The bad news is that Vintage Grille in Fountainville is closing on May 31. The kind-of good news is that they are going out with a bang. This coming weekend, beginning on Friday, May 29, the restaurant is offering a 3-course prix fixe “Potluck Menu” ($30). The choices will change throughout the weekend depending on what’s in the fridge. The prix fixe will feature mostly items from their current menu. If you’ve got a favorite, just let them know and they will be happy to accommodate you. Reservations are greatly appreciated. Call them at 215.348.4850 or click here to reserve. [Note: Word is that a “pub” type restaurant will be going into the space.]
If you are a fan of smoked salmon, then you’ve probably seen and tasted local chef Max Hansen’s Atlantic smoked salmon, sold in area stores under the brand, Max & Me. It has a delicate, smooth taste with just a bit of sweetness. Ever wonder how it’s done? In this 2 minute video, Max explains the process from his salmon-smoking headquarters in Carversville, where he smokes over 1000 lbs. of salmon a week. The video also shows you how to smoke your own salmon, using a hot smoking method on the stovetop with a wok. You can also find some of Max’s smoked salmon recipes on his website here, or get a copy of his cookbook, Smoked Salmon, Delicious Innovative Recipes (Chronicle Books, 2003) which includes 60 recipes, from starters to main dishes (available on Amazon). You can find Max & Me smoked salmon at these locations in Bucks, Mercer and Hunterdon counties.
You know Organnon’s, the organic grocery store in Wrightstown, but have you experienced the Grub Shack? In Carousel Village, just steps away from Organnon’s and Owowcow Creamery, is a great food truck that serves delicious, all organic/non gmo sandwiches, grass-fed beef burgers, hot dogs, and salads, including many vegan and vegetarian choices. They’ve just opened for the season, with hours on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. See their Facebook page for more info and updates. [In the photo above, from left to right: Buffalo Chicken Blue Grilled Cheese; Vegan Burrito; Green Goddess Grilled Cheese. Photos courtesy of the Grub Shack and Organnon’s.]
Strawberries are here! They’ve been spotted at the Milk House Farm Market in Upper Makefield and Terhune Orchards in Princeton. Do yourself a big favor and enjoy these local sweeties before they’re gone. In fact, do a taste test: go to the supermarket and buy a box of those big, pretty strawberries from California. Then get a box of local strawberries and compare. You will probably never buy the supermarket kind again. I know it’s a short season, and people want to eat strawberries at other times of the year, but really? Is it worth it? Next week we’ll be publishing the 2015 update to our popular post, Pick-your-own strawberries in Bucks, so stay tuned.
