Pepperoni chips have become somewhat of an It snack, receiving recognition on Instagram feeds everywhere. But you don't need to travel to New York City to experience the trending app; Union and Finch has been making it in Allentown for years—and as far as we can tell, they're the only restaurant in the Lehigh Valley serving it.
Originally, the dish was just pepperoni chips and a house-made feta dip, which owner Ed Hanna says people loved at the inception. “With the second go-around, we decided to add a vegetable and thought Brussels sprouts would be a great complement,” he says. “Sprouts were a nice option because they add a little more depth to the dish and contrast in terms of flavor.” The pepperoni chips and sprouts are sliced to order and then deep-fried.
In the latest rendition, they kept cheese as part of the dish by topping it with a sprinkling of pecorino. For dressing, they went with a house-made spicy honey, which Hanna says leans more sweet. “With the pecorino cheese and spicy honey, it's a nice touch of savory and sweet.”
Hanna says he thinks customers love the dish because it's a nice change from your standard appetizers. He recommends enjoying it with a cold beer from Union and Finch's selection of 14 draft options or their Mediterranean Mule with house-infused fig vodka. Enjoy the Sprouts & Pepperoni indoors or outside in the Union Gardens.
1528 W. Union St., Allentown | 610.432.1522 | unionandfinch.com
Published as "Eat This" in the August 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
