We’re back! Mark and I spent all of last week sailing around Penobscot Bay in Downeast Maine. We had a great meal at Chef Melissa Kelly‘s Primo Restaurant in Rockland, one of the pioneers in farm-to-table dining, which included wonderful local oysters, Fig n’ Pig Bruschetta (2 orders, please), salt cod fritters and Tuscan Style Pork Ribs. Not to mention, the lobster cook-out on the beach as part of our annual sailing trip on the Schooner Heritage. And if you’re ever in Portland stop by Duck Fat for their lovely Belgian fries, made from Maine potatoes and deep-fried in duck fat. The paninis are excellent also.
But back to Bucks. September is such an active month food-wise, as is October. It’s fall! And, yes, that means pumpkins, squashes and such, but also more farm-to-table events, like the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance’s four-course, locally sourced and seasonally inspired dinner at Earl’s Bucks County on October 23. The dinner is a fundraiser for the non-profit that works to foster and expand sustainable agriculture in Bucks County, and connect local producers and consumers. For more information, go to their website.
Several events were postponed due to the heavy rains a few weeks ago, including the 6th Annual Wine + Polo event in Erwinna, rescheduled for this Saturday (hope the rain holds off) and The Symphony of Flavors Food & Wine Pairing benefiting the Bucks County Symphony and taking place at Prallsville Mills in Stockton on October 2 (postponed from September 11). Another rescheduled event is the Soldier’s Benefit Cooking Class at the Yardley Inn this Tuesday, September 27. This is the first year of this event of which all proceeds will go to the Nate DeTample Scholarship Fund. See our previous post for more details. As with all events in our Food Events in Bucks County calendar, if weather turns bad, call or check the organization’s website. Geez. Enough with the rain!
Another important benefit occurring this weekend is a “Beef-and-Beer” to raise money for the recently and tragically orphaned Lauryn Egland. A group of Carrie (Ruehl) Egland’s friends have organized this event to collect money to help pay for the 6-year-old’s day-to-day needs. There will be lots of fun activities, a raffle with prizes from dozens of local businesses and a silent auction. It’s rain-or-shine, and $30 per person, $15 for children under twelve. For more details see their website.
It’s harvest time at all of Bucks County’s wineries too. At Wycombe Vineyards in Forest Grove you can help out with the Chamborcin harvest this Saturday, September 24 (rain date is Sunday, September 25). The picking will take place from 10:30 am to 2 pm and includes a light lunch. Bring your own shears, garden gloves, sun hat and lawn chair. For more information or to RSVP, contact the winery at 215.598.WINE.
To market, to market. There is so much produce you’ll find at area farm and farmers’ markets. Just because summer is over doesn’t mean the growing season is too. Now we’re into the fall crops, with some summer ones making their last appearance for the year. Look for: lots of varieties of apples, beans, beets, bok choi, broccoli, cabbage (green and purple), carrots, celery, celeriac, Swiss chard, collards, sweet corn (last of the season), cucumbers (salad and pickle), eggplant, escarole, fresh cut herbs, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, onions (purple and fresh), peaches, pears, peppers (hot and sweet), potatoes, radishes, scallions, summer squash, tomatoes (all kinds), winter squash and zucchini. Many markets also have vendors selling pastured meat, free range eggs, baked goods, cheese, canned goods, preserves and artisanal products. Enjoy harvest time at your local farmers’ market!
For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a lovely, dry-as-can-be weekend. Follow Bucks County Taste also on Facebook and Twitter.
Friday, September 23:
- 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]
- Wine and Music Series Under the Stars @ Old York Cellars, Ringoes [6 – 9 pm]
- Fire up the grill (cooking class) @ The Cooking Cottage, Sellersville [6:30 – 8:30 pm]
Saturday, September 24:
- Doylestown Farmers’ Market, Doylestown [7 am – 12 pm]
- Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast, Doylestown [8 – 10 am]
- 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]
- Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [9 am-4 pm]
- Fall Harvest Festival @ Terhune Orchards, Princeton, NJ [10 am – 5 pm]
- Wine Tasting @ Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [12 – 6 pm]
- Beef and Beer to Support Lauryn Egland @ Lost Acres, New Britain [12:00 – 7 pm]
- Newtown Beerfest 2011 – Blues and Brews @ The Stocking Works, Newtown [12:30 – 5:30 pm]
- Harvest Tour & Tasting in the Vineyard @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing [1 – 3 pm]
- 6th Annual Wine + Polo Event @ Tinicum State Park, Tinicum [1 – 5 pm]
- Workshop – Whole Grain Cooking with Lorna Sass @ Rodale Institute Visitor Center/Store, Kutztown [2 – 4 pm]
- Feast of San Gennaro Celebration @ Villa Milagro Vineyards, Finesville, NJ [2 – 5 pm]
- Beer Tasting @ New Hope Beverage, New Hope [3 – 7 pm]
- Turkey Supper @ Solomon’s United Church of Christ, Bedminster [4 – 7 pm]
- Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing @ New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, New Hope [5 – 7 pm]
- Saturday Wine & Music @ Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington [5-8 pm]
Sunday, September 25:
- Breakfast Buffet @ Father Gallen Council 5494, Warrington [7:30 – 11 am]
- Pancake Breakfast (fundraiser) @ New Hope-Solebury High School, New Hope [8 am – 12 pm]
- Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, Hellertown [9 am – 1 pm]
- Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, Flemington, NJ [9 am-1 pm]
- Welcome Back Brunch @ Earl’s Bucks County, Lahaska [10 am – 1 pm]
- Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [10 am – 4 pm]
- Fall Harvest Festival @ Terhune Orchards, Princeton, NJ [10 am – 5 pm]
- 11th Annual Epicurean Palette @ Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ [1 – 4 pm]
- Jazz and Wine Brunch @ Old York Cellars, Ringoes, NJ [1- 4 pm]
- Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing @ New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, New Hope [5 – 7 pm]
- Chef Dinner Series: Chef Matt Ridgway @ Linden Hill Gardens, Ottsville [6 – 9:30 pm]
Monday, September 26:
- Mediterranean Style! (cooking class) @ The Cooking Cottage, Sellersville [6:30 – 8:30 pm]
Tuesday, September 27:
- Langhorne Farmers’ Market, Langhorne [3:30 – 6:30 pm]
- 94 Cents Cookie Night @ Chubby’s Dairy Barn, Plumsteadville [6 – 9 pm]
- The Sushi Bar @ Carlow Cookery, Doylestown [7 – 9 pm]
- Soldier’s Benefit Cooking Class @ Yardley Inn, Yardley [7 – 9 pm]
Wednesday, September 28:
- Pierogy Wednesdays @ St. Anne Ukrainian, Warrington [9 am – 12 pm]
- The Farmers’ Market @ Playwicki Farm, Feasterville [4 – 7 pm]
- Complimentary Beer Tasting @ the Copper Leaf Grill, Buckingham [5 – 9 pm]
- Rosh Hashanah Community Dinner @ Glazier Jewish Center, Newtown [6 – 9 pm]
- Wine Down Wednesdays @ Old Bethlehem Road Hotel, Quakertown [6 – 9 pm]
Thursday, September 29:
- Northern Michigan – a culinary dream… (cooking class) @ The Cooking Cottage, Sellersville [10 am – 12 pm]
- Lower Makefield Farmers’ Market, Lower Makefield [3:30 – 6:30 pm]
- New Hope Farmers’ Market, New Hope [3:30-7:30 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]
- Creative Casseroles @ Carlow Cookery, Doylestown [7 – 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.