Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines

Because I've had a jam-packed week full of deadlines, my blog post on the latest two "Try the World" subscription boxes from Paris and Spain will have to take a backseat, unfortunately. I am looking forward to describing a dish I made with one of the ingredients and expounding a bit more on the products I received. I will also be asking for feedback on how to use some of these ingredients, as well--especially one that arrived in a tube.

This past week I reviewed a local restaurant, wrote about the opening of a new grocery store, reported on Pennsylvania Lyme disease task force findings, informed local Sentinel readers about an upcoming Fall Harvest festival in our area and penned a preview on tonight's Big Brothers/Big Sisters benefit in Hershey (I'm a "Big" and my experience has been very rewarding).

On Monday and Tuesday I am scheduled to take a culinary tour of Gettysburg and am looking forward to staying in a boutique hotel located in the heart of the historic district called the Federal Pointe Inn. I can't wait to share some of the pictures of dishes on the Savor Gettysburg food tour and learn a little more about the inn, which dates back to 1896--first operating as a high school, then, in 1909 as an elementary school. 

Be sure to check back mid week for an update.

Visiting Amish Village and Rainbow's Comedy Playhouse in Lancaster County

Visiting the Amish Village was a little “touristy” I suppose, but because it was open on Sunday and something new to explore, we signed up.

 

The tours are conducted every 15 minutes, so we took some time to browse the gift shop filled with standard Amish goods like homemade soaps, jams, jellies and gifts. When the guide called us, we were led to the front room where we relaxed on benches and listened to a short history on the Amish. 

 

After a question-and-answer session, we were led through the authentic 1840s Amish farmhouse to the spacious kitchen, with the propane lamp/heater and old-fashioned appliances. What caught my eye as a reporter, was the newspaper placed on the kitchen table called “The Budget,” where the Amish learn the news of the week from around the country. The paper is longer in width than our standard newspaper and Amish from around the country pen details on family life from the weather, to plantings, marriages, births and deaths.

 

Amish Kitchen

After viewing the kitchen, we followed our guide upstairs to get a glimpse of the bedrooms and learn more the various modes of dress.  The last stop of the tour took us outside to the back stairs and down to the “summer” kitchen situated beneath the farmhouse. There we viewed a wooden butter churn and canning equipment for “putting up" the summer’s harvest. I thought about how great it would be to have such a place to go to prepare my blue-ribbon bread-and-butter pickles at the end of the summer.

 

After the tour, we walked the grounds and petted the goats, horses and cows and gawked at the peacocks—yep, there were a few of those there too. If you enjoy feeding animals, remember to bring along plenty of quarters to operate the dispensing machines along the way. The baby goats were my favorite and I successfully managed to keep the adults from getting almost all the food.

Other stops along the way included a barn full of various farm tools and an Amish school house where students of all ages learned together. Another shop marked the end of the tour, where I purchased a copy of The Budget. 

Amish Classroom

 

A young writer from the New York Times paid a visit to the offices of The Budget back in 2009. To learn more about what she thought of the enterprise, visit:  

Exploring News by the Amish Online

 

For those who want the full experience, an additional 90-minute bus tour is also available. Busses depart on the hour and traverse the back roads, stopping at Amish businesses along the way.   

 

Visiting the Rainbow's Comedy Playhouse 

 

Just a few minutes’ drive from the Creekside Inn B&B is Rainbow’s Comedy Playhouse. Operating since 1984, the Rainbow’s Comedy Playhouse was founded by David and Cindy DiSavino, two working actors who lived in New York City and decided to relocate to the area.

 

The playhouse first operated from the banquet room of the Strasburg Inn before that business was sold and the couple was forced to move. They found a new home at the historic Revere Tavern before relocating once again to support their growing popularity—this time to a brand new facility at 3065 Lincoln Highway East, not far from the historic tavern.

 

Rainbow's Comedy Theatre

We enjoyed a Sunday matinee, along with a buffet dinner, which included roast beef, stuffed shells and various side dishes, like mashed potatoes, corn and green beans. We ordered wine at our table and although standard desserts were free, we opted for a delicious crème brulee, which cost just a little extra.

Creme Brulee

 

Waiter and waitresses, who provide drinks, appetizers, salads and desserts tableside, can often be seen acting onstage after the lights dim. 

You can keep up to date with Rainbow's latest offerings by visiting their website here.

 

Fine Dining at Carr's and a Stop at Dutch Haven

Our Lancaster getaway was short, but sweet. As I mentioned in my previous post, the proprietress at our B&B at the Creekside Inn not only served delicious breads during breakfast, but she also slipped them on a plate and put them on a dresser near our bed, lest we might be a tad under the 3,500 calorie mark for the day.

The first night of our stay we returned to the LancasterCentral Market area and enjoyed a delicious meal at Carr’s. I ordered the steak and cake, which came with a small filet topped with crab, creamy scalloped potatoes and a crab cake topped with a remoulade sauce. My steak was done to perfection, but you have to make a very special crab cake to warrant a rave from me. I prefer mine made with very few breadcrumbs. My husband very much enjoyed his lamb trio, which consisted of a leg, burger and sausage. He said the sausage was unbeatable, the burger was moist and flavorful and the leg slices were enhanced by a top-notch tzatziki.

Dinner at Carr's in Lancaster

Service was attentive and our waitress was pleasant. When the bill came, Mike acted surprised, so of course I couldn’t stop laughing at this face.

On to the Touristy Stuff

After another wonderful breakfast at the Creekside Inn, we made our way to Dutch Haven in Ronks, a kitschy Amish Country landmark, best known for its shoofly pie and its oversized, illuminated windmill that rotates, beckoning visitors to stop and have a look.

Dutch Haven in Ronks is a Lancaster County landmark

The minute we set foot in the door, we were presented with another sweet treat by a helpful staffer. Can you guess what it was? Why, shoofly pie, of course—with a side of whipped cream. My mother made quite a few shoofly pies back in the day and those unfamiliar with the popular Pennsylvania Dutch dessert have likely been spared the yawn-inducing wet bottom vs. dry bottom debate and ’ll kindly spare everyone the details. 

Let’s just say I’ve never been a fan of either, but I have to admit that this one was exceptional, with a nicely balanced flavor, which is to say it wasn’t as cloyingly sweet as I remember.

Prepare to spend about a half hour browsing the variety of merchandise from Amish furniture, to souvenirs, jewelry, jellies and jams. I purchase a jar of pepper jelly to pair with cream cheese for my holiday entertaining.

Here’s a great video of what visitors can expect at Dutch Haven from my friends over at Retro Roadmap:

Next Stop: Amish Village