Lehigh Valley InSite

Fratzola's Pizzeria

With lent kicking off this past Friday, the time has come to strike up the conversation that people seem to get so passionate about. Who has the best pizza in Lehigh Valley? Well folks I’m here to tell you.

What makes me an expert you may ask? Being a native of the Scranton area (Blakely exactly) I have had the privilege of some of the greatest pizza in the world.  For anyone who disagrees, even the nationally known Parade Magazine did a feature on the best pizza being found in Old Forge, Pa last year.

Afternoon in Easton

We visited downtown Easton during our latest  addition to the“Live Like a Local with George” web series on a beautiful afternoon.

Picking where we were headed wasn’t easy, especially since it seems like a new restaurant pops up in Easton every week. We started off at Sette Luna, where we had quite possibly the best pizza I’ve tasted in the last five years. From there, we walked about Centre Square and stopped in at Valenca before visiting our friends at Connexions Gallery (where we met Fredo the Cat).

Where to eat after the game.

After the tailgating, touchdowns and, hopefully, not a tie, the crowd at Fisher Field will need somewhere to catch a bite or a few drinks. After Lehigh and Lafayette meet for the 148th time on Saturday, both Bethlehem and Easton downtown areas will be awash in alumni, family, friends and students. Shops get full. Bars get packed. Seats get limited.

We’ve seen it before. In fact, we’ve been in the thick of it. You walk out of the stadium with your friends and family and everyone starts wondering where they should go next. The first spot you get to is packed and it’s a 45 minute wait. You didn’t make reservations because, well, whoops. So, where can you head in the Bethlehem and Easton areas following the game?

not-all-food-is-pictured

Recently, I invited some friends over to hang out. Easy enough, over they came. Done. Good times were had by all, but something was missing. We all wanted food, but no one wanted to go out and no one wanted to cook.

My solution: some of the best food you can get at a fair or festival in Lehigh Valley, Vince’s.

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“Remember you can’t eat meat on Friday.”  Growing up these words were often overheard throughout my house during Lent. Being a native of the Scranton area (Blakely exactly), I had the privilege of some of the greatest pizza in the world. For anyone who disagrees, next time in the Scranton, PA area take a trip down Main St. in Old Forge and grab yourself a tray (yes, “Scrantonites” call it a tray). Let me know what you think.

A Lehigh Valley resident for the past 15 years, I long for the pizza from the Northeast. I’ve tried a bunch of pizza shops over the years.  

Allentown St. Patty's diaper guy

I can’t say that I’ve ever been a big parade person, however, the events I’m about to recount for you will lead you to believe otherwise. I can confidently say that I’m a huge fan of St. Patrick’s Day (being Irish and all), so of course I’ll agree to any and all St. Patty’s Day festivities.

This all started with an invitation to Bethlehem’s Parade of the Shamrocks. The parade started at 2:30, and just to be sure we arrived in time and found parking my friend Jen and I met at Bethlehem BrewWorks for lunch at 11:30. At first BrewWorks was near-empty, but within an hour that place was jamming with green and kilts. After having a wit (best BrewWorks beer ever according to me) or two we headed across the street to meet our friends near the corner of Walnut & Main Streets.

Hops Fogelsville Hotel Logo

For those of you who know me, you know that I am a huge Steelers fan. Yes, I am still mourning over their Super Bowl appearance, but that won’t stop me from watching them next year.

The Friday before the Super Bowl, my girlfriend and I headed out for a happy hour at a place that I hadn’t been to in over 20 years; the Hops Fogelsville Hotel. It’s located on the western side of Lehigh Valley close to one of my of my other favorite places … Glasbern Inn.

Muhlenberg Dining hall

Lehigh Valley is blessed with several excellent institutions of higher learning, one of which I even attended; however, the other day, it became incredibly obvious that I attended college 40 years too early. My, how things have changed related to food service.

My friend Mike Bruckner, Director of Public Relations at Muhlenberg College, invited me to lunch as a way for him to show off the new expansion to their student union. “WOW” is all I can say. From the natural finish on the wood, soaring ceiling, beautiful wood columns, the balcony with open seating and private dining areas, the school seal etched in glass at the exterior peak, to the huge selection of food, this made me want to go back to school. There’s even a fireplace!

Pizza-tini

Over the past couple of weeks, I have watched several episodes of Man V. Food on the Travel Channel. That got me thinking about what kind of challenge I could attempt in Lehigh Valley.

Erin and I decided to meet some friends at Looper’s Grille and Bar in Bethlehem for dinner and some drinks on Friday night. Once we started looking at the martini menu, something caught Katie's eye. She saw the Pizza-tini and really wanted to give it a try, but didn't want to drink the whole thing. Since I am up for just about any challenge, I told Katie that I would happily order the drink and she could try some.

Bear rock junction 2

Lately the weather in Lehigh Valley has been gorgeous! Very summer-like. And Monday marks the official start of summer. In my mind, there's no better local summer activity than to go play mini golf!

Previously on Lehigh Valley InSite, Putt U has been called out on more than one occasion as a favorite mini golf spot. But we have more than one stellar mini golf course in the area. In fact, during my daily commute from New Tripoli to downtown Allentown, I pass three of them: