting, crafts and balloon twisting. There will be burgers (local, grass-fed beef), hot dogs and organic fries from the MOO truck, local ice cream (with free mini cones) from OwowCow Creamery, pizza from Adriana’s Little Italy, appetizers from the Pineville Tavern, cupcakes from the Sweetbox Truck, coffee, lattes, teas and lemonade from HubBub Coffee and a sneak peak of crepes from Jean-Pierre’s Creperie Truck.

For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a loverly weekend. Follow Bucks County Taste also on Facebook and Twitter.

Friday, May 4:

• Stockton Market, 19 Bridge St, Stockton, NJ [3-7 pm]
• Beer Tasting, Phillips’ Fine Wines, 17 Bridge St, Stockton, NJ [4-6 pm]
• Ottsville Farmers’ Market – Linden Hill Gardens, 8230 Easton Rd., Ottsville, PA [4 - 8 pm]
• Friday Wine & Music – Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Rd., Pennington, NJ [5-8 pm]
• Micro Brew Beer Tasting: Ithaca Beer Company – The Washington House, 136 N. Main Street , Sellersville, PA [5 - 10 pm]
• Barrel Tappings @ Triumph Brewing Co. – Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square, New Hope, PA [6 - 7 pm]
• First Friday in Perkasie – Perkasie, PA [6 - 9 pm]
• First Fridays in Doylestown – Doylestown, PA [6 - 9:30 pm]
• Wine Tasting for Singles – Crossing Vineyards, 1853 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, PA [7 - 9 pm]
• Fridays Unplugged – Crossing Vineyards & Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, PA [8 - 10 pm]

Saturday, May 5:

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market – W. State & Hamilton St., Doylestown, PA [7 am - 12 pm]
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market – Wrightstown Twp. Municipal Bldg (parking lot), 2203 2nd Street Pike, Wrightstown, PA [9 am - 1 pm]
• Stockton Market, 19 Bridge St, Stockton, NJ [9 am - 4 pm]
• 43rd Annual Peddler’s Village Strawberry Festival – Peddlers Village, Route 202, Lahaska, PA [10 am - 6 pm]
• Carousel Village Grand Opening Fest – Carousel Village, 591 Durham Road, Wrightstown, PA [11 am - 4 pm]
• Wine Tasting – Phillips’ Fine Wines, 17 Bridge Street, Stockton, NJ [12 - 6 pm]
• Beer Tasting – New Hope Beverage, 6542-K1 Lower York Rd (Logan Square), New Hope, PA [3 - 7 pm]
• Roast Beef Dinner – Riegelsville Fire Company, 333 Delaware Road, Riegelsville, PA [4 - 7 pm]
• Saturday Wine & Music – Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Rd., Pennington, NJ [5 - 8 pm]

Sunday, May 6:

• Breakfast @ Silverdale Fire Company – Silverdale Fire Co, 111 Main Street, Silverdale, PA [8 am - 1 pm]
• Stockton Market – 19 Bridge St., Stockton, NJ [10 am - 4 pm]
• 43rd Annual Peddler’s Village Strawberry Festival – Peddlers Village, Route 202, Lahaska, PA [10 am - 6 pm]
• Bucks County Wine Trail Spring Tour – Various Bucks County wineries [12 - 5 pm]
• A House of Buck Ladies Afternoon Tea Party – Pearl S. Buck International, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA [1 - 4 pm]
• How Sweet It Is: Pairing Wine and Chocolate – Crossing Vineyards & Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, Pa [2 - 4 pm]
• Jazzy Sundays – Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Rd., Pennington, NJ [2 - 5 pm]
• Full Moon Dinner – Full Moon Cafe, 23 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ [5:30 - 9 pm]

Monday, May 7:

No events

Tuesday, May 8:

• Wine Tasting Dinner: Women Winemakers – The Washington House, 136 N. Main Street , Sellersville, PA [5 - 10 pm]
• Mediterranean Cooking (class) – New Hope-Solebury High School, Bridge St, New Hope, PA [6 - 9 pm]
• Sushi Night in the Wine Cellar @ The Inn at Lambertville Station, 11 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ [6 - 10 pm]
• Culinary Skills: Sauteing and Pan Sauces (class) – Carlow Cookery, Doylestown Shopping Center, 432 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA [6:30 - 9 pm]
• Literate Epicures of Newtown – Newtown Bookshop, 2829 South Eagle Rd, Newtown, PA (Village at Newtown Shopping Ctr) [7 - 8:30 pm]

Wednesday, May 9:

• Pierogies Sale – St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1545 Easton Rd., Warrington, PA [9 am - 3 pm]
• Wine Down Wednesdays – Old Bethlehem Road Hotel, 243 Old Bethlehem Road, Quakertown, PA [6 - 9 pm]

Thursday, May 10:

• Clam Bake – Logan Inn, 10 W. Ferry St, New Hope, PA [5 - 9 pm]
• Jamaican Cooking (class) – New Hope-Solebury High School, Bridge St, New Hope, PA [6:30 - 9 pm]
• Jam Making 101 – Resurrection Lutheran Church, 620 Welsh Road, Horsham PA [7 - 8:30 pm]
• A Locavore Wine Dinner – Stockton Inn, Stockton, NJ [7 - 10 pm]

For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Follow Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter.

Recently, the Bucks County Chapter of the US Personal Chef Association took a field trip to Assi, an international (mostly Asian) supermarket in North Wales. Yes, I know it sounds a little goofy for us to visit a grocery store, but believe me, it was an [...]]]> by guest blogger Rich Baringer,

Recently, the Bucks County Chapter of the US Personal Chef Association took a field trip to Assi, an international (mostly Asian) supermarket in North Wales. Yes, I know it sounds a little goofy for us to visit a grocery store, but believe me, it was an interesting place and we had a lot of fun. That’s what us food people do.

Assi is full of produce and ingredients that you just can’t find anywhere else in our area. There were plenty of ingredients that were a little bit familiar from cooking Asian foods–things like fish sauce, oyster sauce, various noodles (there was a whole aisle of noodles), etc. But there were also plenty of things that were way out of our realm of familiarity.

For many of the packaged items, we had to read the ingredient list to have some idea of what the product was. Things like dried anchovy fillet with sesame seeds, boiled silkworms, dried white fungus, basil seed drinks with honey (they looked like lava lamps), and much more. Sometimes the ingredient list didn’t help much. For example, there was “Dried Vegetable” in a bag. It looked like steel wool, so I checked the ingredients to find out what was in it. It said, “INGREDIENTS: Dried Vegetable.” That was helpful.

The meat section was a little more familiar. Despite a number of pork innards, black chicken, chicken and duck feet and the like, the meats were mostly what you would find in your supermarket. Most of it looked really wonderful–dark red and marbled beef, fresh looking poultry, and pork.

Jackfruit

The seafood section, however, was not typical for an American grocer. Familiar fish like cod, striped bass and flounder (including live ones) were offered. But so were things like sea squirt, cuttlefish, large squid and more exotic fish. Many creatures were either frozen or dried (or both) as well as fresh. Most of the fish was sold whole, although they did have fillets of some.

The frozen section had all sorts of things from frozen bonbon-type sherbet coated in sweet rice dough to octopus, meat-filled buns to big bags of “mixed frozen seafood.”

Probably the neatest part of the store for me was the produce. In addition to the usual stuff, there’s just a load of unusual and exotic things. Fresh turmeric, banana flowers, bitter melon, fuzzy squash, huge jackfruit, alien-like dragonfruit, yard-long daikon radishes, all sorts of tubers, fresh sugar cane, unusual greens, and fresh and dried mushrooms.

Spicy Seafood Soup

Oh, to top it off, they have a small food court that has really great food. We shared a Spicy Seafood Soup, Spicy Kimchi Noodle Bowl and Korean BBQ Beef. All of them were really tasty and made to order. I just need to work on my chop stick use. I tried to hide my plastic fork from the Asian folks sitting near us.

It’s definitely worth the trip just to see some of these interesting foods. But if you’re in need of Asian ingredients–even more common things like soy sauce, fish sauce, curry paste–the prices are great. It’s sort of like an Asian Costco for many products. And if you need something more unusual, I’ll bet that they have it in stock.

OK, maybe you don’t need to spend 3 1/2 hours there like we did, but you’ll be sorry if you don’t stop in just to look around for a while sometime. And to get some lunch.

Assi
1222 Welsh Road
North Wales, PA
215.631.9400
www.lotteplaza.com

Here’s to good spirits. If you’re into wine and beer [...]]]> Looks like we’ll be having a typical – for a change – April weekend weather-wise. One could wish for a little warmer weather for A-Day and Shad Fest but oh well. It’s a big weekend all around with lots going on.

Here’s to good spirits. If you’re into wine and beer tasting, check out these events this weekend.

• Saturday McCoole’s will host their semi-annual Beer Festival in Quakertown. The first session is from 12 pm to 4 pm, the second session is from 5 pm to 9 pm. Free parking with a shuttle bus is being provided as well. Click here to see the entire beer list, which is quite extensive. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased in advance at their website.
• The Vine to Wine Spring Festival will take place at Old York Cellars in Ringoes, NJ all weekend. Cost is only $10 and includes wine tasting, music, food, arts and crafts vendors and tours.
• Every Friday afternoon Phillips Fine Wines in Stockton hosts a beer tasting and every Saturday they do a wine tasting. It’s pretty laid back. Just stop in and walk over to the tasting table (in the front of the store). Ask anyone for background on the wines or beers. They’re all knowledgeable.
• Also on Friday and Saturday evenings, Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington has music to go with your wine.
• The Washington House offers “Friday Freestyle Flights of Wine” on the fourth Friday of every month. For $10 you can create your own tasting flight by choosing four different wines from a list of 20 (list changes month to month.) Each taste is 1-1/2 oz. and the four together is the equivalent of a 6 oz glass of wine. A printed guide includes descriptions to help you choose.

Crabs anyone? Shad isn’t the only fish in season right now. Soft shell crabs are in at many local restaurants including the Pineville Tavern, the Milford Oyster House and the Vintage Grille.

Cookbook Swap and Potluck. Bring a gently used cookbook to Blooming Glen Farm Sunday, April 29th at 3:00 pm for a spring cookbook swap and food tasting adventure. The catch? You must bring a dish to share made from a recipe from the cookbook you are bringing to swap. Sounds like a lot of fun and delicious.

For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a great weekend. Follow Bucks County Taste also on Facebook and Twitter.

Friday, April 27:

• A-Day – Delaware Valley College, 700 E Butler Ave Doylestown, PA [12 - 8 pm]
• Stockton Market, 19 Bridge St, Stockton, NJ [3-7 pm]
• Beer Tasting, Phillips’ Fine Wines, 17 Bridge St, Stockton, NJ [4-6 pm]
• Ottsville Farmers’ Market – Linden Hill Gardens, 8230 Easton Rd., Ottsville, PA [4 - 8 pm]
• Friday Wine & Music – Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Rd., Pennington, NJ [5-8 pm]
• Friday Freestyle Flights of Wine – The Washington House, 136 N. Main Street , Sellersville, PA [5 - 10 pm]
• Spring Wine Dinner – La Bella Cucina Toscana – Crossing Vineyards & Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, PA [7:30 - 9:30 pm]

Saturday, April 28:

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market – W. State & Hamilton St., Doylestown, PA [7 am - 12 pm]
• Stockton Market, 19 Bridge St, Stockton, NJ [9 am - 4 pm]
• A-Day – Delaware Valley College, 700 E Butler Ave Doylestown, PA [10 am - 7 pm]
• Vine to Wine Spring Festival – Old York Cellars, 80 Old York Road, Ringoes, NJ [12 - 5 pm]
• Wine Tasting – Phillips’ Fine Wines, 17 Bridge Street, Stockton, NJ [12 - 6 pm]
• Beer Festival @ McCoole’s, 4 S. Main Street (Main & Broad Streets), Quakertown, PA [12 - 9 pm]
• Shad Festival 2012 – Lambertville, NJ [12:30 - 5:30 pm]
• VIP Wine Course (class) – Sand Castle Winery, 755 River Road, Erwinna, PA [1 - 3 pm]
• Beer Tasting – New Hope Beverage, 6542-K1 Lower York Rd (Logan Square), New Hope, PA [3 - 7 pm]
• Family Style Roast Beef and Ham Dinner – Trinity United Church of Christ, Route 212, Pleasant Valley, PA [4 - 7 pm]
• Chicken Dinner – First United Church of Christ, 151 S. Fourth St., Quakertown, PA [4 - 7 pm]
• Saturday Wine & Music – Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Rd., Pennington, NJ [5 - 8 pm]
• Atomic Coffee House Retro Folk Concert – Mercer Museum, 84 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA [7 - 9:30 pm]
• Beef & Brew Charity Dinner – Quakertown Knights of Columbus, St. Isidore’s School Gym, 603 W. Broad St., Quakertown, PA [7 - 11 pm]

Sunday, April 29:

• Breakfast Buffet @ Father Gallen Council 5494 – Father Gallen Council 5494, 998 Easton Road, Warrington, PA [7:30 - 11 am]
• Firehouse Breakfast – Haycock Fire Company, 850 Old Bethlehem Road, Quakertown, PA [8 am - 12 pm]
• Stockton Market – 19 Bridge St., Stockton, NJ [10 am - 4 pm]
• A-Day – Delaware Valley College, 700 E Butler Ave Doylestown, PA [10 am - 6 pm]
• Vinyasa Yoga & Wine – Crossing Vineyards & Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road , Washington Crossing, PA [11:30 am - 1:30 pm]
• Vine to Wine Spring Festival – Old York Cellars, 80 Old York Road, Ringoes, NJ [12 - 5 pm]
• Shad Festival 2012 – Lambertville, NJ [12:30 - 5:30 pm]
• Cookbook Swap and Food Tasting Adventure – Blooming Glen Farm, 98 Moyer Road, Perkasie, PA [3 - 6 pm]

Monday, April 30:

• Cocktails for Entertaining (class) – Marsha Brown Creole Kitchen, Main St., New Hope, PA [7 - 9 pm]
• Flatbreads and Pizzas (class) – Carlow Cookery, Doylestown Shopping Center, 432 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA [7 - 9 pm]

Tuesday, May 1:

• Mediterranean Cooking (class) – New Hope-Solebury High School, Bridge St, New Hope, PA [6 - 9 pm]
• Sushi Night in the Wine Cellar @ The Inn at Lambertville Station, 11 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ [6 - 10 pm]
• Gluten Free / Healthy Living Support Group – Medicine in Balance, 940 Town Center Drive, Suite F-90, Langhorne, PA [7 - 9 pm]

Wednesday, May 2:

• Pierogies Sale – St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1545 Easton Rd., Warrington, PA [9 am - 3 pm]
• Schnitzel Night – United German Hungarians Club, 4666 Bristol Rd, Bensalem, PA [5:30 - 7:30 pm]
• Wine Down Wednesdays – Old Bethlehem Road Hotel, 243 Old Bethlehem Road, Quakertown, PA [6 - 9 pm]
• “Food Fight” Screening and Discussion – Yardley Makefield Library, 1080 Edgewood Road, Yardley, PA [6:30 - 8:30 pm]
• Zen Vegetarian Cooking (class) – New Hope-Solebury High School, Bridge St, New Hope, PA [6:30 - 9:00 pm]
• Meet the Brewer – Spinnerstown Hotel, 2195 Spinnerstown Rd, Spinnerstown, PA [7 - 10 pm]

Thursday, May 3:

• Clam Bake – Logan Inn, 10 W. Ferry St, New Hope, PA [5 - 9 pm]

For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Follow Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter.