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

A Stay at a Historic Creekside Inn

We checked into the cozy Creekside Inn for a change of scenery and a nice two-day getaway to celebrate our anniversary.The old stone house, which dates back to 1781, is situated near a creek along a road that leads from Paradise to Gordonville, Pennsylvania.

Front view of the Creekside Inn

My husband selected our digs several weeks ago. The spacious three-room suite called “The Creekside,” featured a bedroom with an impressive floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace operable in winter. A private bathroom was located off the bedroom and a spacious, comfy sitting room featured a couch, chair, desk and big-screen TV.

Bedroom at the Creekside Inn

Fireplace in our room at the Creekside.

Sitting room at the Creekside.

Although we were on a strict schedule, we did find some time to relax in the homey, carpeted sitting room and the bed in the adjacent room seemed custom made for a great night’s sleep, especially this time of year.  Adding to the quaint two-day stay was the clip clop of the horses outside as they made their way down the road. The horses passed often throughout the day and night. Only once was I awakened out of a deep sleep, on a Monday morning at 2 a.m. by teens hooting and hollering, which I found amusing. I was later informed that Sunday night is “date night” in the Amish community.

View from the room.

During our visit, the inn was full, with all six rooms rented out to guests from Boston, Delaware and Maryland, which whom we had the pleasure of conversing with each morning during the 8:30 breakfast hour.  

Our hosts, Cathy and Dennis Zimmerman, were quite hospitable from beginning to end, with Dennis helping my husband with our bags and Kathy toiling in the kitchen to craft magnificent breakfasts featuring eggs, sausage, apricot bread, juice, coffee and tea one morning, and a delicious, moist apple bread paired with blueberry French toast, bacon, homemade English muffins and the same drink offerings on morning two. Each day, we found homemade pastries in our room, half of which I had to decline to adhere to at least a semblance of a diet. I can just taste them now. No wonder the Inn received a “Certificate of Excellence” from Tripadvisor.

Creekside Inn History

The Zimmermans pay homage to the original homeowners and commissioned a painting of David Witmer, Sr. and his wife Esther Kendig, who oversee operations in the dining room where guests enjoy breakfast.  Two stone tablets in the wall of the house read “Bilt by David & Esther Witmer in the year of our lord 1781." Witmer, according to the Zimmmermans, purchased the land from Jacob Fierre, son of Philip and Mary Warenbuer Fierre and was part of the original tract granted to Mary Fierre by William Penn.

Skilled in farming, milling and bridge and road construction, Witmer likely met many influential people and added to that circle of influence when he became engaged politics and community service.

Witmer and George Washington became personal friends and according to records held by Witmer’s descendants, David traveled to Philadelphia to meet Washington as he was en route to New York for the inauguration in 1789. Several years later, Washington was said to have paid a visit to the area, visiting a mill to study hemp processing.

During our visit, we took the time to explore the property, traversing the nearby concrete bridge and onto the property that abuts Pequea creek. Despite it being the first week of October, everything was still green and lush. We considered ourselves lucky as a tornado was said to have touched down in the area just a few days before and a huge tree across the street was being chopped into manageable pieces and hauled away the day we arrived.

A stroll along the creek.

Next up: Doing a Bit of the Touristy Stuff in Lancaster County

On the Road to Paradise

Today my husband and I decided to head for Lancaster County for a weekend visit to a bed and breakfast located in Paradise, Pennsylvania. Although we were concerned about Hurricane Joaquin, we decided to stay the course, rather than cancel and it turns out we were spared a rainy trip. 

Before reaching our destination, we decided to make a pit stop in Lancaster to explore the city and the Central Market. After we parked the car and stepped out onto the street my nose detected a familiar smell. “Do you think they have Ramen here?” I asked my husband as we walked out of the parking lot onto the street. I soon had my answer. 

Issei Noodle was located nearby in the Central Market Mall. And to think I thought they only operated in Carlisle. Of course, we HAD to stop in and indulge. I ordered my favorite spicy tan tan ramen. Ground pork, Bok choy, and ramen swimming in a hearty pork broth, jazzed up with chili oil available at each table, was the perfect, steamy dish for a brisk, autumn day. My husband opted for the Haru warm ramen with the pan-fried noodles, shrimp, chicken, ground pork and fresh vegetables, which I must say was outstanding, but he rebuffed my advances, on his dish that is, so that’s something I’ll have enjoy at a later date.

Haru Warm Ramen at Issei Noodle in Lancaster

Spicy Tan Tan at Issei Noodle in Lancaster

Lancaster Central Market

Lancaster Central Market is known as the oldest, publicly owned, continuously operating market in the United States. Today, people from milesaround flock to the market which features about 70 vendors selling everything from meat, to produce, to breads, flowers, herbs and ready-made specialties.

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Central Market known as the oldest, publicly owned, continuously operated market in the United States.

If we weren’t full from lunch, we could have been tempted by sweets like spicy peanut brittle, pumpkin fudge or sticky buns, or any of the many Pennsylvania Dutch specialties available. Mike had his eyes on Greek dishes like pastitsio, moussaka and keftedes, but we knew that dinner was just a few hours away, so we were content to file the information away for another day.

Lancaster Shops

We strolled along West King Street, stopping in a few shops where they offered a variety of items like women’s apparel, accessories, perfume, soaps and cute cards for various occasions. Of course Mike quickly tired of that and I lost him for a bit—which is nothing new. I found him down the street snapping pictures of a Masonic Lodge.

Reunited, we passed a building with an interesting sign out front depicting a “Rabbit & Dragonfly.” We stepped inside a foyer and found the set up a bit confusing and wondered where to go next. After standing in a vestibule, we peered into another standing area and two doors later, we found ourselves in a very large coffee shop staring at a man playing chess. Soon we spotted four others at a table in the rear of the room chatting amongst themselves amidst bookshelves. We discovered that we had stumbled upon a coffee shop/performance area and to a very limited extent, a bookstore.

One thing that caught my eye was an old typewriter, which I captured in a picture. 

On our way back to the car, we passed the Fulton Opera House dating back to 1852 and touted as the nation’s oldest continuously operating theatre. It has the distinction of being one of only eight theatres to be named a National Historic Landmark. 

Soon we were on our way to our next destination, a B&B, dating back to 1781. Tomorrow, I'll post more about the historic structure located in the little village of Paradise, Pennsylvania.

A Trip to Pittsburgh's North Shore

When it was time to hit the road after a successful Erie trip last week, my husband, who had graciously agreed to be my driver, suggested a pit stop in Pittsburgh to shorten the boredom of the six-hour ride home. Of course, he didn’t have to twist my arm.

He had spent some time earlier in the day researching unique places to stay in the Pittsburgh area and found just the right place, rich in both history and character. 

Within three hours, we were popping the trunk on Pressley Street in front of The Priory Hotel in a little area in Pittsburgh called Deutschtown. The building, which dates back to 1888, is now home to travelers, but once served as a monastery.

Our first impression was that parking was a bit tight in the little lot reserved for visitors, which was located across the street from the 42-room inn.  The neighborhood, too, had seen better days and didn’t feel all that conducive to strolling around, at least not out front. Out back was a different story altogether (I know, weird, but more on that later). 

The History of The Priory

In 1848, the area around The Priory was home to many German immigrants. Oompah bands performed outside of taverns, shops sold German specialties and breweries dotted the neighborhood. When the residents of Deutschtown decided it was time to build a church, they banded together in 1848 to construct St. Mary’s Parish, which still exists next door to The Priory Hotel.

Stained glass windows, which were installed in 1912, are described as “Priceless examples of the Munich School of Art Glass,” crafted by the Tyrolean Art Glass Company of Innsbruck, Austria. Today, the church serves as an event place called “The Grand Hall” and is a popular wedding venue.

In 1888, a Priory, (or monastery), was added to the church property as a home for Benedictine priests and brothers who ministered to the congregation. It also served as a temporary retreat for Monk’s traveling to the St. Vincent’s arch abbey in Latrobe, which was the seat for the Benedictine order in the United States.

Our Visit

Our first plan was to unload the bags and head to the Andy Warhol Museum located not far away from the hotel.  We were happy to learn that the shuttle at the Priory was complimentary and available to whisk us there once we settled in so we didn’t have to bother moving the car.

When we learned our room was on the third floor, we were ready to climb the stairs, but instead were directed to an elevator, which was a pleasant surprise for such a small hotel.  Our room overlooked the street and was elegantly decorated in warm shades of tan, orange and brown and it turns out the bed was quite comfortable.

After our visit to the Andy Warhol Museum (the topic of a future post), we returned to the hotel, picked up the car and it was on to Carson Street where we dined at a small Italian restaurant called the Stagioni where my husband Mike enjoyed a pork chop and I dined one of my favorite dishes--lamb Ragu with pappardelle.  I have to say I was glad I didn’t order the pork chop that tasted overwhelmingly of lemon, which didn’t match well with pork—just my humble opinion.

Lamb Ragu with Papperdalle at stagioni and Pork Chop eau du Lemon

When we returned to our hotel, we spotted a small, but adorable bar near the sitting room where I was offered a tasty vodka soda with fresh blackberries. The bartender offered my husband a martini before mentioning the courtyard out back. Because the bar was so cute and cozy, we hesitated for a moment before agreeing to check it out and ended up being glad we did.

Courtyard at The Priory

The comfy chairs on the spacious, brick porch overlooking the courtyard were perfect for relaxing on during that warm fall evening. The scene was about as serene as you can expect a former monastery to be and we had a view of the beautiful historic church which shares the property.

The following morning we dined on the complimentary breakfast of coffee, tea, yogurt, fruit and pastries.

Breakfast at The Priory

Before we departed, we spotted a verdant garden located across the street from the backyard courtyard called Laura’s Blumengarten. A sign explained that it was planted as a tribute to the German-speaking immigrants of Deutschtown and discovering the hidden little treasure was a lovely ending to a wonderful visit.