DISH: Smorgasbord of edible, imbibable events in NEPA

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

CUPCAKES AT THE COMM

The Waverly Community House (1115 N. Abington Road, Waverly) will hold its 28th Annual Artisans’ Marketplace Saturday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sponsored by The Waverly General Store, the Marketplace features more than 35 arts, crafts and food vendors.

There will be a luncheon each day from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. from Iron Pierce Catering and desserts from area bakers. In addition, all bakers are invited to compete in the Marketplace’s first-ever Artisans’ Cupcake Baking Contest. Participants will need to bring a dozen of their best cupcakes to the Comm’s canteen by 10 a.m. Saturday. Categories include Most Flavorful, Most Creative and Most Unique Recipe. Winners will be announced at 1 p.m.

Tickets for the Artisans’ Marketplace are $6, and all proceeds benefit the Comm. Visit waverlycomm.org for more info.

GIFTS YOU CAN IMBIBE

NEPA Wine Country will host a Holiday Wine Expo Saturday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Spring Brook Volunteer Fire Company (425 Swartz Valley Road, Moscow).

The expo will have wine tasting booths featuring Pennsylvania wineries Antler Ridge Winery, Blue Mountain Vineyards, Capra Collina Vineyard, Ferrone Family Winery, Pocono Limited Winery, Vintner’s Circle and Winterland Winery, specialty food and other vendors, including an on-site gift basket company to create custom-made baskets, plus live entertainment from Fuzzy Park Duo and Jeneric.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $25 the day of. Tickets for designated drivers and under-21 attendees are $5. Visit nepawinecountry.com for tickets or more info.

GREAT BREWS TURNS 20

The 20th Annual Great Brews Classic Beer Fest will be held Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 19-20 from noon-4 p.m. at Split Rock Resort & Golf Club (100 Moseywood Road, Lake Harmony).

The festival features dozens of breweries from around the world, including India’s Kingfisher, Lithuania’s Missing Elf, Germany’s Bitburger and the Keystone State’s own Yuengling, Straub, Troegs and Fegley’s breweries, plus two seminars: George Hummel’s Extreme Beer Tasting and Home Brew Demonstration and Karl Smith’s Beer and Chocolate.

Tickets are $35 in advance for Saturday or $45 at the door if still available. Tickets for Sunday are $28 in advance or $35 at the door. Advance ticket sales end Friday, Nov. 18 at 11:58 p.m.

The annual beer dinner will be held Saturday at 6 p.m. in the resort’s Sunset Green Restaurant (49 Wolf Hollow Road, Lake Harmony). Cost for the four-course meal is $69; call 570.722.9901 to reserve.

For complete festival info, visit splitrockresort.com.

MOHEGAN’S THANKSGIVING CORNUCOPIA

If you’re sick of slaving in the kitchen every Thanksgiving, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (1280 Route 315 Plains Twp.) wants to be your Turkey Day destination.

Rustic Kitchen will offer butternut squash and sweet potato soup with creme fraiche and crispy pancetta ($8), a harvest salad with mixed field greens, apples, feta, dried cranberries and toasted walnuts with cider vinaigrette ($9), roasted stuffed turkey roulade with cornbread and sausage stuffing, balsamic cranberry compote, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots and sage gravy ($26) or mezzalunas with roasted butternut squash, baby spinach, dried cranberries and crushed Amaretti cookies ($21). Featured desserts are carrot cake with fresh cream cheese icing or pumpkin cheesecake with creme Anglaise and candied pecans ($9 each).

Ruth’s Chris Steak House’s $34.95 dining option begins with seafood gumbo, Caesar salad or Steak House salad followed by roasted turkey breast with homemade gravy, sausage and herb stuffing and cranberry relish. Guests can choose garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans with roasted garlic or creamed spinach as their side. Dessert will be pumpkin cheesecake with vanilla ice cream.

Ruth’s Chris will also offer take-out sides — sweet potato casserole, green beans with roasted garlic, creamed spinach and traditional herb stuffing — that will serve 10-12 people for $29.95 each.

Rustic Kitchen opens at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday Nov. 24, and Ruth’s Chris at noon.

Pearl Sushi Bar, Wolfgang Puck Express, Hot Dog Hall of Fame, Ben & Jerry’s and Betty & Joe’s will also be open on the holiday. For more info, visit mohegansunpocono.com.