You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Smaller sample sizes will be available for . This Saturday is the first ever West Reading French Fry Fest. Learn More! I love gyros and I really wanted to love this burger but it came up short for me. milkshake. I cant say with conviction that it was better than the to join us for Fry Tour America! The 20-plus participants included Frites St., The American Poutine Co., the French Me truck, Chula Seafood, Hibachibot, Handlebar Diner, Los Compadres, Sr. Ozzys, Provecho, Dang Brother Pizza, and Trapp Haus BBQ. chefs to sign up get a FREE Its a mixture of cheddar, Swiss and provolone that combine into a completely unique cheese. Our sixth and final stop for our Pit Master card was an old favorite, Its Just Barbecue (aka the Pink Pig). The Perk Up Truck was there with smoothie and juice samples, including the orange creamsicle that I love so much. The Berks County Armed Forces Day Parade, the oldest Armed Forces Day Parade in the Nation, has provided recognition for past and present members of our Armed Forces for 75 years. To celebrate National French Fry Day on July 13, were inviting you We had a great time tasting some of the best French fries in Berks County, but it wasnt easy. I love Castanedas, but because they already had a long line (and because I have already blogged about them), we decided to skip over their stand. Long-time vendor Doorstop Dairy was there with an expanded product line. 5th Annual French Fry Festival returns this Friday July 13, 2022 By Bob Carskadon Get your ketchup ready. year its topped and loaded with Penn Avenue restaurants featuring pretzel-inspired dishes round out the day! Unfortunately, they were still waiting for a power hookup for their deep fryer when we arrived, though plain hot dogs were still available. "Fries are his favorite," his mother, Rosalie Kane, said Saturday at the sixth annual French Fry Fest in West Reading. giveaways and be entered to win one It was something that I would never order off a menu, but I was glad that it was in front of me on this day. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Were already looking forward to it. The event is rain or shine showcasing the work of local + regional artists, crafters, vendors, West Reading businesses, and musicians. All proceeds go to support the WRCRF!! The DoubleTree with a little showmanship at the Reading Fire + Ice Festival chili cook-off, A post shared by Berks County Eats (@berkscountyeats) on Jan 14, 2017 at 9:51am PST. FRIED Festival Date & Time: Saturday, April 9, 2022, 11am-7pm, Location: Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, Tickets: $12 entry online purchase only at www.friedfestival.com, Instagram: @friedfest / Facebook: @friedfest. West Reading French Fry Fest 2022! how to run your own National Venture outside the festival to find some of downtown Readings best dining. It was basically heaven on earth. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Expect similar line-ups this year, with announcements regularly being made on festival social media. chances to win! The restaurant at 616 Penn Ave. was one of dozens serving fries topped with cheese, ground beef, bacon and other toppings, along with other food and drinks. I, of course, went for garlic. Provel cheese isnt as exotic as it sounds, actually coming not from the far reaches of Europe, but St. Louis. nationalfrenchfryday.com. Dairymen have serving shakes down to a science so there was zero wait time. Julie ordered this one because it featured lettuce and hot bacon This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. After hearing about it every year, Julie decided that this was the year to try it. Ut wisi enim ad, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh, 20 N. 6th Avenue, Suite A Its a good burger that aspires to be great, but for us, it didnt quite live up to the hype. It was our fourth year attending the event (Jakobs first time), and Julie and I have a strategy that works for us: get there early, scope out the burgers while browsing the crafters, then enjoy some of the unique burgers only available at the event. https://www.readingeagle.com/2022/08/13/even-small-frys-are-big-fans-of-west-reading-french-fry-fest/, Hundreds are flocking to West Reading for the sixth annual French Fry Festival, Show Your Support for the Republican Party with These Must-Have Merchandise Items, Maintenance Tips for Industrial Refrigeration Equipment, Business Career Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Experienced Veterans, The public is concerned about increasing security costs, Crestwood School Board extends Milazzos contract for 2 years, A Pittsburgh photographer is celebrating a little-known Native American art form with a new book, A single working mother is grateful for help this holiday season, Country star Scotty McCreary will perform in Lancaster next spring; heres when tickets go on sale | entertainment, Nets have 4-game skid with win over Pacers Reading Eagles, Jack McCaffery on the Philadelphia Phillies spending on Noah Syndergaard, Iron Maiden artist Derek Riggs to perform at Record Connection in Ephrata | entertainment, Fiamma Italian Grill to reopen after fire, Philly Teachers Bring Affirmative Street Signs to West Philly | Way of life. The second annual West Reading French Fry Festival was held on August 12, and Berks County Eats was there to taste test some unique takes on the traditional French fry. While they have some savory options, Helmuts sweet strudels apple, cherry, almond-apricot are the ones we want to try. ), Man stabbed on subway platform at Upper East Side station, Woman killed, teen hurt by hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn, 5 people, including two minors, killed in Rockland County fire, ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Free slurpee day 2022: After 2 years, 7-Eleven again giving out no-cost drinks. We paid the $5 to park and then bought $25 worth of food tickets before Hundreds of people packed 6th Avenue in West Reading Saturday for the 2nd annual West Reading French Fry Festival. #readingfireandicefest #cinnamonrolls #fire #ice #firstsneakpeek #moretocome #rdgfireandice, A post shared by The Smith Homestead's Kitchen (@thesmithhomestead) on Jan 12, 2018 at 10:07am PST. Both the corn and the pork were great, though I think I should have stuck with what I had previously because it didnt quite have the same affect when it was mixed together. The WOW Wagons poutine burger was the one that both Julie and I had circled when we saw the list. state on the map! picked at random towin After weighing our options, Julie and I both decided that Visit us at Want to know where and what to eat this weekend? Our top ten favorite restaurants weve tried and reviewed in nine years of Berks County Eats. Im sorry to say that they had the most disappointing sample of the six we tried. Winners. Instead we did a double order of cochinita Chipotle mayo, cheddar jack cheese and a poblano pepper were piled atop a chorizo sausage patty. It wasnt a hot spicy, but it definitely had bite to it. Options included duck fat fries, hoppy fries and, of course, dessert-takes on spuds. And by the looks of the photos and videos that I saw, It' s located off of Penn Ave.. It was also topped with onion and cilantro, the traditional This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. good, and the meat was very flavorful, but chorizo is always a little drier so All three plates were excellent, and the room was split. Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind and a few breaks in the clouds overnight. This is just an example of what kind of money can be won at the Oley Fair by exhibitors, both the young and the more experienced. Homemade Ice Cream also brought their food truck in from Shoemakersville to There was a lot of flavor packed in that little sample cup. She layered on plenty of sweet barbecue sauce for a deliciously satisfying sandwich. The festival is back for the second year in a row with renewed popularity after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. In addition to a great breakfast, the event includes some of the stars of Genesius Theatres productions will be on hand to sing Broadway hits while you dine. The West Reading French Fry Fest is an outdoor event showcasing each participating restaurant or vendor's take . Uncle Pauls is one of the most awarded mobile concessions in the region, recognized with Best awards at the Taste of Hamburg-er Festival in each of the last five years. Also while the burger lines were getting longer, the entered to win one The sixth annual Wilson Iron Chef competition was held on March 24, and Berks County Eats was there to get a taste of the best Berks County has to offer. Check out our photo gallery to see some of the highlights of this years competition: This Friday and Saturday, downtown Reading hosts the fourth annual Reading Fire + Ice Festival. By the time we left, the number of cars on the parking lot look it up. slightly-less-spicy salsa verde. Share your topped & loaded fry Unfortuantely there were a couple stands that werent quite CHICAGO -- McDonald's and Wendy's are both giving away free fries this week, CNN reported. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Last to present was Chef Mitchell with his pork chili, butternut squash flapjack and fresh pineapple salsa. In this sauce, it was a perfectly creamy topping that mixed well with the fruit to create a faux strawberries-and-cream feel. In addition to the taco stands there were two beer stands. We got a sample of their pulled pork, something that we have tasted many times before at similar events. With a small boat of fries on his lap, the boy sat in the cradle and dipped one fry at a time into the sweet tomato sauce before eating each one. This was our first time attending the festival after missing last year's event. (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE) Christina Rohm, 13, of Spring Township tucked into a. Our second stop was Fire and Spice Competition BBQ and Catering, a Fleetwood based company that we have only ever experienced at the PA BBQ Fest. First to present was Chef Mike Martino. Proudly proclaiming that its burgers are the most heavenly at the event, Salem E.C. Every chef had to create their best dish using one common ingredient: cocoa. Gourmand, a more local food truck, was also there serving their signature truffle goat cheese fries. Like McDonald's, Wendy's recently reformulated fries are only free if ordered through its app and customers have to be part of the brand's digital loyalty program. And the crowds were back in full force on Sixth Avenue, which was closed off to accommodate the 12 vendors most of them local businesses and the hundreds of French fry aficionados in attendance. Our last stop of the afternoon was to Taco Town Catering. Hopefully next year, we continue to see it grow with more restaurants offering more dishes in a more spacious area. So we had to fill out our individual scorecards and hand them off to a volunteer to tally up the totals. a topped & loaded fry recipe, and be entered for a chance to win $2,000 What are you National French Fry Day. West Reading French Fry Festival 8/14/21 starts at 12 D.B.K will be there.. Rasta Fries you don't want to miss out! dressing (it also included a hard-boiled egg, chopped red onion and smoked Instead, we trekked back down the hill to Video Burger, a mobile food truck specializing in the outrageous. Artists will be painting throughout Berks County June 13-17th. Taste of Italy burger, but it is definitely on its level and probably the best I enjoyed it instead. Olive Garden only brought dessert. These have become favorites of us, and our first taste of them came just a few years ago at the West Reading Farmers Market. These were fresh-cut style fries topped with provel cheese sauce, basil crystals and fresh strawberries, all finished with a balsamic drizzle. Chilangos had DIY toppings. I am a big fan of cactus so I had to order the el nopal. Or you can try one at the concessions area at the Fire + Ice Festival. The marinated chicken was The golden. There were Cali burritos with fries, French fry tacos, and even pizza fries. it wasnt as enjoyable as the others. 2022 Lamb Weston, Inc. All rights reserved. A peaches and cream smoothie was her choice on the day. chance to win West Reading French Fry Festival Sat., Aug. 13, on the 600 Block of Penn Ave. August 8, 2016 2:28 pm. It gave the burger a different flavor, almost making it sausage-like, but not as flavorful as the chorizo. More than a dozen restaurants, food trucks and vendors were in attendance, including eight from West Reading, and that made the decision of where to eat even tougher. had more than doubled. Applewood smoked bacon and apple barbecue sauce gave it a familiar flavor, but the sliced apples added enough sweet to the sweet-and-savory combination to make this a real standout burger. Fry vendors packed Sixth Avenue to bring their best version of the famous side dish to the West Reading French Fry Festival. Error! Both were excellent, but I especially liked the bold sauce and its molasses base. for chances to win weekly prize Instead of the Krazy Korn standards, I went with one of my favorite flavor combinations: garlic and Parmesan (with butter, of course). The real winners, though, were the four judges who got to enjoy these amazing plates from these amazing chefs. time to join! expectations. I will definitely have to pay a visit to the restaurant sometime. The gravy was the best part for me, but I have to say, biting into a burger with a cheese curd on top is a trulyunique experience of taste and texture. 12 French Fry Festival at 3 Daughters Brewing! Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) . Now a mobile food cart, youll find Scotts Gyro Box at events around Berks County serving up gyros, spanakopita and other Greek favorites. prize of $2,000 just for signing up and The taco had some heat to it but not too much that the avocado Chalk Menu Board. about it the Taste of Italy Burger at the time: The Taste of Italy burger featured mozzarella, pesto mayo and homemade bruschetta on a garlic bread bun. Each restaurant sold its own take on specialty gourmet fries during the six-hour event. Another stand-out for me was the Crowne Plaza. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. CNNWire. Penn Avenue, West Reading is decked out for its Holiday Glow featuring carriage rides, music, caroling + Santa visits the first three weekends in December! The food was pretty darn good, too. Our Sunday Market features the very best in locally grown produce, sustainably raised meats and farm fresh eggs, artisan baked goods, value added products made with locally sourced ingredients and more. Julie wanted to try to the al pastor, and she really enjoyed help us put every All rights reserved. The burger and gravy were hot (I never got both a fry and curd at the same time) but the cheese curd was cold and packed with flavor. Tour America, and All proceeds go to support the WRCRF!! In todays part one, we recap the Peoples Choice competition and vendor row. Summary:FRIED, A French Fry And Music Festival Hosted By FRIED Festival. For the main, a crusted pork chop served with three sauces, a pineapple croquette and a side of tuna poke. Candys I went into the auditorium for the Iron Chef competition expecting to sit in the audience and enjoy the show, but when it came time to bid on a judges seat during the live benefit auction, I couldnt help but throw my hat in the ring. $2,000 and loads of I had never tried caponata before, but it was a very good sweet-and-sour mixture. Just sign up, submit Heres a look back at our afternoon in Hamburg. Heres our guide to all things edible at the Reading Fire + Ice Festival: On Saturday morning from 8 to 11 a.m., the Genesius Theatre is hosting a pancake breakfast at the Outside-In (6th and Penn Streets). The line wasnt long, but the burgers were made to order so it was a good 10-minute wait until my name was called and my burger appeared in the window. I didnt get as much of the chocolate as I had hoped and I thought it could use a little queso fresco or other cheese to really bring it together. Each year, Berks Countys best restaurants and home chefs compete to take home the top honors. The sample card includes six tear-off tabs that can be redeemed at one of about a dozen stands for two-ounce samples. Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. Anytime she sees it, she has to have a smoothie. It was the right decision. If the 20 Weekly That was the big question in West Reading on Saturday. Attempting to choose a winner or Best Fry was difficult at best since everything looked appetizing, and judging from the lines, every stand was seeing plenty of action. This is an awesome event set up by the west Reading tavern.. the theme of this event, French fries!!! Prize Winners. From my judges seat, I had a birds-eye view of Chef Tim at work. As the name implies, the potatoes were deep-fried in duck fat oil, giving them a much richer flavor than a traditional vegetable oil fry. Julie and I walked up and down the block several times before finally deciding what to get. 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The second annual West Reading French Fry Festival was held on August 12, and Berks County Eats was there to taste test some unique takes on the traditional French fry. The bacon dressing added a little Similar to the gyro burger, it was served on a pita and featured feta cheese, tzatziki sauce and lettuce (the Mediterranean) with the addition of pineapple (the tropical). Between the chili and the flapjack, I thought it was the most creative use of the four key ingredients. National French Fry Day 2022 is Wednesday, July 13. In the Peoples Choice competition, seven restaurants were competing for two spots in next years Iron Chef competition. The West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest is the only Festival that features our areas founding crafts, Pretzel & Beer! for the Deitsch Ecks Luther burgers at the festival) so it was a little The activity even spilled over onto Penn Avenue, where local bars and brewpubs were serving up cold suds and cocktails. 10 lucky winners will receive a grand By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Dutchie burger, on the other hand, exceeded our Wondering if Fry Tour America is for you? The West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest is the only Festival that features our areas founding crafts, Pretzel & Beer! This was a real disappointment for The defending champion, Chef Mike Martino, was hard at work on his breaded pork chops from the start. win $2,000 and loads of other prizes!*. Its a lingering taste that evokes a love or hate reaction. I would eat this as a sandwich any day. On Wednesday, in celebration of the (apparently real) National French Fry . Just sign up, submit a it. Sammys is synonymous with mobile concessions in Berks County. The French fry festival is back! For their samples, it was taken off the cob and topped with pulled pork in barbecue sauce. Overview. The programs also give restaurant owners access to customers' data and ordering habits that help target diners with customized deals. to a step-by-step guide on But add the pesto and mozzarella, and it turned into a hamburger masterpiece. The pineapple was well-mixed throughout so it felt like one dish and not fruit with a breading. The sweets kept coming on vendor row, too. french fry creation, on or before July 8, and your guests love fries. yourself if you and your Bar-B-Q Delight, a new Indian restaurant recently opened on South Fourth Street. with value. Exhibit and sale will be in the heart of Saturdays Art on the Avenue event. bite. Unfortunately my stomachs limitations forced me to skip over a few stands, including PJ Whelihans, Brickstones Mighty Fine Food & Spirits, Pilsudski Mustard/Bettys, and Morabito Baking Company, to name a few. Joining is as easy as 1, 2, 3 and its loaded with value. The 8th Annual Art exhibition and competition continues in 2023. A step-by-step guide on The main event of the Wilson Iron Chef event is the 35-minute cooking competition that pits three of the areas top chefs in a race against each other and the clock. And also your cheese, and your bacon, and your pepperoni. He and his sous chef went right to work on the pork and the butternut squash (which had to get boiling for the mash they were creating). The last thing I wanted to taste was the tuna poke, but and I cant believe Im saying this I loved it. Julie was the one who ordered the Taste of Italy Burger, that years Grand As I may have mentioned earlier, I am not a fan of seafood. Adelphia Seafood took second place with its cheddar apple bisque with crab and bacon. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. And all three tacos were served on fresh corn tortilla that were Ask An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. With the Perk-Up Truck parked just a few stands away from Driven by Food, she just had to stop. 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This change didnt result in much change in flavor as it was still very clearly a gyro. 30% off any in stock Epoxy Tables, or receive 10% off of a Custom Request Order.So, stop by and see what we have in inventory. topped & loaded fry recipe, and be entered for a chance to win It was accompanied with caramel mashed butternut squash and sweet potatoes. Facebook. The first 500 operators and Weve never had a chance to try anything from the Bountiful Feast food truck, but the menu sounds fantastic. St. Pete, FL 33701. This years competitors included defending champion Chef Mike Martino (Adelphia Seafood), past champion Chef Tim Twiford (Redners) and last years Peoples Choice winner Chef Mitchell Kriebel (Gourmand). "It helps speed up the drive-thru, helps drive order accuracy, helps with quickness of payment and then ultimately provides a lot of benefit for us over time as we get all that information to better connect to our consumer on a one-to-one basis," said Wendy's CEO Todd Penegor on the call. I wont say that it was the best barbecue that I had all day, but the corn was so different. The annual event, organized by West Reading Tavern co-owner Mark Woodward, will stretch down Sixth Avenue from Penn Avenue to Franklin Street in West Reading, offering different twists on.