FEATURING THE 22 ND ANNUAL READER-VOTED RESTAURANT AWARDS
Get to know Iron Chef and James Beard Award winner Jose Garces, pg. 35
Foxfield
A Saucon Valley legacy estate nestled on 4.6 acres. the house and grounds have been proudly cared for, and recently updated with a stunning addition and renovations. Offered for $4,000,000
Wheaton Fields Farm
As a family compound, weekend retreat, or full time residence this 50 acre property with a stone farmhouse & multiple outbuildings is a private oasis in Upper Bucks County. Offered for $2,950,000
Lanes End Farm
Molasses Creek Farm
Expansive 58-acre property in Bucks County. The updated farmhouse is complemented by an outdoor kitchen, pool, pool house, 5-stall bank barn & indoor riding arena. Offered for $4,000,000
Fieldview
A timeless design with modern interpretations, set on 1.6 bucolic acres including an outdoor kitchen, pool, spa and pool house, flowering gardens and custom landscaping. Offered for $2,500,000
Twin Ponds Manor
A unique storybook setting featuring 2 spring fed ponds with a charming bridge and historic ice house. The home includes 3200 square feet over three finished floors. Offered for $875,000
Peaceful Valley
A dramatic 2018 barn home with soaring ceilings and hand hewn beams. Walls of windows overlook 5.2 acres including multiple garages, a carriage house & saltwater pool. Offered for $2,250,000
Surrounded by 53 acres of woods, wildflower fields, streams, and pond, this custom design creates one of the most noteworthy properties to ever have come on the market. Offered for $3,995,000 An 1835 brick home on one of Historic Bethlehem’s most admired streets. This charming building is an amazing opportunity to invest in a highly visible & high volume location. Offered for $650,000
DON’T MISS OUR BIG EVENT OF THE SEASON
After Thanksgiving Day Sales
Black Friday, November 28th • 9am – 8pm | Saturday, November 29th • 10am – 8pm
Sunday, November 30th • 10am – 6pm
Preferred Shoppers event of the season! Not a member? Sign up today!
Black Friday Giveaways • November 28th
Starting at 9am | Marketing Booth on the Lower Level of The Outlets
BLACK FRIDAY BONUS BAG
9am | Until Supplies Last
The first 50 shoppers will receive a free Outlets at Wind Creek shopping bag containing a $ 25 Wind Creek gift card.
ENTER TO WIN – THE 34TH STREET EXPERIENCE
9am – 10:59am
Enter for a chance to win an overnight stay in a suite at Wind Creek Bethlehem Hotel, Dinner for 2 at Bethlehem Barrel & Drafthouse, and 2 tickets to Miracle on 34th Street at the Event Center.
SPA-LIDAY TREAT
10am – 10:59am
The first 50 shoppers to spend $ 25 or more will receive a Bath & Massage Gift Set and Terry Cloth Face Wash Headband & Wristband Set.
ENTER TO WIN NINTENDO SWITCH 2
11am – 12:59pm | Drawing at 1:15pm
Enter to win one of the hottest gift items of the season. Present your Preferred Shopper card at the Marketing Booth during these times to receive a raffle entry form. Must be present to win.
BE PRESENT FOR A PRESENT SCENT OF THE SEASON
11am – 11:59am
The first 50 shoppers will receive a free holiday scented candle with a snowy fir candle ring.
TREE OF TREATS
12pm – 12:59pm
The first 100 shoppers to spend $ 75 will select an ornament from the tree to win a mystery prize, from a Mini Teri Coach bag to gift cards from Wind Creek or Outlets stores & restaurants, tickets to see Miracle on 34th Street, and more! One lucky winner will receive a $ 500 shopping spree.
Make the most of your shopping trip and leave the fun to us! We offer safe and engaging drop-off child care where kids can explore play areas, games, and activities—all supervised by our caring team.
For details on rules and holiday sales promotions, visit us at outletsatwindcreekbethlehem.com/sales-and-events
THE REGION’S FIRST & ONLY
MEDICAL SCHOOL
Elton Wong – Class of 2027
Salisbury High School, Allentown, PA
Penn State University ’11 | Lehigh University ’15
Elton Wong took a nontraditional path to medicine, moving from aerospace engineering and computer science into a field where clinical reasoning meets compassion. Transforming his health through powerlifting sparked his fascination with how the body works as a system. That curiosity led him to Temple/St. Luke’s, where mentorship and hands-on learning form the foundation of his training. “Living close to a loved one with a chronic illness changes how you see medicine. You realize how much it means when a doctor truly listens and doesn’t give up. At Temple/St. Luke’s, learning how to care is just as important as what you know, and I’m grateful to have mentors who exemplify that.”
sluhn.org/SOM
Let’s Dig In
For a foodie like me, this edition was a delight to put together. Our food and drink edition showcases the very best of the Le high Valley’s culinary scene, including our 22nd annual reader-voted Restaurant Awards. It’s a great way to find out which restaurants are tried-and-true mainstays and also discover newer places that may not have been on your radar. See which spots are Lehigh Valley Style readers’ favorites in 46 categories starting on pg. 52.
We’re also excited to profile awardwinning chef and restaurateur Jose Garces this month—he reflects on his career and how that led him to open not one but two restaurants in Allentown, a place he predicts could be the next culinary hot spot. Read more about him on pg. 35.
If we’re talking about food, we ought to throw in a wine pairing, too, so turn to pg. 27 to get educated on all things wine with tips from Cellar Beast Winehouse’s head winemaker, Matt Check. Chef Amanda Pietrobono of the Kellyn Foundation shares her recipe for taco-stuffed sweet potatoes on pg. 66, and find out what kinds of goodies you can stash in your pantry (or wine cabinet) with a visit to Tucker Garage + Grocery on pg. 24. Love pickles? Of course you do. We have five local ways to enjoy them on pg. 40. Finally, join us for a nightcap on pg. 72 for a sip of a must-try variety of espresso martini from Presley’s Cocktail Bar.
our publisher, Pam Deller, is looking forward to this month! pdeller@lehighvalleystyle.com
24 A visit to Tucker Garage + Grocery.
Celebrating our Restaurant Award winners!
Trying this month’s “Drink This”—yum!
BTS Matt Cannon preparing lighting for shoot
BTS Jean Jiminez preparing Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie
VOLUME 27, ISSUE 11
President/CEO
Paul Prass
Vice President/COO Lisa Prass
I’m so happy to see Twisted Olive on the list!
U & Tea for Favorite Chinese— that’s my family’s go-to!
I’m excited to celebrate Albanesi! I’ve been twice this year and I’m dreaming of my next visit. It is easily in my top three favorite restaurants of all time.
I’m excited to celebrate two winners: Union and Finch for their consistent excellence, and McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub & Whiskey Bar.
Publisher Pamela Deller
Managing Editor Angela Vennemann
Digital Strategy Director
Jason Chrin
Production Coordinator Eleanor Anderson
Graphic Designers
Eleanor Anderson, Thomas Körp, Elaine Wyborski
Marketing & Events Coordinator Jaiden Vazquez
Marketing Advisors
Denise Lichty, Arielle Solliday, Pam Taylor
Client Specialist
Emily Markovich
Contributing Writers
Alison Conklin
Amy Unger, Daisy Willis
Contributing Photographers
Marco Calderon, Matthew Cannon, Alison Conklin
Editorial Intern Maggie Wilson
Proofreader Lori McLaughlin
Accounting
Jobelle Aleño, Leza Ovten
What 2025 Restaurant Award winner are you excited about?
I am most excited about Aman’s, one of, if not my favorite restaurant!
Daddy’s Place is so good, I wish I could order the whole menu.
Definitely repping Emmaus with Cactus Blue! Their sweet potato tacos are perfection, and don’t even get me started on those Tajín chips.
ALISON CONKLIN
Contributing Writer & Photographer
This issue was such a joy to be part of! From celebrating restaurant awards to meeting Chef Jose Garces to chatting with Amanda Pietrobono—it was all just so much fun and it made me very hungry. Ha!
ANGELA VENNEMANN
Managing Editor
We’re hiring! Connect with
We had so much fun at our shoot with Jose Garces. It was great to meet him and to get such wonderful shots at Rosa Blanca, and he even gave us a tour of Okatshe across the street while it was in the final stages of preparing to open!
Women’s Networking Event
Hosted by Wind Creek Bethlehem
Lehigh Valley Style hosted the 2025 Women’s Networking Event on Thursday, Aug. 21 at Wind Creek Bethlehem. The night kicked off with our “She Means Business” fashion show spotlighting work-appropriate style for today’s modern woman. Guests received complimentary champagne and mimosas thanks to RMA Lehigh Valley and Unity Bank, a variety of passed hors d’oeuvres provided by Wind Creek Bethlehem, and swag bags from the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley. Guests enjoyed photo ops made possible by La Fleur Photobooth and Luxe Design & Events, and pop-up shops and experiences by St. Luke’s University Health Network, Closet Factory, Threads by Gram, Bixler’s, Intentional Counseling and Wellness, Tricia Vermilya Aesthetics, Platinum Star Cleaning and the Spa at Wind Creek Bethlehem. Attendees supported The Perfect Fit for Working Women by shopping the resale boutique pop-up and donating clothing at the Closet Factory drop-off station.
1 | YWCA Executive Director Sarah Barrett and Lehigh Valley Style magazine publisher Pam Deller kick off our “She Means Business” fashion show
2 | Q & A panel with fashion show participants, nyche, Lonelli’s Closet, Banana Republic, The Perfect Fit and Lara Bly Designs 3 | Sam modeling nyche 4 | Rachel modeling Lara Bly Designs 5 | Chandi modeling Lonelli’s Closet 6 | Illianys modeling The Perfect Fit 7 | Guests enjoying the fashion show 8 | Tyrena posing for Banana Republic 9 | Swag Bag sponsor Junior League of the Lehigh Valley 10 | Champagne sponsor RMA Lehigh Valley
| The Perfect Fit pop-up boutique 12 | Guest entering giveaway with Platinum Star Cleaning 13 | Team at Intentional Counseling & Wellness 14 | Team at Bixler’s 15 | Grazing table and passed hors d’oeuvres by Wind Creek Bethlehem 16 | Guest shopping at Lara Bly Designs’ pop-up shop
| Guests enjoying photo ops by La Fleur Photobooth
by Alania Mariano Photography
Women’s Networking Event
Hosted by Wind Creek Bethlehem
1 | Katie Jones, Amy Wastler, Annie Lanscek, Michelle Resto-Carlson, Christine Arare and Valentina Escobar-Gonzalez 2 | Kate Campbell and Elaine Zelker 3 | Susan Leibelsperger, Suzanne Nafus and Laura Snyder 4 | Christopher Alexander and Leah McNeill 5 | Joanne Anderson, Paula Albanese and Wendy Wright 6 | Laura Weller and Alissa O’Hara 7 | Kristy Berger and Terra Roper 8 | Heather Strunk and Amy Ensinger 9 | Jada Amirah Lewis and Victoria Fields 10 | Paige Kukowski, Rylie Murphy and Jessica Harnett 11 | Aisha Jalloh 12 | Kallarny Colon, Ashley Gibiser and Hilda Souid 13 | Lila Mukhtarzada and Jasmine Harvey 14 | Marina Adamski and Charlotte Safrit 15 | Lilli Johnson and Kasey Hinton 16 | Kathryn Ginter and Annie Sweeney
Style Insider Happy Hour
1
3 |
|
5 | Joe McDermott, Kim Johnston-Pyne, Maria Esposito and John Conklin 6 | Yvette Firsta, Melinda Aguilar and Evelyn Dee 7 | Christopher Arndt and Joshua Wetzel 8 | Deb Fusco and Jerri Kropf 9 | Michael Pierce and Joel Delapaz 10 | Joe Wickel and Tom Gallagher 11 | Sherri
|
15 |
14 |
| David Gloss and Brom Lutz 2 | Vince Cavacini and Sunshine Mioduski
Toby Bower and Jesse Roldan 4
Stella Desantis and Kelly Pitts
Kershner, Sara Anderson and Lisa Deutsch 12 | Juan Rojo 13
Joe Gaeta, Kim Muzzin and James Pepe
Andrea Seibert, Wendy Keim, Lori Starnes, Sheri Bayne and Bethe Jensen
Michael Makhoul, Carmen Dancsecs and Jesse Roldan
THIS MONTH’S PICKS
’Tis the Season
The holidays are upon us, which can only mean one thing: it’s time to go shopping. Check out Christmas at Belleville Market, where you can find festive decor and gifts for everyone on your list, Nov. 6–Jan. 4. bellevillemarket.com/christmas
THIRD LOCATION
Feeling thirsty after your pickleball game at St. Luke’s SportsPlex?
The folks at Lost Tavern Brewing have you covered. The brewery has opened its third location, called Lost Tavern at Court 25, which has seating for 40 and plenty of TVs to watch the game. losttavernbrewing.com
COMING SOON
Unwine Vineyards Wine Bar & Art Emporium is set to open this month in Southside Bethlehem, featuring wine, beer and cocktails alongside an art studio and locally made artwork available for sale. The concept is a reimagining of Unwine with Art, which formerly operated in Easton. Unwine with Art
Sweet Treats
Mo Sweets Bakeshop opened this fall in Upper Mount Bethel Township, serving up delicious bites like cupcakes, cookies, tarts, pies and pastries. Everything is baked fresh on site! Mo Sweets Bakeshop
Lunch Is Served
Zaks Bistro, from the people who brought you Daddy’s Place, offers up a great lunch option for those who want food fast but don’t want fast food. Stop in for freshly made wraps, bowls, sandwiches, smash burgers and more. zaksbistro.com
On Your Marks
If you overindulged on Thanksgiving, work it off at the annual Historic Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Walk on Nov. 29. Challenge yourself with a longer run, or keep it light with a 1.7-mile stroll, complete with a pet costume contest. historicbethlehem.org/visit-us/experience/turkey-trot
What Matters.
Rediscover what matters in nearby Gettysburg. Why do people return to Gettysburg for the holiday season again and again? Why do individuals who visited Gettysburg this time of year as children return as adults? Because they recognize that there’s something singularly different about Gettysburg during yuletide. Because they by sharing it with people they love. Because, in the end,
TINTO TAPAS & PASTA
REIMAGINED ITALIAN FARE
After a devastating fire permanently closed Nonna Sulina’s in July 2024, owner and chef Giacomo Sgroi started the long journey back to the kitchen, where his passion for Italian cuisine shines. Crediting hard work and faith, Sgroi opened Tinto Tapas & Pasta in Fountain Hill earlier this year. Sgroi grew up cooking alongside his mother and nonna in Sicily and has carried on recipes that have been in his family for generations. “Over time I developed not just a love for food, but also an understanding of the chemistry and creativity behind cooking,” he says. That creativity is at work at Tinto, where Sgroi took the Spanish concept of tapas and applied it to Italian fare, with a variety of small plates to be shared with others over drinks. Guests can sample apps like pistachio burrata and Italian nachos, or opt for a full entrée. Sgroi recommends the wild boar Bolognese, and just like at Nonna Sulina’s, Tinto diners can enjoy cheese wheel pasta during dinner Thursday through Sunday. Enjoy wine and cocktails in their upstairs lounge and rooftop patio in almost any weather, thanks to outdoor heaters. And don’t miss their Italian-inspired brunch on the last Sunday of each month.
THE SENSORY VILLAGE
INCLUSIVE PLAY SPACE NOW OPEN
As parents and educators, Tessa Hullfish and Melissa Bache understand that young bodies and minds should learn, play and grow in a safe, appropriate environment. Locally, they saw the need for a space that worked for kids of all abilities and stages of development. “Too often, families must choose between spaces that are fun but not inclusive, or supportive but not designed with play at the center,” Hullfish and Bache say. “We envisioned something different: a place where every child could feel a sense of belonging, and every parent could feel at ease.” The Sensory Village fills that need with a play space filled with sensory houses, water tables, an indoor gym and a STEM wall. Families can drop in for open play, attend more structured classes like music therapy and family yoga, or host a party with plenty of activities for a fun and stress-free celebration. The Sensory Village also offers parent consultations, offering guidance on sensory needs, social-emotional growth, everyday routines and how to navigate education and healthcare systems. “Together, we are creating a village—one built on inclusion, support and joy—building a community where little hands and big imaginations meet,” Hullfish and Bache say.
49 W. Penn Ave., Alburtis | 610.412.6232 | thesensoryvillage.com
THE GREEN HOUSE TEA ROOM
FINE SIPS AND SNACKS
From state troopers to retired friends and now business partners, Richard Graessel and James Wheeler are the proud owners of The Green House Tea Room in Bethlehem. Their mission is to offer customers three key experiences—great atmosphere, great food and great service. Visitors can indulge in a three-tier plate stacked with a delightful mix of sweets and savories, alongside six carefully crafted specialty teas. "Guests can sip and sample to their heart's content," Graessel says. Beyond the traditional finger sandwiches, cakes and teas, they also feature seasonal delights like apple cinnamon tea and apple crisp cheesecake. In December, The Green House Tea Room will partner with Xplorer Spirits for a unique event, blending teas with cocktails for one-of-a-kind flavors. This isn’t just a tea room; it’s an apothecary for the soul—where each sip feels like a reset, and the atmosphere encourages guests to unwind, laugh and share stories they haven’t told in years. Graessel and Wheeler are pleased to continue to work with the community, even in retirement. "The best part is we still get to serve people," Graessel reflects. Be sure to call in advance—visits to the tea room are by reservation only.
The taproom is new, but Wishful Thinking Brewing Co. is no stranger to their Riegelsville space, a former café. “The Riegelsville taproom was actually the first location [where] we tried to open our brewery,” says Jackie Breslin, who co-owns the brewery with her husband, Brendan. The pair had initially rented the café’s kitchen as a commissary for their fledgling pizza operation and hoped to take over the space to launch Wishful Thinking. Limitations on the building’s infrastructure led them to instead set up shop in Fountain Hill, but they didn’t forget about the erstwhile café. “We knew it was bound to make a great taproom environment along the Delaware River Canal one day,” Jackie says. “After the timing lined up earlier this year, we are now finally able to!” Customers at Wishful Thinking on the River can find the same beer, pizza and small bites that are on offer at Wishful Thinking in Fountain Hill, as well as coffee that is roasted in house and available to take home, drink there or even enjoy in a cocktail. Check their website for upcoming events, or host your own private event there.
Luther Crest
THE WHIFF SHOP
FRAGRANCE BOUTIQUE DEBUTS
“Smelling is an emotional experience—the way it brings nostalgia, joy, longing and happiness,” say husband and wife Sanket and Stephanie Pathak. This idea, paired with Stephanie’s lifelong passion for fragrances, creates the foundation for The Whiff Shop, now open in Easton. Featuring scents from around the world, this boutique is a dream for anyone who loves fragrances. The Pathaks say they curate a range of perfumes that “[focus] on artistry, rare ingredients and unique scents you won’t usually find in department stores.” Customers can experience these fragrances in a thoughtfully designed space that the Pathaks intend to be warm and immersive, “one that invites discovery and makes people feel comfortable.” The Whiff Shop will host “meet the perfumer” events as well as collaborations with local businesses and scent swap nights where customers can trade gently used fragrances with others. Stephanie also offers private scent discovery sessions to help customers find just the right one. The Pathaks say, “Nothing compares to the moment when someone’s face lights up because they’ve found a fragrance that really resonates with them. It’s been so much fun!”
119 Northampton St., Easton | thewhiffshop.com
BE PART OF THE STORY!
Is there a Restaurant Awards category you’d like to see added to our survey? Email editor@lehighvalleystyle.com! DID YOU KNOW?
You can view the entire issue for free online at lehighvalleystyle.com!
Win It
Enter to win a $50 gift card to Cellar Beast Winehouse. Visit lehighvalleystyle.com/sharewith-us to enter!
Follow @lvstyleweddings on Instagram for year-round inspiration, including local love stories, vendor spotlights, tips and tricks, behind-the-scenes and so much more.
WANT TO KNOW WHERE OUR NEXT STYLE INSIDER HAPPY HOUR WILL BE?
Want info about upcoming Lehigh Valley Style events? Follow Lehigh Valley Style on Facebook and click on our Events tab!
CONNECT WITH STYLE :
FRAMARZO/ADOBESTOCK
Baumer Wealth Management
Glenn W. Baumer, CRPC™, C(k)P® Managing Director, Senior Consultant
Christopher S. Baumer, CRPC™, C(k)P® Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
Breanne N. Pfeffer, CRPC™, AWMA™ Vice President, Senior Business Manager
Tiffany A. Nguyen, CRPC™
Registered Wealth Management Client Associate
Emily Kern
Wealth Management Client Associate
Data and sources for all Forbes awards and their rankings provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. Awards are based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and apply an algorithm that measures best practices, client retention, industry experience compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and firm generated income. Investment performance is not a criterion.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S) is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, and Member SIPC. MLPF&S is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.
Merrill and the Bull Symbol are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.
C(k)P ® is a registered trademark of The Retirement Advisor University, Inc. The College for Financial Planning
Like a lot of local small-business owners, Jason Hoy was thrown for a loop when COVID came to town. His original café and provisions shop, Tucker Silk Mill, closed in the pandemic’s wake, but he recalibrated and emerged in a new location with a slightly different concept. Tucker Garage + Grocery still offers coffees, baked goods and unique pantry items, but it’s morphed into something that holds so much more. We caught up with Hoy to hear all about this reimagined space.
QTell us about Tucker Garage + Grocery’s history! How long have you been in your current space?
Tucker Garage + Grocery is the reborn Tucker Silk Mill that opened in October 2017—eight years ago. We’ve been in the current space for almost three years as the sibling to Kabinett Wine Bar + Dining and officially threw open the doors in December of last year.
PHOTOGRAPHY
How do you curate the dry goods that you sell?
With the same philosophy as Tucker Silk Mill during the pandemic: products that are high quality and with a conscience. We avoid large corporations and always look for local and fresh.
Where do you source the wines and beers you have available?
We spent several years talking to quality wholesalers across the country to make sure we sourced wines that stand as a benchmark for their category. We make doubly sure to avoid any wines sold through state stores that are regularly mass-market brands of dubious quality.
Tell us about your fresh goods and your café menu.
Our menu is a collaboration of classics from our original menu: fresh-baked scones, sausage rolls and zucchini bread as well as a solid selection of rotating stars from Easton’s Pie + Tart. Our café menu is backed up by espresso from Brooklyn’s Partners Coffee, which we firmly believe is the best shot of coffee in town.
What’s something your customers might be surprised to find in Tucker Garage + Grocery?
Exotic Australian treats like Tim Tams, Violet Crumbles and licorice.
What menu items or dry goods have been customer favorites?
In all its iterations, schnitzel has always been a favorite. From duck breast schnitzel to traditional pork schnitzels and sauerkraut, there are very few places in the Valley to find them. Personally, I have a weak spot for our white
anchovies that have been on the menu in some form since day one.
What’s a menu item that can’t be missed?
Our current Wiener schnitzel is as good as anything you’ll find in Austria or Germany.
How has the community responded to Tucker Garage + Grocery since you’ve been open?
Our first-time visitors are blown away by just how huge the entire space is: wine bar, patio, garage, wine store. It’s still a hidden secret off the main street with so much potential.
What kinds of events do you host?
That’s a huge question; anything goes. We’ve hosted weddings, birthday parties, graduations, burlesque shows and we even turned the space into an indoor skate park for one night.
What does it mean to you to be a place where the community can gather?
Since the pandemic, I feel a lot of people have become lost in their phones and
social media. It’s incredibly important to have safe, welcoming spaces where people can gather without the expectation of having to only have a full meal or drinks. More and more it’s about extra choices and a social space that’s open to all.
What plans do you have for the future at Tucker Garage + Grocery?
We hope to increase our daytime offerings to much more cheese, charcuterie and snacks for those who want to enjoy our patio and a glass of wine or beer.
Anything else you’d like to note?
We’re excited to have a space that can accommodate 150plus people with a view of the Delaware River versus a view of passing traffic. We think there’s nothing else like it in Easton.
BY DAISY WILLIS | ILLUSTRATION BY ANDRII / ADOBE STOCK
Matt Check HEAD WINEMAKER, CELLAR BEAST WINEHOUSE
Uninspired by a career in payroll solutions, Matt Check enrolled in his first sommelier class, which started a trajectory that now finds him head winemaker of his own phenomenal yet unfussy establishment, Cellar Beast Winehouse. Here’s what he wants you to know about wine.
HOW IT’S MADE
Good wine is for everyone. Check’s team ushers grapes out of Washington State from the vine to the glass, ready to romance the palate of any drinker. “We take what Mother Nature gave us,” Check says. “We take this great fruit and we try to make it happy to become the best version of itself.”
Partnered with a likeminded vineyard in the optimal climate of the Pacific Northwest, Cellar Beast follows the grape where it leads, inviting us to meet it at its unique conclusion. “The way we approach it is minimal intervention,” Check says. “No synthetic chemicals in the vineyard, nothing inorganic in process, allowing the grape to show its true nature.”
This results in wines that make you think. Whether you’re new to wine or an aficionado, Check’s take on wine can make you reexamine yourself as well as what you’re sipping.
ASK THE
WINE AND OXYGEN
Wine is a dynamic, organic substance. Just like the winemakers at Cellar Beast shepherd their grapes along, you can continue the cultivation of that wine’s best self by understanding its interaction with the environment after it makes its way to you.
Serve wines at temperatures that enhance their aromas, which is dependent on the variety. Bright whites like Riesling and pinot gris start at 45 degrees, chardonnay a bit warmer, reds like pinot noir around 55–60 degrees and bigger reds like Syrah can be served at 65.
Once a wine is uncorked, it begins to warm and interact with oxygen, releasing its aromatics. The swirling of the glass or opening up a large surface area in a decanter speeds this process along. Eventually, oxidization will carry on fermentation into the realm of the stale and vinegary, but in the course of the evening, the mix of wine and air is part of the dance. Older wines especially benefit from loosening up before drinking.
GLASSES AND DECANTERS
“When do I know if I need to decant a wine?” Check poses. “You don’t know. If you’re making dinner, decant, taste along the way. An hour later, it will be a different animal. That will show you the impact of what decanting can do.”
Can we keep an open bottle fresh and fragrant? Recorked on your counter, it has 2-3 days max—a week if you use a compressed air canister designed to displace oxygen. “If you open the bottle, drink the bottle,” Check advises. “It’s not that much wine.” Whatever you do, keep it out of the fridge, where the cold shrinks oxygen molecules and lets them do their dirty work faster.
As for an optimal drinking vessel, he says, “You want a stemmed glass that’s tapered at the top, to trap aromas so you can gather them into your senses.” To avoid warming wine beyond its best temperature, hold your glass by the stem. “Hold it like you’re writing with a pen,” Check says. Imagine drawing small circles, graduating from the table to swirling it in the air.
BUDDY UP
Pairings create transcendent experiences, the notes in wine and food collaborating to
create new taste sensations. If you’re having lamb lollipops with herbes de Provence, do you want to go with a wine that will accentuate the herbal aromatics or draw out the earthiness? It’s easy to do a little research on tonight’s dinner and find guidance to follow, but experimentation is the best way to explore which combinations taste best to you.
Try what I’ll call the Check Rec—two wines at dinner, one conventional pick and one off the beaten path. “People think steak should be served with a cabernet,” Check says. “Not true. I think the best wine for steak is Syrah.” Cabernet’s notes are green pepper and graphite, while Syrah’s are—meat! Get a bottle of each and compare.
Chardonnay and scallops are a dependable combo, but if you want to splash out, try them with a Garganega from Italy’s Soave region.
CELLAR BEAST EXPERIENCE
“We want people to buy our wine,” Check concedes, “but we want to inspire them to be excited to try things. The only way to develop is to try things, taste and experience.”
That’s why, instead of abandoning visitors with a flight of pours, the winemakers at Cellar Beast are constantly in the tasting room telling the story of each wine: what it took to make it, where it came from, why it tastes the way it does. “We pull back the veil,” Check says. Delivering information without talking down, Cellar Beast creates a wine world ready to saturate visitors with infectious passion and encyclopedic knowledge—without the snobbery.
“One thing I try to impress upon people is that if you don’t like this wine or that wine, keep trying. Get out of your comfort zone. Don’t get stuck on that one reliable $12 bottle that you love,” he says (Apothic, he’s looking at you).
CREATING SPACES THAT REFLECT YOU
Let’s make your dream home come true.
The
If you’re not sure what to buy at the store or order at a restaurant, “there are cheat codes,” Check says. “You can scan any bottle with an app called Wine Searcher and backfill all this information.” Find out where it’s from, how it’s ranked by critics, what it might pair with and embrace a lifelong journey of exploration.
PORTUGUESE SIDE QUEST
A tip for one undervalued standout in the Pennsylvania wine market: head to the Portuguese section. “Portuguese wines are really different,” Check says. “There are really cool ones you’ll get as a steal because the American consumer doesn’t really know about it yet.” Look for Quinta da Casaboa, a “damn good variety.”
Karen Vasquez
YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND SOUND THERAPY PRACTITIONER
A lot of people are familiar with yoga, but Karen Vasquez takes it to another level. While she works with the traditional trappings of the practice—breathing, stretching and connecting the mind, body and spirit—she also leans into her connection to the earth and its energies through her work as a certified sound therapy practitioner. We talked with Vasquez about this unique path to wellness and healing.
QWhere do you teach?
I currently teach beginners yoga every Tuesday evening and Friday morning at Yoga Lab in Bethlehem. I also teach various other pop-up yoga classes and sound baths at wellness centers around the Lehigh Valley such as Cura Wellness and Good Health in Easton. I also host yoga and sound baths at public parks in Bethlehem. I am looking to bring yoga, sound and wellness to spaces that are diverse and where maybe it hasn’t been heard of before, because I find there are a lot of stereotypes around what yoga should be and look like and who practices it. I want to extend the invitation to anyone who wants to prioritize their health to join me in a yoga class or a sound bath!
What led you to study and teach yoga? Whenever anybody asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
I always said I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to help people feel better. Eventually I realized I couldn’t handle seeing blood. I ended up going to Rice University in Houston to study bioengineering and working in a corporate job after graduating, but it just didn’t feel authentic or like I was helping anyone. Over time I began feeling very stressed and sick in the corporate environment and began taking yoga classes as a way to reconnect with my body. As I took more classes and learned more about the Yoga Sutras and how yoga is a way of life, not just an exercise, I really began to reflect on my life path and what my purpose was. I decided to earn my 200-hour yoga teacher training certification and eventually quit my job to begin teaching yoga and share its healing benefits with my community. Yoga truly has been a journey towards a healthier lifestyle and being more
mindful of how important my health is over anything else. Health is literally wealth, and I want to share that, especially in the Latino community. There is such an emphasis on hard work and hustle in our culture that we often forget to stop to prioritize how our mind, bodies and spirits are feeling. I genuinely feel like taking this journey is healing not only me but also my ancestors and descendants. I found my way back to my goal of wanting to help others in a way that I would have never imagined.
How can yoga improve wellness?
Yoga has literally taught me how to breathe. Our breath is our source of life. It's something so simple that you would think is common sense but something I had never been taught. There are so many unique breathing techniques in yoga that help with various things such as increased energy, grounding and stress relief. In our
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARCO CALDERON
everyday lives, a lot of us may not realize we have been holding our breaths or might not be checking in with our bodies. Yoga is an amazing self-regulation tool that allows us to tune in to what our bodies are asking for and needing and also to connec t the mind, the body and the spirit. One of the things I really like about yoga is how it invites us to move our entire bodies in an intentional way. Each movement being paired with the breath is like medicine for me. Yoga has also helped me a lot with my mental health because I have struggled with anxiety, and it really helps me to ground and get out of my head. Yoga is also more about going inward than about the exercises. I’ve learned so much about life on my mat learning to love myself, to have patience with myself and to realize that we are all connected and part of this beautiful universe. So yoga not only gets us moving and flexible over time but it also helps with mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Tell us about sound baths!
Last year I traveled to Washington to get certified as a sound therapy practitioner with Kin Unified Healing, a sound therapy studio in California. I learned so much about how sound can be used as a way to bring harmony back into our bodies. Our bodies and even each of our organs emit frequencies depending on how we are feeling and what we have been through emotionally and physically. Through vibration, resonance, frequency, rhythm, intention and harmonics, sound has the ability to shift our frequency and allow our bodies to cleanse, realign our energy and to drop into meditation. We learned to create sound baths with a variety of different instruments as well as our voice, one of the most powerful instruments in our bodies and one of the original instruments our ancestors used in ceremony. I love doing sound baths with quartz crystal singing bowls that each resonate at an exact frequency tuned to 432 Hz. (Music is usually tuned to 440 Hz, but there are studies that show 432 Hz is closer to the earth’s and our bodies’ natural frequency.) These frequencies when played in harmony can target different energy centers in the body to assist with healing and relaxation. I think sound baths are my new favorite
thing because it is so amazing to watch as people’s breaths sync and they begin to enter a relaxation state during the sound baths. Once the rhythm and harmony have been established, our bodies feel safe; our brains are receiving a message of stability through the frequency and resonance aligning our brain waves, and we allow ourselves to drop into meditation and relaxation.
Nature is important in your work. How do you incorporate the elements of the earth into your wellness practices? Yoga in nature is one of my favorite things to do to boost my mood and to destress. I love practicing yoga inside because of all of the props and the predictability of the weather, but I find yoga outside is so much more grounding and energizing. For this reason, I love doing community yoga and sound baths outdoors in parks because it's just so nice to be outside moving with friends. I practiced yoga on the beach this summer and it felt like pure bliss listening to the crashing ocean waves syncing with my breath and the sand underneath me supporting my weight and adapting to my body. I also find that outdoor sound baths are just magical on another level. As I play the bowls in nature, I can hear and see the shift in energy as the sounds sync up with the water, the birds, the wind and it’s just something everyone should experience! I tend to bring in themes tied to the seasons, the moon or sun cycles, the garden and the elements into my classes. This helps me realize we are a part of nature and not separate from it. Just as we have to care for and have patience with plants for them to bloom and to grow fruit, we also have to do the same with ourselves.
karenhaceyoga
Read the full interview online at lehighvalleystyle.com.
Mission-focused, ArtsQuest has its eye on the future with a brand-new, state-of-the-art Cultural Center slated to be built in 2025 in addition to the renovation of the historic Turn & Grind Shop, located next to the Bethlehem Visitor Center on the SteelStacks campus. The Cultural Center will serve as a visible and creative gateway to Bethlehem’s SouthSide; provide much needed space, new programs and advanced technology that will double the number of students and families ArtsQuest currently serves; implement new partnerships as a Communications Career Pathway Program with the BASD; and further foster economic development and tourism across the Lehigh Valley, which will improve property values and further civic pride. The Turn & Grind Shop will allow ArtsQuest to significantly expand its private event space to further accommodate corporate events, weddings, proms and additional functions. Its beautiful and historical location and structure will significantly further travel and tourism to the Lehigh Valley.
Just like your favorite pair of sweatpants, your family couch or your morning coffee, we ensure that you are always comfortable and warm. For all your HVAC needs, you have friends at Comfort Generation.
scholarships available for individuals facing financial hardship.
HAVEN HOUSE: RESTORING HOPE, RENEWING LIVES
By creating a stigma-free community in which those with barriers can thrive towards independence and accomplishment
The need for community-based mental health services from organizations like Haven House has grown post-pandemic. Looking in from the outside, one wouldn’t know that over 70 staff members are working to keep seven distinct programs and countless partnerships running to support around 3,000 individuals in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Haven House continually searches for new opportunities to expand and improve access to services to fulfill their mission. In addition, Haven House takes every opportunity to further educate the public around mental health to foster a stigmafree environment. This year, Haven House plans to resume poverty simulations, grow group therapy options and host a gala-type event, in order to reach new and different audiences regarding community mental health. Please follow them on Facebook or subscribe to their newsletter to avoid missing any of their exciting updates. 1411 Union Blvd. Allentown 610.433.6181 haven-house.com
ArtsQuest is a nonprofit with a mission of providing access to the arts for all. Its programs reach more than 1.9 million people annually. Fundraising events, sponsors and community partners allow ArtsQuest to provide over half of its programming free to the public with
Jose Garces
AWARD-WINNING CHEF AND RESTAURATEUR
BY AMY UNGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN
Jose Garces seems remarkably cool and collected for a man caught up in the throes of last-minute preparations for the debut of a brand-new restaurant.
Of course, Garces, a renowned chef, entrepreneur and author, has done this sort of thing before. “I’ve opened certainly my share of restaurants,” he says. “I think I would be north of 35 or so in my career. And, you know, I think it always just pays to stay calm.”
The eatery that had his attention as the calendar turned from August to September was Okatshe in downtown Allentown, which Garces described as his homage to Japanese cuisine: “Small plates, sushi, sashimi, maki, tons of good soups and salads and a great whiskey program as well.”
This is still, in many ways, a new work in progress.
But the doors at 947 W. Hamilton St. would remain closed until Garces was certain they had it just so. “I’ve been very, very adamant about not opening the restaurant until we’re fully ready, so everybody is trained and we’re ready to deliver the Okatshe experience,” he says. “So that’s bringing me some peace. I’m not going to get stressed out. We just really have to make sure this product is right before releasing it.”
Okatshe, which went on to open in October, is Garces’ second foray into the Queen City’s restaurant scene since the start of the year; Rosa Blanca, a Cuban café and rum bar, opened in the spring, across the street from Okatshe. “So far, it’s been well received,” says Garces. “People have been enjoying it. We’re bringing a bit of Cuban culture to the Lehigh Valley.”
The first few months of Rosa Blanca’s operations have been a learning experience as the team adjusts to the market. An express lunch was added to cater to the corporate crowd downtown. At the time of this interview, Garces also talked about adding a brunch service in the near future. “This is still, in many ways, a new work in progress,” he says.
Garces was asked to work his magic in Allentown by developer City Center Group, a major driver of the city’s downtown revitalization. Should longevity be on the menu for his two establishments, Garces will succeed where another celebrity chef did not. Robert Irvine opened a fast-casual place, Fresh Kitchen, to much fanfare in the fall of 2019. It was inside the Downtown Allentown Market, a food hall on the city’s ArtsWalk that struggled to find a following. Fresh Kitchen closed in the spring of 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic kept the market shut down for several months. The entire market closed for good in April of this year.
And that’s just one example of a swing and a miss that has not been uncommon since attempts began in earnest to revive Allentown’s restaurant scene following the opening of the PPL Center in 2014. Several spots—Grain, Shula’s Steak House, Queen City BBQ, The Hamilton, ROAR and Bell Hall, just to name a few—have come and gone.
While Garces has had to bid farewell to several of his own establishments over the years, he’s feeling confident about what he’s bringing to Allentown. In the case of Okatshe, he says, “In coming to the Lehigh Valley, I did feel like maybe there was a
Anthony Sierra Designs
gap in Asian cuisine as a whole. And that’s one of the things we try to do, to fill those holes, try to fill those gaps in the market as best we can.”
Garces developed a passion for Japanese cuisine while competing on (and eventually winning) Food Network’s The Next Iron Chef in 2009. The semifinals were held in Tokyo. Garces described discovering an appreciation for the ingredients and the refinement of Japanese cooking during his time there. Later, he would return to Japan to be “re-inspired” by its cuisine, he says.
Born to Ecuadorian parents and raised in Chicago, Garces first developed an affinity for cooking as an observer (and an eater) in the family kitchen. “My mom and my grandma were great cooks,” he says. “They were inspiring. At a young age, I was kind of a gluttonous kid, so I enjoyed being in the kitchen and eating and hanging out.”
After high school, Garces studied culinary arts at Kendall College in Chicago. From there, it was off to Spain for a full immersion in European cooking. He then spent about five years in New York City before landing in Philadelphia, where he was named the executive chef of Alma de Cuba in 2001.
Four years later, Garces was ready to launch a place of his own. Amada, a Spanish tapas restaurant named for his beloved grandmother, Mamita Amada, began welcoming Philly’s hungry diners in 2005. Its opening was heralded by rave reviews.
The accolades would keep coming for Garces. He was the 2009 winner of the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” award after scoring nominations in the previous two years. That was also right around the time when Garces was duking it out with his fellow culinary artists to earn the coveted title of Iron Chef. He first auditioned for The Next Iron Chef in 2007 but didn’t make the cut. Still, they must have seen something in the young star in the making, because he was invited to compete against the legendary Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America the following year. The showdown was dubbed a Brain Freeze battle, because each dish they prepared needed to include a frozen element.
In the end, it was Garces who walked away with the bragging rights. “Then I got asked to come back and compete on
The Next Iron Chef in ’09,” Garces says. “I didn’t know what I was in for, to be honest. I really was unsure of where the whole thing was going to be going. We were sequestered in Los Angeles for several weeks, no communication with anybody, just competing. It was a pretty thrilling time, one with a lot of excitement and nervousness, tense moments. I was able to knock off nine other competitors and win the title, and a lot of good things came from that win.”
I n addition to his slate of brick-andmortars, Garces also has two cookbooks under his belt: The Latin Road Home, released in 2012, and Latin Evolution, which came out in 2008. He’s a partner in CookUnity, a meal subscription service that offers small-batch meals crafted by top culinary talent. His nonprofit Garces Foundation aims to support the immigrant community in Philadelphia with health clinics, English classes, a food pantry and more.
Jose Garces is married to Jill Garces, whom he describes as his better half. “She shapes and forms my life in a way that’s way better than I could on my own, for sure, and is a huge support in all my business ventures and personal endeavors,” he says. “She’s been a great partner.” With his former wife, Beatriz, he shares two children; son Andrés is studying business at Penn State, and daughter Olivia is pursuing a graduate degree in social work in Chicago.
Amada, Garces’ very first restaurant in Philadelphia, is still going strong, two decades later. Satellite locations have since opened in Radnor, and in Atlantic City, NJ. “It’s been a joy to see that brand, after twenty years, still have the longevity and gusto to move forward,” says Garces.
Garces is credited with helping to propel Philadelphia’s restaurant boom in the early 2000s. He’s hoping history repeats itself in Downtown Allentown. “We were able to provide some unique experiences [in Philadelphia], and it drove retail. It drove more chef-operators [and restaurant] operators to our area. So I’m hopeful that we can produce that again, and that I’m lightning in a bottle, maybe one more time.”
Professional Sales Staff | Factory-Trained Service & Installation | Family Owned & Operated
Pickles
BY DAISY
Tart, tangy and tasty, this beloved food has made its way from the barrel to the martini glass, from soup to sandwich to breaded snack. Eat them every way imaginable in these five forms found locally, just in time to celebrate National Pickle Day on Nov. 14.
1. PICKLE PIZZA
THE CATTY CORNER
301 Mulberry St., Catasauqua
394 N. Broad St. Ext., Nazareth | cattycornerpub.com
This neighborhood pub is a community place, with regularly scheduled trivia and karaoke, summer concerts and bountifully heaped cheesesteaks. The pizza menu abounds with creative and mouthwatering options, including a pie generously scattered with pickles, ripe with garlic and drizzled with ranch.
2 .
PICKLE O’S
PINTS & PIES
2049 Northampton St., Easton
21 E. Elizabeth Ave., Bethlehem | pintsandpiespub.com
The tart acidity of the breaded pickle goes wonderfully with the warm and smoky flavors of chipotle mayo, hence its pairing on the Pints & Pies appetizer menu, which marries a tantalizing spread of fried foods with the satisfying sauce to set off each item. An alluring prospect when you’re working your way through their 100+ beer selection.
WILLIS | PHOTO BY VANKAD / ADOBE STOCK
3. PICKLES
NEW YORK PICKLE
1825 W. Chew St., Allentown newyorkpickle
If you’re serious about your pickle passion, treat yourself to a tour of the inventory at this Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market vendor. Stuffed olives in array, pickles from the fresh, crisp new stage to the sweet little gherkin—every briny treat your heart desires, and many more picnic foods for sale and sampling.
4. RASSOLNIK
BLACK FOREST DELI
745 7 th Ave., Bethlehem blackforestdeli.com
For classic deli food as well as the traditional fare of the owner’s Ukrainian homeland, this spot is cloud nine for lovers of Reuben sandwiches, halupki and pierogi. The rassolnik is a classic Russian soup, warm with rice and potatoes, tangy with pickles and bright with a dollop of sour cream and fresh dill.
5. PICKLETINI
THE NEST BAR & GRILLE
601 E. 4th St., Bethlehem thenestbethlehem.com
A sports bar offering Southside Bethlehem a place to roost up and watch the Eagles play, The Nest is replete with glowing televisions, draft beer and wings. Their pickle juice martini has a little extra kick to it thanks to sweet-and-spicy pickle juice paired with Tito’s vodka.
Katie Brown and Dennis Morton,
Co-Founders and Senior Wealth Advisors
MORTON BROWN FAMILY WEALTH
Financial Confidence Reimagined
At Morton Brown Family Wealth, growth means more than numbers. It’s about having confidence in life’s biggest financial decisions. Dennis and Katie founded the firm with a vision to positively impact how people experience money, relationships, and life, building an advisory practice that reflects their values of trust, collaboration, and community.
In 2025, that vision was recognized nationally when Newsweek named Morton Brown Family Wealth as one of America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms. This unexpected national spotlight inspires their team to continue elevating the way financial advice is delivered.
Today, Dennis and Katie continue to expand both their advisory group and the ways they serve families preparing for retirement. Clients often arrive at a crossroads, balancing career transitions, family priorities, and the question of what comes next. By simplifying complexity and shaping planning around life’s deeper priorities, Morton Brown helps families approach the future with confidence.
Deeply rooted in the Lehigh Valley, Dennis, Katie, and their team are proud to contribute not only to their clients’ financial journeys but also to the strength of the community they call home. Their growth represents an investment in both.
Morton Brown offers more than financial advice. They offer the confidence to reimagine what’s next.
Morton Brown helps successful families align wealth with what matters most, offering guidance through life’s most important financial transitions.
Financial Advisor
Dianne Denison (seated) with Operations Manager
Katie LaVoie
THE DENISON GROUP
A Financial Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
The Denison Group is committed to its clients, offering one-on-one financial advice, personalized recommendations, regular meetings and anytime access to help achieve each client’s unique goals.
The Denison Group has been advising professional women, executives, business owners and their families across the country for over 22 years. The team has a particular focus and experience working with clients plan for a confident and comfortable retirement in keeping with their unique goals, beliefs and values.
For decades, Financial Advisor Dianne Denison, MBA, has been the trusted advisor to generations of the same family, their business interests, trusts and charities. The Denison Group strives to provide a boutique-style client experience they would expect.
The Denison Group are mothers, daughters, sisters and friends and have a keen understanding of and experience with the complexities of life transitions.
The Denison Group has experience working for global corporations, federal and state government, as well as founding and operating their own businesses. The group’s experiences often form a relatable foundation for clients.
The Denison Group is a financial advisory practice with Ameriprise Financial Services. The team is proud to be associated with a company known for its commitment to deliver custom financial planning and financial advice to clients and families for over 130 years.
Delivering results to meet client’s unique personal and business needs—both expected and sometimes unexpected—is The Denison Group’s primary goal.
“We help clients make confident financial decisions by focusing on what matters most to them. At Tiller Private Wealth, our approach is rooted in integrity and personalized service, to guide each unique financial journey with care and experience.” – JIM BEENDERS
STELLA M. DESANTIS
Financial Advisor | Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
Oppenheimer’s proven team of experienced investment banking professionals deliver strategic advisory and capital markets solutions that help enable emerging-growth and mid-sized businesses to achieve their goals. Whether it’s raising capital, restructuring operations and finances, or pursuing a merger or acquisition, Oppenheimer’s clientcentric approach is focused on solving the biggest challenges that clients face.
Stella DeSantis, Senior Director – Investments at Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., is celebrating 28 years as a financial advisor. Stella combines specialties, such as financial planning strategies involving various investments. Once she has decided which investments are best suited for an individual client, she seeks to assist the client in building his or her wealth through appropriate asset allocation models.
Stella builds long-term relationships with the trust of her clients. Developing solid relationships with her clients helps her monitor their portfolios and, when necessary due to the market or changes in clients’ life circumstances, to rebalance them. She regards helping to educate her clients in making prudent investment choices as part of her responsibility to them.
TILLER PRIVATE WEALTH
Build Wealth with Confidence
Tiller Private Wealth is an independent Registered Investment Advisor with nearly 30 years of experience serving clients with care and precision. The firm specializes in delivering personalized, fiduciary-focused planning and wealth management solutions for high-net-worth individuals, families and nonprofits.
The firm’s name reflects its mission: to remain a steady hand on the tiller through smooth or stormy environments, guiding clients toward financial clarity, confidence and growth.
With offices in Bethlehem and Florida, Tiller takes a comprehensive approach that includes tailored investment strategies, detailed financial roadmaps and ongoing oversight to adapt to ever-changing markets.
From investment management to tax efficiency, Tiller’s concierge-level services allow clients to focus on what matters most.
At Tiller Private Wealth, integrity, diligence and humility are at the core of everything the firm does. Experience the difference of a truly client-driven approach. Learn more and view important disclosures at tillerpw.com
Shop Local
This holiday season, join Lehigh Valley Style and celebrate the spirit of our region by shopping local! From charming boutiques and artisan shops to favorite restaurants and specialty stores, every purchase made close to home helps strengthen our community.
Supporting small businesses isn’t just for Small Business Saturday—it’s a gift that gives back all year long. Discover unique finds, savor local flavors and make this season merry, meaningful and distinctly local.
HAKINMHAN / ADOBE STOCK
SEASONS OLIVE OIL & VINEGAR TAPROOM
SEASONS_OLIVE_OIL
Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom is a Lehigh Valley favorite. Located in the heart of America’s Best Main Street, the taproom offers over 80 world-class olive oils and vinegars sourced from single-estate producers around the world. This holiday season, shoppers can find stunning gourmet gifts—beautifully packaged and perfect for everyone on their list. Visitors are welcome to taste before buying, enjoy local hospitality and celebrate the art of giving at Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom on Main Street.
508 Main St., Bethlehem 610.866.2615 seasonstaproom.com
AM Luxe has proudly served the Bethlehem community since December 2015, offering sophisticated fashion and meaningful experiences for women. More than a boutique, AM Luxe is a destination where women connect, give back and celebrate style with purpose. Every detail, from curated collections to a welcoming atmosphere, reflects the brand’s mission of “urban elegance meets downtown charm.”
Visit this December as AM Luxe celebrates 10 years in business, a milestone made possible by the loyalty of its clients and community.
74 W. Broad St., Bethlehem 610.419.2037 amluxeapparel.com
ROSS PLANTS + FLOWERS + GIFTS
Looking for a unique shopping experience for the holidays? Look no further than Ross Plants + Flowers + Gifts. With two locations in the Lehigh Valley, shoppers will find the perfect gift for just about anyone on their list, even themselves! Ross Plants + Flowers + Gifts in Orefield is the destination for the gardener and plant enthusiast. Filled with unique garden-themed gifts and so much more, visitors will want to peruse the greenhouse for hours. From house plants to home décor to specialty containers, the selection is endless. For the holiday season, the greenhouse is full of fresh greens, wreaths, cemetery logs and grave blankets, as well as holiday plants such as poinsettias, Christmas cactus and cyclamen. Everything created in the Ross greenhouse is one of a kind and made with the occasion and concept their customers desire.
Ross Plants + Flowers + Gifts’ location in Allentown’s Iron Run Plaza is overflowing with gifts that offer calm and peace, such as candles, lotions, bracelets with inspirational sayings, soaps and bath salts, diffusers, specialty cooking salts, fun drinkware and so much more! The scents and displays are relaxing and inviting, so it’s easy to walk through the shop for hours and find a gift for just about anyone.
Both Ross locations are full-service floral shops and offer ready-made bouquets and one-of-a-kind arrangements for pickup or delivery. Ross also offers classes on floral arranging and plant and garden creations—all unique experiences that can be taught at either of their locations, a place of business or at clients’ homes.
Stop by one of Ross Plants + Flowers + Gifts’ locations today for an unforgettable floral and gift experience.
A cornerstone of the Bethlehem community, Westgate Jewelers has long been a place where cherished memories are crafted. Their passion for the city is beautifully captured in their iconic Bethlehem Star collection, with each piece meticulously handcrafted by their in-house jeweler. Stepping inside, shoppers will discover a world of timeless treasures. From an exceptional selection of engagement rings to customdesigned pieces that bring a bride’s dreams to life, they specialize in celebrating life’s most precious moments. Westgate also proudly houses the largest selection of estate jewelry in the Lehigh Valley, a year-round gallery of one-of-a-kind heirlooms waiting to be found. With a master’s touch, their team breathes new life into tired jewelry and restores beloved family legacy pieces, including watches. Offering an expert array of services and a welcoming spirit, Westgate Jewelers invites everyone to step inside and find the perfect piece to tell their own story.
53 E. Lehigh St., Bethlehem
610.866.4557
westgatejewelerspa.com
BUCKS COUNTRY GARDENS
BUCKS_COUNTRY_GARDENS
This year, Christmas at Bucks Country Gardens is all new— and more magical than ever! Guests are invited to step into a reimagined holiday wonderland, where a snow-kissed roof, frosted windowpanes and twinkling lights set the stage for discovery and delight.
Making its debut, the “Woodlands” captures the cozy charm of a winter lodge, complete with the feel of a crackling fire and a menagerie of lovable forest creatures. Room after room reveals more breathtaking, designer-themed trees than ever before, including fresh displays inspired by decadent chocolates, shimmering copper and deep navy tones accented with hints of Champagne.
Even the beloved “Grove” has been reimagined. Relocated and refreshed, it features a magical forest of hand-selected, lifelike trees that shimmer with texture, light and endless holiday possibilities—ready to inspire new traditions.
Around every corner, something new awaits. Christmas florals evoke the charm of European flower markets, while a sea of poinsettias dazzles in every hue. Fresh-cut trees, fragrant evergreens and custom planters complete the scene, filling the air with the unmistakable scent of the season.
The celebration continues with a full calendar of seasonal events, including the annual Christmas Open House, visiting reindeer, holiday workshops and barnyard animals. Guests are invited to discover the magic of Christmas at Bucks Country Gardens and plan their visit at buckscountrygardens.com
1057 N. Easton Rd., Doylestown 215.766.7800 | buckscountrygardens.com
HELLO BEAUTIFUL SALON & BOUTIQUE
Voted Lehigh Valley’s Best Boutique in 2025, Hello Beautiful Salon & Boutique is the destination for laid-back luxury and effortless style for the everyday modern woman. Shopping local means supporting community, connection and women-owned dreams. This season, discover rich jewel tones, cozy knits, luxe neutrals and holiday-ready sparkle—plus everyday essentials designed to fit any lifestyle. From statement denim to plush sweaters and chic accessories, every piece is curated to look and feel great. Shop local. Shop intentional. Look and feel beautiful from head to toe.
7812 Main St., Fogelsville 610.351.4247 hellobeautifulsb.com
KUHNSVILLE CAR WASH
KUHNSVILLE.CARWASH
Serving the Valley for 37 years, Kuhnsville Car Wash offers a full service automatic tunnel, 5 exterior wash packages, interior cleaning and 6 self-serve bays. Unlimited memberships, multiple vehicle discounts, senior discounts, free birthday washes and
November
MACK E NZIECARPENTER
DILLONCARMICHAEL
RESTAURANT AWARDS THE 2025
46 Rea der - V ote d Favo rites
The results are in and our readers have spoken! Get to know the winners of our 22nd annual Restaurant Awards in categories ranging from cuisine to atmosphere to location.
Favorite Modern American Bolete
BY AMY UNGER, WITH ANGELA VENNEMANN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN
Let’s hear it for Bar Bix, a frequent honoree on Lehigh Valley Style ’s Best Of lists. And let’s hear it for the bar’s namesake, Grace Bixler, the stepdaughter of silk mill magnate Herman Simon, and the former owner of the building that is now the Townley House boutique hotel. “We are a women-run household, and I thought there was nothing more fitting than that,” says general manager Cassondra Ruta. The atmosphere inside Easton’s Bar Bix is cozy yet refined. As for the cocktail menu: “Truly, you can’t go wrong with anything,” Ruta says. But, if she had to pick a stand-out sipper, she’d go with The Arsonist old-fashioned or Espresso Yourself martini.
130 N. 3 rd St., Easton 484.544.4801 townleyhouse.com/bar-bix
Favorite Overall Vibe
Apollo Grill
No matter what kind of night you’re looking for—comfortable, friendly, sophisticated—Apollo Grill will be sure to suit your mood. This place is perfect for dinner for two or happy hour with friends.
85 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.865.9600 apollogrill.com
Favorite Casual DiningTwisted Olive
Enjoy food from around the world with a twist while in the comfort of a relaxed setting. Pasta, seafood, pizza, steak— food for any mood can be found right here.
51 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.1200 twistedolivebethlehem.com
Favorite Bar Bar Bix at Townley House
Favorite Hotel Restaur ant Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Beloved by locals and visitors alike, Hotel B offers the best in hotel dining. Enjoy classic American cuisine in the Tap Room, treat yourself to a special night out at 1741 on the Terrace, or start your week right with an elegant Sunday brunch complete with live music.
437 Main St., Bethlehem 855.264.2598
hotelbethlehem.com
Favorite Private Dining ZEST Bar + Grille
With four private event spaces and stunning views of Bethlehem, ZEST is the best for any social get-together, from bridal showers to cocktail parties to private dinners to corporate receptions.
306 S. New St., Bethlehem | 610.419.4320
zestbethlehem.com
Favorite Liv e Music
The Wooden Match
Talented local musicians bring the night to life at The Wooden Match, where they host everything from jazz to country to yacht rock to open-mic nights.
61 W. Lehigh St., Bethlehem | 610.865.1777 thewoodenmatch.com
Favorite Rooftop Three OAK Steakhouse
Go for the steak and chops, stay for the elevated ambience. Although Easton’s Three OAK Steakhouse bills itself as classic American, it has many thoroughly modern touches, including its top level, a glassenclosed space with a retractable roof and gas fire pits. “Our rooftop is all about the vibe,” says General Manager Laura Fretz. “The views are great, but it’s the atmosphere and our team’s hospitality that make it the place to celebrate, connect and unwind.” She recommends starting your night with a Pear with Me martini, and then following up in the downstairs dining room with the Prime tomahawk steak, a bone-in dry-aged ribeye. Fretz calls it a true showstopper and a personal favorite. 323 Northampton St., Easton | 610.559.5510 | threeoaksteakhouse.com
Favorite GreekYianni’s Taverna
Here you’ll find modern interpretations of traditional and classic Greek cooking. The menu changes seasonally, but the fresh, authentic Greek flavors are there year-round, and there’s always a selection of seafood, whole fish and vegetarian options.
3760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem | 610.410.9300
yiannistaverna.com
Favorite Chinese U & Tea
Specializing in traditional, authentic Chinese cuisine, U & Tea uses time-honored techniques and premium ingredients to craft their dishes. Pair one of their curated Chinese teas with your meal to enhance its flavors.
119 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem 610.866.4900 | uandtea.com
FavoriteG luten-Free Union and Finch
This neighborhood bistro serves up casual American fare, and those looking to avoid gluten need not fear: they have plenty of gluten-free substitutions available on the menu as well as a dedicated gluten-free fryer in their kitchen.
1528 W. Union St., Allentown | 610.432.1522 unionandfinch.com
Favorite G erman Kabinett
This intimate 45-seat restaurant has Bavarian roots with Australian influence and a seriously good wine list. Share a bottle with family or friends over chicken schnitzel or a pork chop. Private dining is available, and a light wine bar menu is available at their beer hall next door.
125 Northampton St., Easton | 484.545.7670
kabinettwinebar.com
Favorite French La Kang ThaiFrench Cuisine
La Kang Thai-French Cuisine opened in Palmer Township in 2020, born from chef and co-owner Ratchaphol “Paul” Rojrattana’s dream of blending the flavors of his Thai heritage with the refinement of French culinary techniques. “After years of working as a chef in New York and Connecticut, I wanted to create something unique for the Lehigh Valley dining scene,” he says. Expect vibrant fusion dishes presented with fine-dining elegance. Rojrattana recommends the pan-seared duck breast with pineapple red curry reduction. “It perfectly showcases the harmony of bold Thai flavors with the finesse of French cooking,” he says.
190 S. Greenwood Ave., Easton | 610.438.0301 LaKangThaiFrench
Favorite Irish McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub & Whiskey Bar
McCarthy’s is more than just a place to get a proper pour of a pint of Guinness. This Bethlehem mainstay, which began as Granny McCarthy’s Tea Room in the 1990s, recreates the experience of ducking into a pub in Ireland, thanks in part to its architectural flourishes and bar snugs. The menu is a mix of favorites from Ireland and the British Isles. “Many of the traditional dishes that are so highly rated are our fish and chips or our Irish breakfast, which, by the way, we serve all day long,” says founder and owner Neville Gardner. The Red Stag is the coat of arms of the McCarthy family, the lineage of Gardner’s mother.
534 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.861.7631 | redstagpub.com
Favorite Healthy FareSoFresh
With their signature “fast-casual fresh” cuisine, SoFresh has loads of options for those looking to make smart meal choices. Madeto-order grain bowls, salads, wraps, quesadillas, smoothies and juices are ready for you within minutes.
Sushi? They’ve got it. Hibachi? This is the place. Noodles? Check. If it’s Japanese, you’ll find it at KOMÉ, where they’ve been offering a multi-faceted dining experience for the better part of two decades.
2800 Center Valley Pkwy. Suite 600, Center Valley 610.798.9888 komerestaurant.com
Favorite Italian Taste of Italy
This old-school joint with Italian-American classics is sure to please, with an intimate date-night setting and plenty of options like salads, risottos, pastas and proteins like chicken and veal. It’s BYOB, so as the owners say, “Bring the wine, take the cannoli.”
639 Main St., Hellertown 484.851.3056
tasteofitalyhtown.com
Favorite Middle Eas tern Daddy’s Place
Shawarma, kabobs, kafta, fatoush, baba ghannouj, falafel—it’s all here at this Easton mainstay. For an extra-indulgent dinner, order the three-course meal, available for two or four people.
Between the care they take in preparing your dishes and the packed dining room of this popular Easton spot, you may have to wait a bit for your meal, but we promise it’s worth it. There are loads of protein options as well as vegetarian dishes, all made in the North Indian Punjabi style with customizable heat levels.
You could just sit and have your prepared meal brought to you, but where’s the fun in that? At KPOT you can create your own meal with endless combinations of meats, veggies, sauces, soups and sides, and you cook it to perfection right at your table.
Fresh, authentic Mediterranean cuisine is in the heart of Easton at Meli European Taverna, where they pair locally grown produce with ingredients imported from Europe, including fish flown in from Greece. The warm hospitality and mouthwatering dishes will have you feeling like you’re right on the sea.
Bolete has ranked among the top Lehigh Valley finedining destinations ever since it opened 18 years ago. It can be a place to mark a special occasion, certainly, but it can also be a much more laid-back experience.
“I would say that it’s not stuffy at all,” says Erin Shea, who owns Bolete with her husband, Chef Lee Chizmar. “It’s comfortable. I think it feels like you’re coming into someone’s home. That was always the intention.” They take the farm-to-table concept seriously. Outside of a few mainstays—oysters, steak tartare, a beloved butterscotch pudding—the menu is always changing and full of surprises. “I always tell people, try the thing you would never either cook for yourself or try anywhere else,” Shea says.
Nestled in the heart of Historic Bethlehem, Thai Thai II transports you on a culinary journey through Thailand filled with authentic flavors. Sample noodle and rice dishes, seafood dinners, curries, duck or even a whole fish.
509 Main St., Bethlehem 610.868.1919 | thaithai2.com
Favorite Spanish Tapas on Main
Travel to Madrid or Barcelona without leaving the Lehigh Valley. Tapas on Main serves traditional Spanish shared plates as well as salads and mains, and they always have a rotating seasonal menu of eight varieties of sangria.
500 Main St., Bethlehem 610.868.8903
tapasonmain.com
Favorite Southern The Bayou
Comfort food is the name of the game here, with delectable bites from across the Southern US, from cornbread to po’ boys to fried chicken.
Oysters, scallops, lobster, branzino, tuna—if it swims in the ocean, you’ll find it here. Don’t miss their annual Clam Jam street festival every August.
56 S. 3 rd St., Easton 610.829.1404 thirdandferry.com
Favorite Steakhouse
Top Cut Steak House
Everything you want in a classic steakhouse, featuring USDA Prime Black Angus beef, seafood, freshly baked bread, rooftop views and the sounds of Frank Sinatra.
2880 Center Valley Pkwy. Suite 625, Center Valley 610.841.7100 topcutsteak.com
Favorite Vietnamese Pho Bowl
They have plenty of varieties of pho (it is in their name, after all), but why stop there? Try a banh mi sandwich or a rice vermicelli noodle bowl.
524 W. Broad St., Bethlehem 610.419.4484 | Pho Bowl
Photo by Shelbie Pletz
Favorite E aston Sette Luna
Easton’s restaurant scene is hopping lately, with lots of new offerings tempting taste buds. And so it means a lot to the owner of the city’s tried-and-true Tuscan trattoria to be named Easton’s favorite spot for the seventh time. Sette Luna opened in 2005 and has stuck with what works. “I founded the restaurant with our core values of starting with good, wholesome, natural ingredients, not over manipulating them, and showcasing the beauty of classic Italian cuisine and simple presentations,” says Josh Palmer. Bud’s Bolognese remains a best seller. “It’s a classic Bolognese sauce, but we do it like nobody else does,” Palmer says. 219 Ferry St., Easton | 610.253.8888 | setteluna.com
Favorite
Nazareth The Catty Corner Neighborhood Pub & Pie
The ultimate neighborhood pub experience is here, with bites like pizza and burgers, a monthly sports giveaway, 25 televisions and regular events.
394 N. Broad St. Ext., Nazareth | 610.365.2444 cattycornerpub.com/nazareth
Favorite Bath / WalnutportPoint Phillips Hotel
Grab a helping of history with your meal at this tavern that dates to 1806. Dine on small bites, wings, barbecue, burgers, seafood and more.
943 Point Phillips Rd., Bath | 610.837.1544 pointphillipshotel.com
Favorite Center Valley melt
The quality of pasta can make or break an Italian meal. At melt, their pastas are made in house and paired with traditional sauces that are made with a fresh, modern twist for meals that they say are per cui morire to die for.
2880 Center Valley Pkwy. Suite 624, Center Valley 610.798.9000 | meltgrill.com
Favorite Macungie / Fogelsville Madeline’s
They’re known as the casual fine-dining spot “where friends gather,” so head there to see why—settle into one of their three cozy dining rooms for a meal featuring locally grown produce, fresh seafood, Black Angus beef and housemade desserts.
Rooted in Italian cuisine, PA House’s menu boasts a “low-key premium” vibe featuring fare from a wood-fired oven and handcrafted cocktails (we love their Aperol spritz).
662 Front St., Hellertown 484.851.6662 thepahouse.com
Favorite Allentown The Shelby
Three words: get a reservation. This wildly popular spot is perfect for any situation: brunch, lunch, dinner, happy hour, you name it. We love the Kirchenberg cheese curds, the Cubano sandwich and the chicken and waffles.
707 N. Krocks Rd., Allentown | 610.841.0808 shelbyrestaurant.com
Favorite Forks / Bangor Surv
Treat yourself to a surv-ing of wood-fired pizza or an inventive, scratch-made dish like their famous chicken and “waffle,” made with mac and cheese instead of waffle batter.
Casual yet upscale, Edge sets the right tone for any gathering right in the heart of Bethlehem. Enjoy modern cuisine with French and Asian influences any time of day—they recently launched breakfast service.
74 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.814.0100 edgerestaurant.net
Favorite Em maus Cactus Blue
Cactus Blue is new(ish) to the Emmaus area, but certainly not new to local fans of Mexican cuisine. The restaurant relocated from its longtime spot in Bethlehem to Upper Milford Township in 2023, bringing with it a lineup of wellestablished south-of-the-border fare. “The Baja fish tacos are the must-have,” say co-owners Liz Ortiz and Adam Gangewere. “They’ve been on the menu since the early days, and people keep coming back for them.” Cactus Blue opened in 2004; the couple said over the years they’ve adapted—adding two food trucks and catering, moving the brick-and mortar—but the heart of the business has never changed: “good, house-made food, created with care and meant to bring people together.”
4030 Chestnut St., Emmaus
610.814.3000 | cactusblue.biz
Favorite
North amptonAssante Ristorante Italiano
This family-owned spot delivers refined Italian cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere, with an extensive menu featuring plenty of the pastas, pizzas and mains you love. Their lengthy beverage list is your meal’s perfect companion.
2050 Main St., Northampton 610.262.1301
assanterestaurant.com
Favorite
Phillipsburg, N J La Bella Via
With imported Italian flour, a sauce recipe passed down through the family and a custom brick oven designed by European artisans, you know they take their pizza baking seriously. Their pastas are made fresh in-house, too.
41 3rd St., Phillipsburg, NJ 908.387.8070
labellavianj.com
Favorite Whitehall My Tequila House
Experience an authentic taste of Mexico here, where they celebrate culture, flavor and tradition. You’ll find favorites like tacos, burritos and fajitas, but don’t sleep on their main courses, including carne asada and agave-glazed salmon.
The Brick Tavern Inn has been many things over the years: a stagecoach stop, a general store, a post office and a machine shop, just to name a few. It’s the kind of rich history you might expect from a place that’s been around for more than 200 years. These days, though, people know the Brick Tavern as the go-to spot for new American cuisine in Upper Bucks County. The crab cakes are legendary. There’s also an extensive beer and wine menu to accompany any dish. When the weather is nice, dinner sometimes comes with a show, courtesy of live music acts on the outdoor patio.
2460 N. Old Bethlehem Pike, Quakertown | 215.529.6488
thebricktaverninn.com
TACO-STUFFED SWEET POTATOES WITH Chef Amanda Pietrobono
TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN
When Amanda Pietrobono left New York City’s bustling culinary scene to return to her hometown in the Lehigh Valley, she wasn’t looking for the next big restaurant opening. Instead, she was searching for balance—time with her husband, space to raise a family and meaningful work that connected her love of food to a greater purpose. Today, as director of operations and culinary medicine at the Kellyn Foundation, she has found exactly that.
Pietrobono’s story begins in pastry. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, she worked as a pastry chef in downtown Manhattan, at Tribeca’s renowned Locanda Verde. She recalls, “I got to serve people at the Tribeca Film Festival. It was awesome. But we were working 60- to 80-hour weeks, burning out and feeding food that wasn’t necessarily helping people’s bodies.”
When she and her husband decided to move back home in 2017, she joined Kellyn Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to “making the healthy choice the easy choice.” Kellyn’s initiatives span programs in over 40 elementary schools, community gardens, a mobile market and a commercial kitchen that not only caters and prepares weekly healthy meals but also reinvests proceeds into community health programs.
At first, Pietrobono admits she wasn’t sure how her pastry skills fit into Kellyn’s mission. “Everything I had was schooling in sugar and fat and butter and delicious treats,” she laughs. But the challenge excited her. She began re-engineering classic recipes into health-focused versions that tasted just as indulgent.
Her philosophy isn’t about restriction, but addition. “Don’t stop cold turkey,” she advises those intimidated by “healthy eating.”
“Look at your plate and ask, ‘How can you start adding more vegetables, fruits or beans instead of necessarily taking away?’
It’s just a lifestyle,” she says.
One of her favorite family-friendly recipes, taco-stuffed sweet potatoes, captures her style: nourishing, adaptable and accessible.
“It’s very easy and quick to throw together, freezes well, and you can batch cook it on the weekends,” she explains. The version she shares is vegetarian, though she points out, “If you want to add shrimp or chicken or whatever you have in your fridge, you can.”
In every role, from chef to community educator, Pietrobono embodies Kellyn’s mission. She is proof that food can be both joyful and restorative, indulgent and nourishing. Or, as she puts it best: “Our goal is to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”
TACO-STUFFED SWEET POTATOES
INGREDIENTS
4 large sweet potatoes
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 c. assorted vegetables for filling (peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, etc.)
2 tbsp. taco seasoning
15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 c. corn kernels (fresh, frozen or canned)
¾ c. fresh or jarred salsa (additional for topping)
1 avocado, diced
¼ c. sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 green onion, finely chopped Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Use a fork to poke holes in the sweet potatoes and place them on a baking sheet. Roast for 30–40 minutes or until the skin has puffed up and it is easily pierced with a fork. Cut the baked sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Using a fork, gently fluff the centers to create slight reservoirs in each half. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the assorted vegetables along with the taco seasoning and cook until softened (approximately 5–10 minutes). Stir in the beans, corn and the salsa until combined; cook until heated through, about 3–4 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if preferred. Remove from heat.
Spoon the bean mixture into the center of each sweet potato half. Top with diced
avocado, a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, chopped green onion, cilantro and additional salsa.
Serve immediately. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to three days. Tag @lvstylemag when you make it at home!
MCCOOLESREDLIONINN
A fireside table awaits! Voted best in Quakertown by LehighValleyStyle readers, McCoole's is a colonial period tavern offering delicious food, craft cocktails and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Now booking holiday parties! Open Wednesday through Sunday.
4 S. Main St., Quakertown | 215.538.1776 | mccoolesredlioninn.com
OWOWCOW CREAMERY
OWOWCOW
Owowcow Creamery crafts small-batch, locally sourced ice cream with seasonal, innovative flavors. Open year-round, serving five locations in Lehigh Valley & Bucks County, their Easton shop in the Silk Mill has become a gathering spot where sustainability and creativity define every scoop.
A unique dining experience in the heart of the Lehigh Valley, Capo & Co. offers a pouryour-own beer wall, top-quality American fare and a lively atmosphere that ensures every visit is unforgettable.
For 16 years, Charlie welcomed guests at Thai Thai Bethlehem while his son perfected authentic flavors. Now retired, he’s passed the torch to his son and daughter-in-law, who proudly continue his legacy—serving authentic Thai cuisine and Bethlehem’s best BYOB experience.
509 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.868.1919 | thaithai2.com
CAPOCOEMMAUS
1812 PIANO LOUNGE
1812PIANOLOUNGE
The Shelby reimagines modern American dining with refined cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and a polished yet inviting atmosphere. Blending elegance with warmth, it offers elevated hospitality and memorable experiences for every guest, from casual gatherings to milestone celebrations.
707 N. Krocks Rd., Allentown | 610.841.0808 | theshelbyrestaurant.com
Located in the West End Theatre District, 1812 Piano Lounge offers a one-of-a-kind destination to meet, dine, sip and sing along with some of the region’s top performers. The casually elegant atmosphere and intimate setting invite guests to feel like part of the performance. Play it again! 1812 W. Allen St., Allentown | 484.274.6208 | 1812pianolounge.com
3 rd & Ferry Fish Market blends upscale - c asual elegance with seafood passion in downtown Easton. Their full raw bar, craft beers, cocktail flair, warm service and staples like their signature lobster rolls are ideal for lively gatherings, family dinners and date nights.
56 S. 3 rd St.,Easton | 610.829.1404 | thirdandferry.com
Celebrate the flavors of the season at Twisted Olive with handcrafted cocktails, garden fresh dishes and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Nestled in the heart of Bethlehem, Twisted Olive blends creativity and comfort for an unforgettable dining experience.
W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.1200 | twistedolivebethlehem.com
THIRSTY TURTLE TAVERN
Thirsty Turtle Tavern offers an upscale casual experience where vibrant energy meets inviting comfort. With an extensive menu, craft cocktails and a lively, sophisticated atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for friends, family and colleagues to gather in Whitehall. 1410 Grape St., Whitehall Township | 484.274.6781 | thirstyturtle-tavern.com
RAKKII RAMEN
Rakkii Ramen offers fresh, house-made ramen and a variety of rice bowls, with broths prepared daily from pork, chicken, seafood and vegetables. Open late Friday through Sunday until 9 p.m.—ideal for weekend outings or late-night cravings!
328 S. New St., Bethlehem | 610.419.8007 | rakkiiramen.com
LA KANG THAI-FRENCH CUISINE
LAKANGTHAIFRENCH
La Kang Thai-French Cuisine offers bold Thai flavors crafted with French techniques in a welcoming, relaxed space. Families, friends, and food lovers enjoy creative dishes, warm service, and a vibrant atmosphere perfect for everyday dining and special gatherings alike.
190 S. Greenwood Ave., Easton | 610.438.0301 | lakangthai-frenchcuisine0294.s4shops.com
YIANNI’S TAVERNA
YIANNISTAVERNA
Get together with friends and loved ones for an evening of laughter, drinks and, best of all, plates of delectable Greek food—from fresh fish, lamb chops and kebabs to saganki, pastitsio and more. Welcome to the epitome of Greek-style dining in the Lehigh Valley.
3760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem | 610.410.9300 | yiannistaverna.com
MELIRESTAURANTEASTON
Voted “Favorite
Enjoy fresh ingredients and sustainable practices at Meli, where seafood, proteins and local vegetables are transformed into mouth-watering dishes. Each plate is a culinary masterpiece, reflecting the perfection of Greek, Mediterranean and European flavors.
BY ANGELA VENNEMANN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW CANNON
PRESLEY’S COCKTAIL BAR SALTED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE
With the ever-growing popularity of espresso martinis, it only makes sense that cocktail programs have started to turn the concept on its head. At Presley’s Cocktail Bar, co-owner and bartender Jean Carlos Jimenez has been having a lot of fun with this, reinventing the wheel in ways that keep his guests guessing— and sipping. Previous versions of the drink have included peanut butter chocolate, Dubai chocolate and bananas Foster.
Also the head bartender at La Maya, Jimenez recalls the inspiration for this variation, which originally was intended to be a brown butter espresso martini. “I had my good friend Kevin, who was the chef at La Maya at the time, taste test the drink for me and he mentioned how it reminded him of the bottom of a chocolate chip cookie,” he recalls.
Jimenez calls the drink a simple espresso martini with three main parts: espresso, reposado tequila and a chocolate brown butter syrup. But the syrup is what makes the cocktail shine, and creating it is quite the process. Jimenez begins by caramelizing butter, letting it solidify, then creaming it with sugar and Cocoa Rouge, a cocoa powder with fruity notes and a higher milk fat content that lends itself to a smoother drink. Finally, a Demerara syrup is blended with the butter mixture to create the finished syrup.
READY TO TRY IT?
Tag @lvstylemag when you do!
After the ingredients are shaken with ice, they’re strained into a martini glass, carefully topped with cocoa powder and then sparingly sprinkled with Maldon salt; the uneven application of the salt means each sip is a unique experience. Speaking of sips, let’s talk about that syrup again: Jimenez’s method of creaming the butter and sugar incorporates air, which helps the sugar dissolve more evenly and keeps the butter from separating when the Demerara syrup is added. “This method results in a richer, more balanced syrup that’s perfect for cocktails needing a silky mouthfeel,” Jimenez says.
And let us tell you: this drink is smooooth The kind of smooth that could get you in trouble because of how easy it goes down. The Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie is not overly sweet and has great balance from the salt garnish. The buttery flavor and the Cocoa Rouge immediately call to mind the taste of a Nestlé Toll House treat (but better), and it’s cozy enough to warm you up on a cold day. It’s sure to be one of the best espresso martinis you’ll ever have.
Where friends gather for classic American cuisine, from prime filets to brick oven pizza and signature she-crab bisque. Madeline’s offers something for every discerning palate, with handcrafted cocktails and a wine list to complement every meal.
Amidst a sea of upscale dining, The Barbecue Boys offer smoky, chargrilled perfection. Brothers Dean and Andrew Zannakis elevate barbecue with smoked brisket, custom bowls and housemade sausage, bringing flavor, flair and approachable excellence to uncharted culinary territory. 306 S. New St. #109, Bethlehem | 610.984.1108 | thebarbecueboys.com
EIGHT OAKS FARM DISTILLERY
EIGHTOAKSDISTILLERY
At Eight Oaks, “We Grow What We Drink”: award-winning Pennsylvania craft whiskeys and spirits. Made using grain grown right here in the Lehigh Valley, Eight Oaks’ original American spirits are crafted to revive the tradition and lift the spirits of everyone who shares in their enjoyment.
7189 Route 309, New Tripoli | 484.387.5287 | eightoaksdistillery.com
SAVORY GRILLE
SAVORYGRILLE SAVORYGRILLEPA
Go back in time when fine dining was an experience to be savored. A true culinary gem, Chef Shawn Doyle and his team prepare made-to-order sauces, breads, and desserts using only the freshest and finest ingredients. 2934 Seisholtzville Rd., Macungie | 610.845.2010 | savorygrille.com
Care that’s kid-approved.
Kid-centric spaces.
Kid-sized medical equipment.
Kid-focused doctors.
That’s just a few of the many reasons our children’s hospital is kid-approved. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is here for whatever childhood brings your family’s way. From routine checkups to unexpected visits to the ER, we provide the area’s most comprehensive care just for kids.
