FIVE THINGS

FIVE Fall Eats & Drinks

BY HEATHER BAVER

Cool breezes and colorful leaves mean one thing: fall is here. Take a walk, pick some apples and visit the pumpkin patch. While you’re out enjoying these activities, take time to feast on all the tasty seasonal treats you’ve been missing. Here are five delicious picks to get you started.

1 Vintage

Variety.

Raise a glass to autumn. Sweet and tart, this award-winning wine brings white grapes and Granny Smith apples together in perfect harmony. For a cinnamon and clove twist, add a hot butter rum spice packet to heated wine. Gather with friends for a backyard bonfire and sip under the stars. Olde Orchard Wine, 750 ml bottle: $18.60, 1.5 L bottle: $37, Ridgewood Winery, 2039 Philadelphia Avenue, Birdsboro, 484.509.0100. ridgewoodwinery.com

2 Pie

Paradise.

Underneath the woven edges of a flaky, decorative lattice crust, you’ll find layers of sweet, juicy apples and warm, tangy cinnamon. Made fresh in Kimberly Lally’s bakery, these delicious pies make any night a celebration. For an extra-special treat, enjoy a slice warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Apple Pie, $25, Lally’s Cakes & Sweets, Mohnton, 484.219.0445. facebook.com/ lallyscakesandsweets

3 Soup-er Delicious.

Autumn weather means soup season is back! Topped with crab and garnished with parsley, Judy’s homemade butternut squash soup is a bowl of sunshine on a cool day. This sweet, nuttyflavored squash gives this soup its cheerful hue, making it a delight for the eyes and the taste buds. Butternut Squash Soup with Crab, $6.50, Judy’s on Cherry, 30 S. 4th St., Reading, 610.374.8511. judysoncherry.com

4 Awesome

Brew.

Forty pounds of fresh pumpkin accompanied by cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and vanilla create a malty, full-bodied ale that captures the essence of fall flavor. Enjoy a glass of Crash Test Pumpkin Ale on tap or get a four-pack to enjoy on your deck with friends under a harvest moon. Crash Test Pumpkin Ale, $7 per pint, $20 for a 4-pack, Chatty Monks Brewing Company, 610 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 484.818.0176. chattymonks.com

5 Whole

Latte Fun.

Make it a leisurely morning and sip this quintessential fall beverage. Pumpkin spice adds its signature sweetness to espresso and your choice of steamed milk. A spooky jack-o-lantern floats in the foam on top. Pair it with one of Benchwarmer’s signature doughnuts for a treat that’s out of this world. Pumpkin Spice Latte, $5-$7, Benchwarmer’s Coffee & Doughnuts, 400 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.374.2326. benchwarmerscoffee.com