U. NAZARETH TWP., Pa. – A much-loved business offering authentic Hungarian specialties is making moves in Northampton County.
Mattie’s Strudel Haus, offering a wide variety of authentic Hungarian stretched strudels, is planning to reopen on Wednesday, April 1, at its new homebase at 299 Industrial Drive in Upper Nazareth Township, owner Kelly Vlasics announced in a video posted to the business’ Facebook page.
The Upper Nazareth spot is where Vlasics began conducting Mattie’s operations nine years ago before increasing demand led her to relocate the business in 2020 to 126 W. Main St. in Bath.
Mattie’s Strudel Haus
Last year, Vlasics announced that she was closing the Bath location in order to have a better work-life balance, with plans to continue offering the handmade strudels at local events and farmers markets.
Now, seven months after the Bath location of Mattie’s closed in August, Vlasics is transitioning the business’ brick-and-mortar operations back to 299 Industrial Drive in Upper Nazareth.
“Mattie’s Strudel Haus lives on,” Vlasics said in her most recent video announcement.
“… I’m not going to get all emotional here, but it is emotional. Entrepreneurs have a heart in their business. They have a passion in their business. And while we may fail, and we might get back up many times, the whole point is to get up and do your best and to come back to your business and do it better every day.”
In the recent video announcement, Vlasics noted that that “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side” and “sometimes bigger isn’t better.”
She looks forward to continuing Mattie’s operations on a smaller scale, making small batches of strudels where customers can secure their orders by calling 215-301-1881.
Strudel varieties for each upcoming month will be shared a month in advance via the business’ social media, website and e-mail blasts. For example, May’s strudel selections will be shared in April.
Mattie’s Strudel Haus
Customers will have options regarding how they’d like to receive their strudel orders.
They could pick up the strudels at the Upper Nazareth retail location or one of the monthly farmers markets that Mattie’s is attending this season (Easton, Saucon Valley and Northampton), or they could have their strudels delivered to their home.
Extras of various strudel varieties will be available at the farmers markets, but individuals should place orders in advance to guarantee they get their desired strudels.
Starting April 1, the Upper Nazareth location’s retail hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.
“Of course, if you need to talk to me, just call me,” Vlasics said. “I answer the phone. My husband answers the phone, and we’ll get this all squared away.”
In Upper Nazareth, Mattie’s will operate alongside another local business, Stehly’s Bakery & Eatery, selling homemade, gluten-free baked goods like kiffles, nut tossies, pies, pasties, banana roll and pumpkin poll, along with other hand-crafted creations like artisan breakfast sandwiches and peanut butter.
Mattie’s Strudel Haus
Both businesses are offering Easter specials, with Mattie’s featuring 8- and 16-inch strudels of “Everything But the Kitchen Sink” (eggs, sausage, bacon, pork roll, hash browns and Cooper cheese), lemon meringue strudel bites, blueberry lemon cheesecake bites and apple bites; and Stehly’s featuring kiffle flavors of chocolate raspberry, chocolate peanut butter, hazelnut and chocolate ganache.
Additionally, Mattie’s is continuing to make its cabbage and apple strudels that can be purchased at Dunderbak’s at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, and it’s also continuing to host Sip & Stretch classes, where participants receive two dough balls to stretch, fill and roll while enjoying a complimentary glass of wine, appetizers, coupon and loyalty card and certificate of completion, at Soaked Winery in Lehigh Township.
Upcoming Sip & Stretch classes, where participants take home two 16-inch strudels that they make, will be held April 20 (full), May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 21.
“That class has been so inspiring,” Vlasics said in the video announcement. “I think that’s where I’ll find my new stretcher.”
Vlasics has been making the Hungarian specialties since childhood, when she learned the culinary skills from her mother, Bonnie Vlasics, and late Hungarian grandmother and the business’ namesake, Matilda “Mattie” Vlasics.
When preparing the strudels, Kelly and her team stretch the dough extremely thin by hand before filling it with homemade mixtures and fresh ingredients – including fruits and vegetables from local farms and orchards such as Bechdolt’s Orchards in Lower Saucon Township and Twin Maple Farms in East Allen Township – and then rolling it by hand.
Mattie’s Strudel Haus
Customers can choose from a wide array of strudel varieties, including breakfast delights, savory meals and sweet treats.
Dozens of rotating selections include savory options such as cheesesteak, cabbage kielbasa, pastie, taco, Mediterranean and chicken bacon ranch; sweet selections such as apple crisp, blueberry crumb, cherry cheesecake and apple caramel toffee; and seasonal creations such as pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes, reuben, peach cobbler, strawberry rhubarb, pumpkin cheesecake and “Gobble” (turkey, mashed potatoes and more).
The strudels are sold frozen, allowing individuals to bake them fresh for any event.
Other Mattie’s offerings include homemade halupki and Hungarian rolls (kolachi) such as lekvar and raspberry.
“We are blessed and grateful for you!” reads a recent announcement on the business’ Facebook page.
“We look forward to seeing you again at 299 Industrial Drive, Nazareth Pa. Back to our roots!”
For the latest Mattie’s Strudel Haus news, visit the business’ website, follow the business’ Facebook page and receive e-mail updates by signing up at mattiesstrudelhaus.com/email-signup. Info: 215-301-1881.