The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • O13

IN A LL A A 31,2 0 19 13 ID IS PEARLY CHILI COOK-OFF Tackle some chili in the hours leading up to the Super Bowl during Pearly Baker's Alehouse's Chili Cook-Off, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The 24th annual event features 20 local restaurants, including 3rd Ferry Fish Market, The Bayou, Pub, Stoke Coal Fire Pizza and Two Rivers Brewing offering chili for sampling. Tickets, $5 each, get you sam- ples and a ballot to vote for your favorite.

Judges also choose a winner. Proceeds benefit The Chil- Home of Easton. Raffle prizes include Billy Joel and Death Cab for Cutie concert tickets, Peak Resorts ski lift tickets, local beer and wine baskets, restaurant gift cards and more. The event has raised more than $100,000 for local nonprofit agen- cies. Pearly is at 11 Centre Square in Easton.

Info: pearlybaker- s.net. MURDER MYSTERY AT THE VIEW Help a bride and groom solve a crime so they can say their vows at a Death Do Us murder mystery dinner, 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at The View at Morgan Hill in Williams Township. The event, presented by The Murder Mystery features a cocktail hour with hors followed by dinner and the show.

The menu includes a house salad, choice of cabernet bistro steak with pearl onions and bleu cheese demi glaze or chicken boursin with roasted garlic fondue and sun- dried tomato salsa and New York strawberry cheesecake. The cost is $55 per person or $100 per couple. A VIP experience, $20 extra per person, includes a seat close to the action, chance of being included in the cast and a swag bag of The View is at 100 Clubhouse Drive. To RSVP, call 610-923-8480 ext. 19 by Friday.

ryan.kneller@mcall.com Twitter 610-820-6597 By Ryan Kneller Of The Morning Call Pearly Baker's Alehouse's 24th annual Chili Cook-Off will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO juicy ing this a great dish. Less stellar were the chashu buns ($6 for two)which came amusingly brandedwith theRakkii logo on the bao buns.

Insidewas amod- erate amount of soy-braised pork belly and lettuce. One bun was nearlymissing the nappa cabbage added a zesty note to an ok dish. visit I chose the spicy tonkotsumiso a dishwith a stunning pork broth ladenwith umami- heavymiso and spiced upwith a gochujang paste.Not onlywas the tastemasterful, it alsowas beautiful, with a slice of nori narutomaki, a cured fish paste, on top and a gorgeous array of enticing colors. The ajitsuke tamago, the traditional soft boiled eggs closely associated with perfect, and the chashu, a braised pork belly, was superb. Bamboo shoots, scallions and a helping of corn added extra heft to one of the bestmeals had inmonths.

black sesa- mepanna cotta ($8) is one of themost perfect desserts ever had.Unique andpulchri- tudinous, the velvety black sesamepuddingwas served in a cupunder a sheen of ginger- infusedmaple syrup, a small pile of toasted coconut shavings and a single tart raspberry. A line ofmatcha dust and a ring of raspberry puree globules circled a large helping of thick yuzu whipped creampiled atop of crunchy green-tea cake crum- bles.All those flavors came togetherwonderfully. Service: If you visit Rakkii on a busy night, be prepared to wait. Onmy first attempted to get a table for four andwere told thewaitwould be a half an stretched on before I left to get pizza. On myother two visits, one during lunch and another on aweek- night, I easily grabbed a seat at the bar and servicewas fast.

The staffwas friendly andhelpful. Bottom is now one ofmy top restaurants in the area, thanks to amazing ramen, appetizers and even desserts. excited to keep revisiting. Lunch for one on one visitwas $16.96 anddinner for one on another visitwas $21.20. GlennKoehler is a freelance writer.He attempts to remain anonymous during restaurant visits.

jodi.duckett@mcall.com 610-820-6704 REVIEW Continued from GO 12 LOCAL RESTAURANT NEWS SHANGHAI OPERA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SUN FEB 10 4PM WED FEB 13 7PM THE LIGHTNING THIEF Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for her performance as Angelica Schuyler in the musical phenomenon Hamilton, Goldsberry is equally at home in a Broadway theatre, on a film set, or concert stage. As one of her most electrifying artists, she shares some beloved songs and experiences. KITCHEN FUNK ORCHESTRA SAT FEB 9 8PM BUTTERFLY LOVERS BERLIOZ THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL Repertoire: The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto by Zhanhao and Gang, SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE Op. 14 and Barber of Seville Overture. The Greek gods are real and ruining Percy life.

As son, Percy has newly discovered powers he control, monsters on his trail, and is on an epic quest to find lightning bolt and prevent a war between the gods. NYC-based Kitchen Funk Orchestra plays selections of funk and experimental jazz from their newest record release. Bill Warfield, director. SPONSORS: YOUNGS ADVISORY GROUP, RCN THE MORNING CALL SPONSOR: WDIY 88.1FM SPONSORS: LUTRON, PHOEBE MINISTRIES WDIY, WRTI SPONSORS: ELISE GOLDSBERRY TON AWARD INNER FOR HAM I LTON SAT FEB 2 8PM GUEST ARTISTS MUSIC DEPT. ZOELLNER ARTS CENTER 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 A SENIOR, STUDENT, GROUP AND LVAIC DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE.

PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO CHANGE ZO A 4 2 0 a Ave em PA 6 1 0 7 5 8 2 7 8 7 FREE EVENT PARKING ATTACHED TO CENTER.