The Wooden Match is on a roll.

Celebration is the word of the month for May at the eatery, which hosted its annual Cinco de Mayo Block Party May 2-4, and welcomed a visit from America’s Best Restaurants May 6, propelling it into the national spotlight.

“We love to come here,” Alejandro said as he worked at the food truck of Grandpa’s Kitchen – La Cocina del Abuelo – May 3 during the Cinco de Mayo Block Party. “People recognize our food and our team.”

Grandpa’s Kitchen – which is based at 621 Hamilton St., Allentown – was one of the participating food trucks and vendors.

“We’re happy to support the community, working with the City of Bethlehem and supporting local businesses,” said Andrew Calderon, general manager of The Wooden Match.

Live music, food and beer trucks, cigars, tequila bar, High Noon Bar, games and more were on the menu for the event in the parking lot that was family friendly, so kids and dogs were invited to join in the celebration.

Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla May 5, 1862.

Aroi Mango and Sweet Magnolia are two of the food vendors that marked their first year participating in the Block Party.

“We love it, the whole experience,” said George Awad, owner of Aroi Mango, as he peeled mangos.

Awad, a 2022 graduate of Lehigh University, launched Aroi Mango in June 2024. “The goal is to have a kiosk or food truck,” said Awad, who is pursuing a master’s degree in technical entrepreneurship at Lehigh.

With selections inspired by Thai and Laotian cuisine, Aroi Mango was serving up mango sticky rice and other variations of rice, as well as Mango Thai Tea. It also does catering.

Awad’s friend Hrithik Sundri – also a member of the Lehigh University class of 2022 – was helping Awad at the Block Party, though Awad said his parents and family are usually on hand to help.

Aroi Mango participates in the Bethlehem Farmers’ Market at Lehigh and was slated to make its first appearance at the Easton Farmers’ Market the next week.

Sweet Magnolia Fresh Made Churros made its debut in December 2024 at The Christmas Huts on Main in downtown Bethlehem.

Owner Karen Wagner, a Bethlehem native, said Sweet Magnolia would participate in the Bethlehem Farmers’ Market at Lehigh for the first time the week after the Block Party.

Specializing in authentic and fresh Mexican churros, Sweet Magnolia does take out and catering.

The Chopper Foundation is in the business of saving lives – canine and feline – and was at the Block Party to garner support and raise awareness of its cause.

“We’re a young foundation,” said Michele Scarano, director of operations.

Founded in Berks County in 2019 by Sharon and Thomas “Bink” Yetto after losing their beloved dog Chopper, The Chopper Foundation was created to help families and local rescues by providing funds for emergency live-saving veterinary care.

Serving the Lehigh Valley and beyond, the 100 percent volunteer organization has so far saved the lives of 150 pets – mostly dogs, and 15 of which are cats.

“We provide assistance nationwide, and also offer advice,” Scarano said. “We obtain discounts by working with veterinarians.”

The Chopper Foundation was slated to hold its annual Chow-Line for Chopper Lehigh Valley May 10 at The Wooden Match, giving free dog and cat food to community members.

“We gave away 10,000 pounds of dog and cat food last year in Reading, at Saucony Creek at Franklin Station,” Scarano said, adding they give a month’s supply of food and have a vetting process for recipients. She noted Fresh Pet is their biggest supporter.

Scarano was joined at the block party by husband Pete, who helps with whatever they need, and Tami Wimmer, who volunteers with fundraising and creates the Chopper jewelry line.

“This is a fabulous group of people who are doing amazing work,” said Wimmer, who recently became involved with the foundation.

The foundation will hold its annual Chip In For Chopper Golf Tournament Sept. 19 at Allentown Municipal Golf Course to benefit pets.

Scarano said more local businesses are helping to support the foundation, such as Service Electric, Penn Community Bank, Galeano Construction and Edward Jones Financial Group.

“We know people need help – we help 60 pets a month and three to five veterans with pet food,” Scarano said.

“It’s about giving back to the community and helping them, and raising awareness,” Scarano said.

Food trucks and vendors at the block party included Grandpa’s Kitchen, La Cocina del Abuelo, Aroi Mango, Sweet Magnolia Fresh Made Churros, PFG Pizza, The Chopper Foundation, Bizzle’s Bites Dog Treats and Toys, Battle Borne, Bethlum Shop and Sheepdog Cigar.

The live music lineup included Jay Wetzel Band, On The Cusp, DJ Jooyner, Throw-down of the Lehigh Valley hosted by DJ Knight and Friends, Sunday Funday with DJ Jamal Knight and Friends, DJ Angel B, DJ Adam Smiith and DJ Rah.

Looking to the future, Calderon said The Wooden Match has “cool plans for growth,” including working with the City of Bethlehem for approval for a state-of-the-art outside bar with seating.

The Wooden Match will host Match Fest June 14-15, a food and cigar festival with beer and food trucks and live music to “party in the sun,” Calderon said. This will be the second time the eatery has held the event.

A Fourth of July celebration and Match Platz in August are also on the fun-filled calendar.

America’s Best Restaurants

“It’s awesome. We were kind of blindsided at first,” Calderon said of The Wooden Match hosting a visit from ABR.

The staff quickly got to work getting ready to showcase The Wooden Match and Artisan Wine and Cheese Cellar, the eatery’s nonsmoking restaurant at the same site. The restaurants have the same menu, kitchen and owner, Vincent Randazzo.

ABR, a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, brought its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant May 6. Popular dishes were highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with Calderon and other key staff about the restaurant’s special place in the community.

The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on ABR’s website. The episode will be aired extensively on ABR’s social media channels at a later date.

The Wooden Match has a dark, vintage vibe and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has done a full upgrade of the exterior of the building, which was built in 1868. The upgrade includes a new roof at a cost of a quarter of a million dollars as it was done to historic specifications.

Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are selected based on their customer reviews, menu items, social media presence and level of involvement with their community. They are found through customer nominations, internal vetting or by a restaurant applying to be featured at www.americasbestrestaurants.com.