News Briefs

May 20, 2013, Hilltown, Bucks County, Pa – The hottest event in town, Taste of the World, got even hotter this year when it turned up the heat with a Top Taste Competition with NBC10 Philadelphia’s Tim Furlong stirring the pot. Taste of the World, an annual event of Pearl S. Buck International, teamed up with Local Living Magazine to do more than food tasting – this year, they assembled the area’s finest restaurants and caterers in an amazing competition which entertained more than 350 people in attendance.

Celebrity guest judges Kimberly Cambra, food editor at Local Living Magazine, Celebrity Chef Maria Liberati, award-winning author, of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking, Master Chef Joseph Poon from Joseph Poon Chef Kitchen, and Executive Chef Barry Sexton from The Opinionated Palate judged international tapas prepared by each chef as the audience watched and enjoyed the food too.  While guests voted for their Fan Favorite entrée, dessert, and beverage, the celebrity judges discussed each entrée in detail.

In the end, the Top Taste award was presented to Chef Tom Fetters from Tabora Farm and Orchard in Chalfont for his Mediterranean Couscous, a fusion of culinary artistry. As a result of winning the competition, Chef Tom Fetters and Tabora Farm will be featured in the July/August 2013 issue of Local Living Magazine.

For the Fan Favorites, Chef Joseph Garvey, of Joey G’s Catering, tied with Pasqualina’s Chef and Owner, Peter Lochetta for the entrée, Joanne Jarin, owner and baker of The Lucky Cupcake Company, won for best dessert, and the Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association won best beverage for their peachy punch.

“It just amazes me how interested everyone is in food competitions these days,” states Janet Mintzer, President & CEO of Pearl S. Buck International.  “It was so interesting to see everyone watching the judging so intently while eating all of the delicious food.  This event has grown in popularity the last few years with sell-out crowds, and the competition says a lot about the restaurants and caterers who participated. They gave of themselves to showcase their talents while building their presence and helping Pearl S. Buck International with our major fundraising event.  Taste of the World is a win-win experience for everyone involved, and everyone is walking away a winner.

The participating establishments at the 2013 Taste of the World included: All About Catering, Amy's Creative Cakes, Brig O'Doon Coffee House, C & C Catering Service, Chaddsford Winery, Chambers 19 Bistro & Bar, Eagles Peak Spring Water, Joey G.'s Catering, Laurie's Chocolates, The Lucky Cupcake Company, Marsha Brown Creole Kitchen, Maru Sushi and Bar, McCoole's Red Lion Inn, Memorable Affairs Catering, Moussey Moose, Pasqualina's, Piccolo Trattoria, Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association, S & B Event Concepts and Catering, The Standard Club, Steam Pub, Tabora Farm and Orchard, The Tea Can Company, The Waterwheel Restaurant, Uncle Harold's Barn Good Chips, and Wegman's Food Markets.

Docent Susie Woodland as Pearl S. Buck with Top Taste award recipient, Chef Tom Fetters, Tabora Farm and Orchard.

Dale Yoder, Sumi Yoder Gerhart,
and Dale Yoder

April 10, 2013, Hilltown, Bucks County, Pa – The Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association is hosting a complimentary inspirational and historic panel discussion open to the public titled, “Welcome House Memories,” featuring several members of the first Welcome House family, on Monday, April 22, 1:00 pm to 3 pm, in the Cultural Center at Pearl S. Buck International, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie. PA. 

Welcome House, was established by Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck in 1949, as the first inter-racial adoption agency in the United States, with the help of Bucks County notables Oscar & Dorothy Hammerstein, James Michener, and Lois Burpee. They then recruited the first family, Pennridge School District coach and teacher Lloyd (Poppy) Yoder and his wife Viola, to take 10 children, once unadoptable because of their mixed race, into their hearts and home. 

The program will be in panel format with a question and answer component featuring several of the Yoder children who will share memories of their “Gran,” Pearl S. Buck, her husband Richard Walsh, and Poppy and Viola Yoder and their welcoming experience growing up in the Pennridge community.  Of particular note is the participation of David Yoder, the first Welcome House child, who was brought to Pearl S. Buck’s door step on Christmas Eve 1948, later adopted by the Yoder family, and currently serving as chairman of the Board of Directors at Pearl S. Buck International.

March 21, 2013, Hilltown, Bucks County, Pa – The Pearl S. Buck House, located in Hilltown, Bucks County, received the Keystone Recreation, Park, & Conservation Fund’s 20^th Anniversary Award for Exemplary Historic Preservation for “creating real and lasting improvements and making the community a better place to live” at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg on March 18^th, 2013. 

Teri Mandic, vice president of programs at Pearl S. Buck International, accepted the award on Monday, March 18, with State Representative Paul Clymer among other dignitaries in attendance.  Funding from Keystone Recreation, Park, & Conservation totaling $135,000 was used to begin a campaign in 2005 to raise $2.8 million for the preservation of the Pearl S. Buck House.

“Pennsylvania has been home to many successful authors and human rights leaders whose stories inspire and excite future generations,” said Janet L. Mintzer, president and CEO, Pearl S. Buck International. “Thanks to the Keystone Fund, visitors to the Pearl S. Buck House will have access to more than a historic tour about an award-winning author. The Pearl S. Buck House tour promotes the legacy of one woman with one vision that has changed over 2 million lives and counting.”

The third and final phase of the restoration of the house is currently underway and a grand reopening is planned for June 26, 2013, 6:00 pm, also Pearl S. Buck’s 121^st birthday. Register for this complimentary public event at: www.pearlsbuck.org/opening. Pearl S. Buck International invites the public to join the “Home Stretch” campaign to raise the remaining $424,815 needed to complete the preservation project of the Pearl S. Buck House. For more information, visit www.pearlsbuck.org/stretch or contact Tony Luna, vice president of relationship development at tluna@pearlsbuck.org or 215-249-0100 x130.

James Vaughan, executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and Teri Mandic, vice president of programs at Pearl S. Buck International.