Bucks County Taste » Firehouse breakfast

Bucks Food Calendar: August 19, 2011

Lynne Goldman — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:12:46 +0000

If some of these “scattered thunderstorms” can hold off, it looks like a pretty decent weekend. Which is great news if you are heading over to the 2011 Middletown Grange Fair. We will be going tonight – for the BBQ Chicken Dinner, of course, and to see the bunnies and maybe buy a raffle for a cow. Oh, and to see the Mutts Gone Nuts show. That’s gotta be fun with a name like that. To see photos from last year’s show, click here.

Lots of fun things this weekend but a few caught my eye in particular. In the upper part of the county, stop on by the Firehouse Breakfast in Riegelsville on Sunday. This is a monthly breakfast that has been going on for over twenty years. They know what they’re doing. Almost a full breakfast menu, including pancakes, eggs (any way you want them), breakfast meats, coffee, juice and more. See our previous post for more details, Serving up breakfast in Riegelsville.

Or on Saturday, consider a drive to the Holland Township Farmers’ Market, the newest market in the bi-state area, just across the river in Milford, New Jersey. This Saturday, August 20 will be their last market for the season. Looking forward to seeing you next year too!

The first apples of the season have started to appear! Manoff Market Gardens in Solebury now has Ginger Gold. Solebury Orchards, also in Solebury, reports their first apples are available, as does The Market at Del Val by Shady Brook. See Solebury Orchards’ Apple chart to find out when your favorite apple variety will be available. Crunch!

To market, to market. What can you expect to find at local farmers’ markets this week? For produce: Apples, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries (last of the season!), cabbage (green and purple), cantaloupe, carrots, celery, Swiss chard, collards, sweet corn, cucumbers (salad and pickle), edamame beans, eggplant, fennel, field peas, fresh cut herbs, garlic, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions (purple and fresh), peaches, pears, peppers (hot and sweet), potatoes, radishes, raspberries, scallions, summer squash, tomatoes (all kinds), watermelon and zucchini. In addition, many markets have locally raised meats, cheese, baked goods and bread, local honey and prepared foods, as well as preserves and local artisanal goods like wool, soap and ceramics. Support your local farms especially this time of year when produce is gorgeous and well-priced. Get your nutrition local!

Save the date! oWowCow Creamery will be hosting a fundraiser for the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance at its new Wrightstown location on Wednesday, August 31st from 6 pm to 9 pm. All you’ve got to do is show up and buy some delicious ice cream. Easy, huh? John Fezzuoglio, owner and ice cream maker extraordinaire, will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Foodshed Alliance. The store is in Carousel Village at 591 Durham Road (Route 413) in Wrightstown, just a few miles north of Newtown. See you there!

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

Friday, August 19:

63rd Annual Middletown Grange Fair, Wrightstown [10 am - 11 pm]
Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [1-7 pm]
Summer BBQ @ Lumberville General Store, Lumberville [3 - 7 pm]
Ottsville Farmers’ Market, Linden Hill Gardens, Ottsville [4-8 pm]
Beer Tasting, Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [4-6 pm]
Friday Wine & Music @ Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington, NJ [5-8 pm]
Lobster Bake at the Vineyard @ Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes, NJ [6 - 9 pm]
Wine Concert Series @ The Market at DelVal, Doylestown [6 - 9 pm]
Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm, Yardley [6 - 9 pm]
Friday Night Fireworks Express – New Hope/Ivyland Train, New Hope [6:15 - 10:30 pm]
Wine Tasting for Singles @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing [7 - 9 pm]
Summer Wine & Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing [7 - 10 pm]
Belgian-Style Brews with Beer Blogger Giuseppe Fusco @ Stockton Inn, Stockton, NJ [7:30 - 10:30 pm]
Summer Fireworks in New Hope/Lambertville – New Hope, PA & Lambertville, NJ [9:30 – 10:30 pm]

Saturday, August 20:

Doylestown Farmers’ Market, Doylestown [7 am-12 pm]
Perkasie Farmers’ Market, Perkasie [8 am - 12 pm]
Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, Plumsteadville [9 am - 12 pm]
Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, Wrightstown [9 am-1 pm]
Holland Township Farmers’ Market, Milford, NJ [9 am - 1 pm]
Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [9 am-4 pm]
63rd Annual Middletown Grange Fair, Wrightstown [10 am - 11 pm]
Wine Tasting @ Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [12-6 pm]
Beer Tasting @ New Hope Beverage, New Hope [3-7 pm]
Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing @ New Hope/Ivyland Train, New Hope [5 - 7 pm]
Saturday Wine & Music @ Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington [5-8 pm]
Evening Star Dinner Train @ New Hope/Ivyland Train, New Hope [7 - 9 pm]

Sunday, August 21:

Breakfast @ Riegelsville Fire Company, Riegelsville [8 am - 12:30 pm]
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-4 pm]
63rd Annual Middletown Grange Fair, Wrightstown [10 am - 5 pm]
Sunday Brunch Train @ New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, New Hope [10:15 - 11:30 am]
A Dummies Guide to Wine Tasting @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing [2 - 4 pm]
Music @ Villa Milagro Vineyards, Finesville, NJ [2 - 5 pm]
Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing @ New Hope/Ivyland Train, New Hope [5 - 7 pm]
Earth Center Coffee House, Tyler State Park , Richboro [6 - 9 pm]

Monday, August 22:

Mediterranean Style @ Carlow Cookery, Doylestown [7 - 9 pm]
Soupcon Salon by Kindle Cafe @ Manon, Lambertville, NJ [7 - 9:15 pm]

Tuesday, August 23:

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

Wednesday, August 24:

Pierogy Wednesdays @ St. Anne Ukrainian, Warrington [9 am - 12 pm]
The Farmers’ Market @ Playwicki Farm, Feasterville [4 - 7 pm]
Global Dinner @ The Cafe at Rosemont, Rosemont, NJ [5 - 8 pm]
Complimentary Beer Tasting @ the Copper Leaf Grill, Buckingham [5 - 9 pm]
Chef Eben Copple’s Grilling Demo @ Yardley Inn, Yardley [7 - 9 pm]
Flavors of Northern Italy @ Carlow Cookery, Doylestown [7 - 9 pm]

Thursday, August 25:

New Hope Farmers’ Market, New Hope [2:30-6:30 pm]
Uncle Dave’s 94 cents Ice Cream Cones @ Shady Brook Farm, Yardley [3 - 9 pm]
Lower Makefield Farmers’ Market, Lower Makefield [3:30 - 6:30 pm]
Clam Bake @ Logan Inn, New Hope [5 - 9 pm]
Sushi Night in the Wine Cellar – The Inn at Lambertville Station, Lambertville, NJ [6 - 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.

Firehouses, markets and art

Lynne Goldman — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:18:11 +0000

Oh, oh, oh. It looks like another great weekend here in Bucks County. Mark is looking forward to sanding and painting our little boat, but me…as usual I’m thinking about food. There are MANY firehouse breakfasts and dinners going on this weekend, so here’s your chance to try one if you haven’t already. Or sign up for a wine tasting or cooking class. It’s all here. Also, see our post from last week on places to sit outside and enjoy food and libations.

Enjoy art, a tasty brunch and support the Neshaminy Manor Nursing Home all at the same time. The 8th Annual Arts for the Manor will feature food by some of the area’s finest chefs – Meil’s, Just Foods, Issac Newtons, The Cafe at Rosemont, J. Scones, Sodexho Food Service, Heavenly Ham, Haring Brothers, Crossroads Bakery, Uno’s Bar & Grill, Houlihans, Solly Brothers Farm, Acme, Giant, Wegman’s, Kenny’s, Vaders, Buck Hotel, and more. All proceeds benefit the Arts For The Manor – a program to bring artists into Neshaminy Manor to work with residents on a weekly basis.

While the last New Hope Winter Farmers’ Market takes place this Thursday, April 15th, the Bucks County seasonal farmers’ market season officially opens next Saturday with the 33rd year of the Doylestown Farmers’ Market run by the Buckingham Township Civic Association. And of course, the Stockton Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday and Sunday in Stockton. Come on out and celebrate the new growing season!

Here’s just a tasting of some of the food events going on this weekend, and a little peak into next week. For more details, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a fun and tasty weekend!

Friday, April 9th:
Forecast – Clearing, 62°

Spaghetti Dinner @ Delaware Valley Fire Co., Erwinna [5:30 - 7:30 pm]
Surf & Turf @ The Cooking Cottage, Sellersville [6:30 - 8:30 pm]
Wines of Spain and Portugal, Carlow Cookery, Doylestown [7:30 - 8:30 pm]
Kindle Cafe Supper Club at Rojo’s Roastery, Lambertville, NJ [7:30 - 9:00 pm]

Saturday, April 10th:
Forecast – Sunny, 64°

Pancake Fundraiser @ Applebee’s, Quakertown [7 - 10 am]
Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [9 am - 3 pm]
Hoagie Sale @ Upper Gwynedd Fire Co., Upper Gwynedd [10 am - 12 pm]
Roast Beef Dinner @ West Amwell Firehouse, West Amwell, NJ [4 - 7 pm]
Lasagna Dinner @ First United Church of Christ, Quakertown [4 - 7:30 pm]
Firehouse Dinner @ Plumsteadville Fire Co., Plumsteadville [4 - 7:30 pm]

Sunday, April 11th:
Forecast – Sunny, 73°

Breakfast Buffet @ Plumsteadville Fire Co., Plumsteadville [7 am - 12 pm]
Breakfast @ Upper Black Eddy Fire Company, Upper Black Eddy [7:30 am - 12 pm]
Breakfast @ Perkasie Fire Co., Perkasie [7:30 am - 12:30 pm]
Breakfast Buffet @ Silverdale Fire Company, Silverdale [8 am - 1 pm]
Breakfast Buffet @ Richland Twp Fire & Rescue, Quakertown [8 am - 1 pm]
Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [10 am - 3 pm]
Arts for the Manor Annual Brunch & Art Show, Neshaminy Manor, Warrington [11 am - 2 pm]
Roast Beef Dinner @ Ottsville Fire Co., Ottsville [12 - 5 pm]
Chicken Dinner @ Father Gallen Council 5494, Warrington [1 - 6 pm]
Wine Tasting in Riedel Crystal @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing [2 - 5 pm]
Duck 2-ways with Matt Heckler @ The Cooking Cottage, Sellersville [4 - 6 pm]
Wines from Around the World @ Chaddsford Winery Tasting Room, Lahaska [7 - 9 pm]

Monday, April 12th:

Wine 101 – Class #4 – White Wine, Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing [6:30 - 8:30 pm]
Spring is in the Air @ The Cooking Cottage, Sellersville [6:30 - 8:30 pm]
Techniques of Cooking I: Seasonal Sauces, Carlow Cookery, Doylestown [7 - 9 pm]

A sunny weekend in Bucks County – finally!

Lynne Goldman — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:00:18 +0000

So much going on this weekend, food-wise (is there anything else??). And the weather looks bee-u-tee-ful! Bucks County Taste - in the person of Lynne Goldman – will be at the Bucks Beautiful Garden & Home Show at Del Val College on Sunday. Be sure to stop by the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance table anytime this weekend to learn more about local food and see food demos.

Here’s just a tasting of some of the food events going on. For more details, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a safe and delicious weekend!

Friday, March 19th:
Forecast – Sunny, 71°

19th Annual Bucks Beautiful Garden & Home Show opens at Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, PA [3 - 8 pm]
Fish Fry @ Riegelsville Fire Company, Riegelsville, PA [4 - 7 pm]
Fish Fry @ Columbia Fire Co., Lambertville, NJ [5 - 7:30 pm]
Erin Go Dine! @ Honey Restaurant, Doylestown, PA [5 - 9 pm]
Winter’s Last Gasp Luau @ Stockton Inn, Stockton, NJ [6 - 10:30 pm]
Contemporary Italian @ The Cooking Cottage,Sellersville PA
[6:30 - 8:30 pm]
Kindle Cafe Supper Club @ Rojo’s Roastery, Lambertville, NJ
[7:30 - 9:00 pm]
Dirt! The Movie @ Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow, New Hope, PA
[7:30 - 9:30 pm]
Erin McKeown @ New Hope Winery, New Hope, PA [8 - 10:30 pm]

Saturday, March 20th:
Forecast – Sunny, 72°

Pancake Day @ Doylestown Fire Co. #1, Doylestown, PA [6:30 am - 12 pm]
Pancake Breakfast @ CB East H.S., Doylestown, PA [8 - 11 am]
Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ
[9 am - 3 pm]
19th Annual Bucks Beautiful Garden & Home Show at Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, PA [10 am - 4 pm]
Planning your Summer Garden @ Pennypack Farm & Education Center, Horsham, PA [2 - 4 pm]
Family-Style Roast Beef Dinner @ St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sellersville, PA [4 - 7 pm]
Food and Wine Pairing @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing, PA
[7:30 - 9:30 pm]

Sunday, March 21st:
Forecast – Sunny, 74° – First Day of Spring!

Breakfast Buffet @ Plumsteadville Fire Co., Plumsteadville, Pa [7 am - 12 pm]
Breakfast @ Riegelsville Fire Company, Riegelsville, PA [8 am - 12:30 pm]
Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [10 am - 3 pm]
19th Annual Bucks Beautiful Garden & Home Show at Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, PA [10 am - 4 pm]
Wine Concert Series at Shady Brook Farm, Yardley, PA [1 - 4 pm]
Pairing Wine & Cheese @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing, PA
[2 - 4 pm]
1st Annual New Hope Restaurant Week starts tonight in New Hope, PA
[5 - 10 pm] through March 26th.

A winter weekend in Bucks

Lynne Goldman — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:38:22 +0000

It may be cold, and it may still be winter for awhile (unless the groundhog tells us differently next week), but there are still lots of reasons to leave home and eat this weekend.

For starters, The Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival, now in it’s 12th year is in full swing. I won’t go into great detail – see their Web site for a schedule of events – but there is lots to do and eat, including a Beef n’Brew at Triumph Brewing Co. (still tickets left!) on Saturday from 2-4:30 pm.
Firehouse and pancake breakfasts all around, including one in Plumsteadville, Haycock, Warrington and at the New Hope-Solebury High School. See our food events calendar for more locations and directions.
The 2nd Annual Wing Ding Contest at Chambers 19 in Doylestown. Raise your beer and munch on some wings. May the best winger win!
Do your weekly food shopping at the Stockton Indoor Market on Saturday or Sunday. Pick up some freshly baked bread, farm-fresh cheese, vegetables, organic coffee, yummy pastries, fresh fish and, even, artisanal ice cream. See our post for more information on vendors.

Coming up next weekend? How about a gourmet vegetarian dinner at the Kindle Cafe, or eating chili to support Planned Parenthood at the Choice Chili Cook-off? Or stop in at the Chaddsford Winery Tasting Room in Peddlers Village for their February Fusion, pairing gourmet chocolate and wine. Or check out the monthly barrel tasting at Triumph Brewing Company. See our food events calendar for more details.

Look for Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter!

The holidays come to Bucks County

Lynne Goldman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:44:34 +0000

I have to admit something. Just a couple of weeks ago I was worried that food events were going to slow down towards the holidays. I know that seems counter-intuitive – I mean, sometimes that seems the main activity this time of year – but not a lot was showing up for the calendar. But, whoa! – now that I look at the weekend, there are a lot of yummy activities.

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.

Serving up breakfast in Riegelsville

Lynne Goldman — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00:54 +0000

I grew up in Philadelphia where firefighters are municipal employees. In fact, our nearest fire house was right across the street from my junior high school. Every Wednesday at noon, the air raid horn was blown. Remember, this was the 1970′s when the Cold War was still fairly recent. If you had a class on that side of the building, all talking came to a halt for that minute.

So when I first moved out to the ‘burbs, I was a bit taken aback to learn that my local firehouse was a volunteer operation. “Volunteers? Called via a siren??” I have since learned that most firehouses in the United States are volunteer-run, and run very well. It is a very special person who volunteers to protect and help their community in this way, and my appreciation for him or her is great.

Living in Bucks County, though, I have come to appreciate our local fire companies for something else – their food (come on, you knew where I was going with this). I am stating here in print that it is one of our long-term goals to sample every firehouse breakfast in Bucks County. Why? Because, as the saying goes, it’s there. Consider it our public service.

Some fire companies do a breakfast once or twice a year. Some do it four times a year. The Community Fire Company #1, Station 42, in Riegelsville, does it EVERY MONTH. And they have done so for over twenty years. This we had to check out.

It was a warm August Sunday when we arrived in Riegelsville. If you’ve never been to a firehouse breakfast, here’s how it typically works. Tables and chairs are set up in the actual firehouse (they move the engines outside). You usually pay up front, sit down at a clean table setting, and wait for a friendly face to appear with a pot of coffee. Breakfast – eggs, pancakes, meat, toast, etc. – is served to you at the table shortly after that. The firefighters are often the ones in the kitchen turning out the hotcakes, with the Auxiliary ladies serving up. The atmosphere is boisterous and friendly, with families, seniors and everything in between. Strangers talk to each other and become new friends. This city girl was charmed the first time I went to one here in Wycombe.

The Riegelsville breakfast works a little differently, but then, they’ve got the experience. Instead of paying one set price up front, we were directed to sit down and fill out a simple paper menu at our seats with choices of eggs (circle how you want them), three kinds of meat (ham, sausage or scrapple), hotcakes, French toast, creamed beef, potatoes, toast, juice, and hot beverages (coffee, tea, hot chocolate). It’s more like a diner that operates once a month.

Seeing as we had an obligation to sample as much as we could, Mark, our friend, Peter, and I all ordered the Firefighters Special: 2 eggs, 2 hotcakes, 1 slice of ham, 2 pieces of sausage, potatoes and toast. Price? $6.75. And that’s the most expensive dish on the menu. Oh, and Peter also got the French toast. Good man.

I wanted to find out more about the Riegelsville firehouse and its meals (they do dinners too), and Diana Cox, president of the Auxiliary, was good enough to sit down and chat with us. She filled in some of the details and told us about the important role the breakfasts and dinners play in helping to pay for engine trucks, repairs and other firehouse improvements.

As for sources, all their eggs come from Rick’s Egg Farm in Kintersville. Meat comes from R&R Provisions in Easton. And all produce comes from Trauger’s Farm, also in Kintersville.

Diners come from as far as Warminster and Souderton, or folks just passing by on 611 who see the sign and drive up the hill. During the summer months, they serve 300 to 400 people. In the fall and winter, they get over 400, with almost 500 around Christmas. And they do this from 8 am to noon on the third Sunday of every month.

Ah, but the dinners. It began innocently with a spaghetti dinner a few years back, says Diana. Now they are doing them almost every month. October will be Pork and Sauerkraut (check our Food Events in Bucks County soon for time and date). May is their now famous Roast Beef Dinner with fresh local asparagus. Lent brings a Fish Fry. Spaghetti Dinner in June. The baked goods are all homemade and donated by community members. The stuffing and potatoes are real, says Diana, horrified when people suggest otherwise. And the vegetables are all fresh and local. In fact, the day after we spoke was going to be corn blanching day for the Auxiliary, to freeze and use for the rest of the year during the dinners.

So, if you’re hungry this Sunday, September 20th, go to Riegelsville for breakfast. Our only regret when we went was we didn’t have time to explore the rest of Riegelsville that day. But fall is here, and it sounds like a great day trip.

The Community Fire Company #1, Station 42
333 Delaware Avenue
Riegelsville, PA
610-749-2737

Weekend Eats in Bucks County

Lynne Goldman — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:37:13 +0000

The forecast may not be sunny this weekend, but it is cooler and things are still happening. Kind of a relief after all the heat and humidity, and a nice taste of fall.

Alert to any backyard farmers currently overrun with tomatoes, zucchinis and squashes. Carousel Gardens, on Route 413/Durham Road just north of Newtown, is accepting any fresh produce and passing it on to Philabundance, the Delaware Valley food bank. Donations are accepted all day Friday (8 am to 6 pm) and Saturday mornings (8 am to noon). This continues until the last weekend in September. For more information, call Carousel Gardens at 215.598.0202 or see Philabundance’s Web site. (Non-perishables accepted too.)

On both sides of the river you can get some good firehouse food this weekend. Friday night is Rib Night at the Union Fire Co. #1 on 230 North Main Street in Lambertville from 6 to 9:30 pm. Yum. Up in Ottsville, the volunteer fire company is having a Summer BBQ and Beer Bash Saturday evening from 6 to 10 pm (249 Durham Road). And Sunday morning, check out breakfast at the Haycock Fire Company, 850 Old Bethlehem Road, in Haycock, near Lake Nockamixon.

Speaking of breakfast, and peaches, Solly’s Farm Market will try again this Sunday to hold their famous Peach Pancake Breakfast. Eating commences at 9 am, going till noon, weather permitting. A Peach pancake breakfast will cost you $7 per person. Solly’s is at 707 Almshouse Road in Ivyland (near Richboro).

If it’s not too late, see if you can go to the Quakertown Rotary Clam Bake on Saturday in Springtown from 3 to 7 pm. A great menu for a great price (see our Food Events in Bucks County calendar for details). Also in the Quakertown area, the Bucks County Jazz and Wine Festival is taking place at McCoole’s Arts & Events Place at Main and Broad Streets in Quakertown.

Finally, yet another reason to eat ice cream. Local ice cream maker, Uncle Dave’s, is having a festival at Shady Brook Farm on Sunday from noon to 4 pm. You can always eat ice cream. Even if it’s raining. Cheer you up. Really.

Get details on any of these events at our Food Events in Bucks County calendar. Have a wonderful weekend.

What's Up, Dad?

Lynne Goldman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:44:32 +0000

Even more tedious than the constant rain is talking about the constant rain. So, with a typical summer forecast for this weekend – chance of thunderstorms – let’s move on.

Time to take Dad out for some fun this weekend – and food and wine. There are three venues doing wine-related events this weekend. On Friday night, both Crossing Vineyards in Washington Crossing and Shady Brook Farm in Yardley are pairing music and wine, while Chaddsford Winery is pampering Dads the whole weekend at its tasting room in Peddler’s Village.

Also in Peddlers Village, Earl’s (formerly Earl’s Prime) has changed its concept, incorporating locally-produced and -grown food into their new contemporary cuisine menu. On Sunday, Father’s Day, they’re offering Dads a complimentary brunch or dinner. What a deal! See their web site for the coupon and their new menu.

Some fun community events include the Joyful Noise Music Festival in Haycock with all proceeds going to the Quakertown Food Pantry, as well as two firehouse breakfasts – one in Riegelsville and one in Plumsteadville. Shady Brook Farm is also doing a Father’s Day BBQ on Sunday if Dad is not in the mood to clean the grill.

If you haven’t a chance to yet, be sure to watch our video of the Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, where you’ll hear vendors describing their products – then you can meet them in person on Saturday at the market, or at some of the other farmers’ markets throughout the county.

Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details on any of the events below.

Friday, June 19th:

Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, Ottsville.
Wine Concert Series at Shady Brook Farm, 6 – 9 pm, Yardley. Weather permitting. Free admission. Jerry Watkins will be the musical entertainment.
Outdoor Summer Music Series at Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 7 – 10 pm, Washington Crossing. Opera New Jersey will be the musical entertainment.
Wine Tasting for Singles at Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 7-9 pm, Washington Crossing

Saturday, June 20th:

Doylestown Farmers’ Market, 7 am – Noon, Doylestown
Pierogie Sale & Flea Market, 8 am – 2 pm, St. Mark’s Orthodox Church, Wrightstown.
Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, 9 am – 12 pm, Route 611 just north of Stump Road, Plumsteadville.
Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Wrightstown.
Father’s Day Weekend at Chaddsford Winery, 10 am – 8 pm, Lahaska.
Joyful Noise III Community Music Festival (Quakertown Food Pantry), 11 am – 7 pm, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Applebachsville, Haycock.

Sunday, June 21st:

Buffet Breakfast @ Plumsteadville Fire Company, 7:30 am – 12:30 pm, Plumsteadville.
Breakfast @ Riegelsville Fire Company, 8 am – 12:30 pm, Riegelsville.
Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Hellertown.
Father’s Day Breakfast Buffet, @ Richland Township Fire & Rescue, 8 am – 1 pm, Quakertown.
Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Flemington.
Father’s Day Weekend at Chaddsford Winery, 11 am – 5 pm, Lahaska.
Sunday Funday: Father’s Day BBQ, 12 – 4 pm, Shady Brook Farm, Yardley.
Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration, 1 – 4 pm, Pennsbury Manor, Morrisville.

Monday, June 22nd:

94 Cents Cookie Night at Chubby’s Dairy Barn, 6 – 8:30 pm, Plumsteadville.
Techniques of Regional American Cooking, 7 – 9 pm, Carlow Cookery, Doylestown.

Cool Jazz, Strawberries and Even a Pig Roast

Lynne Goldman — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:54:52 +0000

This is what they call a British summer. Rain, cool temperatures, with the sun popping out every now and then just to tease you. The really annoying part is that according to my sister, England is getting our summer weather right now. It’s just not fair. Even the farmers are getting tired of this weather.

But there is lots of cool stuff happening this weekend. Crossing Vineyards and Winery is kicking off their Outdoor Summer Music Series on Friday night with the Lynn Randall Quartet doing the Great American Songbook. There are two Strawberry Festivals happening, one in Hatboro and one in Quakertown. And, of course, there’s still plenty of pick-your-own strawberries around too (see our post below). The Milford Township Volunteer Fire Company will be finishing up their week-long Carnival, and in addition to a firehouse breakfast at the Ivyland Volunteer Fire Company, there’s a chicken BBQ dinner at the Chalfont Firehouse.

Last but not least, don’t forget to stop in at your local farmers’ market this week. In addition to the weekend markets listed below, Springtown has their market on Wednesdays, Lower Makefield and New Hope are on Thursdays. Local veggies and fruits include healthy greens (lettuce, chard, spinach, radish, collard, mustard, broccoli rabe), radishes and turnips, and, of course, strawberries.

Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details on any of the events below.

Friday, June 12th:
• Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, Ottsville.
• Spaghetti Dinner @ Delaware Valley Fire Company, 5:30 – 8 pm, Erwinna.
• Milford Twp Volunteer Fire Company Carnival, 6 – 10:30 pm, Milford Square.
• Wine Concert Series at Shady Brook Farm, 6 – 9 pm, Yardley. Weather permitting. Free admission. Idlewoodsmen will be the musical entertainment.
• Outdoor Summer Music Series at Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 7 – 10 pm, Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing.

Saturday, June 13th:
• Doylestown Farmers’ Market, 7 am – Noon, Doylestown
• Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, 9 am – 12 pm, Route 611 just north of Stump Road, Plumsteadville.
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Wrightstown.
• Strawberry Festival @ Hatboro Baptist Church, 9 am – 3 pm, Hatboro.
• Coffee, Crafts and Crooning, 11 am – 4 pm, Homestead General Store, Upper Black Eddy.
• Chicken BBQ Dinner @ West Amwell Firehouse, 4 – 8 pm, Lambertville.
• Lawn Fete, Strawberry Festival & Concert, 4 – 8:30 pm, First United Church of Christ, Quakertown.
• Pig Roast and Corn-on-the-Cob, 4:30 – 7:30 pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, Quakertown.
• Milford Twp Volunteer Fire Company Carnival, 6 – 10:30 pm, Milford Square.

Sunday, June 14th:
• Pancake and Sausage Breakfast @ Ivyland Volunteer Fire Company, 8 am – 1 pm, Ivyland.
• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Hellertown.
• Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Flemington.
• Chicken BBQ @ Chalfont Firehouse, 11 am – 4 pm, Chalfont.
• Sunday Funday: Lavender Festival, Shady Brook Farm, Noon – 4 pm, Yardley.
• Wine Tasting for Dummies @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 2 – 5 pm, Washington Crossing.
• Spaghetti Dinner Benefit @ St. Michaels’ Church, 5 – 8 pm, Sellersville.
• USO Show @ Chubby’s Dairy Barn, 6 – 8:30 pm, Plumsteadville.

Monday, June 15th:
• 94 Cents Cookie Night at Chubby’s Dairy Barn, 6 – 8:30 pm, Plumsteadville.

Expand Your Idea Of "Local" This Weekend

Lynne Goldman — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:49:57 +0000

I think I’ve learned something interesting in the last few months while writing for Bucks County Taste . “Local” means different things to different people.

We all tend to get very comfortable living within a pretty narrow geographical area. Grocery store, school, work, family, friends, a few local restaurants we go to over and over again. Mark and I are not much of an exception. We live in Central Bucks, and when we’re tired after a long day, we tend to stay close to home – sometimes no further than our backyard.

But we’ve learned in our exploring that there is A LOT going on in other parts of Bucks County. And now is the best time of year to get off your you-know-what and get out there. Go to Lower Bucks, go to Upper Bucks, or even just go into Doylestown, for heaven’s sake.

This weekend is a perfect example. A brand new farmers’ market, the Linden Hill Farmer’s Market, is opening up in Ottsville on Route 611 this Friday. And wait till you see the line-up of vendors (see our post below). That’s not all. Do you know that a totally organic, small batch, locally-sourced ice creamery called Owow Cow Creamery has just opened, also up in Ottsville, right at Routes 412 & 563 (near Nockamixon State Park)? And Perkasie Olde Towne is hosting its Hot Ribs, Cool Music Festival on Saturday. Weather forecast: Sunny and in the upper 70′s. Perfect rib-eating, ice cream-licking weather.

Here’s the run-down – or should I say, “fun-down” (ouch) for the weekend. Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details.

Friday, May 29th:
• Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, Ottsville.
• Wine Concert Series at Shady Brook Farm, 6 – 9 pm, Yardley. Weather permitting. Free admission. Little Big Thing will be the musical entertainment.
• Wines of Australia and New Zealand: From affordable to collectible, 7 – 8:30 pm, Carlow Cookery, Doylestown.

Saturday, May 30th:
• Doylestown Farmers’ Market, 7 am – Noon, Doylestown
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Wrightstown.
• Quaker Heritage Day – Quakers, Pies & Bicycles, 10 am – 2 pm, Solebury Meetinghouse, New Hope.
• Hot Ribs, Cool Music in Perkasie Olde Towne, 10 am – 5 pm, Perkasie. Rib Cooking starts at 7 am, competition and sampling starts around 12!
• Beef & Beer at Stockton Fire Company, 4 – 7 pm, Stockton.

Sunday, May 31th:
• Breakfast at Haycock Fire Company, 8 am – 12 pm, Haycock.
• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Hellertown.
• Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Flemington.
• 2nd Annual Bucks County Chocolate Show, 10 am – 4 pm, New Hope (see post below).
• Sunday Funday: Strawberry Festival, Shady Brook Farm, Noon – 4 pm, Yardley
• 2009 Bucks County Wine Tour, 12 – 5 pm, Bucks County.
• Charity Barbecue at Kids Castle Park, 1 – 3 pm, Doylestown.
• Wine Tasting, Cheese & Chocolate Fundraiser for Kehilat HaNahar, 6 – 8:30 pm, Chaddsford Winery Tasting Room, Peddler’s Village, Lahaska.
• CB Cares 2nd Annual Celebrity Chef & Waiter Gala 2009, 6 – 10 pm, Doylestown Country Club, Doylestown.

Don’t forget to check our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County regularly for great stuff happening. Have a wonderful weekend!