Bagel Month #3: Three Men & a Bagel

Three Men & a Bagel

1259 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. Suite 101b

Allentown, PA  

610-433-2600

2nd Location:  

150 Hamilton Blvd

Trexlertown, PA

I was thankful when this Trexlertown-based business opened a 2nd location closer to home--but it's easy to miss!  Nestled amongst medical offices across from Lehigh Valley Hospital, it is a nice surprise if you're looking for a quick breakfast or lunch.   One of my favorite parts is its meandering, grand corridor, leaving you in suspense for its final appearance.  Once inside, you'll discover a beautiful, warm, spacious and clean environment with friendly and helpful staff.

Offering around 18 assorted bagel flavors, my favorites include the rare cranberry orange & the energy bagel...topped with one of their assorted cream cheeses.  Their bagels appear small but have a moist density as a distinct feature of the area's bagels and are plentiful in satisfaction.

In addition, they serve a variety of deli sandwiches that can be served on the bagel of your choice, roll or bread.  A hidden treasure if you're looking for a quiet meal.  

Bagel Month #2: Bagel Basket

Bagel Basket
1850 Friedensville Road
Bethlehem, PA (near Hellertown)
610-838-7980
Hours: M-W 6 am-3 pm, Th-Fri. 6 am-8pm; Sat-Sun. 7-3pm

Where is your favorite spot to get a bagel?  I've discovered a few out-of-town spots that I love to visit as I can...one of my new favorites is Village Bagel in Warrington, PA because of their generous-sized, flavorful specialty bagels or Fill-a-Bagel in Jenkintown, PA because of their great store-front, delicious bagels and La Colombe coffee.  In addition to these recommendations,  Bagel Barrel in Doylestown, PA, is another that not only offers a great product but the community-friendly feel that accompanies it.

This is what stands out to me at Bagel Basket.  Offering a wide assortment of on-premises freshly baked bagels, the typical line and full tables show that it is a favorite morning stop for many local residents.  One of its best features is the outdoor seating under their porch. On a side road in Hellertown, it feels tucked away, providing a serene setting for a chat with a    friend or reading the morning paper.


Although I've heard mixed reviews about their bagels, my husband and I are among many who enjoy an opportunity to stop by.  Bagel  Basket can win the local prize for the vast assortment of flavored cream

Annie Energy Bagel w/peach cream cheese

cheese--including peach, blueberry and apple cinnamon to some of the more standard sweet spreads.  For the bagel sandwich lovers, the consensus is "they know how to fry a mean egg and their bacon is delicious."  Top it off with their wide array of  supreme Green Mountain coffee.

Bagel Basket is also open for lunch and their sandwiches sound delicious--besides cold deli sandwiches, they serve a variety of hot sandwiches served on a bagel, croissant, ciabatta, wrap, kaiser roll, white, wheat or rye bread.  Their combos come with a pickle and a side of pasta, macaroni, potato salad or coleslaw.  Finally, they always have a few homemade sweets (scones, magic bars, cookies and more!) hanging around the register that I haven't tried, but look enticing. 





 While Bagel Basket can feed for your family year round--beat the coming cool season and take a book or a friend over to the Bagel Basket to start your morning right.

 

Bagel Month #1: Hot Bagels & Deli

Hot Bagels & Deli

Parkway Shopping Center

1519 Lehigh Street

Allentown, PA  18103

2^nd location:  Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer’s Market

1825 W. Chew St. Allentown, PA  18104

One example of the beauty of food is that it is inspired & shared.  Did you ever notice that eating together is more satisfying than eating alone?  We can enjoy something in solitude, but what happens?  We want to tell someone about it.  We want to introduce someone to it.  We think of someone we know will enjoy it, text them and tell them we can't wait to share it with them.  This is one of the purposes of this blog, but is also a factor of its inception.  My husband and I have enjoyed many meals together and with friends.  Furthermore, we have had many who have inspired us towards creative and diverse eating.  This week’s feature is an ideal example of a business I would be sure to overlook, if it were not for our comrade, Wes Checkeye, who has yet to mislead in his several recommendations. 

My eyes are not drawn to strip plazas such as the locale of “Hot Bagels”, whose sign reads just that: “Hot Bagels.”  Not very catchy or enticing, but Wes assured me that the bagels are small but well-done.  Having lived in New York where there are delicious bagel delis on every corner, it’s hard to return to the Lehigh Valley and find one that meets your standards.  The key: a boiled bagel.  Not only are these bagels boiled, but they are hand-rolled and fully made on the premises.   You can catch the bagel-boiler in action in the back room.  Besides this evidence or asking the owner, how does one tell if a bagel is boiled?  Wes, who I would ascribe a connoisseur of bagels, says you look for "distinct exterior bubbles."  

Hot Bagels offers the standard bagels and spreads (plain and wide selection of flavored cream cheese, butter, jelly).  In addition it offers various breakfast specials including omelettes, sandwiches & platters.  While I cannot speak to their deli menu which includes grilled sandwiches, gyros, burgers, steaks, and classic cold sandwiches and hoagies, they have a decent bagel.  My recommendation is the energy bagel or pumpernickel. I was excited about the cranberry orange, but was disappointed in the lack of flavor. 

The place surprised me with its rather generous seating for dine-in customers.   Some other perks include their office special, Sunday special (Buy 1 dozen, get 4 free: $4.99), and accepting all competitor coupons.  You can’t beat a $2.39 breakfast, not including a coffee, tea or juice on the side. 

Will I return? I won’t go out of my way, but if I was in the mood for a bagel while in the area, I’ll be sure to stop.

Throughout this month, I look forward to sharing a few more bagel gems around the Lehigh Valley...remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day--so nourish & treat those back-to-school students! 

Burger Month #5: Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Local locations:  

254 NW West End Blvd.
Quakertown, PA 18951

Tel: 215-536-0555

Tilghman Street Center

4025 Tilghman Street
Allentown, PA 18052

Tel: 610-336-9315

Airport Center

914 Airport Center Drive
Allentown, PA 18107

Tel: 610-266-5135

Another chain has crept onto Evans’ Eats: LV & B.  Why?  Because it is that good—burger month would not be complete without adding Five Guys Burgers & Fries-arguably voted the best burger in the Valley.  In addition, there are 3 local stores (our preference is Tilghman St—clean, airy atmosphere with friendly staff) to enjoy!   If you are in any way a burger fan, you must try Five Guys---and let us know what you think!

Their first one opened in Arlington, VA in 1986—there are now 750 locations in 40 states with plans to open 200 stores in the next year.  Why Five Guys?

• Their successful mission is to serve a reasonably priced consistent product every day.
• The burgers contact ONLY fresh ground beef—in fact, they promote that they have no freezers in Five Guys locations—only coolers to ensure nothing is frozen.  You can TASTE the difference!!
•  They use peanut oil and their menu is trans-fat free. 
•  The fries are amazing…in fact they have a chalkboard sign that tells you the state descent of potatoes used to make that day's fries—adds a personal down-home quality when you are reminded that the delectable fries came from a domestic farmer’s crops!  Not to mention the generous-sized portion.
•  Of course this means excluding those who have peanut allergies—but one of their trademarks are the boxes (yes, boxes) of peanuts sitting throughout the restaurant, with the coolest self-serve scoop and cartons so that you can munch on peanuts as you wait for your burgers!  Genius!
• And undoubtedly, one of my favorite aspects of a good burger joint—the FREE toppings—same price and as many or few as YOU choose:  Mayo, Relish, Onions, Lettuce, Pickles, Tomatoes, Grilled Onions or Mushrooms, Ketchup, Mustard, Green Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Green Peppers, A.1.Steak Sauce, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce.  I am not going to tell you what to order—because that is the beauty of building your own—it encourages creative and customized thought! 

One tip:  for the smaller appetite order the little hamburger or cheeseburger which is 1 patty.  Their hamburger and cheeseburger serve 2 thin patties on an incredibly soft and pliable roll. Hot dogs are also on the menu and 2 vegetarian-friendly options:  a grilled cheese & a veggie sandwich (NOT a veggie burger, but a sandwich with veggies).

Photos--compliments of Google Images. I cheated for this post.

Burger Month #4: The Burgery Company

The Burgery Company

1458 Chestnut Street

Emmaus, PA

610-966-9900

Hours:  Mon-Sat. 10:50 AM-8:20 PM; Sun 11:50 AM-7:20 PM

A regular post on their facebook page presents its mission:  Always working to bring you the best quality food possible! Friendly staff, striving to provide a warm, family atmosphere! Open 10:50 am! See you soon!   

Located in a small shopping plaza, it provides a quaint, family-friendly feel offers indoor and outdoor seating while featuring the best gourmet burgers in the Valley.  Though it sits outside of downtown, they contribute to Emmaus’ continual up-and-coming development.

Established in 2010, the Burgery Company’s goal was to “put a twist on an American original.”  Their vast menu offers specialty burgers “constructed to maximize flavor” with a build your own option.  What makes it distinct?  Where else in the valley do you have this assortment:  angus beef burgers, bison, elk, venison, prime rib, ostrich, turkey, chicken, lamb, pork, fish, and vegetarian burgers.  Once again Evans Eats’ LV & B is challenging you to stretch your adventurous eating!  They offer sides of fries—including sweet potato fries and local Longacres ice cream for a shake to top off your meal. 

Check out their website to view the menu and their powerful combinations of flavors. 

I personally have enjoyed the corn husker (a black bean and corn burger with roasted tomatoes and whole grain barbeque sauce),

the mariner (5 spice tuna steak, snow peas, and ginger-lime mayo), 

and the golden gopher (veggie burger with roasted peppers, sautéed onions, and hummus)

….but their menu is vast--so explore!  The best part---generous portions and sturdy kaiser rolls (thoughtfully offering wheat). 

What to expect if you go:  Your appetite will be satisfied!   But word of advice:   Leave behind your fast food burger joint mindset:  because they offer specialty burgers, the prices will be higher and the time you spend waiting will be longer.