A Trip to Historic Bellefonte, Pa

Anytime a Pennsylvanian hears that the temperatures are going to hit the '70s in November, it's time to take action because who knows? It may be the last hurrah before we're plunged into a deep freeze for five or six months. This past weekend, we decided to "make hay while the sun shines," by taking a short trip out of town to see a few new sights. After some deliberation, we decided to make it a short trip and visit the town of my birth--historic Bellefonte, Pa. Although we're very familiar with State College, located just 13 miles away, we never spent time exploring the Bellefonte area.

It took us about an hour and a half before we arrived in town and thanks to Foursquare, we chose lunch at The Governor's Pub. Parking nearby was cheap--with just a few quarters needed for the meters. Although the outside didn't look like much, the inside was cute, service was prompt and friendly and the food was good too. We split a Reuben and fries.

Because Bellefonte is known for it's B&Bs, as well as its Victorian architecture, we decided to enjoy both by staying at The Queen, located on Linn Street. The Queen is beautifully decorated and is typical of many of the elegant Victorian structures that you'll see during a drive around town. Owner Nancy Noll greeted us, showed us the Victorian parlor that we'd have to ourselves that weekend, entertained us with a few notes on the player piano, pointed out an old-fashioned Victrola and demonstrated a stereoptic viewer (a precursor to the View-Master). Later on that evening, I grabbed the collection of about 100 slides and took them up to the room for further inspection. 

The Queen B&B on Linn Street in Bellefonte

Anne's Room at The Queen B&B

A Victorian Stereoptic Viewer

Accommodations at The Queen were spacious and comfortable, with a sofa, a flat-screen TV, a small bathroom and a "slipper tub" separated from the bed by a screen, which might not be for everyone, but we knew about it beforehand.  A writing desk overlooked the street and an extremely comfortable bed offered a wonderful night's slumber.

We took time to drive around town and were amazed at the many beautiful Victorian mansions that have been seemingly well tended throughout the years. Several operate as B&Bs, but most are private homes.

"Our Fair Lady" B&B in Bellefonte

The Reynold's Mansion B&B in Bellefonte

Random Home in Bellefonte

The "Molly Fisher," built in 1872

The Bellefonte area has a very low unemployment rate with top employers being the federal government, the Bellefonte School District, the state government and Geisinger Health System, so it stands to reason that the residents have been able to keep the huge Victorian mansions in such beautiful condition.

During our trip, we paid a visit to the Centre County Library and Historical Museum located in the 1814 Miles-Hume house.

There we learned more about early area employers like Titan Metal Company, the Bellefonte Glass Works and the Bellefonte Match Factory founded in 1899 by two entrepreneurs. (The factory shuttered its doors in 1947 due to competition from book
matches and cigarette lighters.) We also viewed a model of the statues that stand in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol made by sculptor George Gray Barnard, who was born in Bellefonte.

A model of George Gray Bernard's work which can be seen at the entrance of the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

After touring the museum, we stopped in at Big Spring Spirits, a relatively new distillery housed in the old match factory mentioned earlier. There guests can choose from among a variety of hand-crafted spirits like gin, whiskies and rum. One of the owners is an interior designer and it shows. The spacious and inviting "tasting" room is more like a restaurant and the over-sized, comfortable chairs and tables are conducive to relaxing and enjoying an evening with good food and friends.

A glass wall behind the bar gives patrons a sneak peak into the nuts and bolts of the distilling operation.

Big Spring Spirits in Bellefonte

Before heading to State College for "First Friday," on that same evening, we took a few pictures of the attractive Talleyrand Park and visited the American Philatelic Center,where we viewed a few small exhibits.

Talleyrand Park

American Philatelic Center Exhibit

In the next few weeks, Bellefonte will be hosting its 34th annual Victorian Christmas.
Learn more here in this article at Flipsidepa.com. 

http://www.flipsidepa.com/story/entertainment/events/2015/11/10/historic-bellefonte-hosts-victorian-christmas/75493158/

Victorian Restaurant Offers Fine Dining

This week my husband and I visited an old-school restaurant that has managed to nail the perfect formula for longevity and they must be doing something right since they've been in business for more than 45 years.

Alfred's Victorian, operating in the former Raymond-Young mansion in Middletown, Pennsylvania, was one of the first "special occasion" restaurants to open in the area back "in the day." I fondly remember visiting the place just once as a teen, with my father.  After that, it would be many years before I could return. Let's just say it was a matter of funding back then. I can still hear my grandmother's words when I whined about it. "You have champagne tastes and a beer pocketbook," she would say, on more than one occasion..

Finances have since improved, thankfully, and my husband had a birthday to celebrate this week, so off we went to the place of our first date, oh so many years ago.

When we stepped over the threshold, there was no one in sight, which was a bit eerie, but shortly afterwards a hostess emerged from a back room to seat us. We noticed that we had the place almost entirely to ourselves, which made it easy to stroll around and take pictures of the interior without disturbing other diners. 

First floor rooms at Alfred's Victorian

A cute, little romantic alcove.

Stairs leading to the second floor where the ghost is said to reside.

Speaking of eerie, Alfred's is said to be haunted. You can read more on that story here Unfortunately I didn't see any evidence of such haunting in any of these pictures, but then again, perhaps I was just on the wrong floor.

The restaurant hasn't changed much over the years and still specializes in pasta, veal and seafood dishes, even preparing some items "old-school style," which is to say table side, like the Caesar salad and the Steak Diane. 

For old times' sake, we ordered the Caesar. Our attentive waiter Carlos can be seen making it here. One wonders how many salads have been made in that bowl, to date. I should have asked.

Waiter Carlos prepares Caesar salad tableside.

For my entree, I chose crab imperial in pastry. My husband, in keeping with the pastry theme, chose a cheesy chicken tenderloin/tortellini/prosciuitto mixture wrapped in pastry, which he said he enjoyed very much.

When the time came for dessert, I had my eye on a pumpkin martini, but my hopes were dashed since they were out of some ingredient. I'm a sucker for all kinds of pumpkin drinks and love this time of year because of it. Mike, who rarely orders dessert, predictably passed on it this time, so when a creme brulee emerged from the kitchen as a gift for the birthday boy, we were pleasantly surprised. I must say it was delicious, even though all I managed to get was a meager spoonful since someone devoured it in record time.

Although I blame construction and the fact that it was a Tuesday night on the lack of diners, I  do hope that this cool, old gem of a place survives the multi-mullion street project taking place in the borough. I can see how the detours and lack of parking on the block can be a deterrent.

I also learned recently that the owner hired a firm a few years ago to upgrade the old house, which is showing just a few signs of being a bit "long in the tooth." 

You can read more about that here.

Before we exited, I took a picture of the outside of the house as it looks today--of course since we are now plunged into darkness at 6 p.m., there's not much to see here.

Alfred's Victorian--front view at night.

Here's to hoping the Alfred's can survive another 45 years!

In keeping (innkeeping?) with the Victorian theme, it's off to another Victorian mansion called "The Queen" in Bellefonte, the town where I was born. Can't wait to learn more about the history of the property and to tell you more about this small Pennsylvania town in the next few days.

Gourmet Subscription Box Service "Try the World"

Not long ago, I viewed a tweet from the Huffington Post touting a subscription service called "Try the World." My curiosity piqued, I investigated further and discovered that those who sign up receive a box of gourmet food items every two months from various parts of the world.

This certainly appealed to the foodie in me, so I gave it a shot, especially since the first "Paris" box was offered free of charge to start, with future boxes costing $39. Shortly after signing up, the first box arrived at my door and within two weeks, a second box appeared.

Let me first say that the boxes are sturdy, attractive and perfect for re-purposing. I intend to use mine for Christmas gift packaging in a the next several weeks.

Each shipment contains a "culture guide." The Paris booklet listed French movies, poetry, and links to French landmarks like the Louvre, along with a page describing several French places to enjoy food and drink. A Parisian playlist included classic and contemporary music. If you don't mind signing up for Spotify, you can listen here.

Now on to the food. The Paris box contained a variety of products curated by Chef Christophe Schmitt, from the Michelin-rated Le Diane.

The first three items could be considered Continental breakfast accoutrements.  They included a small selection of tea from Palace des Thes, buttery cookies known as "L Mere Poulard's Palets (touted as a French favorites since 1888), and a jar of fig jelly, which I imagine would top off a croissant quite nicely. .

"Try the World" Paris Box Items

Up next was a generous amount of finishing salt which can be used in many recipes. Harvested from the pink salt flats of the French Mediterranean coast, the product can be used to brighten the flavor of raw tomatoes, or add sizzle to the flavor of a steak. I will be using some of mine to top the homemade caramels that I make this time of year.

The Paris box also included a seven ounce jar of Domaines des Vignes mustard, crafted from seeds and vinegar distilled from Bordeaux and Charente wines. The product will pair nicely with the pork liver confit (seen below), to top toast points.

More items in the Paris Box

One item that left me scratching my head was the tube of chestnut spread, so I proceeded to search the "Try the World" website for suggestions on how to use the product. Turns out, it's often used in France as a topping for croissants, but can also be used in Greek yogurt, or on ice cream, as well. The delicate tasting, sweet spread is high in nutrition and low in calories.

Delving into the Spain Box
The Spain box hails from the imagination of Chef Jamie Bissonnette, a star tapas chef, James Beard award winner and owner of the acclaimed tapas restaurant Toro, with locations in Boston and New York.

The accompanying booklet contains tapas recipes, a party playlist including classics and contemporary music, directions on how to play a party card game called Siete Y Media and top sites in Spain to add to your travel list.

Canned white tuna, extra-virgin olive oil, salsa and smoked paprika were among the savory items.

Items in the "Spain" Box

The paprika tin with its vintage graphics was very cute and I found myself inspired to make chicken paprikash after receiving the ingredient.

Spanish Paprika

Here's the finished paprikash, which turned out well and had a nice depth of flavor. You too can make it by clicking on the recipe here, although you'll have to do a little work too, I suppose.

Chicken Paprikash

The sweet items included a jasmine petal jam, which I intend to save for visiting company this holiday season. A rather dry cortadillo, known aptly as a crumble cake, was also included and crafted with a recipe developed over 100 years ago, according to the enclosed card. Sometimes people take nostalgia a bit too far; I, for one, could have done without it.

Faring much better, in my opinion was the sweet confection called turron. Since 1883, El Almendro has been producing the crunchy, light holiday candy. The turron in my box was made with crushed almonds--too bad the box was a little crushed too when it arrived at my doorstep, not unlike the cookies in the Paris box.

I'm on the fence as to whether I will keep subscribing, but do like that you can pause your subscriptions and re-start them at a later date. All in all, I was pleased with the products and will likely order again.

My next two updates will have a Victorian theme since next week I will be dining at a decades-old restaurant called Alfred's Victorian, which is said, by the way, to be haunted.

Later on in the week, I will be staying overnight at a Victorian Bed and Breakfast in Bellfonte, Pa called "The Queen." I'm looking forward to seeing the proprietor's collection of antiques and poking around the town in the 70+degree weather they are predicting.

Culinary Tour of Adams County--Final Day

On the third and last day of our culinary tour of Adams County, we visited Cornerstone Farm, a beautiful old home once owned by Isaac M. Bucher and now operating as a Bed and Breakfast.

According to historical records, the Confederate troops occupied both this and neighboring properties from June 19 through July 10, 1863. Christian Shank, Bishop of the Mummasburg Mennonite Church, was Bucher's closest neighbor and his barn and house were commandeered by the Confederates as a field hospital during that time.

Records show that Bucher filed a claim with the Auditor General requesting reimbursement for "two horses and cattle taken by the 'dirty Rebs' July 1-3 from my fields."

Today, guests who stay at the property can choose from among five unique rooms, each with its own gas fireplace. Visitors wake up every morning to a delectable breakfast and a bucolic view.

A view of the horses from the breakfast table at Cornerstone Farm in Gettysburg

Front view of Cornerstone Farm in October

During our visit, we were treated to a breakfast which included homemade English muffins, granola, a rustic apple tart with walnuts and cranberries, a light, spinach/mushroom/leek frittata and an asparagus squash pancetta medley, expertly prepared by culinary student extraordinaire Taylor Bevard.

Squash, asparagus, pancetta medley, spinach, mushroom, leek frittata and rustic apple tart.

One unique, noteworthy aspect of the "Cornerstone Farm" is that it also operates as a non-profit organization called "Patriots Place," where veterans, their spouses and family caregivers can stay free of charge for relaxation, equine activities and more.

Off to Hollabaugh Bros.

Family owned and operated, Hollebaugh Bros., Inc., located in Biglerville, is a favorite stop for locals seeking a variety of products fresh from the onsite fruit and vegetable farm.

During our visit, we tried our hand at apple dumplings while visiting their on-site kitchen, then toured the farm via hayride while they baked. During the ride, we learned all about what it takes to keep four generations motivated to maintain a thriving family business. 

Apples at Hollabaugh Bros., Inc.

They even carry apple candles

Learning to make apple dumplings at Hollabaugh Bros., Inc.

Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped at  Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium, a perennial favorite of children all around the region. 

A giant elephant at Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium

Mr. Ed made national news one holiday season when his hot-air balloon took an unfortunate detour and became stuck in the trees above Caledonia State Park

Be sure to visit Mr. Ed's website to learn more about the colorful entrepreneur. His family owned and operated business is located on the historic Lincoln Highway, otherwise known as Rt. 30.

Now that Adam's County is a wrap, it on to more about Try the World," an update I promised before and failed to deliver--my apologies. 
The food box subscription service features a different country each month. Stay tuned for more on the Spain and Paris boxes and instructions on how to make a dish with one of the ingredients contained therein.

Adams County Culinary Tour--Part II

After our Savor Gettysburg Tour, we visited the site of the future Mason Dixon Distillery located at 331 E. Water Street and set to open in 2016. From the early 1900s to 1950, the sprawling property was home to a furniture-making business where many Gettysburg residents were employed.

Mason Dixon Distillery--Where the magic happens

Owner Yianni Barakos, who has been working on the project for six years now, is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and anticipates celebrating a grand opening in a short few months. 

The spacious interior maintains many of its original features, like old wooden beams and exposed brick. Guests who enter the large tasting room can indulge in rum, vodka and whisky crafted in small batches and an outside area will be used for live musical entertainment. 

Barakos' vision for the distillery is to promote communication, as if the spirits themselves won't sufficiently grease those wheels. The kitchen will specialize in small plates for sharing, and Barakos is contemplating banning cell phones. "I want people to talk to each other, not stare down at phones," he shouts fervently. "Maybe we'll see how that goes," he adds later, with a laugh.

After our visit, it was time to check in to the Federal Pointe Inn. Located in the Gettysburg Historic District, the Federal Pointe Inn was built in 1896, serving first as the Meade Elementary School, then later as a high school. 

Federal Pointe Inn Meeting Room

Front of Gettysburg's Federal Pointe Inn

Federal Pointe Inn Pub Area

Today the building serves as an 18-room boutique hotel, pub and meeting facility.
Owners Pete and Liz Monahan have taken pains to preserve the architectural integrity of the structure. Artifacts like old classroom doors, chalkboards and pictures of students can be seen throughout the property. Ranked number three by TripAdvisor for Gettysburg hotels, the Inn is known for it's spacious and comfortable accommodations and has received a Certificate of Excellence from the site.

After a bit of down time, we were off again to the next culinary destination--Fidler and Co. Craft Kitchen in Biglerville, where we had the pleasure of meeting Chef Josh Fidler. Fidler, who is passionate about his food, paired local wines with a delightful tasting menu comprised of deviled eggs done three ways--with sriracha mousse, bacon and smoked paprika.

Up next was a selection of cured meets and cheeses,followed by mussels served in a red curry, coconut milk sauce with just a hint of lime and basil. Those of us who usually pass on the mussels, couldn't help but admit that the dish was tasty and many were seen scooping up the liquid that was left behind with the rustic bread provided on the side.

The humble pork and beans up next ended being the highlight of the meal. The hearty, earthy dish was nothing like the pork and beans of your childhood. Rettland farm braised pork was perched atop a delicious bean ragout and topped with pork gravy. Most agreed that the dish was a standout and we were quite content to stop there, but Fidler had one more savory dish up his sleeve. Tender, delicately seasoned octopus arrived next, served with chimichurri, fingerling potatoes and corn salsa.

Fidler & Co. Pork & Beans

Charcuterie & Cheese at Fidler & Co. in Biglerville, Pa

Creme brulee as the denouement

When dessert was served I was sure I wouldn't be able to finish it, but was game to take just a few bites.  With my spoon, I broke through the caramelized sugar to the creamy custard beneath and all restraint went out the window. Oohs and ahhs emanated from the mouths of my table mates as we finished our meals without the least bit of reluctance.

Fidler & Co. is open for brunch, lunch and dinner and is well worth a visit.

Next Up: The last part of the Adams County Culinary Tour, which includes a visit to a B&B, a Fruit Farm & Market, a Winery and lastly, a cozy little eatery located on the corner of Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg.

A Culinary Trip to Adams County

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I joined several other writers for a two-day tour of the culinary treasures of Adams County, starting with a Savor Gettysburg “Historic Downtown Food Tour,” led by Lori Korczyk, who founded the Savor Gettysburg series of tours just last year.

Our particular tour took us on a 1.5-mile walk to seven different establishments, starting with the Garryowen Irish Pub. Named after a popular drinking song in Limerick, the Garryowen Irish pub is the only Irish-owned pub in Gettysburg and dates back to 1831. The cozy little place is as charming as it is quaint and is comprised of several small rooms and a large bar area with an attractive, old bar constructed of dark wood, which has likely been privy to many secrets over the years.

Our hosts presented us with the miniature version of a house specialty—a savory Shepherd’s pie. Few of us could wait to break through the lightly browned mashed potato topping to the steamy hot, flavorful, beefy gravy, brimming with vegetables. The delicious dish warmed our insides on that brisk, October day.

Shepherd's Pie at Garryowen Irish Pub

Inside of Garryowen Irish Pub

When we finished, we followed Korczyk along the street to the next destination, learning more about history and settlers like Samuel Gettys along the way.

During our walk, we viewed the bronze Lincoln Statue located just outside the Wills House on the Gettysburg Square. Deemed the “Return Visit,” the statue, created by J. Seward Johnson, Jr., depicts Lincoln standing next to a modern-day civilian and pointing to the house as if to say, “That’s where I completed my Gettysburg Address," said our guide.

Other stops included “One Lincoln Square,” the restaurant located inside the Gettysburg Hotel. Korczyk led our group past a stunning wall of copper cookery and past diners enjoying their food with Gettysburg Address wallpaper as a backdrop.  We took our seats at high-topped tables near an oversized mahogany bar to enjoy a rich, creamy dish of crab macaroni and cheese.

Inside of One Lincoln

Later that day we  stopped at the Hauser Estate winery where we quaffed a selection of red and white wines and a delicious hard cider called “Jacks,” named after the grandfather of the owner, who was once President of Musselman’s applesauce.

We also visited “Kaitlyn’s Café on the Square,” where we enjoyed a sampling of a turkey/bacon/avocado sandwich and a tangy Reuben on rye, which one member of our group pronounced “delicious” despite disliking Reubens.

Towards the end of the tour, we paid a visit to The Ragged Edge Coffee House, the name of which I recognized from an article I wrote months before on a locally produced paranormal thriller called “Ghosting,” part of which was filmed there. (You can read my article here.)

http://www.flipsidepa.com/ci_28760702/mont-altos-supernatural-thriller-coming-hershey-harrisburg-film

Before arriving at our last destination of the tour, we stopped at the Shriver House and were led by a docent to the award-winning garden in the back of the structure where we learned more about civilian life during the war.

Docent at the Shriver House

Later that day we  stopped at the Hauser Estate winery where we quaffed a selection of red and white wines and a delicious hard cider called “Jacks,” named after the grandfather of the owner who was once President of Musselman’s applesauce.

Next Up: More about the Federal Pointe Inn, our divine dining experience at Fidler & Company in Biglerville, Pennsylvania and the subsequent stops along the tour. 

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.