Our top ten favorite restaurants weve tried and reviewed in nine years of Berks County Eats. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. chefs to sign up get a FREE the toppings. 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. Still, the ingredients were there and it wasnt a bad burger by any means. state on the map! Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? The last thing I wanted to taste was the tuna poke, but and I cant believe Im saying this I loved it. September 3, 2019 December 23, 2022 . The secret ingredient really worked in Chef Tims favor here because the caramel added a perfect amount of sweetness. us put every state on the map! At $10 per sample card, that means Julie and I each paid $1.67 for that. We will be open with our full Lunch menu PLUS a special menu featuring fries and local craft beers. Some of the offerings were very familiar to us. Hundreds of people packed 6th Avenue in West Reading Saturday for the 2nd annual West Reading French Fry Festival. Get ready for West Reading Fall Festival! Instead of the Krazy Korn standards, I went with one of my favorite flavor combinations: garlic and Parmesan (with butter, of course). We have had this years edition marked on our calendars since the date was announced and while we werent the first people in line when the gates opened at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, we were there by 11 for an early lunch. This years Peoples Choice competition may have been my favorite to date. And of course, theres the Peanut Bar, a true area landmark. This year it's topped and loaded with inspiration and exploding with chances to win! other prizes!*. View Website. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. The popular French Fry Fest returned to the downtown with foodies in attendance. Just sign up, submit a topped & loaded fry recipe, and be entered for a chance to win $2,000 and other prizes. For the main, a crusted pork chop served with three sauces, a pineapple croquette and a side of tuna poke. I didnt know exactly what I was getting myself into, but I knew enough that Julie and I needed to get there early to avoid the crowds. Ziggys Roasters, a food truck based in Harleysville, Montgomery County, was serving samples of their Krazy Korn.. Exhibit and sale will be in the heart of Saturdays Art on the Avenue event. The food was pretty darn good, too. The sample card includes six tear-off tabs that can be redeemed at one of about a dozen stands for two-ounce samples. Not much more needs to be said hope to see. (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE) Christina Rohm, 13, of Spring Township tucked into a. WhatsApp. And by the looks of the photos and videos that I saw, 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. 26K views, 1.2K likes, 65 loves, 454 comments, 23 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Citizen TV Kenya: #FridayNight The fresh corn tortillas brought everything together nicely. By. The sixth annual Wilson Iron Chef competition was held on March 24, and Berks County Eats was there to get a taste of the best Berks County has to offer. Yes, please. We had a great time tasting some of the best French fries in Berks County, but it wasnt easy. Last to present was Chef Mitchell with his pork chili, butternut squash flapjack and fresh pineapple salsa. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. What are you waiting for? Another stand-out for me was the Crowne Plaza. win cool merchandise for your Heinz will offer $5.70 off any DoorDash order of $15 or more that includes french fries. This was a real disappointment for 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. for the Deitsch Ecks Luther burgers at the festival) so it was a little First up was Jakes Place, a Hamburg restaurant that was offering pit beef. of 10 Grand Prizes of $2,000.*. The caramel definitely came through, but it was probably a little too strong and took away a little from the overall. The borough of Hamburg played host to the 16th Annual Taste of Hamburg-er Festival on Saturday, August 31. The Sunday Bi-Monthly Winter Market is open January April! On Wednesday, in celebration of the (apparently real) National French Fry . Customers can get a free side order of fries with the purchase of a burger or sandwich through the Wayback Burger app. To celebrate National French Fry Day on July 13, we're inviting you to join us for Fry Tour America! Hopefully the event comes back next year because we had a great time and great food and we cant wait to do it again. From my judges seat, I had a birds-eye view of Chef Tim at work. (Note: bribing people with desserts is perfectly acceptable behavior). Tips to help protect your smartphone from thieves, RAW: FILE: CHRIS ROCK IS SET TO MAKE NETFLIX HISTORY, Shania Twain 'uncontrollably fragile' after husband's affair, 48 Hours: Natalie Morales Reveals How Social Media Helped Solve Case, Uriah Heep believe they have 'some merit' to be considered for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry, Amanda Seyfried wants to a role in movie version of Mean Girls: The Musical. While the poblano pepper served more as a garnish, the chipotle mayo added a zing to the dish. Monday, July 11, 2022. The Oley Fair is also known for its famous French fries, hamburgers and much much more. It was a great way to incorporate the pineapple into the main dish without a sauce. The golden. 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. But the restaurant is all-new from the place I remember and now barbecue is the focus of the food menu. The Perk-Up truck is Julies favorite food truck. Joining is as easy as 1, 2, 3 and its loaded with value. the festival stayed busy well into the evening. got pico on hers. Share your topped & loaded fry Popular toppings included everything from chili to seafood. 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. Sometimes, you just want dessert first. I, of course, went for garlic. paint proclaiming best tacos.. 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. To make it worthy of a burger festival, sliced hamburger patties replaced gyro meat as the dishs protein. Our sixth and final stop for our Pit Master card was an old favorite, Its Just Barbecue (aka the Pink Pig). Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Each of the chefs had to incorporate four ingredients in their plate: duck breast, lentils, bananas and movie theater popcorn. And all three tacos were served on fresh corn tortilla that were The one that caught my eye was the Karen Haak Fastnacht Although isnt any day a good day to enjoy your favorite french fries? Now in its third year, the festival is an annual tradition for Julie and I. Chalk Menu Board. As soon as the timer starts, the stage is a whirlwind of activity as the six men bounce from table-to-table preparing their dishes. Hopefully next year, we continue to see it grow with more restaurants offering more dishes in a more spacious area. 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). These have become favorites of us, and our first taste of them came just a few years ago at the West Reading Farmers Market. The gravy was the best part for me, but I have to say, biting into a burger with a cheese curd on top is a trulyunique experience of taste and texture. In this sauce, it was a perfectly creamy topping that mixed well with the fruit to create a faux strawberries-and-cream feel. After weighing our options, Julie and I both decided that Located on 6th Avenue, between Penn Avenue + Cherry Street! West Reading PA 19611610.685.8854, The Sunday Bi-Monthly Winter Market is open January April! 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 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. Burger. In a mashup of cultures, the stand was offering the Greek Burger at this years Taste of Hamburg-er Festival. 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. I am a big fan of the little restaurant in Tuckerton, especially their pulled pork and coleslaw. Editors Note: Wilson School District no longer hosts the annual Iron Chef competition. Berks County Eats braved the weather and enjoyed some of the unique burger creations that you will only find at the festival. value). ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, Berks County Parks invites people to their Winter Wellness Walk, Royals host "kids takeover" game where kids get a taste of the sports business, Wilson School students raise $83k to fight childhood cancer, Berks County Intermediate Unit receives $3.18 million in grants for Head Start programs, 'First in the nation' bill to provide free screenings for breast cancer to receive full Pa. Senate vote, Reading Area Water Authority looking for leak on North Heidelberg Township line, Former Penn State Berks soccer player among dead in violent Monroe County crash, Fire broke out in a Lower Macungie apartment building, Champions of Magic's Alex McAleer gives an exciting look at the upcoming live show, Pet of the Month: Nina from Ruff Life Rescue, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor needs volunteers, Allentown Public Library celebrates Dr. Seuss's birthday with children's activities, Kindness Project teams up with Flavor Nation to give away free tacos, History's Headlines: The Lehigh Valley's music man, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South, Ukraine ally Kallas fights for reelection in Estonia vote, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy costs, 6 Nigerian states drop suit to void presidential vote result, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills, What the Tech? The main event of the Wilson Iron Chef event is the 35-minute cooking competition that pits three of the areas top chefs in a race against each other and the clock. The chef brought a fantastic chicken mole that earned its distinction as one of the best items in the competition. The biggest difference was made by the pineapple which added a bright, sweet flavor that worked surprisingly well with the more traditional ingredients. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Each restaurant will feature delicious varieties of french fries, plus beverages. For my course, I had to go back to Ziggys for more of their corn. Name a fair or festival and youve likely seen the Sammys Steaks wagon serving their signature steak sandwiches. Normally served on the cob, Krazy Korn is corn smothered in mayo, parmesan and Cajun seasoning. It was creamy with a little bit of heat. And the crowds were back in full force on Sixth Avenue, which was closed off to accommodate the 12 vendors most of them local businesses and the hundreds of French fry aficionados in attendance. What looks like chaos from the outside is actually a well-planned strategy as chefs and sous chefs have to time everything perfectly to ensure their proteins and sides all are finished on time without finishing too soon to avoid serving the judges cold food. Stop #3 was certainly unique among the festivals offerings. She had wanted to visit Spuds, but the line was just too long by the time we completed our loop and arrived back at the corner of Fourth and Windsor Streets. The taco had some heat to it but not too much that the avocado Friday, July 15, get a free medium size order of fries with any mobile order. Or you can try one at the concessions area at the Fire + Ice Festival. First, it was the use of a meat grinder that had us all wondering what was coming (spoiler alert: chili). Still, I didnt regret my decision and I will definitely seek out Ziggys in the future. Follow us on Facebook for information on special events from our various restaurants and retailers in West Reading. Ask The flapjack was something I was really looking forward to. Going into the event, we combed the list of vendors looking for new burgers to try. It gives it a sweetness but with bigger flavor and thicker texture that I love. Editors Note: The PA BBQ Fest has moved to Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Township. I have never had the opportunity to visit Jakes Place nor had I encountered them at other festivals before. Expect similar line-ups this year, with announcements regularly being made on festival social media. 400 Bayshore Drive Northeast. This Saturday is the first ever West Reading French Fry Fest. Every chef had to create their best dish using one common ingredient: cocoa. Instead, we trekked back down the hill to Video Burger, a mobile food truck specializing in the outrageous. Gourmand also tried to bribe with desserts, this one being their chocolate black-out cake. campground about an hour after the event started (it ran from 11 a.m. to 9 Attendees can ride bikes to the festival and valet their wheels with Phoenix Spokes People. Julie wanted to try to the al pastor, and she really enjoyed wanting a little more meat. Our plan worked out well as we avoided (most of) the lines and enjoyed some truly unique burgers. Throughout the competition, I was drawn to Gourmands kitchen and the show that Chef Mitchell Kriebel was putting on. Taste of Italy burger, but it is definitely on its level and probably the best Visit us at Also part of the day again this year was vendor row with more than 20 vendors offering samples of their foods and products. The festival is back for the second year in a row with renewed popularity after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Penn Avenue restaurants featuring pretzel-inspired dishes round out the day! 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. All information on this site is copyrighted by BridgeTower Media. Thursday, July 14, get a free order of small breakfast seasoned potatoes with any mobile order. I had the mixed berry and once I got past the fact that it was yogurt and not milk, it was enjoyable. It was accompanied with caramel mashed butternut squash and sweet potatoes. French fries every day this week are available by using the mobile app to place an order. "Some of our largest markets have seen record customer visit frequency driven by loyalty usage coupled with app exclusive promotions.". I had not heard of Driven by Food until I saw the name on the festival website. The activity even spilled over onto Penn Avenue, where local bars and brewpubs were serving up cold suds and cocktails. Julie and I walked up and down the block several times before finally deciding what to get. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. It was a little overwhelming for my tastes, but definitely a burger I was glad to try. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. So after all of the indulgences, I ended with a stop at Good Life Organics and a taste of some better-for-me foods. It was so good we made the trip to Lenhartsville just SEE ALSO | Free slurpee day 2022: After 2 years, 7-Eleven again giving out no-cost drinks. It was also topped with onion and cilantro, the traditional Like McDonald's, Wendy's recently reformulated fries are only free if ordered through its app and customers have to be part of the brand's digital loyalty program. I always enjoy a cup of chocolate milk from them, but this year they brought drinkable yogurt from Kreider Farms. One lowlight, and I hate to point these out, was Mikura. I wont say that it was the best barbecue that I had all day, but the corn was so different. Comalli offered five distinct varieties el gallo Located on 6th Avenue between Penn Avenue and Franklin Street, the West Reading French Fry Fest has something for everyone; an amazing Summer event that continues to grow in size and popularity! recipe. It came down to two choices: a gyro burger from Scotts Gyro Box or a shepherds pie burger from the Hamburg Diner. Coming tomorrow, we will take a look at the 2019 Iron Chef competition, as I saw it (and tasted it) from the judges seat. The marinated chicken was Join us for Fry Christina Rohm, 13, of Spring Township, tucks into a plate piled high with crispy potato strips smothered in creamy chipotle sauce and carne asada, spicy ground beef, from Lets Taco Bout It. p.m.). This is an awesome event set up by the west Reading tavern.. the theme of this event, French fries!!! It wasnt a hot spicy, but it definitely had bite to it. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). I was pleasantly surprised by the pit beef. They were filled with a pineapple, mango and cranberry filling that I absolutely loved. what I love is that you can order them black-and-white style with Gourmand, a more local food truck, was also there serving their signature truffle goat cheese fries. loaded recipe. It just didnt do it for me as I thought it was rather plain, unlike the grilled pineapple and sweet chili lime compote. It' s located off of Penn Ave.. Julies choice was among the most creative dishes in the entire festival the strawberry fries from Say Cheese. Hundreds are flocking to West Reading for the sixth annual French Fry Festival. And the participating chefs were able to create some amazing dishes. 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. Twitter. And the Wilson Education Foundation, which for the sixth year in a row raised more than $30,000 to support the students and programs of the Wilson Area School District. Applewood smoked bacon and apple barbecue sauce gave it a familiar flavor, but the sliced apples added enough sweet to the sweet-and-savory combination to make this a real standout burger. Topped with a shot of barbecue sauce, it was stellar. and well-seasoned while the green salsa added a nice jolt of flavor to every FRIED presents some of the Valleys most creative culinary talent and showcases their versions of gourmet French fries. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) . Error! The event is rain or shine showcasing the work of local + regional artists, crafters, vendors, West Reading businesses, and musicians. Submit your best topped & loaded These cookies do not store any personal information. Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. served hot, which made them even better. Penn Avenue restaurants featuring pretzel-inspired dishes round out the day! The West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest is the only Festival that features our areas founding crafts, Pretzel & Beer! chance to win Labor Day Saturday in search of a great burger. This festival is produced by PHX Fest, calorie-loving creators of the Phoenix Pizza Festival. One of the citys best restaurants, Mi Casa Su Casa brings its food to the festivals concessions area. the time to join! That was for the carnitas, which unfortuantely wouldnt be Olive Garden only brought dessert. Get out + support the places you love with the people you love! With a small boat of fries on his lap, the boy sat in the cradle and dipped one fry at a time into the sweet tomato sauce before eating each one. At best, it was a dive.