2020-12-08 07:45:01
From the homestyle fare of traditional Amish folks to trendsetting dishes by James Beard Award-winning chefs, Pennsylvania’s culinary scene is as diverse as it is delicious. Find flavors that feed your belly and your soul, whether it’s from a roadside farm stand in the countryside, at a craft brewery in the bustle of the big city, or at a mom-and-pop shop in a historic small town. Field Notes With its verdant farmlands, peaceful pastures, and orchards laden with sun-ripened fruits, Pennsylvania boasts a bounty of local ingredients and farm-to-fork experiences of all kinds. DINNER ON THE FARM Food simply doesn’t get fresher. At Dawson’s Orchards in Enon Valley, buy a ticket to the Dawson Farm Dinner Series to sit among the apple trees as local chefs use seasonal produce to create each dish, which is then paired with drinks from local wineries and breweries. Just southeast of Pittsburgh at Churchview Farm, notable chefs showcase ingredients grown onsite at the Farm Dinner Series. Go on a farm tour, sip a welcome cocktail, and fill up on a multi-course meal served among the fields. PICK YOUR OWN Surround yourself in the rural charm of farmlands as you wander the fields at Solebury Orchards in New Hope to pick blueberries, blackberries, and cherries in the summertime. Visit again in the fall to go apple picking and to take in the spectacular foliage on a wagon ride. At Shenk’s Berry Farm in Lititz, stock up on ripe strawberries and raspberries—whether you pick them yourself or just grab a pint from the farm stand. EAT LOCAL At TREE Restaurant at The Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley, dine among the treetops of the Pocono Mountains as you savor artfully crafted dishes prepared from a bounty of seasonal, locally grown vegetables and naturally raised meats. Babe’s Grill House in Palmyra has been serving up locally sourced organic fare since 2013. The produce and meat served all come from local plows and pastures. Babe’s also offers 16 beers on tap and “locally sourced” entertainment. DRINK LOCAL Sip spirits made from grain grown and milled onsite when you visit the family-run Eight Oaks Farm Distillery in New Tripoli. From pinot noir-finished bourbon to barrel-aged applejack, try them straight or mixed into a specialty cocktail. Or, pop into the tasting room at Davenport Fruit Farm Cidery & Winery in Meadville and sample small-batch hard ciders made from fruits grown in the orchards and wines made from locally grown grapes. Bradford Brew Station in Bradford carries only Pennsylvania-made wine, spirits, and ciders, making it easy to enjoy local flavors. Amazing Pastabilities Their shapes reminiscent of sculpture, their names evoking poetry, the handcrafted pastas of chef Anthony Andiario are otherworldly. There’s the crowned fan of creste di gallo (rooster’s crest), the spiked whorl of denti del drago (teeth of the dragon)—and of course, playful iterations such as his arugula capunti, resembling an opened peapod, and his foglie cadute: curly leaf-shaped pasta, colored green with stinging nettles. All of these culinary artworks are then crafted into flavorful dishes reflecting the ephemeral agricultural gems of the season—just-shelled peas, bloodred beets, delicate squash blossoms—which are served with care at his eponymous Andiario restaurant in West Chester. Follow chef Anthony Andiario on Instagram to see what he’s making now. LIKE A PRO HANDS-ON COOKING CLASSES Learn from the experts at Vetri Cucina—helmed by James Beard award-winning chef Marc Vetri—in Philadelphia when you book your spot in one of its Italian cooking classes. At The Kitchen Shoppe and Cooking School in Carlisle, sign up for a class to pick up new techniques that could range from pickling to making crêpes. For a weekend getaway, stay in Mercersburg at the charming Mercersburg Inn and delve into two days of hands-on French cooking classes. Learn how to make your own cheese at Caputo Brothers Creamery in Spring Grove, or drop into the demonstration kitchen at Easton Public Market in Easton to take a cooking class for adults or kids. Beautiful Bites 4 PICKS FOR PERFECT PASTA ALTA VIA Pittsburgh From sunny-yellow rounds of ravioli stuffed with locally sourced River View Dairy goat cheese to neatly folded tortellini filled with spinach ricotta, this modern Italian restaurant churns out handmade pasta daily. altaviapgh.com LUCA Lancaster One peek at the everchanging menu and you might see pillowy gnocchi smothered in wild ramp pesto, duck-stuffed tortellini swimming in broth, or pappardelle ladled with chunky beef cheek ragù— all handmade. lucalancaster.com OSTERIA Philadelphia Taste your way through an array of flavor profiles told through pasta, from the delicately sweet cappellacci with pumpkin, ameretti, and sage to the savory francobolli with trumpet mushroom, robiola, and thyme. osteriaphilly.com SWEET BASIL Shippenville The finest Italian is not just an urban delight. Neither the chicken andulini with tomatoes in a garlic cream sauce nor the shrimp and crawfish alfredo will disappoint. Gluten free options abound. sweetbasilitalianrestaurantandbar.com Snack Attack FACTORY TOuRS FOR TASTY TREATS Thanks to its proud agricultural and manufacturing legacy, Pennsylvania produces some of the world’s best-loved snacks. Get a firsthand look at how these favorite munchies are made on a factory tour—and free samples just sweeten the deal. SNYDER’S OF HANOVER Known as America’s Pretzel Bakery for more than 100 years, Snyder’s carries on the tradition with an array of snacks still made in Hanover today. Take the free in-house walking tour that combines the company’s history with its state-of-the-art manufacturing. The tour is suited for ages 5 and up. (Reservations required.) HERR’S SNACK FACTORY TOURS Plan a flavorful family outing to Herr’s Snack Factory in Nottingham. The hour-long experience starts with a brief history of the company, followed by a plant tour where you’ll learn how Herr’s makes its chips, pretzels, and popcorn so tasty. Before you go, stop by the snack bar to grab goodies for the road. MARTIN’S POTATO CHIPS Martin’s is famous for its delectable “kettle cook’d” potato chips, still made one batch at time in Thomasville. On the factory tour, you’ll see potatoes come straight off the trucks, sent into the frying room (where you’ll enjoy warm samples), seasoned, packaged, and finally sent out for distribution. Advance reservations are required. UTZ POTATO CHIPS Utz began in a home kitchen in 1921, cooking small batches of potato chips for local grocers. Now the Hanover company produces more than 3.3 million pounds of snacks per week. At the 600,000-square-foot Utz factory, take a self-guided tour through a special glass-enclosed observation gallery that looks down on the production process from beginning to end. JULIUS STURGIS PRETZEL BAKERY Julius Sturgis started as a bread bakery in 1850, but soon made the switch to pretzels, opening the first commercial pretzel bakery in America. Visit the Lititz factory to try your hand at pretzel twisting (using a play-dough mixture), observe bakers crafting old-fashioned soft pretzels by hand, and shop for delicious treats and souvenirs. A Sweet Time Pennsylvania has an illustrious history of producing scrumptious sweets. 1875 Miesse Candies Using all-natural ingredients, Miesse makes chocolates that delight taste buds in Lancaster and beyond. 1894 Hershey’s Get to know the brand that’s nearly synonymous with “chocolate.” Take a free chocolate making tour and savor a sample at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Then, learn about the history at The Hershey Story. 1897 Gardners Candies In Tyrone, Gardners crafts beautifully decorated candies, including the customer-favorite Gardners Original Peanut Butter Meltaways. 1931 Turkey Hill Dairy Calling all ice cream fanatics! The Turkey Hill Experience tour in Columbia features interactive exhibits and the chance to create your own virtual flavor. 1947 Redstone Candy Company Once a popular spot for socializing in the small coal-mining town of Republic, this historic sweet factory is still well-known for its chocolate egg-shaped treats loaded with fresh nuts. 1963 Sarris Candies Visit this factory, shop, and old-fashioned ice cream parlor in Canonsburg for sundaes and shakes—and to pick up a BashCake: a cupcake-shaped confection filled with chocolate-covered pretzels. 1994 Romolo Chocolates Generations of candy makers resulted in this family-owned shop and café in Erie, where you’ll find Grandpa Romolo’s Famous Sponge Candy: a crunchy, airy sugar taffy coated in chocolate. Feels Like Home GET COZY WITH TRADITIONAL AMISH CuISINE Drive through the countryside to get a glimpse into the lives of the Pennsylvania Dutch—descendants of German immigrants that settled in the area before 1800. Whether you take a horse-drawn buggy ride or tour a living history attraction, one thing’s for sure: no experience is complete without filling up on Amish cuisine. Hearty and homey, traditional Amish recipes were passed down through generations and were intended to sustain folks for a hard day’s work. Today, this fare is the perfect way to refuel for a day of sightseeing. Belly up to the counter at Dutch Eating Place at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia and order the famous Homemade Chicken Pot Pie—a savory broth loaded with chunks of chicken, vegetables, and doughy dumplings. At Good ‘N Plenty Restaurant in Smoketown, order the PA Dutch Sampler for a taste of Amish staples: chicken, meatloaf, and a serving of pork-and-sauerkraut. In Ronks, look for the windmill of Dutch Haven, a roadside stand dating back to 1946, where you can order its famous Shoo-Fly Pie—a gooey, sticky, lip-smacking confection of brown sugar, cinnamon, and molasses-flavored filling inside a winter wheat pastry shell. Or go for all-you-can-eat buffets, such as Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord in Bird-in-Hand and, on the other side of the state in Smicksburg, The Amish House, to make sure you try a little of everything. FOLLOW THE MAPLE TRAIL Take a road trip through the Laurel Highlands, where more than 90 maple farms and nearly 120,500 taps produce approximately 27,000 gallons of maple syrup every year. Here are a few stops to get you started. SILVER HORSE COFFEE Start your morning right at Silver Horse Coffee in Donegal, where the maple latté is made with local maple syrup. SOMERSET HISTORICAL CENTER Pay a visit to the Somerset Historical Center’s Maple Sugar Camp in Somerset, a recreation of a typical 1860s permanent sugar camp, which highlights the historical techniques used in maple syrup production from Colonial times to present day. BAER BROS. CAMP This working sugar camp in Friedens makes syrup much as it was done for the past century on local farms (with a little new technology mixed in). Watch maple syrup boil over a wood-fired evaporator, and learn how to make spotza—a special maple treat—during the sugaring process. WHITEHORSE BREWING Cap off your busy day at this craft brewery in Berlin, where you can sip on brews like Maple Wheat and Sugar Camp Saison. See more sweet stops on the trail at visitPA.com/trip/tapped-maple-trail. Wine Tasting Getaways Whether for a quick weekend escape or a longer retreat, indulge with a wine tasting getaway across three distinct trails throughout the state, from the stunning waterfront views of Lake Erie Wine Country to the quaint Susquehanna Heartland and gentle rolling hills of Bucks County. LAKE ERIE WINE COUNTRY Home to the nation’s largest grape-growing territory outside California, Lake Erie Wine Country offers Victorian charm and distinguished vineyards. Located in the town of North East, Penn Shore Winery and Vineyards offers an array of wines paired with breathtaking views along the Lake Erie shoreline, while Arundel Cellars & Brewing Company, set amid agricultural lands, serves apple wine and craft beers alongside sweet whites and vivacious reds. Also in North East, visit Mazza Vineyards to enjoy views of rolling hillsides while sipping on its ever-popular Niagara wine, a sweet and fruity white wine made from the Niagara grape. In the namesake city of Erie, visit 6 Mile Cellars on their 6-acre Niagara vineyard for aromatic white wines, and then peruse the collection at Erie Art Museum before turning in for the night at Spencer House Bed & Breakfast. SUSQUEHANNA HEARTLAND Wine tastes better in Happy Valley. State College is home to Happy Valley Vineyards & Winery, as well as The State Theatre, a downtown cultural hub for cinema and live performances. Nearby Sky’s the Limit Ballooning in Lemont is the perfect detour for a Champagne toast on a hot air balloon ride. In Middleburg, visit Shade Mountain Winery, Pennsylvania’s largest independent vineyard, for an impressive variety of handcrafted wines, including specialties such as mint and ice wines. For a true wine destination, stay overnight at family owned Brookmere Winery & Vineyard Inn in Belleville or Juniata Valley Winery and Wilson House Bed & Breakfast in South Mifflin. BUCKS COUNTY Experience the rich heritage and worldclass wines of Bucks County, just outside Philadelphia. The vinifera grapes and Old-World style at Sand Castle Winery in Erwinna produce classic wines of the finest quality. In Newtown, Crossing Vineyards & Winery is located less than a mile from where George Washington crossed the Delaware in 1776, and Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery has a history of its own on the 100-year-old family farm. To round out your wine weekend, stop by the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle in Doylestown and Peddler’s Village in New Hope with its 65 shops and restaurants, before spending the night at the charming Fox & Hound Bed & Breakfast. Live Music Nights Wine and live music make for a lovely pairing and these local wineries hit all the right notes. Whispering Oaks Vineyard in Sunbury, Penns Woods Winery in Chadds Ford, Vinoski Winery in Belle Vernon, and Stone Villa Wine Cellars in Acme are renowned for their steady schedules of live entertainment. Find more Foodie Fun at visitPA.com/foodie-fun
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