Food & Drink

Nearly six years after it opened, the Downtown Allentown Market has closed due to lack of customers.

Popular Lehigh Valley eatery Billy's Downtown Diner is looking to bring their beloved classic breakfast, brunch and lunch cuisine to customers across the country with a new goal to franchise their operation.

Love them or hate them, marshmallow Peeps are inescapable around the Easter holiday. Millions of the brightly colored candies are made daily in Bethlehem by Just Born Quality Confections.

Easton's Historic District Commission approved revised plans for the demolition and reconstruction of the McDonald's on Larry Holmes Drive at their Monday meeting.

Easton Public Market is welcoming a slew of new vendors as they fight to win USA Today's 10BEST Award for Best Public Market, an honor they earned in 2023.

The state-of-the-art St. Luke's SportsPlex, which offers everything from pickleball memberships to sports performance training, will soon offer something specifically for the 21-and-over crowd: beer.

TacoFest, the annual event that pays homage to that Mexican dish that fills a fried tortilla with fresh, flavorful ingredients, will return to SteelStacks from 1-6 p.m. June 1, ArtsQuest announced.

The restaurants are a fast-casual Mexican restaurant with a location in downtown Allentown; a new bar and lounge concept from the owners of Amigos; and a café, City Center said. The restaurants will open this summer.

Wondaffle, a waffle and ice cream shop on the Southside, has officially opened its doors, offering customers indulgent Liege waffles with small-batch ice cream and tasty toppings.

Two Rivers Brewing Co. has secured a variance which will allow the business to transform a run-down lot adjacent to its property into a new outdoor beer garden.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is hosting its annual Brew at the Zoo again in 2024. This year, it falls on Saturday, Sept. 14, and will feature more than three dozen craft beers and ciders.

The Blendery in Easton will host a special Bereaved Father's Day event on Sunday to help men coping with loss and seeking comfort in community.

Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte and accompanying pumpkin-flavor coffee customizations are set to return Thursday. Local coffee shops plan to bring back — or already have — seasonal favorites, too.

Beloved Yardley brewpub Vault Brewing is set to open a new location at 225 Ferry St. in Easton this fall, featuring craft brews and a specially-curated menu.

The Pizza Joint, operating in a unit formerly home to a Metro by T-Mobile store, will neighbor a local magistrate’s office and the Southside staple Seven Sirens Brewing Co.

The Pen Argyl restaurant was brought into the limelight by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy several months ago. Now it'll join Portnoy for his one-day One Bite Pizza Festival.

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed House Bill 829 and Senate Bill 688 into law. Both expand on the state's unusual and complex liquor laws, including an increase in happy hour and combo meal opportunities.

A couple retailers told LehighValleyNews.com they rely on a few things up their sleeve, including specials each day, a plethora of flavor combinations and a variety of inventory to choose from.

Bethlehem's Austin Shaffer downed five ears of corn in just over four and half minutes to win the Aw Shucks Corn Eating Contest at Musikfest on Wednesday night.

In what it calls "a gastronomic spectacle," the fair will have its first Scrapple Eating Contest at 3 p.m. Aug. 31 in the fairground's Farmerama Theater.

Tuesday, Aug. 6, is opening day for the Lehigh Valley's first Raising Cane's, in Lower Macungie Township. It's the 11th Raising Cane's to come to the Keystone State, but not without celebration. A soft opening was held Monday.

While mid-afternoon rain on Friday forced postponement of Musikfest opening ceremonies, it did not deter folks from attending the festival — just as many food vendors expected.