From Ambler to Ardmore and from Pottstown to King of Prussia, there’s no shortage of good eats in Montgomery Country. Or drinks. And to help restaurants, distilleries, breweries and wineries recover from the pandemic the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board has dubbed July, "Crave Montco Month." Throughout July, Montgomery County restaurants will offer discounts, promotions and special menus for in-restaurant dining, take out and delivery.
It’s a great opportunity for locals or visitors to try a new spot or visit old favorites. The list of participating restaurants, distilleries, breweries and wineries has been growing in the days leading up to the event and includes everything from steak houses to fast casual restaurants and from breweries to ice cream parlors. Many are locally and family-owned.
It’s good for the restaurants and for local shops and businesses too. The Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board (VFTCB) designed the Crave Montco promotion to kickstart the local economy by bringing much-needed traffic to main streets and other areas.
"The food and beverage industry is one of the largest employers in Montgomery County with more than 22,500 employees," said VFTCB President & CEO Mike Bowman. "Restaurants, breweries, wineries and distilleries have been the settings for some of the most important moments in our lives. Now, it's our turn to be there for them, show them some love, and help support getting folks back to work."
For a list of participating restaurants, visit CraveMontCoMonth.com or download the Visit Valley Forge app.
A closer look at some Crave Montco Month participants:
Five Saint Distilling, a micro-distillery in a former firehouse in Norristown, makes award-winning vodka, wine, whiskey, gin and blood-orange liquor and cocktails. John Robert George named his distillery after his father, three uncles and a close friend who served as father figures after his father’s untimely passing. The men, who George thinks of as saints for their patient guidance during his upbringing, are honored with portraits above the bar. During Crave Montco Month, Five Saints Distilling is offering 10% off "to go" cocktails.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream was founded in 1945, when Alice Handle started selling ice cream out of her husband’s gas station in Youngstown, Ohio. She used fruit picked from her own backyard. Now with ice cream parlors in California, Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Pennsylvania, the fruit no longer comes from the Handel’s backyard, but the ice cream is still made fresh daily, one batch at a time, at each location. During Crave Montco Month, Handel's is offering BOGO (buy 1/get 1) deals on single cake or sugar cones.
July is a great time to eat your way through Montgomery County. Enjoy American, Italian, Asian, Mexican, Jamaican and other international cuisine and help local restaurants with each forkful.
By Irene Levy Baker, author, 100 Things To Do In Philadelphia and Unique Eats & Eateries of Philadelphia.
Looking for fun things to do? Vaccinated? Need gifts? For signed copies of the books, visit www.100ThingsToDoInPhiladelphia.com. For free shipping, use promo code TheCityPulse.
For more blog postings by Irene Levy Baker including details about the the return of in-person events, what's new at Reading Terminal Market or attractions opening soon, click here.