The Find It Friday series features our top five favorite finds of the week, ranging from dining & food news and people doing cool things to events and new businesses in and around the Lehigh Valley. Essentially, if it’s cool and we found it, we’re telling you about it.
This week, our Find It Friday series features La Locanda del Cavallo, Pay it Forward Pizza, Matt-Hat Jerky, Henna Chakra and Nort Port.
Want us to share what you find? Tag us @lvstylemag and #livelvstyle on IG and then follow along for all of the latest.
Top Food and Experiences in the Lehigh Valley This Week
1. La Locanda del Cavallo
Hidden in plain sight on Route 611 in Easton is the one of the most unique dining experiences you’ll find in all of the Lehigh Valley. Fine dining in an Italian villa is the simplest way we can describe what you’ll find at Cavallo’s and yet doesn’t do the restaurant justice in any way—it’s simply something you have to experience yourself. Dining is by reservation only and BYOB for the two experiences they have to offer. One being a bistro option that features a three-course tasting menu which is routinely posted on Facebook. But the real shining star experience is the five-course prix fixe fine dining option where a menu isn’t offered; you simply get to experience what Chef Brondo Cavallo decides to whip up that evening from his array of made-from-scratch daily stocks, sauces, pastas, bread and dessert. Rumor has it that this fine dining experience is around $150 per person and an hours-long culinary journey—so think more of experiential dining than what you would normally expect at a restaurant. Pair this with marble floors, aged wood, stained glass, family treasures, fresh flowers, fine silver, an art gallery and SO much more and you’ve got yourself a personalized experience you’ll be talking about for months. The best part is this isn’t even half of what the restaurant, inn and wedding venue offers, so do yourself a favor and check them out on Facebook or book a reservation to immerse yourself in the full Cavallos experience.
Courtesy of La Locanda del Cavallo
2. Pay It Forward Pizza
Tis the season for giving and what better way than gifting someone in need a slice of Lehigh Pizza? The Pay It Forward Pizza program created by Lehigh Pizza has been an annual mission for years now and continues to grow exponentially each year. How it works is you pay a discounted $2 and a Post-it Note is put on their wall offering a free slice of pizza to children in need as well as the homeless. Customers tend to write inspiring and uplifting messages on each Post-it Note for the receiver of the free slice of pizza. This program runs through the winter months and at the end of May, Lehigh Pizza will collect any vouchers that haven’t been redeemed and double the value and donate it to a local food bank or shelter. Such a simple and yet wonderful mission, we encourage everyone to support the Pay It Forward Pizza program this year (and to indulge in one of their slices of pizza while you’re at it—it’s the Valley’s Best Pizza for a reason).
3. Matt-Hat Jerky
Created by Bethlehem’s Matthew Kuplack at the age of 11 in 2017, this artisanal small-batch jerky has garnered quite the following in the last four years. As the winner of Best Beef Jerky in the 2020 TasteTV International Jerky competition, Matt-Hat has gotten some serious street cred from some of the top chefs in the game. What makes his jerky stand out amongst the rest is that it’s sliced and not pressed, low carb, 100 percent all-American beef without nitrates or MSG. There’s a ton of flavors like spicy original, black truffle, pinch yo’ grandma spicy, traditional Japanese teriyaki beef, Punjabi Indian curry and so many more. You can purchase one flavor pack for around $10 or go all in with their variety packs of 6–14 flavors ranging from $60–$130. While you can order online, Matt-Hat is popping up in the Christmas Huts on Main Street in Bethlehem this weekend, so stop by for all of your jerky needs!
4. Henna Chakra
When we discovered Henna Chakra, we immediately loved all of the elements behind the business. Founder Sophie offers henna art across the Lehigh Valley at art festivals, grand openings and yoga events while also being available for birthday parties, corporate events or individuals looking for something unique. Offerings include large and medium henna, Jagua art and belly blessing henna for expecting mothers. In addition to henna, Sophie has an online shop featuring henna tea lights, coffee mugs, flower pots and more related merchandise. Being a yogi and instructor, another arm of her business includes essential oil and yoga workshops as well as a Goddess Circle group which is a gathering group that provides a safe space for women to celebrate, nurture and support each other through life. You can learn more about Henna Chakra on their website or follow them on Instagram.
5. Nort Port
You may have seen Nort Port on the menu at local wineries and breweries over the past year and with good reason—they make specialty cheese balls meant to be paired with wine and beer. Named after their dog Norton, Nort Port’s gourmet cheese balls are available in flavors like The Everything (think everything bagel), The Great Pumpkin (seasonal cheese ball with pumpkin spice and salty pecan crust), The Mammoth (classic cheese ball covered in roasted pecans) and The Frenchie (made to resemble French Onion soup with hints of sharp cheddar cheese throughout). Each ball also comes with pairings like rye bagel chips, pretzel snaps, cinnamon honey pretzel grahams and more. These can be found at a variety of local wineries and breweries, or you can purchase them at one of their pop-up sales—head to their website for information on their upcoming December sale.
