FEATURED IMAGE: Chef Michael Hoffman (Kids’ Choice and Savory Award winner) of Aramark serving his Bacon Macaroni and Cheese with Shortbread Cookies at the 2017 Cookie Crunch. (Photo byTed Cosgrove)
Unique culinary fundraiser features area restaurants serving up dishes made with Girl Scout Cookies
BETHLEHEM, PA—Girl Scouts of Eastern PA (GSEP) and ArtsQuest™ are proud to announce the return of the popular ‘Girl Scout Cookie Crunch’ on Sunday, Feb. 25, 1-3 p.m., at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. The dynamic culinary fundraiser, which sold out in 2017, serves as a benefit for both GSEP and ArtsQuest’s Art Education Fund, which provides quality arts and education programs for area students. Tickets, which go on sale today, are $30 for adults, $25 for ArtsQuest Members, and $15 for children ages 12 and under and active Girl Scouts ages 17 and under. They’re available at www.steelstacks.org and 610-332-3378.
At Cookie Crunch, the region’s top chefs and restaurants come together to create delicious and unique dishes, all made with Girl Scout Cookies. From amazing appetizers to decadent desserts, each selection features one (or more) of the nine Girl Scout Cookie brands: Thin Mints®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Caramel deLITES®, Shortbreads®, Lemonades®, Peanut Butter Sandwiches®,Thanks-A-Lots®, Gluten-Free Trios® and Girl Scout S’Mores®, released last year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scout cookie sales.
During the event, attendees can sample all of the culinary creations, as well as vote for their favorites in both the ‘Sweet’ and ‘Savory’ People’s Choice categories. In addition, for the first time ever, the event will crown the Cookie Crunch Champion, selected by the event’s official judging panel. Plus, kids ages 17 and under can get in on all the action by voting for the Kids’ Choice Award winner.
“We are thrilled to host the fourth annual Girl Scout Cookie Crunch with ArtsQuest,” says Liz D’Angel, Interim Director, Marketing & Communications for Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania. “This delicious event is a fun way to celebrate the Cookie Program, which is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, and support art education in the local community.”
Leading the list of culinary participants at the 2018 Cookie Crunch are 2017 winners Bethlehem Dairy Store, which wowed the crowd with its Lemon Chiffon Crunch ice cream, and Aramark at SteelStacks, which captured the ‘Savory’ and ‘Kids’ Choice’ awards for its Bacon Macaroni and Cheese.
Other restaurants confirmed to participate include:
- Emeril’s Chop House, Bethlehem
- Iron Lakes Country Club, Orefield
- The Steel Pub, Bethlehem
The complete list of participating restaurants will be announced early in 2018. All cookie brands used in dishes at the event will be sold by local Girl Scouts, providing attendees the opportunity to leave with plenty of their favorite cookies or opt to donate a box to our Armed Forces with Operation Cookies from Home.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania and ArtsQuest are also looking for additional restaurants and sponsors to be part of this exciting culinary event. Any restaurant or business interested in learning more may contact ArtsQuest’s Nick Michael at nmichael@artsquest.org or the Girl Scouts’ Jordan Hanchulak at jhanchulak@gsep.org.
For more information, visit www.steelstacks.org.
About Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP) is the largest girl-serving organization in Pennsylvania and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. GSEP serves close to 40,000 girls in partnership with more than 15,000 volunteers in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties. Today, 80 percent of women in leadership and executive roles in the U.S. were Girl Scouts. Girl Scout alumnae comprise 70 percent of women in the U.S. Congress. For further information about Girl Scouting, how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, call 215-564-2030 or visit www.gsep.org. Follow GSEP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @GirlScoutsEPenn!
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest™ is a Bethlehem, PA-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, festivals, cultural experiences and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest®; the Banana Factory® cultural arts and education center; and the ArtsQuest Center and SteelStacks™ arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.5 million people annually. For more information on ArtsQuest, visit www.artsquest.org or call 610-332-1300. Follow ArtsQuest on Facebook or Twitter @ArtsQuest and @SteelStacks!
Information and image provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
