Kingston Residence (7515 Winchester Road, Fort Wayne) will hold its fifth annual “Taste of Waynedale” on March 19, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with proceeds benefiting Community Harvest Food Bank and Fort Wayne Trails – Waynedale Initiative.

Carole Klaehn waits her turn at the tables.

The popular event features samples of food and beverages from more than 25 local restaurants and businesses, including seasonal dishes, new menu items or a house specialty. In addition, vendors will provide coupons and literature about their eateries.

Vendors that plan to participate include Azar’s Big Boy, Bandido’s, Belmont Beverage, Captain Ron’s Corral, Casa Ristorante Italiano, China Palace, Dairy Queen, Ellison Bakery, Gimme Diner/Mike’s Donuts, GFS Marketplace, Hall’s Original Drive In, Hill’s Market, HoneyBaked Ham, Kingston Residence, Nine Mile Restaurant, Olive Twist, Penguin Point, Phoenix Dragon, Pizza Hut, PopCotton Flavored Popcorn, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Spyro’s, The Stand, Subway, Waynedale Bakery and Waynedale Cafe.

Vendors offer food samples to huge crowds.

Other businesses that are providing support to the event include The Waynedale News, JW Signs, and Hair Affair; these places are also selling tickets, which are $15 each if paid in and $20 the day of the event. There will also be more than 60 Silent Auction items to bid on that have been donated.

Please RSVP to 260-747-1523, CGarrison@kingstonhealthcare.com, or stop by between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up your tickets.

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Calling all sweet tooths! If you’re anything like me, sugar-coated confections are hard to resist. I love all things chocolate, candy, and treats glazed, covered or dripping with delicious goodness. So we’ve rounded up a few Fort Wayne favorites for you to delight in. And after you satisfy your tastebuds, of course, you can pick up a few treats for gifts and to take home as an edible souvenir.

Abby Brown’s Chocolate Christmas Trees

Abby Brown’s Candy Shoppe

www.abbybrown.com

Chocolate lovers will fall in love with this quaint candy shop. A Fort Wayne staple since 1976 with a goal of making candy fun, Abby Brown’s offers an array of bonbons and chocolates of a variety of flavors, shapes and designs: milk, dark, white, truffles, cordials, nuts, even edible greeting cards. Whimsical sweets made especially for the holidays include chocolate Santa and Christmas tree lollypops; peanut butter, caramel and chocolate Santas; Christmas tree-shaped chocolates; and snowflake Oreos.

1415 E. State Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Nut House

http://www.nuthousefw.com/

Every tastebud will be satisfied with the Nut House’s selection of delicious gourmet popcorns and fresh roasted nuts, and your sweet tooth with delectable cheesecake. Their popular popcorn tins come cove seasonal-themed scenes, great for gifting. The peanut brittle, glazed nuts, salty-sweet mixes, toffee and almond barks, are also perfect for sharing. They offer sugar-free versions of their treats, and other most-wanteds like chocolate-covered pretzels, cookies and caramels.

Jefferson Pointe, 4510 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46804

DeBrand’s Holiday Wreath

DeBrand Fine Chocolates

www.debrand.com

DeBrand’s is a heavenly must-stop for all visitors. Known for their fine and beautiful chocolates, this time of year you can fill your tummy with their famous holiday collections such as Holiday Medley, Milk Chocolate Santa Coins, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Chocolate Thoughts Bars and an elegant Truffle Wreath Box filled with an assortment of truffles. Their sets of mini chocolate bars, caramel and chocolate pretzel rods, tasting bars, and hot chocolate on a spoon make great stocking stuffers, too. You can also take a behind-the-scenes tour of how they make their chocolates on Tuesdays and Thursdays at their Auburn Road location ($5 per person).

10105 Auburn Park Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46825

5608 Coldwater Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Jefferson Pointe, 4110 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Inside Scoop

You’ll go back to your kid days in this colorful candy store. Make it one of your first stops when you get to the mall so you can enjoy a quick sugar rush before you shop. You can fill up your treat bags with giant scoops of all of your sweet favorites like jelly beans, Swedish fish, licorice, gummy bears, sour patches, and every other candy your palate desires, and also make custom mixes as token gifts for other kids at heart.

Glenbrook Mall, 4201 Coldwater Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Chocolate Thimble

Chocolate Thimble

www.chocolatethimble.com

Tucked away in a corner just a short drive outside of Fort Wayne, this hidden gem is a small family-owned shop brimming with a variety of big flavors. Run by sisters and their daughters they sell their homemade confections, and, as their clever name suggests also offer sewing andlting classes. The ladies handcraft their brittles and barks, sophies and caramels the old-fashioned way. Pick up their chocolate Christmas trees, charms snowman and Santa for family and friends back home. For parties, their chocolate assortment trays are always crowd pleasers. And while you visit, enjoy their nut clusters, buckeyes, peppermint bark, toffee, and my favorite – chocolate-covered cherries.

2384 Shoaff Road, Huntertown, IN 46748

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It is undeniable that the gluten-free diet is becoming a permanent fixture in our culture. Some folks, like me, must eat gluten free because we have Celiac Disease or have a gluten/wheat allergy. While others find that a gluten free diet improves their health and/or quality of life. Regardless of why, gluten-free is here to stay.

If you are in Fort Wayne and looking for places to buy gluten-free products and supplies you will not be disappointed. There are several good options. Getting the hang of cooking and eating gluten-free at home is a key first step in instituting a gluten-free life. I find that shopping at small specialty shops that spotlight gluten-free products, rather than the large box stores, makes it easier to get what you need without the temptation of your old wheat-tainted favorites. Once you figure out how to eat dinner at home it makes it easier to tackle restaurant eating. It is a process!

Here are the top 5 businesses in Fort Wayne that sell gluten-free products. They are in no particular order, as I highly recommend and shop at them all regularly.

1. The Three Rivers Co-op Natural Grocery & Deli (the “Co-op”). Located at 1613 Sherman Street in Fort Wayne, the Coop offers a complete selection of organic vegetables and fruit, gluten-free baking, cooking, and snacking supplies, including both frozen and fresh. It is exciting to see so many gluten-free options in one place! If you are looking for flour, chips, noodles, bread, ice cream, sweets, or crackers the Co-op has it. The Co-op also has a large section devoted to supplements and nutrients, a selection of gluten-free beers, and a deli/cafe that is open daily. The Co-op is open Monday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2. The Health Food Shoppe. Located at 3515 North Anthony Blvd (next to Firefly Coffee House) in Fort Wayne and open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., is a great source for gluten-free cooking and snacking options. The Health Food Shoppe has an extensive offering of fresh vegetables and fruit, snacks, boxed items, and healthy nutrients and supplements.
3. Fort Wayne Custom Rx. Custom Rx is a compounding pharmacy located at 414 East DuPont Road in Fort Wayne. Custom Rx is locally owned and operated by a family that adheres to a gluten-free lifestyle. On the pharmacy’s website they highlight Celiac Disease and gluten-free living. The pharmacy offers a small but excellent selection of gluten-free cooking, baking, and snacking supplies. Since the selection is small the ownership have taken great care to sell the best products. It is a great place to get your Amy’s, Pamela’s, or Glutino products, among others. This is an especially great option for folks who live in northern Allen County. Custom Rx is open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
4. Grabill Country Store. The Grabill Store is one of my favorite places in Allen County. Located in Grabill at 13813 Fairview Drive the Grabill Store has everything that a traditional bulk store should, including an Amish run deli and bakery. The Grabill Store also has a gluten-free section of baking supplies and a bakery that will bake gluten-free breads on request (call ahead). If you are looking for a variety of flours to experiment with then the Grabill Store is a great place to visit.
5. Fresh Market. Fresh Market is a great grocery store, although it is my only recommendation that is not locally owned and operated. It is located at 6306 West Jefferson Blvd in Fort Wayne and as you probably know is a full service grocery store. Fresh Market offers a wide variety of naturally gluten-free fruit, vegetables, and meat. It also offers many different canned, boxed, and bagged gluten-free options to enjoy. It was at Fresh Market that I discovered Tasty Bite all natural, vegetarian, and gluten-free Indian entrees (some are not gluten-free, so read the bag) that all cook in 90 seconds in the microwave. It is a major victory when you find something you truly love. Fresh Market is open Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Good luck to you as you shop gluten-free in Fort Wayne!

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Maybe it’s the change of the calendar or the cooling of temperatures, but I’m ready for Fall! It is our family’s favorite season, mainly for all the fun and memories we can create. If you do anything this season, you must do at least a few items on this bucket list. (Free Printable Download)

You may have a favorite orchard or pumpkin patch, but in case you need suggestions, here are a few helpful links:

Fox Island – 7324 Yohne Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46809. Open 7 days a week, 9am – 7 pm, Labor Day thru first Saturday of November (depending on the year, this may be the last day of October). Admission is $2.00 per person age 7 and over. Children under age 7 are FREE.

Johnny Appleseed Festival – 1502 Harry Baals Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. September 15 10am – 6pm, September 16 10am – 5pm. Admission is FREE.

Pumpkin Patches

• DeGrandchamp’s Pumpkin Patch (pumpkins) 7722 Aboite Ctr. Rd. , Fort Wayne, IN 46804. Phone: 219-436-4359. Hours: 9 am to dusk.
• Hilger Family Farm – 5534 Butt Rd. They will be offering hayrides and pumpkins from the last weekend in September through October. Fruits, vegetables and plants all the time. Stay updated on their Facebook page.

High School Football – check the Journal Gazette or News-Sentinel for this week’s games.

Corn Maze – 3150 County Road 43, Waterloo, IN 46793.Open September 14 – October 31, 2012 (Fri. 6-10pm; Sat. Noon-10pm; Sun. 2-6pm). Admission is $8.00 for Adults, $6.00 for Youth ages 4-12, CASH ONLY.

Haunted Houses

• Haunted Castle Black Forest 8965 Auburn Road Fort Wayne, IN 46825, Opens September 28 – October 31st. Check site for dates and times. Admission is $10.00 for Castle, $10.00 for Forest or $16.00 for combo ticket. 
• Haunted Hotel 511 North Jefferson Street, Huntington, IN, Opens September 30 – October 31st. Check site for dates and times. Admission is $10.00 for General Admission, $15.00 for VIP tickets.
• The Haunted Jail 611 E Market Street, Columbia City, Indiana, Opens September 30 – October 31st. Check site for dates and times. Admission is $10.00 for General Admission.

Apple Orchards

• Cooks Orchard (U-pick apples, pumpkins for sale in the shop or farm stand, also pie pumpkins, and honey from hives on the farm) 8724 Huguenard Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46818. Phone: 260-489-3940. Open: Monday through Friday 10 am to 6 pm Saturday 9 am to 6 pm Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. CASH ONLY. 
• Advanced Tree Technology (apples, pumpkins) 12818 Edgerton Road, New Haven, IN, 46774. Phone: (260) 749-0891. U-pick orchard opens mid- September. Monday through Friday 9:30am to 7:00 pm;  Saturday and Sunday 9:30am to 5:00pm.

Wild Zoo Halloween – October 19-21, 25-28 & 31, 2012, Noon – 5 pm daily. Admission is $4.00 for Adults, $8.00 for Children and Zoo Members receive $2.00 off per person.

For more ideas, check out the Fall Fun page at VisitFortWayne.com!

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Bring family and friends and head to this year’s Grabill Country Fair, September 6 through 8 in Grabill, Indiana to enjoy a slower pace and the atmosphere of simpler times. Grabill, Indiana is located just 10 miles east of Fort Wayne, on Leo-Grabill Road, in the heart of Amish country.

Because of the fair’s location, Amish heritage takes center stage with fair activities. The fair features a variety of artisans, often numbering more than 100 booths in total and live displays from chain saw carving to portraits and T-shirt artistry. The fair also has a craft show and live entertainment. This year the Inspired Four Gospel Group will perform on Thursday, followed by country rock group Cook Belle on Friday and bluegrass group David & Lee Bluegrass on Saturday.

The fair would not be complete without some old-time competition! Events include a watermelon eating contest, cherry pit spitting, baby crawl and jump rope event, among others!

The Grabill Country Fair’s roots date back to 1973 when the fair was started by the Grabill Chamber of Commerce. Today the annual festival is known to attract on average 100,000 visitors. The weekend is complete with hearty, home-cooked foods such as corn on the cob and apple dumplings.

Shuttle service for the fair is provided at Leo High School. For additional information on shuttle times, along with a full fair itinerary and directions, visit the Grabill Country Fair online. Or call 260.627.5227, Extension 5 or email info@grabillcountryfair.com with questions.

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