Food & Drink

Wing your Super Bowl party with these recipes inspired by Bethlehem's chefs

When 33-year-old Miguel Barragan shows up to the kitchen at Texas Roadhouse, people know to get out of his way. Next month, he's competing nationally in a very specific kind of competition — one that he's been dominating this year.

Following the introduction of a sewage treatment plan to Whitehall Township commissioners, the developers behind a new Outback Steakhouse are one step closer to opening up a branch of their popular Australian-themed restaurant.

ArtsQuest's annual Souper Bowl brought hundreds to the SteelStacks campus a week before the big game. The contest pitted Lehigh Valley chefs and caterers against one another for bragging rights to the Lehigh Valley's best soup.

McCarthy's Red Stag Pub & Whiskey Bar, a popular Bethlehem restaurant, is closed following a small fire. McCarthy's owner Neville Gardner said the fire broke out about 4 a.m. when no one was in the building. "The place is haunted, you know," he said.

Porters' Pub, a beloved bar which served as a launching point for the revitalization of Easton, has been passed on to a local couple with a strong connection to the community.

Fastnacht Day might be Feb. 13, but don't tell that to the customers at Mary Ann Donut Kitchen. They came for the donuts early Thursday, and they'll be sold through Feb. 25.

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.

Seventeen restaurants in Bethlehem will offer discounted meals and drinks from Jan. 28 through Feb. 3 as part of restaurant week.

Veganuary, a challenge in which people give up animal-based products for the month of January, might seem hard, but it's easier than ever thanks to resources in the Lehigh Valley.

Beloved Easton cinnamon roll shop Doughpamine has closed its doors, and will be selling off their remaining equipment on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Hear firsthand the stories of a longtime family-run bakery this Saturday.

Available through early March, the private chalets seat up to six guests and are designed in an alpine décor, including seasonal treats such as hot chocolate, s’mores and optional add-on snacks, as well as access to a heated outdoor hot tub.

Google listings as of Tuesday showed both locations as “temporarily closed,” indicating at least a temporary halt in operations. Hours for the Bethlehem location were erased from online search results on Monday.

Retro Burger, with its eclectic selection of sandwiches and milkshakes, apparently has closed its doors after two years of service in West Bethlehem. It operated at the former TheMINT Gastropub building at 1223 W. Broad St.

Easton's Winter Market returns to the city this weekend, offering visitors over 25 vendors, including rotating guests, as well as educational opportunities and special events through April.

ArtsQuest’s annual Souper Bowl, in which area restaurants compete to create the best bouillons and superior stews, will return for a 16th year, it was announced. The event will be at 1 p.m. Feb. 1 in Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

A hot dog for only a penny? Jimmy's Hot Dogs in Palmer Township showed some customer appreciation on New Year's Eve by offering up their beloved franks for 1-cent each.

The owners of Jimmy's Hot Dogs say they'll hold a customer appreciation day as a way of saying thanks for the loyalty folks have shown since they took over over the longtime Easton-area business a year and a half ago.

The Broken Record, whose decor and even food names follow a music theme, held a soft opening at its strip-center location at 6776 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie Township.

Griddle 145, which since 2011 has operated on MacArthur Road, will close Wednesday, Dec. 31, the restaurant announced in a Facebook post today, Saturday, Dec. 27.

A long-running Easton tavern announced its plans to close and asked patrons to visit in its last remaining days. It will close on New Year's Eve.