Food & Drink

PA Bacon Fest is back this weekend, showcasing over 150 vendors offering up bacon in just about every cuisine you can imagine.

The Korean-born, French-inspired Paris Baguette franchise is looking to expand its footprint in the Lehigh Valley as it chips away toward its goal of opening more than 1,000 cafes across the country before 2030. The bakery-cafe chain is specifically taking interest in the Allentown-area market.

Longtime borough resident Jennifer O’Neill has purchased the building at 2 N. Main St. and is transforming the space into Circle Cafe on Main, a café inspired by European coffeehouses that aims to foster community connection.

Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Longswamp Township, Berks County, has installed 10 new fully automated “state-of-the-art” snow guns that adjust automatically to weather conditions, “maximizing snow production when temperatures drop,” the resort said in a release.

Flooding and water damage has forced Clever Girl Winery, on the ground floor of the Commodore at 116 Northampton St., to shut down its Easton tasting room.

After years of turmoil, the owners and operators of vegan pizzeria Paranormal Pizza are asking the community for a couple bucks to help launch their new brick-and-mortar spot.

Garlic Fest is back, and this year promises more of everyone's favorite Allium in a wealth of savory and sweet dishes, drinks, and more, including a special preview night on Friday.

"Iron Chef" winner Jose Garces has opened Okatshe, a Japanese-inspired izakaya on Hamilton Street, with an eight-foot sushi roll instead of a ribbon-cutting. Located across from Rosa Blanca, Okatshe offers small plates, sushi, sake,and whiskey in a modern take on Japan’s traditional neighborhood bar.

Barley Creek Brewing Company is planting roots in the Lehigh Valley, opening a taproom at the Promenade Saucon Valley. The Pocono-based brewing company expects to serve customers with "100% Pennsylvania products" this fall.

The Wilbur Mansion transforms with Swift, a rebranded dining experience in the Fountain Hill District of Bethlehem, offering seasonal menus, handmade cocktails, outside dining, and historical flair.

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.