bowers' 15th annual chile pepper festival

I always thought spice was nice. Not saying I'm a spicy fiend, but I could fall into the category of an "appreciator." This being said, I found it alluring to attend this past weekend's 15th Annual Chile Pepper Fest, held in the Berks County town of Bowers, Pennsylvania.

Thoroughly impressed that outdoor setting of William Delong Memorial Park was able to pack as many spice enthusiasts and entrepreneurs in to one petite space, I trekked to the back woods of my hometown area to tackle the finest display with my brother and my dad, who are both equally accepting of adding a jalapeno zing to typically ordinary foodstuffs.

Immediately overwhelmed by the non-stop setup of vendors slinging jams, salsas, hot and BBQ sauces, spiced salted seasonings, and even, chocolate-coated peppers and jalapeno wine, if there ever was a place to consider become cozy with the hot-on-the-tip-of-your-tongue feeling, this was surely it!

Some of our highlights from the morning-long trot with all things courageously kickin' include the appropriately-named Carl's Kickin' Chili, which will easily bring anyone's eyes to tears, Brenda's Candies' spicy peanut brittle, Captain Thom's Bacon Ketchup (less spicy, more awesome) and the Chile Spot's Strawberry Habanero Jam. Of course, taking advantage of such a specific tasting shindig, my father and I decided to faux-tattoo-it-up, both having temps placed on our tough-guy arms.


The best part about the entire spiced mouth frenzy was the off-site trip to Meadow View farm, made available through offered horse-drawn rides, where you could indulge in more hot pepper pleasures, including their notorious hot pepper ice cream, made available in strawberry and peach blends. Perfectly creamy with a delicate afterward kick, I could enjoy cones of this zesty, milked ice for years and years to come.

the chompable pups of puttin' on the dog

Opened at the close of November of 2009 at the Market Place at Oaks, Puttin' On The Dog succeeds in providing frankfurter fanatics with a new savory, bun-packed standard.

In a compact, unpretentious storefront shop, owner David Carpani provides area diners with the "best dressed hot dogs around," and there is no need for him to be modest when promoting his slogan. His all-beef frankfurters split down the middle and dressed up with whatever you can heart desires, far surpasses your casually plopped ketchup-and-mustard picnic classics.

From sauerkraut, bacon, chili, bruschetta and spicy mustard, his decorations for his dogs are endless, and his concocted specialties do not fall short, either. The most popular combination found in this street food shop is the Hot Smokey Dog, which loads a sliced, jumbo beef sausage in a nicely toasted bun that is drizzled with a decent dose of spicy mustard. Fried peppers and onions finish off this beloved staple, and the ambitious bite is born.

Other interesting iconic bites include Carpani's Tixxie Dog, which mashes a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with a gigantic beef hot dog. The Tixxie is finished off with a comforting amount of cheese, while the Mighty Dog may fall short on dairy, but doesn't forget anything from the garden. Relish, chopped onions and tomatoes, pepperoncinis and kosher pickles are loaded atop the all-beef wiener, while yellow mustard and celery salt round out the bun.

Puttin' On The Dog, the new and upbeat paean to the frankfurter in all its variations, is also keen in providing an edible paradise for all those who are not victim to hateful heartburn. The Sloppy Dog, their perfectly juicy chili dog is hefty and delicious, and is also layered with crisp coleslaw and yellow mustard.

However, hot dogs aren't the only handheld meats that trump this counter service spot. Bite-size chicken nuggets and tenders are available for the anti-tubular eaters, and are willingly served with honey mustard, barbecue or ranch dipping sauces. Of course, the perfect companion to any hot dog is served here, too. Their Royal Burger is simply offered with all the necessary condiments like lettuce, tomato, mayo, cheese, etc. and grilled to perfection. The side order of french fries are top-notch, also, served in small and large sizes and sprinkled with a seasoned salt blend that is ideal for any fried food lover who enjoys a light kick.

Carpani's unapologetically high-cholesterol glory of all-beef sandwiches may additionally be seen as the perfect all-American snack bar because he offers equally as many dessert and ice cream options as he does dinnertime dishes. From gooey brownie sundaes and fudge nut parfaits, to M&M shakes, malts, latte freezers and root beer floats, an option for everyone taste buds is available at this one-stop shop.

Affordable with speedy service, Puttin' On The Dog soars in huge heaps of comfort food that will most definitely, have you barking back for more just after one bite of their dogs' buns.

Puttin' On The Dog, Market Place at Oaks, 180 C. Mill Rd., Oaks, 484-924-8940.


Also published here.