We can also enjoy the fruits of last year’s labor – with locally grown and vinted wines, and crafted artisan cheeses. All these will come together in the first Spring Wine Farm-to-Table Dinner of the season at Crossing Vineyards & Winery this Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 7:30 pm. I’ll be the guest speaker, talking about the local food scene and sharing tidbits about the producers who brought the wonderful food to our table. If you come you’ll also learn about the sustainable practices Crossing Vineyards has been implementing over the last couple of years, to decrease their energy use and produce fine wine.

The cost is $95 per person and includes five courses, each paired with Crossing Vineyards’ internationally-acclaimed wines. Take a look at this delicious menu – the wine alone is worth the price of admission.

First Course

Watercress Salad with Toasted Pistachios,
Cherry Grove Nettlesome Cheese
& Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette
accompanied by Blanc de Blanc (NV)

Second Course

Truffled Farrotto with Spring Peas,
Baby Carrots & Ricotta Salata
accompanied by Estate Vidal Blanc ’10 & Pinot Reserve ’08

Entree

Grilled Griggstown Spring Chicken
over Flamed Farmed White Sweet Potato Hash
with Meyer Lemon Gremolata
accompanied by Estate Chardonnay ’08, Estate Rosé ’09 & Merlot ’08

Cheese Course

Local Artisanal Cheeses
accompanied by Riesling ’09 & Cabernet Sauvignon ’08

Dessert

Lavender Crème Brulee
accompanied by Estate Late Harvest Vidal Blanc ’09

You can purchase tickets online, or call the winery at 215.493.6500. See you on Saturday night!

Crossing Vineyards and Winery
1853 Wrightstown Road
Washington Crossing, PA

Maps and Driving Directions

Related posts:

1. September farm-to-table dinners

Amanda Cregan, who covers Upper Bucks for the Intelligencer, wrote a good front page article on buying fresh, local turkeys, including some nice quotes by Tom Colbaugh, the Bolton family and yours truly. Take a look.

If you are still scratching around looking for recipes, here are a few of my tried and true – that are also a little different.

For hors d’œuvres try Roasted Beet Pesto with Parmesan. This gem came from Chef Karen McGinn, who serves it with a dab of goat cheese on top. For local goat cheese, try Flint Hill Farm at the Stockton Farmers’ Market open this week on Wednesday. We’ll also be serving some local cheese – Drumm from Bobolink Dairy and Bakehouse in Milford and Tomme cheese from Hendricks Farm and Dairy in Telford. Yum.

We’ll start the sit-down meal with Squash, Corn and Coconut Soup. This has become an instant favorite among our family and friends. And don’t give me a hard time about the corn not being seasonal. I cut the kernels off the cobs myself, and froze over 8 cups last September. It’s local, alright. The soup is sweet and delightful, with a creaminess that makes one want to lick the bowl.

The turkey has been happily running around for the last few months at The Happy Farm in Kintersville (thank you, Tom and Jean), and we’ll brine that bird the night before. For sides, our friends the Galloways will bring Mada’s famous Sweet Potato Pie (not sure if she shares the recipe) and collard greens.

Because you just can’t have enough carbs and starches on Thanksgiving, I’ll also be making Macque Choux, the Cajun enhancement of creamed corn and…challah pineapple stuffing. Don’t you just love the diversity of our nation? I’ll also cook up a batch of Cranberry Port Geleé from Canal House Cooking that is easy and sophisticated.

If none of that does it for you, try spaghetti squash mixed with a garlic-sage cream sauce that we made two years ago when we were doing a low-carb diet. Delicious and very seasonal! Or an easy salad with greens from Blue Moon Acres, topped with roasted beets and goat cheese.

As for dessert…Mom is bringing it, and I don’t even know what it is. For wine, we’ll be opening a bottle of 2010 Le Nouveau from Crossing Vineyards (the young, first harvest wine, similar to Beaujolais Nouveau) and a 2007 Casi Dulce from Villa Milagro Vineyards, the young winery up in Finesville, New Jersey who are using organic and sustainable practices to grow European style wines.

From all of us – me, Mark, Cody and Canta – to all of you, our dear readers, we wish you a very sweet and happy Thanksgiving.

Related posts:

1. Thanksgiving: Been there, done that
2. Stop wining

This Sunday, September 12th, the Bucks County Symphony hosts A Symphony of Flavors, their third annual wine and food pairing event, at the beautiful Prallsville Mills in Stockton, NJ. A specially selected group of “boutique wines” will be matched with dishes created by some of the best local chefs. Marnie Old, Philadelphia based wine author, educator, and sommelier, will provide expert commentary at the Patron Party, and will discuss current trends in wine at the main tasting event.

Participating restaurants include Café at Rosemont in Rosemont, NJ, The Waterwheel Restaurant in Doylestown, PA, Jake’s Restaurant in Flemington, NJ, Jack’s Roadhouse in Lahaska, PA, Erini Restaurant in Ewing, NJ, Maize Restaurant in Perkasie, PA, Vine & Fig Tree Bistro in Doylestown, PA and Cal’s Comfort Café, Milford, NJ. Bucks County Biscotti in Perkasie and The Coffee Scoop in Pipersville will provide dessert and coffee. The event wine sponsor is Central Liquors in Flemington, NJ. Proceeds from the event benefit the Bucks County Symphony. The evening begins at 3:30 pm with an afternoon limited admission Patron Party followed by the main Wine and Food Pairing Event, starting at 5:00 P.M. Tickets are $75 per person for the main event. For more information, please see their website.

Next weekend on Sunday, September 19th you’ve got a hard choice. There are TWO farm to table dinners in Bucks County and one in Hunterdon, all with great food and chefs. Zone 7, the local food distributor, is partnering with Manoff Market Gardens in Solebury to host a delicious dinner from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Mark Miller and his team from Hamilton’s Grill Room will showcase the best offerings of the farm, with a strong emphasis on Manoff ’s fruits and vegetables, in a special four-course meal with complimentary wines specifically chosen to accompany each course from Crossing Vineyards & Winery in Washington Crossing, PA. The Dinners On The Farm series, which combines behind-the-scenes farm tours with fresh and seasonal meals prepared by luminary local chefs, will host the final dinner in this year’s series in October at Blooming Glen Farm in Perkasie, PA with Chef Vincent Peterson of Kindle Café in Lambertville, NJ. Tickets are $135 per person. For more information or to register, visit www.freshfromzone7.com.

Next choice? Equally tempting. How about a farm to table dinner at None Such Farms, featuring their famous farm-raised beef and farm-grown produce, all prepared by Chef Max Hansen? Al Fresco on the Farm will take place on Sunday, September 19, from 5 pm to 9:30 pm. Check out the wonderful menu online. Tickets are $125 per person, and proceeds will benefit the Food Pantry of Fisherman’s Mark in Lambertville and the Doylestown Food Pantry. To purchase tickets, stop in at None Such Farm Market or call them at 215.794.5201, ext. 2.

Finally, also next Sunday, the Acme Screening Room, which shows interesting and fun movies in Lambertville year around, is hosting a farm to table dinner and vacation auction at the Chimney Hill Estate in Lambertville. Dinner will be prepared by Chef Chris Georgett using seasonal ingredients donated by local farms, and will include entrée (meat & vegetarian option) and desert provided by The Chocolate Box (it’s also BYOB). The event takes place from 4 pm to 7:30 pm. The highlight will be the auction including vacation packages in Lake Tahoe, Myrtle Beach. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at door You can buy tickets at this website.

And that’s just September. I didn’t mention the great event occurring at Linden Hill Gardens in Ottsville on September 25th because, well, it’s sold out. I didn’t want you to feel bad. Chef, architect, and local restaurant icon Jim Hamilton, of Hamilton’s Grill Room, has been working with Kristen Perry, of The Kitchen Potager at Linden Hill Gardens, to build an outdoor, earthen oven. On that Saturday he’ll be conducting one of his famous “Cooking Class Dinners.” One person arrives at 2:30 pm for the class and dinner preparation, the other person comes at 6:30 pm as the guest for dinner in the lovely barn at Linden Hill. When I chatted with Jim at the Pineville Tavern last month, he was really excited. He loves doing the classes, especially with the outdoor oven. Hopefully Kristen will schedule another similar event next year. Keep an eye on her website or email her at kristin@lindenhillgardens.com for more information about future events, including another ”class-dinner” in October. 

If I’ve left any events out that you know of, please let me know. Just email us at info@buckscountytaste.com.

Related posts:

1. Farm-to-Table…to mouth
2. Getting local food on the local table
3. Bucks Food Calendar: July 1, 2011

A big heads-up – the 62nd Annual Middletown Grange Fair starts on Wednesday, August 18th and goes through Sunday, August 22nd. It’s kind of our local county fair, and if you’ve never been, go. The food is…so-so, but the chicken dinner is a great deal (see last year’s post).

Ah, but this weekend. A little cooler, maybe some rain (okay by me). And so much going on. Where do I start? How about with wine…?

Check out the many events at local wineries every weekend. Every Friday evening, enjoy Friday Night un(Wine)d Concerts at The Market by Shady Brook at Del Val College (6 – 9 pm) or the companion event at Shady Brook Farm’s location in Yardley, also music and also 6 – 9 pm. Wine Tasting for Singles happens at Crossing Vineyards this Friday evening, as does their popular Summer Music Series, where you can picnic, sip wine and enjoy great music. For details see our full Food Events in Bucks County calendar.

On Saturday, be part of history (hopefully) at The Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast also at Crossing Vineyards. Thousands of people in more than 50 wineries across Pennsylvania will join the toastmaster, racing legend Mario Andretti, in an attempt to set a world record for the largest wine tasting ever conducted. The current record of 17,429 participants was set by more than 400 pubs across the U.K. in 2009. Entry tickets are $5.00 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Fund to Benefit Children & Youth. The event begins at 3:30, with the toast taking place at 4:00 pm under the watchful eyes of folks from the Guinness Book of World Records. There’ll be music and wine for the toast, including a commemorative glass for you to keep.

Every weekend, Phillips’ Fine Wines in Stockton holds beer tastings on Friday afternoons and wine tastings on Saturday afternoons (go to the Stockton Market first, then go get a sip or two!). Or ride the Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing on the historic New Hope-Ivyland Railroad on Saturday or Sunday this weekend (5 – 7 pm). Listen to Dixie Land music by the vines, too, at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes, NJ, on Saturday afternoon from 1 – 4 pm.

Sunday also brings two more wine events. Music Under the Arbor takes place at Alba Vineyards in Milford, NJ in the afternoon (lunch at Lovin’ Oven in Frenchtown, then up to the vineyard?). Or maybe you need to learn more about wine first? Take A Dummies Guide to Wine Tasting at Crossing Vineyards Sunday afternoon.

Peaches, peaches, peaches at Manoff Market Gardens in Solebury. Come to Manoff’s for their annual Peach Festival, including hay rides, peach ice cream making and wonderful yellow and white peaches. Yum. 

And although it isn’t strictly about food, check out the 1st Annual Newtown Music Fest on Sunday, August 15th at Shady Brook Farm in Yardley. From noon to 10 p.m., the Newtown Corporation and Cambridge Sound Studios of Newtown will present a dozen bands along with food and beverages from Newtown restaurants, including the Temperance House, Joey G’s and the Green Parrot. Several Bucks County wineries will also be there selling wine by the glass and by the bottle.

As for farm markets and what is available this week, well, just about anything you can imagine. It’s August! All of the markets are listed below. Go check out a new one, and see what you find. Let me know where your favorite vendors are, and why.

For calendar details, read more here…

For more details on any of these events, check our Food Events in Bucks County calendar. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter too for more frequent updates. Have a safe and savory weekend.

Friday, August 13th:
Forecast – Scattered thunderstorms, 79°

• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [11 am - 7 pm]
• Goschenhoppen Folk Festival, Perkiomenville [12 - 8 pm]
• Warrington Farmers’ Market @ Valley Square, Warrington [3 - 6 pm]
• Ottsville Farmers’ Market @ Linden Hill Gardens, Ottsville [3 - 7 pm]
• Beer Tasting @ Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [4 - 8 pm]
• Friday Happy Hour @ Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington, NJ [5 - 8 pm]
• Spaghetti Dinner @ Delaware Valley Fire Co., Erwinna [5:30 - 7:30 pm]
• Friday Night un(Wine)d Concerts, Doylestown [6 - 9 pm]
• Summer Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm, Yardley [6 - 9 pm]
• Wine Tasting for Singles @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, Washington Crossing [7 - 9 pm]
• Summer Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, Washington Crossing [7 - 10 pm]
• Barbara Trent @ The Centre Bridge Inn, New Hope [7 - 11 pm]
• Bob Egan @ Bowman’s Tavern, New Hope [8 pm-12 am]

Saturday, August 14th:
Forecast – Sunny, 83°

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market, Doylestown [7 am - 12 pm]
• Perkasie Farmers’ Market, Perkasie [8 am - 12 pm]
• Indian Valley Farmers’ Market, Telford [8:30 am - 12:30 pm]
• Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, Plumsteadville [9 am - 12 pm]
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, Wrightstown [9 am - 1 pm]
• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [9 am - 3 pm]
• Peach Festival @ Manoff Market Gardens, Solebury [9:30 am - 4:30 pm]
• Goschenhoppen Folk Festival, Perkiomenville [10 - 6 pm]
• Wine Tasting @ Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [12 - 5 pm]
• Music In The Vineyards @ Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes, NJ [1 - 4 pm]
• Second Saturdays in New Hope [3 - 9 pm]
• Chicken BBQ Dinner @ Bensalem Presbyterian Church, Bensalem [3:30 - 4:30 pm]
• The Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast, Washington Crossing [3:30 - 5:30 pm]
• Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing, New Hope [5 - 7 pm]
• Supper & Live Jazz by Kindle Cafe, Lambertville [6 - 9 pm]

Sunday, August 15th:
Forecast – Isolated Thunderstorms, 83°

• Breakfast Buffet @ Plumsteadville Fire Co., Plumsteadville [7 am - 12 pm]
• Breakfast @ Riegelsville Fire Company, Riegelsville [8 am - 12:30 pm]
• Yoga+Brunch by Kindle Cafe, Lambertville [9 - 11:30 am]
• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, Hellertown [9 am - 1 pm]
• Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, Flemington, NJ [9 am - 1 pm]
• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [10 am - 3 pm]
• Newtown MusicFest, Yardley [12 - 10 pm]
• Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration, Morrisville [1 - 4 pm]
• Music Under the Arbor @ Alba Vineyards, Milford, NJ [1 - 4 pm]
• A Dummies Guide to Wine Tasting @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, Washington Crossing [2 - 5 pm]
• Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing, New Hope [5 - 7 pm]

Monday, August 16th:
Forecast – Isolated Thunderstorms, 85°

• 94 Cents Cookie Night @ Chubby’s Dairy Barn, Plumsteadville [6 - 9 pm]
• Sweet Corn and Tantalizing Tomatoes, Doylestown [7 - 9 pm]

Tuesday, August 17th:

• Langhorne Farmers’ Market, Langhorne [3:30 - 6:30 pm]
• Beach Bash, Doylestown [7 - 9 pm]
• Tomato Canning Class, Doylestown [7 - 9:30 pm]

Wednesday, August 18th:

• 62nd Annual Middletown Grange Fair, Wrightstown [10 am - 10 pm]
• American Legion Meals on Wednesdays, Quakertown [11:30 am - 9 pm]
• The Farmers’ Market @ Playwicki Farm, Feasterville [4 - 7 pm]
• Complimentary Beer Tasting @ the Copper Leaf Grill, Buckingham [5 - 9 pm]
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Benefit @ La Stalla, Newtown [6 - 9 pm]
• Tomato Canning Class, Doylestown [7 - 9:30 pm]

Thursday, August 19th:

• 62nd Annual Middletown Grange Fair, Wrightstown [10 am - 10 pm]
• Capital City Market, Trenton, NJ [11 am - 2 pm]
• Healthier Hearts Farmers’ Market, Trenton, NJ [12:30 - 5 pm]
• Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, Flemington, NJ [3 - 7 pm]
• Lower Makefield Farmers’ Market, Yardley [3:30 - 6:30 pm]
• New Hope Farmers’ Market, New Hope [3:30 - 7 pm]
• Springtown Farmers’ Market, Springtown [4 - 7 pm]
• 94 Cent Ice Cream Cone Night @ Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream, Yardley [5 - 9 pm]
• Lobster Night @ The Centre Bridge Inn, New Hope [6 - 10 pm]
• Sizzling Summer Grilling – Fish and Seafood, Doylestown [7 - 9 pm]

Related posts:

1. The holidays come to Bucks County
2. Peachy-Keen Weekend
3. September farm-to-table dinners

Read the article – click here.

Slack tomato plants waiting for planting

It’s been too beautiful to sit at the computer the last two days, so I’ve been a bit of a laggard. I spent this morning cleaning up the yard and planting some new herbs I got yesterday from Chuck Rekemeier, who owns Town & Country Greenhouses in Pineville. Chuck’s greenhouse is on Fairview Farm, out back, beyond the peach trees and the little store where you can buy vegetables, milk, baked goods and some of the best peaches around (in season).

I met Chuck last year when I was buying tomatoes at Fred Slack’s farm in Forest Grove. Chuck grows Fred’s tomato seedlings from seeds that Fred gives him. Then the tomatoes end up at The Pineville Tavern every summer in a tasty appetizer called “Freddy’s Tomatoes.” I also spent some time with  Fred and his wife at their kitchen table to talk tomatoes. Look for a post sometime in July on this wonderful local “triangle.” Oh, and Fred says they’ll probably have tomatoes by July 10th. Yum.

Father’s Day is upon us! And why is it that fathers are expected to grill on their “day,” but moms get taken out for brunch or whatever? (Maybe they figure moms are so tired of cooking…). Kind of sexist, I guess. So, why not take Dad out for Father’s Day, or at least do something fun, instead of having him stand over the Weber?

There are FOUR firehouse breakfasts this Sunday, and I can personally vouch for two of them: Riegelsville and Plumsteadville. But don’t take my word for it. Try any of the others if they are closer to you, or some of the other Father’s Day breakfast events.

Take Dad to a vineyard. Crossing Vineyards and Winery is offering “Wine Tasting for Dads” Saturday afternoon from 1 – 4 pm. Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes, NJ (just up Rt. 202, before Flemington) is hosting all weekend a “Father’s Day Walk in the Vineyard,” with complimentary wine tasting, music and winery tours. There’s also the Sangria Festival with Chef Ron Spada at the New Hope Winery on Saturday from 12 – 5 pm. Chef Ron is setting up his 14 ft. smoker and will be selling ribs, chicken, and pulled pork sandwiches, with all the fixins’.

Saturday’s weather looks beautiful and what a great opportunity for a ride along the river. Then stop in at The Homestead General Store in Upper Black Eddy, the oldest, continually-operating, general  store on the river. They’ll be putting on their Coffee and Crafts Fest from 11 am – 4 pm. There will be coffee tasting and roasting demonstrations, local crafts, live music, book signings by local authors and live alpacas (!).

Coming up this week. “FRESH: The Movie,” will be at The County Theater at a special screening this Thursday, June 24th at 7 pm. If you haven’t seen this great film about eating locally, now’s the time. Here’s a description of the movie by director Ana Sofia Joanes:

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

The film will be followed by a discussion with a panel of local experts who are doing similar things right in our own back yard:  celebrating local food and producers, using local ingredients, raising food in a natural and sustainable way. To learn more, see our post from earlier this week. You can buy tickets at the County Theater’s web site. I’ll see you there!

If we weren’t going to the movie Thursday, we’d be going to the “Peak Organic Beer Dinner” at The Yardley Inn on Thursday evening. Chef Eben has put together an exciting seasonally fresh menu. The meal will be entirely organic, featuring fresh, local ingredients, produce, meats, and cheeses from local organic farms, and fine organic beers. Call to see if reservations are still available.

What can you expect to find produce-wise this week at local farm markets? The big news? BLUEBERRIES are here! In addition, you’ll probably find: arugula, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, early/mild turnips, english peas, fennel, garlic scapes, green beans, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce of all sorts, mustard greens, pea shoots, radishes, salad mix, scallions, snow peas, spinach, starter herbs, sweet snap peas, swiss chard, vegetable plants, zucchini,  and, quite possibly, the first raspberries of the season, along with other berries and maybe even cherries.

For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a special weekend.

Friday, June 18th:
Forecast -  Sunny, 87°

• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [11 am - 7 pm]
• Warrington Farmers’ Market @ Valley Square, Warrington [3 - 6 pm]
• Ottsville Farmers’ Market @ Linden Hill Gardens, Ottsville [3 - 7 pm]
• Friday Night un(Wine)d Concerts, Doylestown [6 - 9 pm]
• Summer Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm, Yardley [6 - 9 pm]
• Summer Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, Washington Crossing [7 - 10 pm]
• Barbara Trent @ The Centre Bridge Inn, New Hope [7 - 11 pm]
• Kindle Cafe Supper Club at Rojo’s Roastery, Lambertville, NJ [7:30 - 9:30 pm]
• Bob Egan @ Bowman’s Tavern, New Hope [8 pm-12 am]

Saturday, June 19th:
Forecast -  Sunny, 86°

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market, Doylestown [7 am - 12 pm]
• Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, Plumsteadville [9 am - 12 pm]
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, Wrightstown [9 am - 1 pm]
• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [9 am - 3 pm]
• Coffee and Crafts Fest @ the Homestead General Store, Upper Black Eddy [11 am - 4 pm]
• Sangria Festival with Chef Ron @ New Hope Winery, New Hope [12 - 5 pm]
• Wine Tasting @ Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [12 - 5 pm]
• Father’s Day Walk In The Vineyards Weekend, Ringoes, NJ [12 - 7 pm]
• Spring Herbs in the Kitchen @ Tinicum Herb Barn, Erwinna [1 - 3:30 pm]
• Wine Tasting for Dads @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing [1 - 4 pm]

Sunday, June 20th:
Forecast – Sunny, 90°

• Breakfast Buffet @ Plumsteadville Fire Co., Plumsteadville [7 am - 12 pm]
• Pancake Breakfast @ Applebee’s, Newtown [8 - 10 am]
• Buffet Breakfast @ Chalfont Fire Co., Chalfont [8 am - 12 pm]
• Breakfast @ Riegelsville Fire Company, Riegelsville [8 am - 12:30 pm]
• Breakfast Buffet @ Richland Twp Fire & Rescue, Quakertown [8 am - 1 pm]
• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, Hellertown [9 am - 1 pm]
• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [10 am - 3 pm]
• Father’s Day Breakfast @ Graeme Park, Horsham [11 am - 3 pm]
• Father’s Day Walk In The Vineyards Weekend, Ringoes, NJ [12 - 5 pm]
• Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration: June’s Bounty in the 17th Century, Morrisville [1 - 4 pm]

Monday, June 21st:
Forecast – Mostly sunny, 87°

• 94 Cents Cookie Night at Chubby’s Dairy Barn, Plumsteadville [6 - 9 pm]

Tuesday, June 22nd:

• Langhorne Farmers’ Market, Langhorne [3:30 - 6:30 pm]

Wednesday, June 23rd:

• American Legion Meals on Wednesdays, Quakertown [11:30 am - 9 pm]
• The Farmers’ Market @ Playwicki Farm, Feasterville [4 - 7 pm]
• Complimentary Beer Tasting @ the Copper Leaf Grill, Buckingham [5 - 9 pm]
• Summertime Sicilian Cooking Class @ Casa Casale, Lahaska [6:30 - 9 pm]

Thursday, June 24th:

• Lower Makefield Farmers’ Market, Yardley [3:30 - 6:30 pm]
• New Hope Farmers’ Market, New Hope [3:30 - 7 pm]
• Springtown Farmers’ Market, Springtown [4 - 7 pm]
• 94 Cent Ice Cream Cone Night @ Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream, Yardley [5 - 9 pm]
• Lobster Night @ The Centre Bridge Inn, New Hope [6 - 10 pm]
• Nutrition 101: How, what and when to eat!, New Britain [6:30 - 8 pm]
• “FRESH: the Movie” showing @ County Theater, Doylestown [7 - 9 pm]
• Peak Organic Beer Dinner @ Yardley Inn, Yardley [7 - 10 pm]

Look for Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter!

So the weather forecast for this weekend is typical summer – hot, humid with scattered thunderstorms. Big surprise. But, wow, has the calendar starting filling up. Here are some highlights for this weekend. Don’t take my word for it, though, check out the full calendar to find something good to eat in Bucks County.

Why not start the weekend with a glass of local wine and fun music? At Crossing Vineyards & Winery, bring a picnic dinner and pick up a bottle of wine in the winery, then sit back on the grass and enjoy the entertainment every Friday night ($10 in advance; $15 at the door). Shady Brook Farm’s Summer Wine Concert Series, also on Friday evenings, offers wine tasting of Rose Bank Winery, as well as lots of goodies in the market to munch on while listening to the music. And at Shady Brook Farm’s other location, The Market, at Del Val College in Doylestown, you can enjoy the same on Friday nights at their Friday Night un(Wine)d Concerts.

Get your strawberries. Not too much time left for local strawberries so this would be a great weekend to get out and pick-your-own (see our previous post on where to go) or pick some up at a local farmers’ market or farm market. If you’re too lazy to even do that, check out the annual Strawberry Festival at the Salem United Church of Christ in Doylestown, on Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm.

How about some great BBQ and homemade pie? Hot Ribs, Cool Music takes place on Saturday in Perkasie Olde Towne from 11 am to 6 pm. Just make sure to get their early for the barbecue competition. We were late last year and missed it. But we were in time to sample some of the entries to the pie contest. Yum.

The FAMOUS 15th Annual LobsterFest of the Trinity Episcopal Church of Solebury is also Saturday afternoon, although it may be too late to order a lobster. If you haven’t ordered yet, you can still do so online through the end of today, Friday. Go, go…do it.

So you decided to just lie around on Saturday? No problem. Sunday morning, go get some pancakes and support a cure for breast cancer at the “Cakes for Cure” Pancake Breakfast at The Green Parrot in Newtown. The flipping starts at 7 am and goes ’til 11 am.

And depending on your interest, there’s the Bucks County Jewish Festival in Yardley, taking place Sunday afternoon from 12 – 4 pm (Shady Brook Farm). Falafel, kosher hot dogs, and who knows what else (every synagogue makes something different each year!). Or if that’s not your thing, stop by the 2nd Annual Stockton Day in Stockton, New Jersey. There will be food, wine, music and fun, and of course, the Stockton Farmers’ Market.

Speaking of farmers’ markets we have a new one that just opened this past Wednesday in Feasterville. Welcome to the Farmers’ Market at Playwicki Farm (2350 Bridgetown Pike) happening on Wednesdays from 4 to 7 pm. Read the nice column this week from Kate Fratti at The Intelligencer/Bucks County Courier Times on the Langhorne Farmers’ Markets on Tuesday afternoons.

What can you expect to find this week at local farm markets? Strawberries, lettuces and all kinds of greens, radishes, sweet Asian turnips, starter herb and vegetable plants, potted flowers and beautiful cut flowers; along with pastured beef and chicken; cheeses and yogurt from pastured animals; pastured eggs; bread and baked goods; preserved products; handmade soaps and lotions; honey; maple syrup; organic, fair trade, locally roasted coffees; prepared foods and fiber products. And as Robin Hoy, executive director of the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance says, “Farmers’ market products are 1,500 miles fresher!!!”

For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a cool, relaxing weekend.

Friday, June 4th:
Forecast – Sunny, 90°

• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [11 am - 7 pm]
• Warrington Farmers’ Market @ Valley Square, Warrington [3 - 6 pm]
• Ottsville Farmers’ Market @ Linden Hill Gardens, Ottsville [3 - 7 pm]
• Barrel Tappings @ Triumph Brewing Co., New Hope [6 - 7 pm]
• Friday Night un(Wine)d Concerts, Doylestown [6 - 9 pm]
• Summer Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm, Yardley [6 - 9 pm]
• First Friday, Doylestown [6 - 9:30 pm]
• Summer Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, Washington Crossing [7 - 10 pm]
• 22nd Tyler Tasting Party at the Tyler Mansion, Newtown [7 - 10 pm]
• Barbara Trent @ The Centre Bridge Inn, New Hope [7 - 11 pm]
• Kindle Cafe Supper Club @ Rojo’s Roastery, Lambertville, NJ [7:30 - 9:30 pm]
• Bob Egan @ Bowman’s Tavern, New Hope [8 pm-12 am]

Saturday, June 5th:
Forecast – Sunny, scattered thunderstorms, 88°

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market, Doylestown [7 am - 12 pm]
• Strawberry Festival @ Salem United Church of Christ, Doylestown [8 am - 2 pm]
• Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, Plumsteadville [9 am - 12 pm]
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, Wrightstown [9 am - 1 pm]
• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [9 am - 3 pm]
• Hot Ribs, Cool Music in Perkasie Olde Towne, Perkasie [11 am - 6 pm]
• Wine Tasting @ Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [12 - 5 pm]
• Opening Reception of the Studio of Ben Solowey, Bedminster [1 - 5 pm]
• Spaghetti Dinner @ Riegelsville Fire Company, Riegelsville [4 - 7 pm]
• Beef & Beer Fun @ Stockton Fire Co., Stockton, NJ [4 - 7 pm]
• 15th Annual LobsterFest @ Trinity Episcopal Church of Solebury, Solebury [4 - 8 pm]
• Sweet Sixteen in the Vineyard, Washington Crossing [6:30 - 9:30 pm]
• Tavern Tasting for Washington Crossing Park, Washington Crossing [7 - 11 pm]

Sunday, June 6th:
Forecast – Sunny, scattered thunderstorms, 78°

• “Cakes for Cure” Pancake Breakfast @ The Green Parrot, Newtown [7 am - 11 am]
• Breakfast Buffet @ Plumsteadville Fire Co., Plumsteadville [7 am - 12 pm]
• Breakfast @ Perkasie Fire Co., Perkasie [7:30 am - 12:30 pm]
• New York City Gourmet Foods Tour with an Italian Flair! by The Cooking Cottage, Sellersville [8 am - 7 pm]
• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, Hellertown [9 am - 1 pm]
• Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [10 am - 3 pm]
• Chicken BarBQue Fund-raiser @ Chalfont Fire Co., Chalfont [11 am - 4 pm]
• Bucks County Jewish Festival, Yardley [12 - 4 pm]
• 2nd Annual Stockton Day, Stockton, NJ [1 - 4 pm]
• How Sweet It Is: Pairing Wine and Chocolate, Washington Crossing [2 - 5 pm]

Monday, June 7th:
Forecast – Sunny, 81°

• Complimentary Wine Sampling @ Yardley Inn, Yardley [5 - 9 pm]
• 94 Cents Cookie Night @ Chubby’s Dairy Barn, Plumsteadville [6 - 9 pm]
• Techniques of Cooking I: Decadent Desserts, Doylestown [7 - 9 pm]

Tuesday, June 8th:

• Langhorne Farmers’ Market, Langhorne [3:30 - 6:30 pm]

Look for Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter!

Related posts:

1. Peachy-Keen Weekend

But I got a double treat. Not only was Chef Dominic there, busily making lunch for a large party, but I got to meet Linda Gustafson and her partner, Glenn Jeffreys, who co-own Tastings & Tours. Linda started this business just last year and what a great idea. They offer tours of Bucks County wineries and breweries (and some in New Jersey) that usually include stops for lunch at area restaurants. On Saturday, they had stopped for lunch at The Copper Leaf Grill after sipping wine at Buckingham Valley Vineyards nearby. After lunch, they were off to the Chaddsford Winery Tasting Room in Lahaska and then Wycombe Vineyards in Forest Grove. All in a comfortable 14 passenger bus. Forget about Greyhound, let Tastings & Tours do the driving!

Tastings and Tours offers very affordable, customized packages, working with Bucks County wineries Crossing Vineyards, Sand Castle, New Hope, Chaddsford, Wycombe, and Unionville, and breweries River Horse and Triumph. Stops can also include Stephanie’s Sports Bar and the Mesquito Grille, who both offer dozens of beers on tap. In addition to the Copper Leaf Grill, lunch is offered at Andre’s Wine and Cheese in Doylestown (great local wine, cheeses and food).

They have numerous pick up and drop off locations in the Doylestown, New Hope and Lambertville area, and partner with many local bed and breakfasts. It’s a great idea for a wedding shower – or wedding weekend, Girls’ Day, or friends and family who come to visit. Tours run daily and on Friday nights. Contact Tastings & Tours at 484.695.6465, at info@tastingsandtours.com or at their Web site.

Look for Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter! 

Related posts:

1. The holidays come to Bucks County
2. Winery Notes: Drink locally
3. Summertime, when the living is easy…

For starters, what better way to get into the “holiday spirit” than sipping some spirits? The Bucks County Wine Trail is hosting a Holiday Celebration at all Bucks County wineries. Stop by Buckingham Valley Vineyards for some of their just-released Ruby Port or Champagne (officially, “sparkling wine”). I just had some recently at Andre’s Wine and Cheese Shop in Doylestown. More of a semi-dry Champagne and quite delicious. Need I say what a great gift it would make? Crossing Vineyards and Wycombe Vineyards also have some great activities in store for the weekend. Many of the wineries have special seasonal wines – like Spice Wines – just in time for the holidays.

Farmers’ Markets? You betcha. Stockton’s Indoor Farmers’ Market is off to a great start. They are open both Saturday and Sunday (see the Food Events in Bucks County for more details). The Wrightstown Farmers’ Market is having a mini-winter market this Saturday, pre-orders appreciated. And Parkside Orchid Nursery in Ottsville is hosting an indoor Holiday Farmers’ Market with local gift items for sale. The Kitchen Potager will be there with beautiful gift baskets of all local products. They flew off the shelves at last week’s Holiday Market at Linden Hill Gardens. Stop by Manoff Market Gardens in Solebury too at their Holiday Open House. Sip some cider and get the last of the season’s apples.

In addition to the above, several firehouses are hosting breakfasts, and there are cookie sales going on, seemingly everywhere!

Hanukkah begins tonight and continues for eight days, through next Saturday. Look for my upcoming post on some delectable potato pancakes (latkes). Get some homemade applesauce from Manoff’s to go with it!

Have a wonderful, warm weekend. For more details on any of the events below, please click on this link: Food Events in Bucks County.

Friday, December 11th:

• Spaghetti Dinner @ Delaware Valley Fire Co., 5:30 – 7:30 pm, Erwinna, PA. Santa Claus will be there!
• Kindle Cafe Supper Club at Rojo’s Roastery, 7:30 – 9:00 pm, Lambertville, NJ.

Saturday, December 12th:

• Holiday Celebration - Bucks County Wine Trail, Various Bucks County Wineries.
• Cookie Sale @ West Swamp Mennonite Church, 9 am – 12 pm, Quakertown, PA.
• Cookie Walk & Fruit/Nutroll pick-up, 9 am – 12 pm, St Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, Warrington, PA.
• Indoor Stockton Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 3 pm, Stockton, NJ.
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Mini-Market, 10 – 11 am, Wrightstown, PA.
• Indoor Holiday Farmer’s Market, 10 am – 2 pm, Parkside Orchid Nursery, Ottsville, PA.
• Holiday Open House @ Manoff Market Gardens, 10 am – 5:30 pm, Solebury, PA.
• Holiday Wine Festival @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery , 12 – 6 pm, Washington Crossing, PA.
• Herbal Holidays @ Tinicum Herb Barn, 1 – 4 pm, 610-847-8452, Erwinna, PA.
• Outdoor Chanukah Menorah Lighting & Potluck, 5 – 7 pm, Bristol Jewish Center, Bristol Borough, PA.
• Colonial Holiday Dinner, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, The Moland House (Washington’s Headquarters), Hartsville, PA.

Sunday, December 13th:

• Holiday Celebration – Bucks County Wine Trail, Various Bucks County Wineries.
• Breakfast @ Upper Black Eddy Fire Company, 7:30 am – 12 pm, Upper Black Eddy, PA.
• Breakfast Buffet @ Richland Twp Fire & Rescue, 8 am – 1 pm, Quakertown, PA.
• Breakfast Buffet @ Silverdale Fire Company, 8 am – 1 pm, Silverdale, PA.
• Indoor Stockton Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 3 pm, Stockton, NJ.
• Sugarplum/Nutcracker Tea @ Byers’ Choice Christmas Museum & Gift Emporium, 11 am – 3 pm, Chalfont, PA.
• Holiday Wine Festival @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery , 12 – 6 pm, Washington Crossing, PA.
• Herbal Holidays @ Tinicum Herb Barn, 1 – 4 pm, Erwinna, PA.
• A Dummies Guide to Wine Tasting @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 2 pm, Washington Crossing, PA.

Related posts:

1. Tasting and touring Bucks County
2. Bucks Food Calendar: August 12, 2010
3. Bucks Food Calendar: August 19, 2011

It’s up to you how to handle the family dynamics, but all other things being equal, bring a red, like a Nouveau, the young first harvest wine which arrives from France the week before Thanksgiving (Timing? Or marketing?). Or if you want to try a smaller batch version of a Nouveau (instead of the mass-produced Beaujolais Nouveau), stop by Crossing Vineyards this year and pick up one of their 2009 Le Nouveau. Says Crossing’s Christine Carroll, “Ours is shaping up beautifully this year, somewhat surprising for a challenging vintage.” (Remember all that rain this summer?). They’ll be open until 8 pm tonight.

Carroll also suggests a Pinot Noir, the wine “traditionally acknowledged as ‘the wine’ to pair with turkey and the fixins,” mostly because it can complement all the different tastes at the table (sweet, mild, salty, etc.).

But, she adds, “That’s fine if you like red wine and/or the taste of the Pinot Noir varietal. Many people don’t.” So, her tip – and mine if you’ve got a difficult family – is to have a white wine on hand too. “Chardonnay is great, as is Viognier,” suggests Carroll. “My one piece of advice would be to stay away from the oak bombs. Heavy oak overpowers instead of complementing the savory flavors.”

And my one piece of advice – have one bottle for your wine snobs, and something else for everyone else who couldn’t care less. Keep the peace, by all means!

From both Mark and I, we wish you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving. And, much thanks for all your support and positive feedback this year.

Related posts:

1. Getting fresh with turkeys
2. Winery Notes: Drink locally