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Monthly Archives: March 2018

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BYOB Seasons on Main

–by Dave Williams–

 

I presume we all like BYOB restaurants for the same two reasons: 1-without good food they won’t be in business long and 2-it enables us to enjoy a good to great bottle of wine without the hefty price of a 200-300% mark up. Many are pleasant experiences and worthy of return, a few are exceptional and cherished, holding high anticipation for a return. Seasons on Main in Bloomsburg falls into the latter category with plenty of elegance, luxury, intimacy and personal touch.

As the name implies, the menu is seasonal with 4 corresponding menu changes a year with many local farm to table components. As a self-trained chef, Gary Vadakin’s passion for food started young at home and transformed into a career around 30 years old having worked in a number of top restaurants in NYC, Philadelphia and Miami. In the end, he wanted his own restaurant and in February 2013 he accomplished that. A key insight, the staff has knowledge and longevity which speaks volumes for the atmosphere and success of the Seasons on Main.

I experienced the Fall menu which had both traditional and creative offerings. The selection was limited with good variety. I started with Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Scallops followed by Harvest Mixed Greens with Pistachio Crusted Goat Cheese Salad. My entrée was Grilled Harvest Game Sausage Trio composed of Wild Boar with cranberry red wine, Venison with blueberry merlot and Elk with pear and port wine sauce. Fresh, excellently prepared, presented and memorable. A St. Veran Macon chardonnay started the meal, followed by Tratori Dry Creek Zin which were great meal partners.

Seasons on Main has limited seating so reservations are highly recommended, if not necessary. Bloomsburg is about an hour North of Harrisburg making it a destination, but well worth it.

Seasons on Main,  10 W. Main St.,  Bloomsburg, PA. 17815   (570) 336-2790   Open: Wed-Sat.  5-9PM   www.seasonsonmainpa.com

 

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President’s Column March 2018

–by Averill Shepps–

The Pennsylvania Wine Excellence Awards Event was outstanding. 92 people had signed up. Five were no-shows, so that our attendance was 87. That is a record for that particular event, as well as for PWS events since the early years of the Society. And the winner was… Waltz Vineyards Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Crow Woods 2014. That is the second year in a row for Waltz!

The Certificate for the top scoring white wine went to Presque Isle Wine Cellars for their Lake Erie Traminette 2016. We had 7 representatives from the wineries who made the top scoring wines to speak to us about how the wines were made, and of their passion for what they are doing, and in one case, love was the secret for the excellent wines. At least four of the winemakers spoke to me after the event to say that they thought the wines poured were all deserving of recognition. That was an accolade for our judging.

I want to thank all of those who worked on PA Excellence XVI. It takes a village of wine lovers to produce. I was again delighted with the expertise and spirit exhibited in how everyone worked together. My thanks to co-host Dave for his many responsibilities; to Lynne and Nicole for handling a double work load with registration; to Brett for helping Dave with wine delivery; to Scott for bringing his super cork remover; to Jacy for posting the event on Facebook as the afternoon proceeded; to Stevie for working outside and inside the room; to pourers (we needed lots) Brenda, Cathy, Cindy, Chris, along with Dave, Brett, Scott; and I even did some. I am not listing the judges but obviously the event could not happen without them. Maybe we can say love is responsible for making PA Excellence what it is!