Welcome, December! It’s the end of the year, the busiest time of the year. Wouldn’t something warm and wonderful taste especially satisfying right now? Taking that idea a step further: wouldn’t it taste even better if someone made that comfort food for you — bringing joy to the whole family and loved ones? Whether it’s for takeout or dine-in, one thing you can always count on is specialty comfort foods made right at our doorstep in Berks County. So, step outside your own kitchen and sample these full-bodied treats.
Chicken Pot Pie at Ganly’s Pub
Ganly’s Pub offers a best-selling Chicken Pot Pie that’s totally Pennsy-Dutch in style and available for takeout or dine-in. Chef Sean Davies reveals, “We don’t make this dish in-house, actually. It’s from an Amish farm and made with handmade egg noodles, big chunks of chicken — both white and dark meat — and thick-sliced potatoes. It’s very hearty and very rich! I like getting it made for us because we make 95 percent of everything else, and I like to give the business to another local vendor, so it’s locally sourced.” He adds, “It’s not overpowering with herbs, just straightforward, something like our customers’ mothers or grandmothers would make at home.” Ganly’s is renowned for its congenial atmosphere and large craft beer selection, as well as for honoring Ireland with specialties like Donegal Fries, Fish and Chips, and housemade Jameson Bread Pudding. Guinness Draft (Nitro) Stout and Smithwick’s Red Ale are always on tap, along with numerous enticing and dynamic beverages that pair well with Ganly’s wings, another terrific comfort food!
500 Brownsville Rd., Sinking Spring
610.678.2000
Mamma Lidia’s Lasagna from Folino Estate
The layering, the sauce, the ingredients — they’re all part of a Folino Family recipe that Berks Countians get to enjoy, almost like you’re part of the family! Co-owner and Creative Director Andrea Folino says this about Mamma Lidia’s Lasagna: “A secret family recipe made with the passion and care of traditional Italian cooking, it takes me back to our travels to Italy with every bite. It’s truly nostalgia, comfort and savory tastes wrapped into one dish that soothes the soul.” Mamma Lidia’s Lasagna ranks high on the comfort food scale, containing that special homemade tomato sauce and topped with freshly grated mozzarella cheese. Add some Rustic Italian Bread and Olive Dipping Oil, maybe a salad and some Folino Estate Lorenzo Forte wine, for a true Mediterranean feast in the middle of a Pennsylvania winter. Available for takeout or dine-in (call for reservations).
340 Old Route 22, Kutztown
484.452.3633
Mac ’n Cheese at Say Cheese! Restaurant & Cheese
Of course, there are a hundred reasons to check out ALL the cheeses from all over the world, and taste-test so many wonderful dishes at Say Cheese! in West Reading. But mid-winter, when it’s macaroni and cheese that speaks to your heart, this stick-to-your-ribs, classic comfort food dish is made especially fabulous at the cheesiest spot in Berks County. Their Mac ’n Cheese is available for ordering as takeout or for dining in with a reservation. What makes their version stand apart from the rest is the sheer variety, quality and number of cheeses used in the making. Adam Cocuzza explains, “We’ll change it up a bit from time to time, but generally our Mac ’n Cheese is made with five or six cheeses!” So elegant, it’s rivalled only by their Smoked Salmon Mac ’n Cheese, which won first place when it debuted in Chester County years ago. Both of these dishes have been popular standards since day one of the restaurant’s opening in Berks. As for the right wine, Adam suggests pairing a slightly dry wine to cut the richness. “We’re living in a period of ‘Drink what you like,’ but maybe a drier side Stainless Steel Chardonnay, or a Sauvignon Blanc that’s just a little bit oaky, or an off-dry Riesling will do well. Or a Pinot Grigio.”
600 Penn Avenue, West Reading
610.406.5390
Shepherd’s Pie from The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub & Alehouse
If you’re from Berks County, you might assume Shepherd’s Pie originated in your family’s kitchen. But this dish actually seems to have originated in the sheep country of Scotland and northern England (although Ireland lays claim as well). What a perfect food feature for the historical, attractive Speckled Hen gracing the corner of 4th and Cherry streets in Reading! According to Chef Judy Henry, “Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate comfort food. It has all the great foods we remember from our childhood: ground beef, buttery mashed potatoes, peas, corn, gravy…” In her own words, it’s the “quintessential pub cuisine and harkens to all those comfort flavors. It appeals to the adult child in all of us!” Then there are these tempting comfort options: Homemade Potato and Cheese Pierogies — and, for dessert, Speckled Hen Whoopie Pie with House-Churned Guinness Ice Cream. Swoon, swoon…
30 S. 4th St., Reading
610.685.8511
