Food & Drink

Holiday shoppers at the Lehigh Valley Mall will have a new place to sate their appetites next Tuesday, when The Cheesecake Factory opens the doors of its long-anticipated new location.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Bar Torino and Bottle Shop is set to open up in Easton's luxury Seville apartments in 2024, offering gourmet food and hand-selected libations to satisfy any palate.

Portnoy's "One Bite" series features a rave review of the Pen Argyl pizzeria.

So your vegan family member is coming by for Thanksgiving, and you're at a loss. Relax! It's easier than ever to accommodate your plant-based pals this holiday season with just a few tips, tricks and advice.

Christkindlmarkt started off its 2023 season with balmy weather, but that didn't stop folks from feeling the holiday spirit. Organizers say opening day set a record and traffic was up significantly the first weekend.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

The holiday market is back with a bigger ice skating rink, a visit from Santa and new food.

Lehigh Valley restaurants are taking the traditional Thanksgiving spread — turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce — and mashing it up with other items.

Even with 1,500 turkeys donated from a local grocery chain, some families in the Lehigh Valley will go without thanksgiving dinner.

Sophie Vandecasteele is hoping to open Sophistiqué before Thanksgiving, with a soft opening set for Friday, Nov. 22, at 924 Walnut St.

The German-inspired holiday market opened on Friday, Nov. 16 at ArtsQuest's SteelStacks campus.

The company — most often recognized for its locally owned Red Robin franchises — is undergoing a rebrand to reflect its future and potential growth. The move will unite Red Robin and Wingstop franchises under one entity: Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands.

After more than 30 years of business in Bethlehem Township, the 2722 Easton Ave. Johnny's Gyros building will operate under a new name. Real estate agents confirmed another Greek restaurant will lease the space.

Opening the shop is a dream come true for owner Gina Passerman, who said she got the idea during COVID-19 lockdowns. Her goal was to make a place where people can go to "spend time, enjoy each other's company, and smile and be happy."

Paranormal Pizza has a new home on Sundays, with Jay's Local in Allentown hosting the beloved vegan pizzeria until they open their new brick and mortar location.

The coffee chain has billed customers an extra charge for dairy replacements like soy and almond milk. That charge will cease in early November.

Thousands of guests swarmed downtown Easton for PA BaconFest 2024 on Saturday, Nov. 2, with all sorts of savory and sweet dining options, on top of plenty of bacon merchandise and entertainment.

"Owning a restaurant is hard and expensive, and lots of aspects of it are out of your control," said Rachael Prosseda of the Vineyard Di Norma. The restaurant will close Dec. 24.

PA BaconFest returns to Easton on Nov. 2 and 3, featuring tons of eateries, vendors, competitions and more, all featuring everyone's favorite crispy, salty, savory food.

The restaurant changed hands and its name around two years ago. Now, it's set to soon return to what the community last knew it as: Spiros Restaurant.

The state Gaming Control Board voted Wednesday to renew Wind Creek's casino license, granting them another five years of operation.