DISH: A NEW POCONO ‘GEM’

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

A NEW POCONO ‘GEM’

The Gem and Keystone restaurant will hold its grand opening Thursday, Oct. 22 from 6-8 p.m. The restaurant is located in the former Sam Snead’s on Old River Road in Shawnee on Delaware.

The Gem and Keystone’s menu includes all-natural meats and seafood from the Smithsonian’s Sustainable Seafood List and features many items from small farms and artisan producers in the area. Some menu items that got my mouth watering were the delectable-sounding bleu cheese fondue and grilled mahi mahi with pomegranate cider glaze.

The restaurant is also home to ShawneeCraft Brewing Company, which is helmed by Brewmaster Leo Bongiorno. ShawneeCraft opened earlier this year in the Shawnee Inn’s old ice rink.

Thursday’s grand opening celebration will include tastings of ShawneeCraft’s latest beer, Pumpkin Saison, as well as hors d’oeuvres, raffles, giveaways and music. For more info on the event, visit www.shawneeinn.com or call 570.424.9168. For more info on The Gem and Keystone Restaurant, visit www.samsneads-pa.com.

NEW MENU

Bart & Urby’s (119 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre) recently unveiled a new menu, and I’m stoked to see it still features my favorite item —Mediterranean risotto. Though I might have to break my usual risotto cycle given some of the other menu offerings like sushi-grade tuna with fresh wasabi and avocado mayo or the tofu stir fry. Or maybe I’ll be woman enough to give the “Angry Burger” a try: an 8-oz. Angus burger topped with hot peppers, cayenne onions and pepper jack cheese. Yowza!

Bart & Urby’s is open Monday-Friday from 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Saturday, 2 p.m.-2 p.m. and Sunday it opens at noon. For more info call 970.9570 or visit www.bartandurbys.com.

LAST OF THE WINE

The NEPA wine fest season ends this weekend with the Back Mountain Wine Festival on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Pikes Creek Raceway Park on Route 118. The festival is presented by NEPA Wine Country , and participating wineries are Bartolai Winery, Lopez Winery & Vineyard and Pavlick Hill Vineyard.

I attended the Tunkhannock Rotary Harvest & Wine Festival two weeks ago and am definitely a fan of Pavlick Hill’s Niagara. It’s sweet (just like me) and honestly tastes just like you bit into a freshly picked grape. The winery also has a Concord I found delicious.

The festival’s food vendors are Ah!Some Chocolates, Emma’s Bakery, Nice’s Old Country Style Almonds, Pirate’s Rest Trading, Red House Bakery, Very Farms Raw Milk Cheese and Zina’s Homemade Fudge. Music will be provided by Jeneric, and there will be a charity mini golf tournament. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Lake Silkworth Volunteer Fire Department.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate. Cost for designated drivers or those under 21 is $5. For more info, call 836.7222 or visit www.NEPAwinecountry.com.

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