Wine & Shine, Slate Belt Restaurant Week and more
Big changes are coming to an annual wine event.
Lehigh Valley Wine Trail’s annual Wine &
Shine event will move from March to April this year — and there’s a new participant, Social Still Distillery.
How it works: Passports are $39 and are sold online thru EventBrite until noon April 7. They are also available for sale at all seven participating venues (cash only) while supplies last. The 2023 passport program features the five member wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail partnered with two local distilleries: Wardog Spirits and Social Still. Passports entitle the holder to one food and beverage pairing (wine or spirits) at each of the seven participating venues over the three weekends of the event, as well as a complimentary tasting of three beverage samples at each location. They also receive a special gift — a logoed picnic blanket that rolls up into its own carrying handle.
Event hours and dates:
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; April 15-16, 22-23 and
29-30.
Highlights include:
Black River Farms:
Chicken massaman curry by feast catering will be paired with Tilly, a dry white blend wine. The Bethlehem winery will have live music 2-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Blue Mountain Vineyards: The winery’s merlot will be paired with a chicken parmigiana slider.
Franklin Hill Vineyards:
A torte made with Sir Walter’s jelly and peanut butter will be paired with Sir Walter’s red wine. The Bangor-area winery will also have live music 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
April 15-16 — chilled spring pea soup
Social Still:
paired with Social Still’s signature cocktail Jaded (botanical gin, lemon, White Jade wine, elderflower and club soda); April 22-23 — shaved prime rib crostini with herbed local goat cheese and Franklin Hill Trio demi-glace paired with Social Still’s canned cocktail Jalapeno VodkaRita (vodka, pineapple, jalapeno, lime); April 29-30 — White Which Eggnog Flan paired with Social Still’s signature cocktail Coquito (White Witch rum, coconut milk, cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, vanilla beans and spices).
Tolino Vineyards: The Bangor-area winery will work with the Marquee Kitchen to offer the following pairings: April 15-16 — Tuscan white bean and fennel sausage chili paired with Papa’s Red (dry) or Next Generation (sweet); April 22-23 — red beet hummus with olives, veggies and pita crisps paired with pinot grigio (dry) or vidal blanc (sweet); April 29-30 — pesto couscous salad with green
beans, potato, roasted peppers and almond crumble paired with chardonnay (dry) or gracie (semisweet)
Vynecrest: Mr. Bill’s Poultry homemade white chicken chili served with Vynecrest traminette accompanied with blue chips and peach salsa; Vynecrest blueberry wine paired with lemon sorbet. Live music will be featured 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
WarDog Spirits (Black River Farms): Key lime mousse made by Art Cafe will be paired with a tasting of Gin 91.
Info, passports: lehighvalleywinetrail.com/ events/wine-and-shine-lehigh-valley/
Slate Belt news
March 5-11 is Slate Belt Restaurant Week, where you’ll find deals, special menus and events at participating restaurants.
The Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce is organizing the event. Participating
restaurants include:
Allegheny Creek Brewing Co.: 690 Allegheny Road, Upper Mount Bethel Township
American Lobster: 1420 Jacobsburg Road, Plainfield Township
Broadway Pub: 62 Broadway, Bangor
Cafe On Broadway: 21 S. Broadway, Wind Gap
512 Deli: 32 Murray St., Bangor
Good Azz Eats: 492 E. Main St., Pen Argyl
Five Points Grill & Pub: 1001 Mount Bethel Highway, Upper Mount Bethel Township
Fuhrer’s Tavern & Grill: 104 Main St., Portland
Port 2 Flavors: 425 Delaware Ave., Portland
Richmond Farm & Brewery: 1290 5 Points Richmond Road, Washington Township
Rustica Artisan: 1101 Allegheny Road, Upper Mount Bethel Township
Scorecard Sports Bar & Grill: 130 N. Broadway, Wind Gap
Info: slatebeltchamber. org/restaurant-week-2023