These have become favorites of us, and our first taste of them came just a few years ago at the West Reading Farmers Market. That was the big question in West Reading on Saturday. For example, on Tuesday Wendy's customers can get free medium fries with any salad purchase. Best of all, it was served in a to-go cup with a handy compartment for my aioli so I could eat and walk without worry. The festival is back for the second year in a row with renewed popularity after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. To celebrate National French Fry Day on July 13, were inviting you This Saturday is the first ever West Reading French Fry Fest. On Saturday, April 9, 2022, the worlds favorite side dish takes center stage once again at the 2nd Annual FRIED, French Fry & Music Festival, at Margaret T. Hance Park in Downtown Phoenix. It wasnt spicy, per se, but it was flavorful and tied all of the ingredients together. Coming tomorrow, we will take a look at the 2019 Iron Chef competition, as I saw it (and tasted it) from the judges seat. cool merchandise for your Each year, Berks Countys best restaurants and home chefs compete to take home the top honors. didnt tone it down. WhatsApp. This change didnt result in much change in flavor as it was still very clearly a gyro. West Reading Craft Pretzel + Beer fest Saturday, April 29th, 11-5pm The West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest is the only Festival that features our area's founding crafts, Pretzel & Beer! America is for you? the festival stayed busy well into the evening. We will be open with our full Lunch menu PLUS a special menu featuring fries and local craft beers. And the chocolate bread was very good as well. Its a good burger that aspires to be great, but for us, it didnt quite live up to the hype. 20 Weekly In todays part one, we recap the Peoples Choice competition and vendor row. back-of-house operations. value). This year there was a $3 cover charge to enter the event. Chef Mike Martino, representing Adelphia Seafood, earned the victory over Chef Ben Hinkle of Ganlys Irish Pub & Restaurant and Chef Martha Cavarretta of Giannottis Berkshire. 5th Annual French Fry Festival returns this Friday July 13, 2022 By Bob Carskadon Get your ketchup ready. Champion for restaurants. That was all in addition to the poke towers that were coming together and the sauces that were being crafted at the same time. A step-by-step guide on guests love fries. value). Every 2nd Friday of the month, the West Reading shops and restaurants celebrate with 2nd Friday on the Avenue hosted by the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation.. Theirs was described as Dark Chocolate Aztec Chicken with Habanero Creme Fraiche on a Fried Cinnamon Tostada. It was right up there with some of the best dishes of the competition and probably would have received my vote if the creme fraiche had a little more kick to it. Prize Winners. It was even better when mixed with the fresh salsa. Wondering if Fry Tour America is for you? Error! Gourmand, a more local food truck, was also there serving their signature truffle goat cheese fries. Just sign up, submit a topped & loaded fry recipe, and be entered for a chance to win $2,000 and other prizes. It just didnt do it for me as I thought it was rather plain, unlike the grilled pineapple and sweet chili lime compote. Church is a multi-time award winner again this year it was judged best burger for a local organization. Pinterest. Unfortuantely there were a couple stands that werent quite Unlike on TV, the chefs were ready to go before the lights flashed at the one-minute warning and there didnt seem to be any scrambling as the crowd started their countdown. Chalk Menu Board (a $65 Featuring French fries, cheese curds and brisket gravy, the burger was a solid take on the French Canadian specialty. It was the right decision. Smaller sample sizes will be available for attendees who want to try as many vendors as possible, while larger portions for sharing (or not sharing) with friends and family will be available as well. I loved it. finished for another half hour. the toppings. The West Reading French Fry Fest is an outdoor event showcasing each participating restaurant or vendor's take . And also your cheese, and your bacon, and your pepperoni. Record crowds estimated in excess of 40,000 packed the streets (according to the Reading Eagle) to taste some of the best, most creative hamburgers around. It was still good, but there was just a little too much tzatziki sauce or at least it wasnt spread evenly enough. It was accompanied with caramel mashed butternut squash and sweet potatoes. More than a dozen restaurants, food trucks and vendors were in attendance, including eight from West Reading, and that made the decision of where to eat even tougher. With the Perk-Up Truck parked just a few stands away from Driven by Food, she just had to stop. Another stand-out for me was the Crowne Plaza. I cant say with conviction that it was better than the Weve never had a chance to try anything from the Bountiful Feast food truck, but the menu sounds fantastic. But add the pesto and mozzarella, and it turned into a hamburger masterpiece. I will definitely have to pay a visit to the restaurant sometime. rekindling our love of Dawns Deli. 30% off any in stock Epoxy Tables, or receive 10% off of a Custom Request Order.So, stop by and see what we have in inventory. We've got all your favorite restaurants, news on openings, the best food events and so much more. Blizzard and Fires Storm cinnamon buns! Thanks to the support of our community + West Reading merchants, we were able to raise over $2,500 in 2022 for the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation, a 501(c)3 that supports the West Reading Community. The West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest is the only Festival that features our areas founding crafts, Pretzel & Beer! ready yet, including Taqueria Los Rancheros. On stage, the music line-up included local indie-rock bands like Fairy Bones, Weird Radicals, and decker. The flapjack was something I was really looking forward to. Winners. National French Fry Day. pineapple. back-of-house operations. Host Bistro 614 Restaurant Bistro 614 614 Penn Ave, West Reading, PA Farm inspired continental cuisine in the heart of West Reading, PA Guests See All 39 Went 92 INTERESTED West Reading French Fry Fest 2022! However, the free fries can only be ordered through the McDonald's app, and customers must be members of the chain's loyalty program. What are you waiting for? So what are you eating? ChurchLenhartsville, Best Mobile Food TruckUncle Pauls Stuffed PretzelsHamburg, Best First Time VendorVideo BurgerWest Lawn. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Tag @lambweston4chefs and use hashtag #FryTourAmerica. The Dutchie burger, on the other hand, exceeded our 1, 2, 3 and its loaded The second annual West Reading French Fry Festival was held on August 12, and Berks County Eats was there to taste test some unique takes on the traditional French fry. Their stuffed pretzels have also been featured on Spike TVs Frankenfood and Food Networks Carnival Eats. The 8th Annual Art exhibition and competition continues in 2023. Just sign up, submit a for chances to win weekly prize Heres our guide to all things edible at the Reading Fire + Ice Festival: On Saturday morning from 8 to 11 a.m., the Genesius Theatre is hosting a pancake breakfast at the Outside-In (6th and Penn Streets). Event starts on Saturday, 9 April 2022 and happening at 1202 N 3rd St, Phoenix, 3The FRIED French Fry Festival returns to downtown Phoenix Author:pullingcorksandforks.com Published Date:03/03/2022 Review:4.57 (536 vote) Here is a full list of the days best burger winners: Best OrganizationSalem E.C. The final stop on our tour wasnt Julies first choice. I had never tried caponata before, but it was a very good sweet-and-sour mixture. I didnt get as much of the chocolate as I had hoped and I thought it could use a little queso fresco or other cheese to really bring it together. Aug. 15The fifth-annual West Reading French Fry Fest didn't miss a beat on Saturday after last year's event was canceled due to COVID-19. Ut wisi enim ad, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh, 20 N. 6th Avenue, Suite A 10 lucky winners will Their chef prepared steak and salad with a chocolate sauce atop the steak and dark chocolate morsels in the salad. Facebook. I was also very impressed with the pineapple croquette. Hours Open Every Day 8am-3pm Simply. Customers can get a free large order of fries when ordering on the restaurants app. Get out + support the places you love with the people you love! Want to know where and what to eat this weekend? Visit Growing Roots Partners for more information, to place a pre-order, or to subscribe to the weekly newsletter for market features & more! The event pitted three of the areas top chefs against each other in a timed competition. The pork was delicious and she liked the zing from the Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? For their samples, it was taken off the cob and topped with pulled pork in barbecue sauce. inspiration and exploding with Exhibit and sale will be in the heart of Saturdays Art on the Avenue event. I am a big fan of cactus so I had to order the el nopal. Here are the three remaining offers this week: On July 13, 2022, Wayback Burgers customers can get a free side order of fries with the purchase of a burger or sandwich through the Wayback Burger app. Our last stop of the afternoon was to Taco Town Catering. As the name implies, the potatoes were deep-fried in duck fat oil, giving them a much richer flavor than a traditional vegetable oil fry. It was a good second act, but didnt quite match up to the chorizo burger. Heinz will offer $5.70 off any DoorDash order of $15 or more that includes french fries. Julie ordered this one because it featured lettuce and hot bacon While we tried three burgers on the day, judges chose winners in multiple categories and fans picked one winner for the Peoples Choice award. Penn Avenue restaurants featuring pretzel-inspired dishes round out the day! Located on 6th Avenue, between Penn Avenue + Cherry Street! Its a mixture of cheddar, Swiss and provolone that combine into a completely unique cheese. Ketchup or vinegar? how to run your National The pork was excellent, especially with the sweetness from the sweet, coconut-infused curry sauce. Ketchup or vinegar: Crowds flock to French Fry Festival, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health, Paris Fashion Week spans minimalism and Renaissance blooms. Then we each pick a burger of own and split a third so we can get some variety. Both were on the same block as Driven by Food. The 20-plus participants included Frites St., The American Poutine Co., the French Me truck, Chula Seafood, Hibachibot, Handlebar Diner, Los Compadres, Sr. Ozzys, Provecho, Dang Brother Pizza, and Trapp Haus BBQ. It was Also on the plate was a salad with kale, spinach, Swiss chard, walnuts and red peppers. Theres Marvel Ranch, the quintessential greasy spoon restaurant. If there were an award for the most beautiful display, it would go to Catering by John Lowe. First was the iron skillet seared pork chops. Fries are his favorite, his mother, Rosalie Kane, said Saturday at the sixth annual French Fry Fest in West Reading. 52. The sweets kept coming on vendor row, too. The 15th Annual Taste of Hamburg-er Festival filled the streets of Hamburg on Saturday, September 1. and chili powder but its so good. The West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest is the only Festival that features our areas founding crafts, Pretzel & Beer! A $500 donation to the Wilson Education Foundation later, and I was on stage sharing a table with Brad Weisman, former host of Best Bites on BCTV and current co-host of Heres Whats Happening, a Facebook Live show from The Peoples Chronicles. There were Cali burritos with fries, French fry tacos, and even pizza fries. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Live Music returns in May 2023 from 6 8pm! Its like three milkshakes in one the best Adelphia Seafood took second place with its cheddar apple bisque with crab and bacon. Its one of the best burgers that I have had anywhere. Small Business Saturday a special day when we can show support as a nation for small business owners and communities helps fuel the #ShopSmall movement. Julie is, but this burger was a masterpiece. Even Jakob loved it, though he just wanted Artists will be painting throughout Berks County June 13-17th. This years Peoples Choice competition may have been my favorite to date. While I love their food, the General Tsos chicken was cold and the sweet and sour chicken was served with no sweet and sour sauce (which, by definition, makes it just chicken). The event is rain or shine showcasing the work of local + regional artists, crafters, vendors, West Reading businesses, and musicians. Our top ten favorite restaurants weve tried and reviewed in nine years of Berks County Eats. It' s located off of Penn Ave.. If you have Instagram, you have to follow the Smith Homestead. caught our eye thanks to the giant cauldron of pork that was stewing next to got pico on hers. The real winners, though, were the four judges who got to enjoy these amazing plates from these amazing chefs. It was good, but didnt live up to the Taste of When you sign up youll also get Hungry diners flocked to the first block of South Sixth Avenue to sample a variety of offerings ranging from traditional salty fries to complex concoctions with a variety of toppings. Similarly, Wendy's on Monday announced the beginning of Fry Week, during which the chain is offering free fries with specific purchases that will change each day this week. Between the chili and the flapjack, I thought it was the most creative use of the four key ingredients. Penn Avenue restaurants featuring pretzel-inspired dishes round out the day! There was a lot of flavor packed in that little sample cup. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. After experiencing the other flavors, the balsamic hits. ), Man stabbed on subway platform at Upper East Side station, Woman killed, teen hurt by hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn, 5 people, including two minors, killed in Rockland County fire, ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Free slurpee day 2022: After 2 years, 7-Eleven again giving out no-cost drinks. West Reading will host Berks Countys premiere art and music festival, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Penn Avenue. Hundreds of people packed 6th Avenue in West Reading Saturday for the 2nd annual West Reading French Fry Festival. Name a fair or festival and youve likely seen the Sammys Steaks wagon serving their signature steak sandwiches. FRIED presents some of the Valleys most creative culinary talent and showcases their versions of gourmet French fries. Sign up to get your FREE Menu Board and Activation Guide, Join Fry Tour It wasnt a hot spicy, but it definitely had bite to it. Penn Avenue restaurants featuring pretzel-inspired dishes round out the day! the time to join! Uncle Pauls is one of the most awarded mobile concessions in the region, recognized with Best awards at the Taste of Hamburg-er Festival in each of the last five years. More information. about it the Taste of Italy Burger at the time: The Taste of Italy burger featured mozzarella, pesto mayo and homemade bruschetta on a garlic bread bun. Wendy's will give customers free french fries every day from Monday, July 11, to Friday, July 15, via offers in the app. West Reading is a vibrant regional shopping destination and hub known for specialty shops. Newbie Best Burger Lucky Penny Burger Co. Peoples Choice Best Burger First Place: Deitsch Eck Second Place: Dawns Deli Third Place: Lucky Penny Burger Co. Fourth Place: Christ Evangelical Free Church. This festival is produced by PHX Fest, calorie-loving creators of the Phoenix Pizza Festival. 2022 Lamb Weston, Inc. All rights reserved. Similar to the gyro burger, it was served on a pita and featured feta cheese, tzatziki sauce and lettuce (the Mediterranean) with the addition of pineapple (the tropical). Submit your best topped & loaded Wondering if Fry Tour One place that had an inspiring dish, and placed runner-up for their efforts, was Still Playin Distillery, a yet-to-open restaurant and distillery in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. In a mashup of cultures, the stand was offering the Greek Burger at this years Taste of Hamburg-er Festival. Finally, my attention turned to the griddle that was set up on the prep table and the pancakes that were taking shape (and the cooking oil that kept dripping off onto the table). It was creamy with a little bit of heat. All of that combined with some excellent fries made it a satisfying dish all around. The homemade bruschetta, for starters. Although she had almost polished off her first order of fries, Rohm said she would likely try a few more before the end of the event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It didnt hurt that they sweetened the deal with a chocolate mousse from their Pastry Studio. FRIED presents some of the Valley's most creative culinary talent and showcases their versions of gourmet French fries. also get immediate access 2023 BridgeTower Media. $2,000 and other prizes. In addition to bagels, the New York Bagelry brought their famous crumb cake. If the answer is yes, then now is the I didn't know exactly what I was getting myself into . Sweet and savory is always a good decision in my book, and I loved it here. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Ultimately the goal for McDonald's, Wendy's and other chains with loyalty programs is to increase sales and lure in customers - ideally on a daily basis - by offering reasons to choose them over their competitors. receive a grand prize of CHICAGO -- McDonald's and Wendy's are both giving away free fries this week, CNN reported. There was never any doubt that I would get the option with the barbecue. CNNWire. The DoubleTree with a little showmanship at the Reading Fire + Ice Festival chili cook-off, A post shared by Berks County Eats (@berkscountyeats) on Jan 14, 2017 at 9:51am PST. Im sorry to say that they had the most disappointing sample of the six we tried. The fries were crispy and objectively delicious, topped with cheese, bacon, duck fat, cheese curds, gravy, Korean pulled pork and kimchi and more. The pineapple was well-mixed throughout so it felt like one dish and not fruit with a breading. Options included . This year, we decided it was time to go back and try two The chorizo held its shape on the bun, but unlike a ground beef patty, this was melt-in-your-mouth. And it was cold. Its such a simple thing corn on the cob brushed with mayo and doused in cheese These cookies do not store any personal information. Theres a lot to bite into so we are splitting this into two posts. Sometimes, you just want dessert first. First, it was the use of a meat grinder that had us all wondering what was coming (spoiler alert: chili). This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Joining is as easy as it. The Hitching Post earned first place with its filet Mignon crostini. part is halfway through when the vanilla and chocolate blend beautifully And all three tacos were served on fresh corn tortilla that were expectations. Guide. the stand. It was our fourth year attending the event (Jakobs first time), and Julie and I have a strategy that works for us: get there early, scope out the burgers while browsing the crafters, then enjoy some of the unique burgers only available at the event. Festival goers can order from their favorite barbecue stands ala carte, or for $10, they can pick up a Pit Master sample card. "We're also seeing more frequent visits from loyalty customers, many of whom were very loyal to begin with," said McDonald's CFO Kevin Ozan in a recent earnings call. pibil tacos. You can get lost scrolling through photos of their cinnamon rolls. Grove) hosted the first annual Berks County Taco Fest. Each of the chefs had to incorporate four ingredients in their plate: duck breast, lentils, bananas and movie theater popcorn.