Food & Drink

The former Taps Tavern, which closed in 2020 amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to become a Plaza Azteca Mexican restaurant.

Easton's Garlic Fest saw a good turnout despite the threat of rain.

The annual festival is back for its 12th year featuring beer, food, music, and wiener dogs.

Rosanna’s Restaurant, which temporarily closed in February, is expected to reopen in the winter as a modern deli and bar, Rosa's Corner, at 2 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.

The event will include German food, crafts, music and activities such as wiener dog races, a barrel-rolling competition and the Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championship. Four biergartens will offer beer including Yuengling, Hofbräu, Samuel Adams, Dogfish Head, Victory and more.

Music, desserts, clothes and, of course, garlic make way at the Easton Garlic Fest

Two new Wayback Burgers locations are coming soon to Bethlehem and Lower Macungie Township.

Ms. Velvet’s Café, a walk-up eatery serving breakfast and lunch, held a grand opening Sept. 20 at 239 N. Fourth St. in downtown Allentown. The business is named in memory of owner Carlos Marrero's late sister, Ruby Marrero, who died as a result of a hit-and-run accident a few blocks away from the eatery in 2017.

Husband and wife Juan and Melanie Martinez, will open their 6th eatery, Miss Jackson’s Kitchen, at 201 McCartney St. in Easton. on the ground floor of Lafayette College’s McCartney Residences.

Costas Paxos and his sisters, Maria and Barbara Paxos, on Sept. 2 opened Not Just Bagels at 5585 Hamilton Blvd., Suite D, Lower Macungie Township, in the Shepherd’s Corner shopping center.

The Blendery in Easton will host a special Bereaved Father's Day event on Sunday to help men coping with loss and seeking comfort in community.

Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte and accompanying pumpkin-flavor coffee customizations are set to return Thursday. Local coffee shops plan to bring back — or already have — seasonal favorites, too.

Beloved Yardley brewpub Vault Brewing is set to open a new location at 225 Ferry St. in Easton this fall, featuring craft brews and a specially-curated menu.

The Pizza Joint, operating in a unit formerly home to a Metro by T-Mobile store, will neighbor a local magistrate’s office and the Southside staple Seven Sirens Brewing Co.

The Pen Argyl restaurant was brought into the limelight by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy several months ago. Now it'll join Portnoy for his one-day One Bite Pizza Festival.

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed House Bill 829 and Senate Bill 688 into law. Both expand on the state's unusual and complex liquor laws, including an increase in happy hour and combo meal opportunities.

A couple retailers told LehighValleyNews.com they rely on a few things up their sleeve, including specials each day, a plethora of flavor combinations and a variety of inventory to choose from.

Bethlehem's Austin Shaffer downed five ears of corn in just over four and half minutes to win the Aw Shucks Corn Eating Contest at Musikfest on Wednesday night.

In what it calls "a gastronomic spectacle," the fair will have its first Scrapple Eating Contest at 3 p.m. Aug. 31 in the fairground's Farmerama Theater.

Tuesday, Aug. 6, is opening day for the Lehigh Valley's first Raising Cane's, in Lower Macungie Township. It's the 11th Raising Cane's to come to the Keystone State, but not without celebration. A soft opening was held Monday.

While mid-afternoon rain on Friday forced postponement of Musikfest opening ceremonies, it did not deter folks from attending the festival — just as many food vendors expected.

The 41st Musikfest kicked off at SteelStacks with a preview night on Thursday. The 11-day, citywide festival features live music and a wide range of foods and drinks.