Food & Drink

If you're looking to entertain guests with delectable beverages sans alcohol this New Year's Eve, there are more — and better — options than ever, including some locally-made drinks.

At least a half-dozen popular Lehigh Valley restaurants permanently closed their doors or released plans to shift operations in the final months of 2024.

Hotel Bethlehem’s event experts share holiday hosting tips, emphasizing confidence, preparation, and simplicity. It's not as hard as you think, they advise.

Warm up outdoor weather shopping this weekend with a cup of Mexican hot chocolate and some warm cinnamon pastry.

The mocktail mixing competition brought together media personalities from different outlets in the Lehigh Valley, serving up alcohol-free drinks.

Marblehead Chowder House on William Penn Highway in Palmer Township has been in operation since 1996. The ownership says the business has changed with the times and owes its success to loyal customers and staff.

Let's Go Coffee Co. in Emmaus held its grand opening Friday. The business offers a wide selection of coffees and gluten-free baked goods.

Yardley-based craft brewpub Vault Brewing Co. will celebrate its official opening, with specialty-brewed beers, holiday cocktails, and a curated menu focused on locally-sourced foods this weekend.

More than 70 Lafayette College students and other College Hill faithful packed into Gyro Concept at 323 Cattell St. in Easton to celebrate its grand opening. A Bethlehem-area location is coming soon.

Originally beginning as an online dumpling delivery service, this weekend Kerri McCarthy and Vasa Li will open a brick-and-mortar shop called Angry Dumpling in Nazareth.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is hosting its annual Brew at the Zoo again in 2024. This year, it falls on Saturday, Sept. 14, and will feature more than three dozen craft beers and ciders.

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.