What’s Up, Dad?

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.

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Cool Jazz, Strawberries and Even a Pig Roast

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.

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Expand Your Idea Of “Local” This Weekend

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!

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Rain, Rain, Go Away, In Time For Mother’s Day

Our apologies for being so quiet this week. Maybe it’s the rain. Anyway, looks like the sogginess will stop in time for Mother’s Day, so take her out, or buy some food and cook for a change! (I should talk.)

Here’s a round-up of some of the food stuff happening. Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details.

Friday, May 8th:

• Brad’s Raw Chips Launching Party, 6 – 9 pm, The R.A.T. Gallery, Gardenville. Gotta love Brad’s Raw Veggie Chips, especially when they’ll be serving wine too! Stop by for a munch. 
• Wine Concert Series at Shady Brook Farm,  6 – 9 pm, Yardley. Weather permitting. Free admission. Idlewoodsmen will be the musical entertainment.
• Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, 6 – 11 pm, El Mariachi Restaurant, Plumsteadville. Salsa dancing lessons. Hola!
• Wine Tasting for Singles, 7 – 9 pm, Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing. Meet someone special AND sound intelligent about wine.

Saturday, May 9th:

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market, 7 am – Noon, Doylestown 
• 2nd Annual “Breakfast on the Bridge,” 9 am – 12 pm, South Perkasie Covered  Bridge, Perkasie. Eat sausage and “support” a local covered bridge. Yum. 
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, 10 – 11 am, “limited” market, Wrightstown. Regular market begins May 23rd.
• Mother’s Day Tea, 11 am – 1 pm, St. John United Church of Christ, Riegelsville
• Wine Tasting for Moms, 12 pm – 3 pm, Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing. Like Mom needs an excuse to drink…
• Roast Beef Dinner, 3 – 7 pm, Plumsteadville Fire Co., Plumsteadville.
• The Politics of Food with “Christina Cooks,” 3:30 – 5:30 pm, with Christina Pirello, Doylestown Hospital Health & Wellness Center, Warrington
• Film & Discussion: “The Garden,” 5 - 9 pm, ACME Screening Room, Lambertville.  
• Mother’s Day Weekend at Chaddsford Winery, 10 am – 6 pm, Chaddsford Winery Tasting Room & Wine Shop, Lahaska (Saturday & Sunday)
• Mother’s Day Celebration Weekend, Noon – 5 pm, Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes, NJ (Saturday & Sunday)

Sunday, May 10th:

• Breakfast at Upper Black Eddy Fire Co, 7:30 am – Noon, Upper Black Eddy.
• Breakfast at Richland Township Fire and Rescue, 8 am – 1 pm, Quakertown.
• Breakfast at Hartsville Fire Company, 8 am – 12 pm, Hartsville Fire Company, Warminster.
• Breakfast at Silverdale Fire Company, 8 am – 1 pm, Silverdale.
• Breakfast at Graeme Park, 10 am – 1 pm, Graeme Park, Horsham.
• Mother’s Day Weekend at Chaddsford Winery, 10 am – 6 pm, Chaddsford Winery Tasting Room & Wine Shop, Lahaska (Saturday & Sunday)
• Sunday Funday: Mother’s Day Festival, Shady Brook Farm, Noon – 4 pm, Yardley
• Mother’s Day Celebration Weekend, Noon – 5 pm, Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes, NJ (Saturday & Sunday)
• Mother’s Day Tea, 2 pm, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion, Trenton, NJ

Have a sweet weekend!

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