Franklin County Visitors Bureau highlights the many cuisines of Franklin County at Franklin County Flavor: 300 Years of Food on August 13, 6 PM to 8 PM. The public is invited to explore more than 300 years of multi-cultural cuisines that come together in Franklin County. From the earliest influences of Pennsylvania German and Scots Irish to Latin American flavors, plus, everything in between: Greek, Korean, Japanese, Italian, and Indian, Franklin County Flavor will invigorate your tastebuds.
Participants will start the evening with a complimentary sampling of the Franklin County Pour Trail and an introduction to the fresh foods of Franklin County with a tasting of local cheeses in the lobby of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. From local flavor, tasting moves to flavors of the world with Baba Ganoush with Pita and freshly made Salsa and Chips.
From samples in the lobby, participants move upstairs to the Great Room of the 11/30 Visitors Center, overlooking the center of town, where they will enjoy a variety of foods in 2-to-three- ounce portions. Hot and cold starters of Loroco Pupusas, Papa a la Huancaina, and Sweet Potato Sushi begin the served meal. Beverage selections include local Kombucha and Water Kefir. A variety of breads accompany Sopa Azteca and Shorba Soup as the next courses.
Entrees include Pasta with Cream Sauce (with chicken or without), Souvlaki, Chicken Coconut Curry, and Catfish. Along with the main dishes are cold sides of kale salad, locally made pickles, and pepper slaw. Warm side dishes include Lemon potatoes, Old-fashioned Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Brussel sprouts, and Collard Greens. The meal finishes on a sweet note with four desserts—Fresh Peach Pie, Molasses Cookies, Apple Sweet Bread, and Berry Ice Cream.
From 1725 to 1840, Pennsylvania was the #1 food producer in North America, and Franklin County’s fertile land produced its share. Fast forward, nearly 300 years to 2022…our food connects us to three centuries of customs, culture, and heritage. Today, Franklin County growers and restaurants continue the tradition of bringing good food to friends and family. Join the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at the 11/30 Visitors Center for this flavorful event. Tickets are $45/person and can be purchased online here.
Franklin County Flavor: 300 Years of Food features food from India Café, Inka Kitchen, Pure & Simple, Falafel Shack, The Orchards, Kenzo, Square One, El Sombrero, Montezuma Mexican Restaurant, Ada’s Bakery, Heritage Kitchen, Jim’s Deli at Jim’s Country Market, The Family Cow, Undone Kombucha, Jordyn’s Café, Route 30 Restaurant, and more. Food is a direct way to connect to Franklin County—past and present. Discover more about Franklin County here and don’t miss tasting the many flavors of Franklin County!
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau is teaming up with tourism partners to showcase all of the wonderful businesses and unique destinations located within Franklin County. In this edition of Tourism Spotlight, The Orchards Restaurant and Relax Lounge and Grill are this week’s featured business. Both are located on Orchard Dr, Chambersburg 17201.
The Orchards Restaurant has been a part of Chambersburg’s restaurant scene for the past 26 years. Since its birth, it has been owned, operated and managed by the Kalathas family. In the beginning, it was managed by the father, Charlie Kalathas, and is now supervised and managed by his two sons, Michael and Billy Kalathas.
For its 26 years, The Orchards Restaurant has been offering well prepared and high quality fine dining for Chambersburg residents and visitors alike. In addition, Orchards offers catering both out of business and in house, private dining rooms for any party time, and also has a large banquet room for events, and concerts. But if customers are looking for a more relaxed dining experience, there is the Civil War lounge which contains booths, tables, and a long bar.
Relax Lounge and Grill was an addition made to the business in 2001. It is located on the side of the Orchard Restaurant.
Relax offers customers a laid back yet elevated bar and grill experience. It contains a wrap-around bar, plenty of booth and tall table seating, an outdoor patio, plenty of TVs for your favorite sports and game shows, and of course a stage for DJs and live music. Just like the Orchards Restaurant, Relax offers select catering options as well.
When carrying out business, Michael Kalathas has adopted the idea that food is love. It brings everyone together no matter their creed, religion, race, morals, values, or language. Food is something all human beings can understand. And in the times of uncertainty, Mr. Kalathas urges all to remember that within impossible spells “I’m possible”. And in times such as now, that’s a simple statement we can all learn to embrace.
As for times of operation, The Orchards Restaurant is closed Mondays and Sundays, and open the rest of the week from 11am until 10pm. The Relax Lounge and Grill is closed on Sundays and open from 11am until 10pm the rest of the week.
Visit Relax Lounge and Grill for comfortable, fun dining and Orchards Restaurant for elevated fine dining, paired with a warm atmosphere. The exceptional service and quality ingredients will have you wanting more!
Join Cumberland Valley School of Music (CVSM) at its “Wild West Ball” on February 24th at the Orchards in Chambersburg, PA. The Annual Dinner Dance and Auction kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with hors d’oeurves and a signature drink welcome, followed by a western-inspired meal by Chef Mike Kalathas, live and silent auctions, raffle, and musical entertainment provided by the Kenny i band. Wine and beer are complimentary with the purchase of a ticket.
The theme for this year’s event originated with CVSM alumna, Leah Gibson Serr. She and her team will create the mood and flavor of an upscale Wild West ball. Our Western-themed menu this year includes various choices of entrees including top round and beef brisket, both smoked to perfection. Also we will enjoy lightly charred BBQ chicken along with tasty shrimp. Our vegetarian entrée will be southwestern style quinoa stuffed peppers. Also being served will be a southwestern salad along with a baked potato bar. This year’s dessert station will include a variety of delicious pies and cobblers along with sweet pralines and vanilla ice cream.
Marie from the Kenny i band will teach several country line dances sprinkled in with crowd-pleasing favorites from all decades and genres of music for dancing. Kenny i, with his astounding violin virtuosity, will surprise the crowd with his fiddlin’ skills. “By all measures, this will be a great knee-slappin’ good time!” says Executive Director Paula Hepfer. . Festivities will include live and silent auctions plus a raffle of jewelry donated by Ludwig Jewelers of Chambersburg. Among the exciting auction items will be two tickets to see Jay Leno perform live at the Luhrs Center and a full 5 course meal + wine served in-home by Chef Grayson Bowman. Other items available for bidding at the auction include: a beautiful sunflower field picture printed on acrylic; a fully stocked whiskey bar; a Penn State tailgate package; many gift cards to various locations, along with other items too numerous to mention.
New auction items are being received daily, and a complete list will be posted on the CVSM website closer to the event date. John Kohler of Gateway Gallery Auction will serve as auctioneer for the live auction. All proceeds benefit CVSM, a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Cash, checks and major credit cards will be accepted. “Wild West Ball” is so much more than a celebration; it is about raising funds to enhance our musical community. The live auction will also include a “Fund-a-Need” component, where attendees can pledge contributions to the school. CVSM awards both need-based and merit-based scholarships to area students and provides music education opportunities throughout the community.
Tickets are $100.00 per person or $750.00 for a table for eight. Tickets can be purchased now by contacting the school at (717) 261-1220 or online at www.cvsmusic.org/product/dinner-dance. You may also view the auction items through the same website link.
CVSM is marking its 22nd year of hosting the event. F&M Trust is continuing as a dedicated corporate sponsor, a role it adopted with the event’s inception in 1996. The Dinner Dance & Auction is now CVSM’s largest fundraising event of the year.
In its 28th year, Cumberland Valley School of Music (CVSM) is committed to creating a musical community where high quality instruction and performance opportunities are available to all. Over 750 students – newborn through senior citizens – are served by CVSM with instruction provided in music, voice and drama through individual and group lessons, camps and classes. Live performance opportunities are provided through events such as recitals, concerts and the annual student Performathon. Additionally, the school sponsors scholarship programs open to young musicians in the Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Mercersburg and Hagerstown areas. CVSM strongly believes that the benefits of the study of music and the participation in musical activities extend beyond musical proficiency to academic and vocational performance, social skills and enriching one’s life experiences.
