Mamachka and I about two years ago during a photo shoot at Black Forest Deli. We make a great team and love working together.
As you all know already, I’m a foodie! Moving from the New Jersey/New York area about 10 years ago wasn’t so easy, as the choices of restaurants in the Lehigh Valley back than weren’t so great. I love choices, I love international food, I love to eat good authentic foods and I can finally say that the LV has grown so much in that aspect. We have some great places to enjoy for different occasions and I fell in love with a few of them. Now of course you already know my favorite place to dine is BFD (Black Forest Deli & Catering) but when Mama is home relaxing, I need to get me some deliciousness elsewhere so I mostly go to family-owned restaurants.
I don’t know how I became such a foodie and sometimes I even annoy myself when I have to judge every dish I order and scale it from one to five based on how much I liked it. Now if I really enjoy something I will go home, replicate the dish and claim that mine is way better. So what makes food taste so good? To me it’s very basic—fresh ingredients, as authentic as possible, and infused with lots of flavor. The simpler the recipe the better it tastes. Next time you are eating a dish, close your eyes and try to figure out the ingredients. So what are my top places to dine in the area? Here they are in no specific order!
Let’s get started with one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area—Tre Scalini. I discovered this restaurant about two years ago. A few people told me about it but I kept thinking to myself, “Do they know where I’m from? I’m from the New Jersey/New York area; there is no way I’m going to find Italian as good as what I have had in the past!” But finally when my friend Elizabeth told me that I must go there I gave in and went.
This restaurant is located in the middle of nowhere. It’s homey, super cute inside and the best part of this restaurant is the owner himself, Chef Santos. This guy knows his cooking; his food is as authentic as it comes. You know you are getting a great meal when you come here. Know why? Because every time I peek into the kitchen Santos is the only chef behind the stove. There is nobody else making your meal except him so you know the owner is going to make sure you are a happy diner. My favorite dishes are the Melanzane La Parmigiana, Calamari Luciana, Bucatini Amatriciana and the Papardelle con Funghi. Now I hear that Filetto Di Manzano Al Cognac is fabu-licious but I haven’t tried that dish yet. Next time, for sure!
Now let’s talk about Bolete. I discovered this place about two years ago. Thanks to YELP, Bolete was rated one of the top restaurants in the LV. There is no way you are getting into this place without a reservation so make sure to have one if you decide to go, especially on a weekend. Owned by a young couple, Erin and Lee, wife Erin runs the front of the house, while husband Lee is back in the kitchen creating dishes to die for. I have had such great dishes here that sometimes I dream about them. I love the feel of this place—so homey, so inviting and just a great spot to go if you are looking for an amazing dinner or for any special occasion.
Erin and Lee transformed this 200-year-old property into a classy, fun, sophisticated restaurant. The menu changes all the time and they base it on all the fresh and organic ingredients that they get from local farms. I love that! The burger is fabulous and the lobster roll is amazing. I also had a wonderful pork chop there, and a great beef shank that I can still taste. Oh man, just talking about all of these foods is making me drool all over my keyboard. If you like a nice drink I’m addicted to their Not Your Grandmother’s Greyhound (I love the taste of roasted grapefruit).
How about some Mexican food? What is your favorite authentic Mexican joint in the Valley? Well I found mine, located a few minutes from BFD. You will usually find me at Mexico Lindo on a Saturday, early afternoon sitting at the bar with a few tacos and a Mexican soda or BYOB Corona. The owner is always there to greet everyone who comes in and it’s nice to see the authenticity in this place; I think that’s why I keep coming back. While I sit at the bar waiting for my tacos to be prepared I get to enjoy the homemade chips, salsa and tomatillo sauce. I love the tortas and the simple tacos, but if you want to go wild then order the tongue tacos—yum!
So where do you go for brunch or breakfast? I love Jumbars! I love Jumbars for its freshness, simplicity and I love seeing Emily in the back cooking up some yumminess. This is the place to be on the weekends so that’s where you’ll find me. I usually do the same routine: order my tea and get a muffin. The best part of this muffin is that it’s grilled—yes grilled! I usually will order the South of the Border Omelet, as I love anything and everything Mexican.
Another Bethlehem standby is The Mint on West Broad Street. We so needed a place like this in the Valley. It’s perfect for lunch, dinner or to meet a few friends for some drinks at their fun, trendy-looking bar. Knowing the family from Stefano’s restaurant, it’s great to see more and more locals opening restaurants and bars in our area to make it grow and prosper. Ever since this place opened, I love going there. For me it’s the feel of the place—the vibe, the music, the menu and of course the staff. The bartenders make the place; Craig makes the best drinks, especially their latest drink special The Last Word. Domenic, the owner, has created an amazing menu that he changes seasonally. The burger topped with an egg is amazing and the sliders . . . oh my goodness, seriously, get the sliders the next time you are there.
I hope you enjoyed my favorite places in the Valley. Notice that all of these places are local and family-owned. Owning my own place for the last eight years and starting the Business Owners Group about two years ago has made me a huge believer in our local economy. I think it makes a huge difference when we keep our money in the community, especially when we spend it with our local shops. I have recently partnered with Adams Outdoor Advertising and will be launching a campaign with a billboard on Rt 22 & 378 supporting local buying. I hope the next time you are dining or buying you are supporting the local community. And I hope the next time you are hungry you will try some of my favorite places. Make sure to tell the owners that Vica sent you (which will either get you a complimentary drink or get escorted out . . . just kidding!).
