Bucks County Taste » ice cream

The new, cool foodie Dad

Lynne Goldman — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:13:24 +0000

Yep. It’s this Sunday. You better get your act together. Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19, 2011.

Do people still buy ties for Dads? Or barbecue equipment? Or is that all advertising gobbly gook? More like polo shirts and ugly shorts, no? What truly is reality?

Before I get too metaphysical, let’s get really real. I’ve got some great ideas for the foodie Dad, or any Dad for that matter, who enjoys eating.

Restaurants. How about a gift card to Dad’s favorite restaurant? (Mom will like that too). Click on this post and this one to get some ideas.

Specialty Food Stores. Ditto on the gift card, only why not get him one at his favorite specialty food store, like Altomonte’s, or his favorite bakery (Crossroads, Town Crier, Cramer’s, or at one of the farmers’ markets)? Or his favorite butcher (Haring Brothers, Illg’s, Ely’s, Maresca’s)? Wine or beer store (Phillips’, Wonderful World of Wine, Walker’s)? And let’s not forget ice cream places (oWowCow, Goodnoe’s, Uncle Dave’s, Chubby’s, Sweet Pea, Half Pint Kitchen, Yardley Ice House…here’s a list of even more).

Chocolate. It’s not just for Valentine’s Day anymore – or for the ladies. Pssst. I’ll tell you a secret. Men like chocolate too. Think the Painted Truffle (Stockton Market), Theo’s Chocolate or Laurie’s Chocolates (None Such Market), Raymer’s (Doylestown), and Didi’s Chocolates (Jamie Hollander Gourmet).

Bucks County Food Tour. If your Dad is into food, Bucks County Food Tours is the perfect gift. They can offer a variety of “behind-the-scenes” tour themes – meat, ice cream, cheese, or a mixed bag of fun, interesting local food and wine. They can customize a tour too. Five hours of eating, laughing and enjoying Bucks County bounty. For more information, see their website.

Cooking Classes. Who couldn’t use a little brushing up on their cooking skills? Even if your Dad is pretty swift in the kitchen, he might enjoy learning a new cuisine or honing his skills. We’re fortunate to have several places in Bucks that do interesting and innovative cooking classes. Look up The Cooking Cottage in Sellersville, the Kitchen Garden Cooking School in Durham, Casa Casale in Lahaska, or Carlow Cookery in Doylestown.

Whatever you decide, be sure to spend some quality time with your Dad, and thank him for all the food he’s given you over the years!

Happy Father’s Day.

The year in food: Bucks County 2010 – part 2

Guess who’s coming to Wrightstown?

Lynne Goldman — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:06:12 +0000

oWowCow Creamery!

The opening date isn’t set yet but the delicious, locally sourced ice creamery that started in Ottsville only two years ago will be setting up their second location at the Carousel Village on Route 413/Durham Road in Wrightstown, just miles north of Newtown.

More details to follow as I get them. In the meantime, if you live in within 10 miles of Wrightstown, prepare to ditch your diet plans this spring and summer…

The year in food: Bucks County 2010 – part 2

Lynne Goldman — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:13:06 +0000

It’s a new year, and surprisingly I’m in a good mood about it. I usually burrow in this time of year, grumbling about the cold and longing for the appearance of spring vegetables and baseball season. Allow me one last look at 2010, however, as we celebrate positive food trends in our neck of the woods.

More farmers’ markets. In 2010 we had TWELVE farmers’ markets throughout the county. From Springtown, Indian Valley, Perkasie and Ottsville in Upper Bucks, to Wrightstown, Doylestown, New Hope, Plumsteadville and Warrington in Central Bucks, and Lower Makefield, Feasterville and Langhorne in Lower Bucks. A big welcome back to Perkasie, after a hiatus, and welcome to new markets in Feasterville and Warrington. Of course, the big entrance onto the farmers’ market scene this year was the Stockton (Indoor) Farmers’ Market, which officially opened in November 2009 but really got it’s footing in 2010. For a listing of all of the markets, including year-round farm markets, see our post on Bucks County Farm Markets 2010 (the only one missing is Feasterville; didn’t have any info at time of publishing).

Lots more Farm-to-Table Dinners. In case you’ve been burrowing your head in the ground, and you’ve missed this wonderful phenomenon, let me explain. A farm-to-table dinner is an event celebrating seasonal foods, usually prepared by local chefs, using local ingredients and eating al fresco, hopefully in some bucolic setting like a field or restored barn. Kristen Perry of the Kitchen Potager in Ottsville organized several excellent dinners last summer, highlighting not just the food but in one instance offering a day-long cooking class by Chef Jim Hamilton, and a butchering class in October by Chef Matt Ridgway. Just to give you a taste of some of the dinners from last season, check out our posts: September farm-to-table dinners and Farm-to-Table…to mouth. And look out for them next summer. Not to be missed.

More Community Farms, or CSAs. A community-supported-agriculture farm allows members to buy a share of that season’s produce. Most farms offer a weekly (full) or bi-weekly (half) share, picked up by members, with some vegetables “pick-your-own.” It’s a great way to eat very fresh vegetables grown locally – and to support local farmers. In Bucks County we now have TWELVE CSAs, including a couple of new ones started just this year. It’s not too late to sign up for a share. See our post for contact information: CSAs: It’s like having your own farm. Don’t wait – shares fill up quickly this time of year.

Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Yessiree, it was a good year for Bucks County ice cream lovers. We all put a couple of pounds on due to the great ice cream made locally. Goodnoe’s (Newtown) and oWowCow Creamery (Ottsville) both came back strong and delicious in 2010 with more flavors and fans. Chubby’s Dairy Barn (Plumsteadville) introduced their own house brand, Chubby’s Reserve, yummy, interesting flavors available for take-out. See our post on this new entrant, Chubby’s ice cream to-go. Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream continued to please both at Shady Brook Farm and The Market at Del Val – and added Uncle Dave’s Old Fashioned Soda to their product line, available in Root Beer, Diet Root Beer, Orange, and Black Cherry. And a big welcome to Half-Pint Kitchen, making their super premium gourmet ice cream, sorbet and gelato right at the Stockton Farmers’ Market. My favorite? Salted Caramel (sigh).

Wines. Welcome to our newest Bucks County vineyard, Unami Ridge Winery in Quakertown, producing Chardonnay, Scheurebe, Apple, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Amwell Valley Winery in Ringoes, New Jersey “reopened” this year under new management as Old York Cellars. They are producing European-style wines, like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Riesling and some fruit wines coming soon. See their website to learn more. Also just over the river, Terhune Orchards in Princeton is now selling wine made from their wonderful fruit.

Cheese, wonderful cheese. One final note. Many people in Bucks and the river towns are extremely happy that Bobolink Dairy & Bakeyard moved to Milford, New Jersey this past spring from their former home in North Jersey. They are making some of the finest cheese in these parts and we are just thrilled to have them closer to home. See their website for ordering information and go up to the farm for a tour, some great cheese and some delicious bread.

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Happy 1st Anniversary…sort of

Lynne Goldman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:21:54 +0000

Goodnoe Farm Dairy Bar- the famous Goodnoe’s ice cream of Newtown – is celebrating their first anniversary since reopening last year. In case you missed the story, the next generation of Goodnoes, brother and sister Colin and Kendall, reopened this landmark last July 17th after a two-year break. The new store started with the 12 original flavors, and over the past year has expanded the offerings to include 22 homemade flavors. And…(drumroll)… a special surprise flavor is being created for the anniversary weekend.

Everyone is invited to stop by and join in the celebration. Purchase a cone, cup, sundae or other ice cream treat festively decorated with red and white sprinkles from noon to 10 p.m. at 4 S. Sycamore St. in Newtown, just a short lick down the street from the former location at Goodnoe Corner.

“It’s difficult to believe it’s been a whole year since we opened the new store. We’ve been truly embraced by the community—everyone has been so welcoming and supportive. It has been a wonderful first year, and we are looking forward to many more,” said Colin Goodnoe.

Since 1918, four generations of Goodnoes have made dairy products in a plant on the family farm in Newtown. Now the tradition continues.

Goodnoe Farm Dairy Bar
4 S. Sycamore St.
Newtown, PA
www.goodnoe.com
215.968.3544

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Goodnoe's is back!

Pity New York and New Jersey folks

Lynne Goldman — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:52 +0000

Why? Because they have to drive so far to get raw milk, while we, here in Bucks County, have two three farms who produce raw milk, and dairy products made from raw milk like cheese, yogurt and ice cream.

In a New York magazine article dated April 18, Straight From the Cow’s Teat, Birchwood Farms in Newtown is mentioned, although they missed Hendricks Farm & Dairy, who also sell raw milk and dairy products from their Telford, PA location (on the border of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, near Souderton.) And, Flint Hill Farm (see below).

Birchwood Farms is sort of north of Newtown, on Brownsburg Road, right off Route 413. They have a store that sells, in addition to their organic dairy products, their own beef, pork and veal. Hendricks also sells grass-fed beef, lamb and rose veal; free-range, all natural poultry and eggs, nitrate-free uncured bacon, artisanal breads and charcuterie items, including an excellent Chicken Lemon Thyme Sausage that we just grilled last night. Two yums.

Update: A very astute reader reminded me that Flint Hill Farm in Coopersburg (north of Quakertown) also sells raw cow’s milk. My bad. I always think of them for their soft cheeses – goat and cow – which I buy at the Wrightstown Market (and Stockton Market). Their farm store is open to the public daily selling pastured eggs, goat and cow milk artisan cheeses, pasteurized yogurt, and fresh cream butter. They are a Certified Raw Milk Dairy through the PA Department of Agriculture.

Ice cream and cake at Chubby’s

Lynne Goldman — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:00:45 +0000

Yum Alert. Beth Raynock, the wonderful cake decorator at Chubby’s Dairy Barn in Plumsteadville, will be holding a cake tasting this Sunday, March 28th between 1 – 4 pm to benefit charity: water, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations (100% of public donations directly fund their water projects).

The cost is $10 for cake and beverages.

Come try Beth’s non-ice cream desserts and help a great cause. Visit her facebook page or Web site to learn more. Beth is also pastry chef at Kome and creates custom cakes for The Ferndale Inn.

Eating ice cream in the fall

Lynne Goldman — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:00:56 +0000

Yes, it’s cooler outside…but that shouldn’t keep us from eating ice cream, should it? Not when there is so much good ice cream in Bucks. Here are the fall hours of some of your favorite ice cream places in Bucks County (according to our Bucks County Taste poll). See our previous post on ice cream places in Bucks for more.

Owow Cow Creamery (Ottsville), at the intersection of Routes 563 & 412, near Rt. 611, 610.847.7070
Starting the Tuesday after Labor Day, fall hours will be: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 12 – 9 pm; Friday and Satruday 12-10 pm; and Sunday 1-9 pm; Mondays – closed.

Dilly’s Corner (Center Bridge), on River Road (Route 32), north of New Hope, right at the Center Bridge-Stockton bridge, 215.862.5333
Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am to 7:30 pm; closed Mondays; will start closing earlier as it gets darker earlier; open at least until Thanksgiving.

Chubby’s Dairy Barn (Plumsteadville), right behind the Plumsteadville Inn, near the intersection of Route 611 and Stump Road, 215.766.7554
Fall hours will be the same: 7 days a week from 12 noon to 9 pm. Open all winter. Winter hours start November 1st – Wednesdays through Sunday, 1 pm to 8 pm.

Goodnoe Farm Dairy Bar (Newtown) 4 South Sycamore Street, 215.968.3544
Open 7 days a week, 10 am to 9 pm; open all winter.

Uncle Dave’s (Yardley) at Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, 215-968-1670
Will be open through the end of the first week of January then closed until mid-March. Hours will vary. Check the Web site for current hours.

Tidbits: Ice Cream at the Sundae School

Lynne Goldman — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:54:40 +0000

It sounds like every child’s fantasy on an early summer day, stuck in a hot, sticky classroom. The school becomes an ice cream parlor.

Jean Hasyn (right), and (from left) Steve Kratz, Hasyn's son Chris and daughter Katie

That’s basically what happened at the Sundae School, a former one-room schoolhouse in Hilltown, that was converted to – praise the heavens above – an ice cream shop by Jean Hasyn. Check out the nice article by Theresa Hegel in today’s Intelligencer giving all the details, including former students coming back to share memories and photos.

Is the Sundae School one of your favorite ice cream places? Leave a comment below and/or vote for them in our ice cream poll on the right sidebar.

Let’s go for ice cream

Dilly's 25th Anniversary Marathon

Lynne Goldman — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:01:08 +0000

Dilly’s Corner is celebrating their
25th year in a big way with a 25-hour marathon. Just like it sounds – 25 hours of eating, more or less. It starts tonight, July 23rd at 11:00 pm and ends tomorrow night, July 24th, at 12:00 am. Here’s the schedule of events:

Thursday, July 23rd, 11:00 pm:
Dilly’s opens (closed during the day today)

Friday, July 24th:

1:00 – 3:00 am: 1985 Menu Pricing
3:00 – 4:00 am: Adult Ice Cream Eating Contest
(entry fee: $3)
5:00 – 10:00 am: Breakfast
1:00 – 3:00 pm: Kids Hour
(3 – 6 years old, Make-Your-Own-Cone)
3:00 – 4:00 pm: Kids Ice Cream Eating Contest
(7 – 12 years old)(entry fee: $3)
4:00 – 5:00 pm: Hamburger Eating Contest
(13 years old and up)(entry fee: $10)
7:00 – 9:00 pm: Live Music
12:00 am: Closing

All contest fees will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Sign-up at Dilly’s for each contest.

See our review of Dilly’s below. Have a great time!

Goodnoe's is back!

Lynne Goldman — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:54:00 +0000

As of last Friday, the ice cream “phoenix” has risen. Goodnoe’s ice cream is back, reopening in Newtown, under the managment of the next generation, Colin Goodnoe and his sister, Kendall. They are making ice cream using the family recipes in their former production facility on Silo Drive. The new store is at 4 South Sycamore Street. Stay tuned for a quickie review by the Bucks County Taste Ice Cream Taster (a.k.a. Mark).

GOODNOE FARM DAIRY BAR
4 South Sycamore Street
Newtown, PA 18940
215.968.3544

Update: Here’s an article from the Intelligencer / Bucks County Courier Times that appeared today about the opening.