August Food News in the Brandywine Valley
A few of our favorite things to share this month about local food and drink
Cocktails 101
Need to brush up on your mixology skills? Register for Winterthur’s Ground to Glass: Handcrafted Cocktail Workshop on August 22, 6 to 7 p.m. Led by 13th Street Cocktails’ Aaron Gordon, this class teaches you to craft two classic drinks from H. F. du Pont’s era using herbs from Winterthur Garden in beautiful Riedel glassware. $100, includes admission, two Riedel double rocks glasses, wooden herb garden box and two cocktails. 5101 Kennett Pk., Winterthur, DE. Winterthur.org.
Porch Presents
For gardeners blessed (or burdened) with a zucchini glut, do your civic duty on August 8 and join Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. Under the stars, slip your green excess onto your neighbor’s doorstep — recipes included — and join this zuc-centric holiday to share the harvest and lighten your load. (Or send your surplus squash to a local food bank.) Just don’t get caught on one of our favorite fun holidays! NationalToday.com.
Gay Street Eats
Good news for West Chester foodies! The old Classic Diner (16 East Gay St.) is now Central Bistro, offering smoky barbecue, fresh seafood, cocktails and mockails, plus beer and wine. And the former home of Laurento’s Formal Wear (127 West Gay St.) will morph into Dim Sum Taste. Expect Chinese small plates — soup dumplings, turnip cakes, bao buns and more. Stay tuned for updates. On Instagram @CentralBistroWC.
Eatery Expansions
The long-awaited fifth White Dog Café is finally open in Chester Springs! Located at the historic Vickers Restaurant property, the restaurant has seven rooms and seating for 400. Plus, farmers market fave Madi’s on a Roll plans a second location, now in Phoenixville, after opening an Exton storefront last year. Go for specialty egg rolls — cheesesteak, bangin’ shrimp, apple pie and more. 181 Gordon Dr., Exton. WhiteDog.com. 313 Bridge St., Phoenixville. MadisOnARoll.com.
Fond Farewell
Last month, Downingtown said goodbye to De La Terre BYOB. One of County Lines’ Best of the Best picks in 2023 and 2024, this upscale, modern French eatery opened in late 2022 and was beloved by locals and food critics alike. This sad news follows the closing of another Downingtown fave: Amani’s BYOB, which shut its doors in December. We wish them well. 47 W. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown. DeLaTerreBYOB.com.