Cocktails, food and Lancaster city businesses took center stage at this year’s VeloCity, the annual Lancaster City Alliance fundraiser celebrating the city’s businesses and hospitality scene.
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Melo’s Tacos, featured two of their specialty tacos, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Sushi Sang’s featured dish was a combination of their Tempura Mango and Veggie rolls for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Thistle Finch Distillery was the main sponsor for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Tellus 360’s featured cocktail, Breakfast in Vermont, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Plough’s featured cocktail, Black Gold, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The South County Brewing Co. featured dish was a brisket Egg Roll made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Bert the Elephant’s featured cocktail, King’s Paradise, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Bar 1888’s featured cocktail, Shop Local, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen staff member Brendan McNulty serves up the eatery’s winning dish at Thursday night’s Velocity Restaurant Competition. The Jerk Smoked Wings features jerk-marinated hot smoked chicken wings served over a roasted butternut squash puree and charred corn, and garnished with plantain chips. Velocity was held Thursday night, Sept. 24, at Tellus360.
The winner of the 2026 Restaurant Competion at VeloCity was Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen’s featured dish, Jerk Smoked Wings developed by executive chef Amos Kinert.The dish festured jerk-marinated hot smoked chicken wings served over a roasted butternut squash puree and charred corn, and garnished with plantain chips. Velocity was held Thursday night, Sept. 24, at Tellus360.
551 West’s featured cocktail, Isla 717, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Coffin Bar’s featured cocktail, The Cujo Old Fashioned, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
401 Prime’s featured cocktail, Prime & Punishment, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
401 Prime. featured dish was a Tuna & Watermelon Tatare Push Pop made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Belvedere’s featured cocktail, Meet Me in the Meadow, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Josephine’s. featured dish was Lancaster Sweet Corn Soup and Pinot Noir Braised Pork Belly made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Josephine’s. featured dish was Lancaster Sweet Corn Soup and Pinot Noir Braised Pork Belly made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Josephine’s featured cocktail, The Jonathan Groff, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cracked Pepper Catering’s featured dishes were Sweet Corn Tarts, Roasted Winter Root Vegetables and Spiced Lollipop Chicken Wings made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cracked Pepper Catering’s featured dishes were Sweet Corn Tarts, Roasted Winter Root Vegetables and Spiced Lollipop Chicken Wings made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cracked Pepper Catering’s featured dishes were Sweet Corn Tarts, Roasted Winter Root Vegetables and Spiced Lollipop Chicken Wings made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Hi-Fi Izakaya’s featured cocktail, Where Does Disco?, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cabalar Meat Co.’s featured dish, Dario (whipped lardo, braised oxtail and pickled mustard sead verde) made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Annie Bailey’s featured cocktail, Eternal Summer for the Frost Fearing, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Annie Bailey’s featured dish, House Smoked Salmon, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Decades’s featured Hopsicle Ice Cream made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Proof’s featured cocktail, Meloney Zamboni made the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Groovy Greens Salad Co.’s featured dishes were Butternut Soup, Brie’th It In and Feeling Grazey, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
A band performs during the Lancaster City Alliance VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Frisco’s Chicken, featured their famous chicken wings, for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
An attendee places his vote during the Lancaster City Alliance VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
A silent auction that was set out during the Lancaster City Alliance VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Melo’s Tacos, featured two of their specialty tacos, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Sushi Sang’s featured dish was a combination of their Tempura Mango and Veggie rolls for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Thistle Finch Distillery was the main sponsor for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Tellus 360’s featured cocktail, Breakfast in Vermont, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Plough’s featured cocktail, Black Gold, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The South County Brewing Co. featured dish was a brisket Egg Roll made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Bert the Elephant’s featured cocktail, King’s Paradise, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Bar 1888’s featured cocktail, Shop Local, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen staff member Brendan McNulty serves up the eatery’s winning dish at Thursday night’s Velocity Restaurant Competition. The Jerk Smoked Wings features jerk-marinated hot smoked chicken wings served over a roasted butternut squash puree and charred corn, and garnished with plantain chips. Velocity was held Thursday night, Sept. 24, at Tellus360.
The winner of the 2026 Restaurant Competion at VeloCity was Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen’s featured dish, Jerk Smoked Wings developed by executive chef Amos Kinert.The dish festured jerk-marinated hot smoked chicken wings served over a roasted butternut squash puree and charred corn, and garnished with plantain chips. Velocity was held Thursday night, Sept. 24, at Tellus360.
551 West’s featured cocktail, Isla 717, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Coffin Bar’s featured cocktail, The Cujo Old Fashioned, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
401 Prime’s featured cocktail, Prime & Punishment, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
401 Prime. featured dish was a Tuna & Watermelon Tatare Push Pop made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Belvedere’s featured cocktail, Meet Me in the Meadow, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Josephine’s. featured dish was Lancaster Sweet Corn Soup and Pinot Noir Braised Pork Belly made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Josephine’s. featured dish was Lancaster Sweet Corn Soup and Pinot Noir Braised Pork Belly made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Josephine’s featured cocktail, The Jonathan Groff, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cracked Pepper Catering’s featured dishes were Sweet Corn Tarts, Roasted Winter Root Vegetables and Spiced Lollipop Chicken Wings made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cracked Pepper Catering’s featured dishes were Sweet Corn Tarts, Roasted Winter Root Vegetables and Spiced Lollipop Chicken Wings made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cracked Pepper Catering’s featured dishes were Sweet Corn Tarts, Roasted Winter Root Vegetables and Spiced Lollipop Chicken Wings made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Hi-Fi Izakaya’s featured cocktail, Where Does Disco?, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Cabalar Meat Co.’s featured dish, Dario (whipped lardo, braised oxtail and pickled mustard sead verde) made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Annie Bailey’s featured cocktail, Eternal Summer for the Frost Fearing, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Annie Bailey’s featured dish, House Smoked Salmon, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Decades’s featured Hopsicle Ice Cream made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Proof’s featured cocktail, Meloney Zamboni made the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Groovy Greens Salad Co.’s featured dishes were Butternut Soup, Brie’th It In and Feeling Grazey, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
A band performs during the Lancaster City Alliance VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Frisco’s Chicken, featured their famous chicken wings, for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
An attendee places his vote during the Lancaster City Alliance VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
A silent auction that was set out during the Lancaster City Alliance VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
In addition to the food and drink competitions, the event included a fashion show featuring looks from local businesses.
Bartenders and executive chefs who competed in the cocktail and restaurant contests each got a moment in the spotlight to walk the runway, as well, to enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo, who announced the winners of the food and beverage competitions, was attending his first VeloCity as mayor.
The Lancaster City Alliance hosted the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
CONNOR HOLLINGER | LNP Correspondent
Around 400 people attended this year’s VeloCity, and there were 13 cocktail competition entries, as well as 13 food entries. From sips of black-pepper whiskey to noshes of brisket egg rolls and roasted winter root vegetables, those attending the event got to taste what area restaurants and bars have to offer.
There was even a cocktail courtesy of Josephine’s called The Jonathan Groff, named for Lancaster County’s own Tony Award-winning actor. The bourbon and spiced rum in the cocktail were infused with shoofly pie.
These were the beverages and foods that made it to the top.
Cocktail competition winners First place: Sam Costello, Proof of Lancaster
Sam Costello of Proof of Lancaster won first place in the VeloCity cocktail competition with a drink showcasing creative techniques and bold flavors. Costello’s cocktail, named Meloney Zamboni (and pictured at the top of this article), combined watermelon juice, Disco Amaro, canary melon juice infused with mint and cane sugar liqueur, served over ice, to create the winning entry. The drink was selected as the competition’s first-place cocktail among entries from Lancaster city bartenders and was declared the official drink of Lancaster city in a proclamation by Mayor Arroyo.
Belvedere’s featured cocktail, Meet Me in the Meadow, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
CONNOR HOLLINGER | LNP Correspondent
Second place: Lindsay Miller, Belvedere Inn
Lindsay Miller, of the Belvedere Inn earned second place with Meet Me in the Meadow, a cocktail inspired by nature and a little bit of magic. The drink features greenbean-infused gin, housemade herbal liqueur, housemade amaro with dandelion, thyme, bay leaf and eucalyptus notes, and green apple-sage tea simple syrup. Lindsay said she wanted the drink to feel like something that would “bring you to the Shire,” a reference to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
401 Prime’s featured cocktail, Prime & Punishment, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
CONNOR HOLLINGER | LNP Correspondent
Third place: Elijah Bickel, 401 Prime
Elijah of 401 Prime took third place with a cocktail highlighting the bar’s polished, technique-driven approach. His drink, Prime and Punishment, featured aged gin, Disco Amaro,acid-balanced watermelon, homemade IPA Simple Syrup and clarified Greek yogurt. He said the drink was supposed to be “smooth and balanced” for a refreshing flavor. The entry rounded out the top three in this year’s VeloCity cocktail competition.
551 West’s featured cocktail, Isla 717, made for the VeloCity Food & Cocktail Competition hosted by The Lancaster City Alliance at Tellus 360 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
CONNOR HOLLINGER | LNP Correspondent
People’s Choice: Jimmy Vega, 551 West
Jimmy Vega of 551 West took home the People’s Choice award with Isla 717, a peach-hued cocktail made with spiced rum, KOTA pandan liqueur, fresh-pressed mango and papaya juices, coconut water, sugarcane syrup and Himalayan saline. The drink is garnished with dried mango and lime. Vega described it as a transitional cocktail, saying the first sip brings flavors of late summer before giving way to the spice of fall.
Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen staff member Brendan McNulty serves up the eatery’s winning dish at Thursday night’s Velocity Restaurant Competition. The Jerk Smoked Wings features jerk-marinated hot smoked chicken wings served over a roasted butternut squash puree and charred corn, and garnished with plantain chips. Velocity was held Thursday night, Sept. 24, at Tellus360.
CONNOR HOLLINGER | LNP Correspondent
Restaurant competition
Chefs from 13 local restaurants participated in VeloCity’s Restaurant Competition that was added to the event last year.
The dishes and treats they offered for the contest ranged from ahi tuna and watermelon tartare from 401 Prime and pinot noir-braised pork belly with swordfish tonnato, spiced honey squash and crispy forbidden rice from Josephine’s to a vegan butternut soup from Groovy Greens Salad Co. and hops-infused citrus ice cream from Decades.
“I always tell folks that Lancaster City has some of the best coffee shops and restaurants for a city our size,” Arroyo said in the middle of sampling some of the evening’s food offerings. “We punch above our weight.”
The winner of the 2026 Restaurant Competion at VeloCity was Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen’s featured dish, Jerk Smoked Wings developed by executive chef Amos Kinert.The dish festured jerk-marinated hot smoked chicken wings served over a roasted butternut squash puree and charred corn, and garnished with plantain chips. Velocity was held Thursday night, Sept. 24, at Tellus360.
CONNOR HOLLINGER | LNP Correspondent
There was just one winner for the Restaurant Competition: Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen’s executive chef, Amos Kinert. For the contest, Kinert created jerk-marinated hot smoked chicken wings, served over a roasted butternut squash puree and charred corn and garnished with plantain chips.
Kinert was not in attendance to receive his trophy in person at VeloCity, but was represented at the Callaloo table by Brendan McNulty, one of his cooks. Callaloo is located at 351 Mulberry St. In Lancaster.
VeloCity raises funds for the Lancaster City Alliance and the Downtown Investment District.
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