Food + Beverage

Paired with Community

Jon Kohler shares how food, wine and community have shaped Pairings Bistro Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers For nearly a decade before Pairings Bistro opened its doors, Jon Kohler had an idea he couldn’t quite shake. “I have been telling my wife Sandy that somebody should open up a nice upscale restaurant that was a part of the community and supported the community with fellowship and cuisine that just wasn’t here at that point,” Kohler said. ...

Food + Beverage

Cooking With Connection

Chef Stacia Epps brings French inspiration and Harford County ingredients to Maison Intimate Catering Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers Long before Maison Intimate Catering became a personal chef and intimate catering business serving clients from Virginia to Philadelphia and beyond, Chef Stacia Epps was fresh out of culinary school with big plans and an idea inspired thousands of miles from home. Epps, who attended Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia...

Food + Beverage

A Recipe for Longevity

How family and quality built a Harford County tradition. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Kerry Paradis Photography When Tommy Kanaras and his brother, Chris, decided to open a pizzeria, they already knew restaurants from the ground up. Their father, George Kanaras, had made sure of it. “My father taught us from the beginning,” Tommy Kanaras said. “He had us cleaning bathrooms and washing floors. He wanted us knowing everything about this business.” The brothers grew up in the...

Life + Culture

Celebrating 30 Years of Highlands

The Highlands School celebrates 30 years of helping students learn, grow and thrive Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers For three decades, The Highlands School has served students who learn differently, growing alongside advances in education while remaining committed to the mission that inspired its founding. “We believe that students who learn differently deserve a school where they are understood, challenged, and given the tools they need to succeed,”...

Life + Culture

Gather, Celebrate, Connect

Harco City Lifestyle marks its Second Stop with an evening of food, friendship and celebration. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Pamela Hancock Harco City Lifestyle marked its Second Stop with a special evening at the Vandiver Inn, bringing together friends, partners, contributors, and members of the community to celebrate the magazine and the connections that continue to shape and build it. Guests spent the evening mingling and enjoying an impressive spread of food in one of...

Food + Beverage

Warm Fuzzies and Award-winning Burgers

How family, nostalgia and a better burger became the foundation for Fuzzies. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Courtesy of Fuzzie's Long before Fuzzies Burgers served its first smashburger, brothers Josh and Brad Vecchiolla were building careers in the restaurant industry and talking about the possibility of ultimately creating something of their own. Brad found his niche early in customer service, beverages, and front-of-house operations, eventually becoming a Level 2 sommelier and...

Food + Beverage

A Beacon for Beer and Community

George Handlin shares how he and his team are building community through Watchtower Brewing. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Kerry Paradis Photography Every brewery has a story that starts long before the first pint is poured. What inspired the three of you to take the leap and create Watchtower Brewing, and what did each of you bring to the partnership? I have known Phil Rhudy of Independent Brewing for years -- our kids grew up together. Since I was about 16 years old, I...

Travel

A Taste of Thai Customs

Star Williams from Fit For a Star Travel gives tips for travelers to Thailand. Article by Star Williams | Photography by Contributing Photographers Teach a Man to Fish You catch it, you eat it. In Thailand, meals are often built around what's caught or picked that day. The belief that food should be close to its source reflects a strong cultural value.   Don't Forget Your Manners Market manners are a must. While haggling in some international markets is an expected norm, Thailand takes...

Food + Beverage

A Sip of the Season

A sophisticated local sip layered with spiced rum, pear and aromatic fall flavors Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers This sip from Burton's is as simple to make at home as it is to sip at the bar. Spice Must Flow       1.5 oz Koalo Kaua'i Spiced Rum     ½ oz Lemon juice     ½ oz St George Spiced Pear Liqueur     ½ oz house-made cinnamon vanilla simple     ¼ oz Pajarote Clavo And Cardamomo Licor Combine into all ingredients into a shaker with ice...

Food + Beverage

A Hole-In-One Sip

Refresh your next summer gathering with this easy cocktail that's as vibrant as it is cool. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers When the temps are high, Bar Manager Tonya Wallace at Bulle Rock Gourmet Pub and Grill recommends cooling off with this refreshing golf course classic. With a blend of electrolytes, vodka, and a little fizz, this sweet and citrusy blue-hued sip can brighten any afternoon.   Water Hazard Ingredients 1.5 oz vodka 5 oz blue...