KIM'S
Kulinary
Adventures
Life is short. Grow and eat it to it's fullest.
My Two Cents.
Here are my thoughts on restaurants, hotels, events, etc. Some are local. Some aren't.
I'm never disappointed when we go to Bolete and it's become my favorite restaurant in the Lehigh Valley. Chef Lee Chizmar is a master at combining unique, locally sourced ingredients into delicious works of edible art. Everything is made in house, the menu changes daily and they have great one-of-a-kind cocktails. They also have a very reasonably-priced early bird price-fixed menu Mon-Fri from 5-6pm. Make sure to save room for the butterscotch pudding!
Blair Vineyards specializes in dry, european style wines and it is definitely a hidden gem in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Their wines remind us the most of our friend's vineyard in Austria. Their Pinot Noir is the best in the area. It's a beautiful place to watch a sunset and enjoy delicious tapas under their giant pavillion on Friday evenings in the summer during their Happy "Hour."
I dined here after a nice day trip to The Walkway Over the Hudson (Poughkeepsie Bridge). The Gunk Haus touts itself as a German gastropub and it isn't your normal, everyday German restaurant. The owner is from Bavaria and he's done a great job putting a unique twist on traditional German cuisine. Great atmosphere (it's like dinining in a cozy Alpen Almhaus). Great view! Great beer!
I'm not usually a big fan of ice cream. It has to be pretty darn good for me to even bother with it and oWowcow definitely meets that standard. All ice cream is made in house with local ingredients, and with unique, ever-changing, seasonal flavors like honey lavendar, sweet potato wasabi, and butternut squash, you'll be visiting often.
Certainly the best winery on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, this vineyard offers spectacular views and fantastic white and red wines. My favorite white is the Riesling, which has just the right balance of sweetness and acidity. Favorite reds include Crooked Stick (blend) that is a great everyday wine to enjoy with a varienty of foods and Zweigelt. Recently named on Zagat’s '10 Reasons to Drive to the Lehigh Valley'.
For impeccable service and great Spanish & Portuguese cuisine, go to the to Spain Inn. Dining here is always an experience! Great seafood and steaks and huge portions. Try the Bistec de Lomo, a huge steak served on a sizziling stone, or the skewers of meat and seafood (it's not on the menu, but is always a special). And don't miss the sangria! Both the white and red are excellent--get a pitcher of both!