Water Wheel/Penn Ryn • Bill Haas, Owner

Bill Haas graduated from Penn State in 1982 with a degree in political science and as he says he, “… literally stepped right into a full-time position with a local congressman from Northeast Philadelphia.” The congressman planned a high-end fundraiser where Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill was the featured speaker. Bill called a friend of his who was a chef and on 48 hours’ notice, they worked together to cater the event. The congressman had another affair at the Glen Foerd Estate in Philadelphia and not only did Bill and his friend cater it, but Bill wound up being the general manager there for six years, greatly increasing the numbers of weddings at that venue. He bought the Penn Ryn Estate while it was abandoned and in disrepair and turned that historic mansion into a unique waterfront event venue where more than 350 weddings are held yearly. Bill bought the Water Wheel Tavern in 2015 and planned to turn it into another wedding venue, but something changed his mind. “As we were renovating, we were exposing drywall that covered hundreds of years old beams and stone walls that were behind the studding and the drywall, and I fell in love with the building.” Bill’s love of history made him want to restore the building that dates to 1714. “And we decided to bring it back to the original historic feel of a grist mill with its beam ceilings and stucco and stone walls. He also wanted to modernize the Waterwheel, so he took a small eight seat bar and put in an 18-seat bar with 16 taps and, modernized the all the mechanical systems. Waterwheel has been doing well ever since, because of its very loyal customer base. The restaurant, known for its delicious American cuisine also has rooms for events and parties.

Bill has been a board member of the Bucks County tourism agency, Visit Bucks County, since 1995. He has been chair of the board five times for a total of 10 years and currently serves as immediate past chair. Bill was founding president of the Friends of Washington Crossing Park and currently serves on the Board of Directors as secretary. For information about Penn Ryn visit www.penrynestate.com. For information about Waterwheel, visit www.waterwheeltavern.com.

As Chief Operating Officer of Peddler’s Village, one of the top most-visited attractions in the Philadelphia area, Bob McGowan oversees all retail and hospitality operations on the 42-acre property. Under his leadership, the Village has emerged as a preeminent year-round entertainment destination as well as a shopping and dining destination. He has expanded the events calendar, instituted new corporate programs, strengthened community partnerships, introduced new promotional strategies, directed property improvements and renovations, and reshaped the corporate structure to include new employees and consultants that together provide a full complement of skills and expertise. A longtime hospitality expert, Bob is committed to guest and employee satisfaction alike. He maintains a strategic perspective but also makes a point to interact daily with Village employees at all levels to build rapport and trust, and to assess the day-to-day impact and efficiencies of Village operations.

Prior to joining Peddler’s Village, Bob managed several of Philadelphia’s most active hospitality properties. He served as Area General Manager for the Valley Forge Hotel Management Company and PM Hotel Group, overseeing the complex that included the Crown Plaza and Fairfield Inn in King of Prussia, PA as well as the 44,000 square foot LA Fitness facility. Before that, he was General Manager of the Holiday Inn Select Bucks County in Trevose, PA. He also has extensive marketing and sales expertise; he became the Regional Director of Sales and Marketing serving five properties in and around Somerset, NJ, after serving for several years as the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Doubletree Hotel in Philadelphia. For more than a year, he was General Manager of Buckingham Mountain Brewing Company, which provided him with valuable hands-on experience in the restaurant business.

Bob holds a B.S. in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from Penn State University. In addition to serving on the board of directors for the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, he is a board member of Visit Bucks County. He and his wife Kate have two children and live in Pipersville, PA.

Chef Amy Koral, owner of Cherished Meals, has been surrounded by good food and home cooking her entire life. She says, “I started cooking with my mom at a young age and eventually went on to culinary school to study baking and pastry arts. After graduating in 2014, I moved to Portland, Oregon to start my career in a local French bakery. I worked as a pastry chef and production manager for the first few years that I lived in Portland and began personal cooking on the side each week in 2016. Two years later, I started Cherished Meals to pursue my passion for personal cooking full-time.”

Amy comes to your kitchen to cook. When you contact Cherished Meals, you will discuss your specific dietary needs, food allergies, favorite foods, taste preferences, the frequency of your personal chef visits, how you'd like your food stored, and when you would like to start. Together with Amy, you will choose a date for her to come and “take over your kitchen for three or four hours.”

Before Amy comes you will receive a customized menu with additional options. During this time, you can make requests and give input on what she cooks. She says, “Clients frequently ask for repeated menu items each week.”

When your cook date arrives, Amy will shop for the freshest, in-season ingredients and arrive at your home to prepare, package, label and store your meals in your refrigerator and/or freezer. You will be left with an organized refrigerator full of home cooked, healthy meals that you'll be able to enjoy throughout the week. And of course, a clean kitchen!

For more information and photos of food that Amy Koral has prepared, visit www.cherishedmeals.com.