Seasonal Treats For Fall Foodies
Image: Toa Heftiba
It’s officially pumpkin season, y’all! And if you’re anything like us, seasonal, limited-time-only treats are the only things that will get us out of the house on a rainy fall day. With that in mind, we’ve decided to put together a list of our favorite seasonal goodies, from drinks to sweets and everything in between. There’s so much more seasonal, fall-y goodness out there other than a PSL from you-know-who. Our list features Virginia businesses that support their communities and use local ingredients, so don’t hold back, just dig in!
Coffee/Drinks
Image: GreenHeart Juice Co.
Image: VA FOodie
Image: Three Ships
Seasonal drinks are what you think of most this time of year, but we wanted to give you a little something unexpected. Greenheart Juice Company’s Pumpkin Spice Cashew Milk is cold, refreshing, and has all the seasonal flavors like pumpkin, maple, and vanilla. It’s a brand new product with limited availability, so you gotta get it fast. Another beverage with a unique seasonal twist is Hideaway Café’s apple cider tea. It’s a mixture of apple cider and black tea. The best part? It comes with an apple cider donut from a local orchard. They also have a mighty fine Pumpkin Spice latte, if you’re more of a traditional fall foodie. If you’re into interesting flavor profiles, Three Ships Coffee has a killer seasonal drink, called “The Witching Hour.” It’s a latte using house-made syrup consisting of maple syrup, allspice and Lapsang Souchong tea. Spooky and tasty, what more could you ask for?
Beer
Image: Hardywood Craft Brewery
Image: Bear Chase Brewing
Image: Ardent Craft ales
Ahh, seasonal beer. One of the many things that make fall special. We Virginians are lucky to have so many great breweries in our state, and they’ve really outdone themselves with the seasonal beer flavors this year. Always a favorite, Hardywood Craft Brewery has a Rum Barrel Pumpkin Ale this year that hits us right in the fall feels, with flavors ranging from molasses and dark rum to pumpkin and brown sugar. If you’re into celebrating October the German way, our friends at Bear Chase Brewing have an Oktoberfest Marzen Style Lager. It just won gold at this year’s Great American Beer Fest, so you know it’s gotta be good. Seasonal flavors are more than just pumpkin spice, and Ardent Craft Ales’ Sweet Potato and Sage Saison is definitely proof of that. This popular brew somehow tastes like Thanksgiving and smells like home, which is some kinda beer magic or something.
Sweet Treats
Image: Astro Doughnuts
Image: Gelati Celesti
Image: Empowered Plant Cakes
Foodies with a sweet tooth, we’re lookin’ at you! Fall is just the warm-up to holiday sweetness, but the amount of sweet, fall-y treats coming out now are starting the season off with a bang. Doughnut lovers rejoice! Astro Doughnut’s Candy Apple Doughnuts are back and they’re better than ever. This fall favorite never disappoints. It’s never too cold for gelato! Gelati Celesti’s Pumpkin Gingersnap and Cinnamon Gelato flavors are the perfect way to polish off a fall meal. Vegans can be sweetie-lovers too, Empowered Plant Cakes Pumpkin Cheesecake is gluten-free, raw, plant-based and 100% delicious. Feeling fancy? Albemarle Baking Company’s seasonal cream puffs have caramel apple filling and pumpkin spice bavarian cream. It’s what dreams are made of.
Other Great Seasonal Goodies
Image: Nosh Modern Mobile Bistro
Image: OCha Thai Kitchen
Image: So Good cake Co.
Some seasonal goodies just can’t be put in boxes. But they can be put in your mouth, and that’s all that really matters, right? Nosh Modern Mobile Bistro has a spicy pumpkin red curry bowl that is all things good and warm in this world. Who knew a pumpkin dish could be spicy? More of a spooky foodie? Ocha Thai Kitchen’s Halloween-themed “Lychee Spooky” is a slushie topped with Lychee eyeballs, which goes perfectly with their Devil Meringue cookies, which are so delicious it’s scary. Got something to celebrate during the spookiest of seasons? Order yourself some Halloween cupcakes from So Good Cake Co. They can make them any flavor you want! Last but not least is Red Truck Bakery. Their pumpkin bread and cranberry-orange tea bread incorporate classic fall flavors that no foodie can resist.
If you’re anything like us, the arrival of seasonal treats at your favorite foodie haunts is a cause for celebration. From hot drinks, foamy beers, sweet treats and savory meals–fall has got it all! Do you have a favorite seasonal treat? Let us know!
