The Savory Gourmet, in Lititz...

Lititz has been renaissance-ing itself for years now.  At one time the best thing they had going for them was a small town feel with a neat little chocolate company in the middle of town.

Now, they have become a destination town, with a days worth of shopping and restaurants all within walking distance of the town center.  Small unique shops and interesting non-chain eateries, with a very nice (Pokemon laden (YES!) park and some beautiful old homes.  The General Sutter Inn on the main square has fine dining, upscale patios with bar and dinner service, and a hella cool classic British pub with all the traditional pub fare.

Our first time dining at the Sutter, we ordered a cheese tray.  The flavors were so impressive, we badgered our waitress into revealing their source.  It happened to be just a block or two away.... The Savory Gourmet at 53 N. Broad Street.

Recently we made a trip to Lititz with the intention of visiting this little cheese shop, only to find it's really so much more.  Very tasty and unusual cheeses, true, but also exotic meats and gourmet comestibles. They also have weird, and wild choices like crickets, scorpions, and tarantulas served in a few interesting ways.

The owners (Bill and Missy McMahon) work the counter themselves, and really throw themselves into what they do.

They are also borderline evil. (LOL. They really aren't! Himself is just being dramatic)

'Lemme 'Splain.....

You see, they give free samples of their cheeses.  Like drug dealers.... "Psst..... hey Buddy...... Wanna have a free taste?"  Then, while you stand there melting in happiness as the flavor explodes in your mouth.... they push yet another 'free sample' across the counter to you.  Before you know it.... you Have To Have All The Cheeses!!!

Their knowledge is extensive.  They know their products, and they know their customers.  Trying to build a get-together and want to impress?  They'll be there with guidance.  Need something to
remind you why life is worth living? A special treat for an intimate dinner?  Just the right pairing for a great wine?  Yup.... just ask them.  Not just the cheese, but other special offerings as well.  Truly exceptional olive oil (from their family's estate in Italy. They are the only seller in the US and it is really spectacular!)..... spectacular fruit jams.... unusual marinades and sauces..... yeah, they got that.

The cool thing about Bill and Missy is that they are foodies too! But much like us, they are not weird or snobby about it.  They get excited about your reactions to their great wares. They want to share their knowledge and enjoyment in simple pleasures with their customer's. I am thrilled they are going to put in tasting tables, because it is the kind of place I would love to sit and chat about food, cheese, and wine. 

We managed to escape with only 5 outstanding cheeses, spending just $26.    A very good value, to my mind, as every one of those cheeses is an experience in itself.  Like..... a plate with a small round of cheese, some suitable crackers, and a little knife.  Warmed to room temperature, and shared with guests as a special treat.  The Gorgonzola..... oh man.... I can't wait to grill some steaks and top them with crumbles of that amazing rich cheese. 

Today we shared the Horseradish Cheddar with family.  Warmed in the sun, and dabbed onto soda crackers.... it was stunningly good.

If you have a hankering for some of the finer ways to impress your palate, make the trip to Lititz and stop in at The Savory Gourmet.  Just remember.... keep your wits about when they start waving samples at you!

(Update)  The Savory Gourmet is now open seven days a week.

Appel Valley Butcher Shop...... A quick mini review

The necessaries:

Appel Valley Butcher Shop
531A Beaver Valley Pike
Lancaster, PA.
717-947-4241
Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
On Facebook Here.

MEAT.  
GOOD MEAT.
ME LIKE GOOD MEAT!
ARRRGGG!!!!
(Yes, ladies he is quite the catch!)

Yeah, so just take a quick drive down past Willow Street on 222, and on the left is a little butcher shop.  It's tucked back in a way, sitting right where 741 takes a left and heads to Strasburg.

If you like MEAT.... GOOD meat.....  Just do it.  You decide if I am right or wrong here.

Today we bought three racks of ribs, a few pounds of all-beef brats (dinner!), and some meat sticks to snack on (yeah he ate all those, I ate some too. Did you know chickens love meat sticks? I wish himself had gotten a video of me chasing the chicken, to get back the WHOLE stick she stole!).   The ribs are down with a rub in the fridge, and will be cooking all day long tomorrow....

Back at the Sutter, part II

(Part I is here....)

Meanwhile, back at our room in the Inn.......
The whole point of this weekend was to be a birthday getaway gift to Herself. Having a nice room for the night was part of the gift, and it truly worked out well. (Himself is the provider of the best presents!)
With the room, all pressure was off to go anywhere, do anything, and we were okay to drink any adult beverages our little shriveled black hearts desired.

I cannot believe he chose this picture. 😒

Herself took to it like a duck being flung into a pond. The sigh of satisfaction as she dropped onto the bed (which someone else would have to make) was monumental.  Almost Homeric (I had to look this up to see if it was a real word. At least I am cute!)

The plan being showers and a nap before meeting friends on the patio and going to dinner in the fancy dining room.
Well.... showers happened, anyway... lol.  Then it became Mystery-Food-Theater 3000 as we watched the Food Channel and commented our way through the show. 

Whatever.... we do what we want.  You ain't the bosses of us! Nor probably would you want to, I suspect we are like herding cats.

The room, at $182 for the night, is not inexpensive.  On the other hand, it was darn nice little suite-ish kind of place, stocked with nice furniture, fair amenities, and.... um...... window air conditioners.  Check in at 3 (but they let us have it an hour early) and check out at 11am, with a hot breakfast thrown in for good measure.   Or not.   More on that later.

Lets get back to the festivities, shall we?

A bit after 4ish, the better half of our dinner partners arrived to take possession of their room.  Meeting up in the hallway, we all headed back to the patio on that beautiful day, there to await our last compatriot.  What's that you say?  Yet more beer and fancy mixed drinks served up by our favorite waitress, Lori?  Oh Hell Yes!
I had another pint or two of the excellent Old Speckled Hen, Herself had something Foo-Foo as she is want to do, and our friend had a nice looking hard cider.  I think we were all happy with our drinks, as they kept flowing without interruption :-Having time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere at the Sutter's patio bar on a gorgeous day is nothing short of magical.  Good friends, good drinks, dappled sunshine and cooling breezes, a great person taking care of us.... that is simply a wonderful way to spend some time.   We could feel the relaxation sinking in, as our worries and troubles faded away.

The last of our party arrived around 6, after spending the day volunteering at building a steam railroad.   We encouraged downwind seating for him, and had a beer on it's way without delay. The man had earned it! Railroading is hard work!
Here's where our grand plan for the weekend took a left turn, happily.  We decided it was simply too nice out to keep that reservation in the dining room and  voted to have dinner outside on the patio.  When Laurie (Yes, different spelling every time. ONE has to be right, right? You my love, are a mess!) let us know the Scotch Flights were available on the patio, our fate was sealed.
Yeah.... I said 'Scotch Flights'.  Just like a beer tasting flight, only with premium grade Scotch.  Three not-so-wee glasses to a flight, each designed to highlight some characteristic of the liquid gold. It was these tasting flights which had encouraged us to plan this weekend months before.

Our Bud all cleaned up (no lie, he cleans up well! One would almost never know that an hour earlier you had to sit down wind!), we laid into some tasty appetizers.  A huge pretzel bread on a plate, two cheese plates fully decked out in goodness, and a crab artichoke dip I got nary a nibble of. I got more than a nibble! It was crab and artichoke with cream cheese and warm and ooey-gooey. YUM!   The big, warm, soft pretzel was served with thinly sliced apples and a perfect crude mustard (I believe it was a stone ground honey mustard). 

A plate full of soft pretzel is a fine match for pints of cold beer, enjoyed in the open air. The apple made a nice counterpoint to the salty pretzel and deeply flavored mustard.  It all just... worked.
The cheese plate....Oh man.  What a treat it is!  Three kinds of cheese, served in goodly amounts, and accompanied by mustard, candied nuts, dried fruit, hard crackers, olives, and Pita points.
The cheese comes from a gourmet shop just up the street, which we had visited that morning.  The place fully deserves it's own review, and that will be coming up later this year.  Suffice to say... the cheeses that made it this plate were exceptional.I've said it before... I just don't see how the Sutter can serve that plate for only $10, and make any money on it.  If I wished to make cheese snacking plates at home for Herself and I, I could do no better than this. Those candied nuts on that plate are a huge win, they blend so well with the cheeses. 

Appa-snacks having been thoroughly nommed into submission, and our glasses refilled... it was on to the main course.

SCOTCH FLIGHTS!

Oh, we ordered dinner as well, each of us having something tasty to round out the evening meal.  Herself and I shared a burger which was tasty and well done.  She can tell you all about it.

I, friends am a burger snob. Burgers are probably my favorite food when done right. This was a juicy burger with blue cheese, beer sauteed onions, bacon and served on a perfect roll. I added no ketchup, mayo or anything. I removed the devil fruit (Tomato. it is not his favorite and the lettuce because I honestly think sometimes these things cover or get in the way of the flavor of a good burger) the burger was also served with one of the best mac and cheeses I have ever had in  a restaurant. I almost did not want to share with Himself! But I did because everyday I aim to be a better human, or at least a slightly less wretched one. 

Our friends, a Chicken BLT which was reported as 'Tasty', but not having enough bacon to earn the name BLT.   On the other side of the table, a Shepard's Pie, which looked good.  It was said to be tasty as well. Per Lori (the best waitress ever!) it is her favorite thing on the menu. I still want the chicken tikka masala, which is her 3rd favorite. Her number 2 is the chicken and leek pie. Leek is sadly such an underrated veggie in the US. I personally love it. 

Look friends, I have to confess to a significant fail in reporting here.  Not only did I fail to get photos and good descriptions of the mains; I even failed to remember a few wobbles in the service.  A drink or two that didn't make it to the table, a missing setup I had to go ask for at the serving station, a general issue with the layout which forced servers to almost lap the building on every order, the hotel proper being blocked off for a wedding party.... (We later figured it out, it was all Kenny's fault! 😄 Sorry Kenny!) 

Honestly, we were enjoying the evening so much, the little hiccups did not matter. The servers were definitely doing the best they could to keep up. The evening was beautiful and we did choose the patio which is away from a lot of the things that make servers lives' easier. 

I'll not hide anything.  I was eye's only for the three Scotch Flights we had ordered, which arrived just moments before the food. (Himself does love his Bourbon and Scotch)

SCOTCH FLIGHTS!!  Nine different Scotches to taste and share! This IMHO is an excellent way to try scotches! We had the following that we shared among the three of us: 

MUCH BETTER BLENDS
Blends were what made Scotch whisky a global success, and the better blends are still considered the real masterpieces by acclaimed master blenders. Here are three greats           17 
Antiquary 21 yr Incredibly well-integrated, beautifully balanced, a dream blend 
Chivas Regal 18 yr A beautiful aged blend, this effortlessly balances malt and cocoa sweetness,  light fruit notes, and a soothing oaky spice
Cutty Sark Prohibition Definitely not the Cutty Sark you know. Boldly spicy, 100 proof 

WOOD MAKES WHISKY
It's a rule of thumb that at least 50% of a whisky's flavor (and all of its color) comes from the barrel. Scotch whisky almost always ages in either ex-bourbon barrels or ex-sherry barrels. Taste the difference           14.5 
Auchenstan American Oak Fruit and spice with the vanilla of American oak 
The Dalmore 12 yr A famously sherry-heavy malt; vinous, orange, even chocolate 
Balvenie Doublewood 12yr A combination of both cask types; taste the blend 

THE SPEYSIDERS
Speyside is the heart of Scotland's distilling; there are more whisky distilleries concentrated here than anywhere else on earth. There's the giant Glenlivet, the vintage-driven Glenrothes, and the seldom-seen Longmorn          19.25 
Glenlivet Nadurra 16 yr An uncommon Glenlivet: cask strength and burly with it 
Glenrothes 1998 Still consistently underrated; full of vanilla, spices, and nuts
Longmorn 16yr Almost an archetype Speyside; malt-focused, lush, fruity

Now as a reviewer of things I could sit here and tell you what was good, and what I disliked, but here is the thing, Scotch is a personal taste and no one can tell you what you should or should not like! (although I will recommend the Auchenstan American Oak, as my personal favorite! 😉)


The desserts here are a tasty way to end the meal. I had the PRETZEL SALTED CARAMEL ICE CREAM CAKE (described as being made with crushed dark chocolate pretzels, salted caramel ice cream and an Oreo crust) and himself had ordered  the KENTUCKY BOURBON PECAN PIE (described as: Butter caramel pecans, layered in rich gooey filling, a hint of Kentucky bourbon), and they accidentally brought us an apple pie slice that was out of this world. It is their APPLE CARAMEL TOFFEE PIE (described as: Buttery caramel, fresh granny smith apples, baked in our flaky shortbread crust). I don't even like Apple Pie that much, but it was outstanding! A serendipitous mistake on the part of our lovely waitress! 


As the temps dropped and the patio closed up we sojourned with our friends in to the Winchester....oops, I mean Bull's Head and continued to imbibe. This our trusty readers was why we rented the room, if I (or himself) had gotten too tipsy, I could merely crawl up to our room, fortunately that was not necessary. 

One comment I would like to make; our room was at the top of the stairs on the second floor, I could not hear one peep from the bar, and I know for a fact it was rowdy down there! 

Himself slept well that night, me less so due to some amazing leg cramps. I also thought our sheets were scratchy, but I was the only one, and every one acted like I was crazy. I was teased about suffering from Princess and the Pea Syndrome. Yes, the people we surround ourselves with are laugh riots. 

We sadly awoke to very rainy weather, so my plans of Pokemon Go-ing and feeding the ducks in the park were dashed. We still got up and moving and sat down in the lobby waiting for breakfast. We were under the impression it started at 7:00am (I was corrected it was 7:30am). We waited until just before 8:00am before giving up and heading down the street to the Tomato Pie Cafe (we will do a future review on this one) for a quick, yet delicious breakfast so our friend could head back to the railroad where he volunteers and earns his stink. 

This is where I have a few less positive things to say about an all around great stay. First off if breakfast is offered at 7 or 7:30 (what ever) make sure it is out for your visitors. I looked forward to more of that magical bacon they serve! I understand things happen, especially when you are running a small establishment and sometimes people are late or things go awry. The best thing i can say is deal with them in that moment. When we complained at check-out we were brushed off and not apologized to. That was disappointing and would have made things better. 

Um.... Yeah..... I spent $74 feeding four of us down the street, when we had already paid for breakfast as part of our room fees.  Herself is forgiving of their error because she is a kind soul.  Me..... Not So Much.  

I definitely wanted to give them another chance before we posted this review though, so I called today and spoke to Christian the Manager. We talked like old friends and I could commiserate as I spent 10 or so years in hospitality. He did feel bad that happened and we talked about it. And here business owners and operators is the key to success, listen like you actually care. He did! He also respected my view point as both a person formerly in the industry and a consumer. I also loved hearing some of their plans for the future, but sadly the rest of you must wait as I am under the strictest confidence! 😉

Would the breakfast faux pas stop us from going there again? Absolutely not!  (We'll talk....) The General Sutter Inn is a gem in this area for fine food and dining, and a beautiful place to stay. Also we saw at least two weddings there that day, and they were gorgeous! As busy as they were the few minor hiccups we experienced were not enough to sour our feelings. 

The staff knows their stuff, and is a good group of people. Everyone, from the hostesses and the housekeepers, the guy who tended bar in the morning for the full English and made the most mind-bendingly good Bloody Mary's, to our lunch and dinner crew (Lori and yes even you Kenny!), and the management, Christian and team; I say keep up the excellent work! 

An addendum....
Sutter management gave Herself a gift card to make up for the breakfast issue with our room.  It was enough to cover a light meal at the pub, and was a nice gesture. 

Yesterday, while wandering Lititz, we took them up on their offer and stopped at the pub for a bit of lunch and a pint.

Herself ordered up a Bloody Mary, as the master of same was working the bar.  I had a draft pull of a house beer which was exactly perfect for the day.  For Noms, she ordered a burger (her favorite) and I thought I'd try their 'Artisan Grilled Cheese' with a cup of tomato bisque.

The Bloody Mary, excellent.  The beer, perfect.  The burger, very good indeed.  The grilled cheese........ um...... grilled cheese....... Hey, Grilled Cheese.... where are you?  Beuller?  Beuller?

Yeah.  No grilled cheese.  They forgot my meal.  Sigh. Not batting 1000 here guys. They recognized that and comped Herself the burger to say sorry.

 My final take on the Sutter?    Excellent food, good people, and Lori is waitress there, so they got that going for them.  Oh, and a damn good bartender, and spectacular beer and spirits offerings.

On the other hand..... there are a few hiccups.  Flaws in the perfection. It's almost gotten comical at this point.   Yes, we will be going back about as often as we wander up Lititz way, but we'll always be looking for the road runner/coyote moment where it all goes FUBAR.... and we will laugh when it does.
 

Back...... at The Sutter.... Part 1

Yes, we haven't written here in some time.  Yes, yes.... it's life, the universe, and everything... Ya know?

It only seems fitting the first post after a long hiatus would be a revisit to the last place we officially reviewed.  The General Sutter Inn in Lititz.

This time, it was quite a bit more than dropping in for a spot of lunch.  You see, after the last visit back in.... March?.... I made a reservation for a future Saturday night stay at the Inn.  It was a birthday gift for Herself, and a chance for us both to unwind after all the changes in our lives.  We have both taken new (more challenging) jobs, and 'fun' has gotten harder to come across. (Fun... Fun? Where are you hiding? *peeks under a rock*)

That future date is now just past, so lets have us a nice talk about how it went!

Our room reservation was for Saturday night, with a 3pm check in time.  Our plan was to arrive mid-morning and partake of the 'Full English Breakfast in the Bullshead Pub, which is part of the General Sutter Inn.  After that, walking the town and enjoying the small (and interesting) shops.  Then, back to the Sutter for an afternoon of relaxing on their patio with adult libations and snackies. (And ducks and POKEMON!)

But wait... there's more!

After an afternoon on the patio being cared for so well, we planned to check in and go enjoy the room for naps and yet more relaxing. After that, with friends joining us, dinner reservations in the fancy dining room, to be followed by Scotch flights and even more time in the Bullshead Pub.  After a night of carousing and celebrating Herself's birthday, it was to be a short stagger to the room and a nights sleep, followed by a lazy continental breakfast which came with the room.

That was our plan, and we ..... mostly..... stuck to it.  Mostly sorta. When we could.

Let us begin with the 'Full English Breakfast' in the pub.  We arrived around 10ish, perhaps a bit before, and had no worries getting a table.  The Pub was maybe half full, with people enjoying a morning Pint, Coffee, and the breakfast.  Here's how they bill it:

Full English Breakfast, every Saturday 8 til 11
Includes English bacon and sausage, eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, tomato, toast, tea, and coffee. $9.95.  Black pudding an additional .75 cents per slice.

The signs on the pub tables pointed us to the bar for service, so there I made journey to.  Now, the pub itself is a wonderful place, with an old world atmosphere and the feeling of being transported
across the pond to a traditional English Public House. (Think Shaun of the Dead's Winchester, but with more class.)

The (super) hard working barkeep took our orders, and promptly poured me coffee, got her hot tea, and began creating the Bloody Mary's I'd requested as well.   The breakfast order went off to wherever such things go, and we carried our lovely drinks and coffee back to our pub table.

The Coffee.... decent stuff.  Nothing crazy good but a quite workmanlike brew.  The Bloody Mary's, however.... that barkeep knows what he's doing.  They were strong, with enough heat to completely dispel any leftover fuzzies after a night out.  Excellent flavor that didn't leave us wanting.  If you enjoy a good Bloody Mary, these were a perfect accompaniment to the Breakfast.

The 'Full English Breakfasts', delivered to our table by a scampering young waitress, were most welcome.   Sadly, the list of components seemed to have gotten lost between the menu and our table. Herself's plate was lacking the 'English Bacon' (what we yanks pretty much call ham) and my own plate lacked the big grilled tomato that just makes the plate. The barkeep was kind enough to snag Herself a small plate of bacon.  My tomato.... I just let it go. (Himself hates the Devil Fruit, as he calls it anyway.)

The breakfast was okay.  Nothing exceptional, but a nice mix and it's understandable how the Wiley Brits might consider this a good way to start the day.  In my opinion, it will never replace a good ham and cheese omelette, with crispy/creamy home fries on the side and some good rye toast.  That said, we'll go back and have it again.  Paired with a Bloody Mary, it's a wonderful way to start a Saturday morning.

Here's a tip:  Slice the sausage up, and run it through the baked beans on it's way to the enmunchening.   Significantly good eats, that is. Oh and to the pub, get some marmalade, it was the only thing my breakfast really lacked. 

Altogether, with tip and drinks, I think we spent about $40 on breakfast for the two of us.  Not bad for a treat, but a bit much for everyday.   The pub environs and the Hella-Good Bloody Mary's made it worthwhile.

 Hitting the street in beautiful downtown Lititz on a gorgeous day, we wandered our way through:

• A used and new book store
• A fancy clothing store (I sat outside on the thoughtfully supplied bench) It was very expensive, but they were having an 80% off sale. I did well for myself. 
• a Knicky Knacky store (bench for me again)
• The Tomato Pie restaurant (more on this great place later)
• A lovely park (ducks that ate from my hand!! and POKEMON!)
• The Wilbur Chocolate store ( I did NOT sit on a bench for this one)
• A Cheese Shop  (A LOT more on this exceptional place as soon as we can!)

Yeah.... both the Tomato Pie and The Savory Gourmet (Cheese shop) deserve their own reviews, and will get them as soon as we can.

Himself will advise you we ate our way through Lititz this glorious day and he is not entirely wrong. Breakfast at the Pub, which was nice. Those Bloody Mary's were outstanding! Then a walk around Lititz, a stop at Tomato Pie, which warrants it's own review. 

Anywho.... we wandered back to the Sutter a few hours before our check in time, there to settle in on the patio for drinks, whatnot, more drinks, and people watching (Our favorite sport).  We lucked into a wonder of a waitress, Lorri  (Laurie?  We didn't ask for spelling. We suck!).   She managed to not only keep our glasses full (and plentiful), but also tempted us into trying some excellent snackers as well.   Hell, she even joined our table for a few moments to kibitz and make us really feel at home.

Myself, I began the session with a light German Pilsner, and it wasn't bad.  For seconds though, I fell back to a wonderful English offering they have on tap called 'Old Speckled Hen'.  The name has something to do with a rusty old delivery truck, so you just know it's gotta be good..... and it is!

Herself had something richly alcoholic, as we were planted for the rest of the day.  She can share it with you, because I'm forgettin what it was. Barrel aged Gin Old Fashioned, I tried my way through the house drink menu, you cannot go wrong. 

The snackers that Lorri (sp?) tempted us with.... good noms indeed.  First up, a flatbread with goat cheese, a house sauce, shaved onions, and some nasty green stuff.  As a bite to go with the beer on a brilliant day, quite tasty.  The tomato sauce had a bit of sweetness that suited perfectly.  I'm sure the Arugula would have counterpointed, but I scraped that weed off onto Herself's share.

Along with the flatbread, a serving of their 'House Pickles' to split.  These are thin sliced sweet pickles, dipped in light batter, and fried crisp.  They come with a spicy aioli to pick it up a bit.  I myself was a bit skeptical at first, but quickly had to rein in my grabby hands to leave Herself a few to sample.

I really am enamored of these fried pickles.  Expecting a more bitter and garlicky flavor, I was surprised at the lightly sweet and crispy nature.  Dipped in the spicy aioli, they really are a great snack in that setting.  Honestly?  I'd go back just to relax on that patio, while Lorri brought us more Speckled Hen and house pickles.  It was a perfect moment this weekend.

We wiled away the afternoon sipping tasty adult beverages and snacking on Primo munchies, awaiting our check-in time.  Around 2pm, I checked at the desk and they were happy to let us have the room early.  Yay!

We happily settled ourselves into our room, took showers, and got some rest. The plan involved much later carousing, so we-uns wanted an afternoon... nap.  

Up next:  A fine room. Friends join us.  New dinner plans evolve. Much nomming of good food happens.  More pub-ery occurs.  Beer! Cocktails! Beer!

Also up next, a few flaws in the service that might just have been avoided.  Perhaps not at the 'Bad Sutter!  No treats!' level, but Things Might Have Been Handled Better, certainly. 

Part II HERE......

The Sutter... The Bull's Head Pub..... it's all wonderful by any name!

Herself and I were in Lititz, having massages.... jet-setting highliners that we are..... BWAHAHAHAHA!   Okay... Okay.... she gets them as part of her health plan, and was kind enough to gift me one as well (If you get a chance, go see Sydnie at Therapeutic Massage Works.  She's killer with that stuff).

Amongst the jabbering, we asked Sydnie for lunch recommendations, and she suggested The Bulls Head pub, right in downtown Lititz.  "They have a great selection of beer on tap!".   Well..... we like beer, so that worked for us. It being only a few miles away from the massage parlor, we were walking into the Bulls Head Pub (slash) Sutter Hotel just minutes later.

The Bulls Head Pub and the Sutter hotel are two sides of the same coin.  Same building, same owners, and same otherworldly charm.

The pub was crowded and lively, and with good reason. Walking in, it's almost jaw dropping in it's atmosphere.  A beautiful bar and pub room, with a very healthy beer selection on tap.  Sharing the same pub-fare menu with the hotel dining room, it's like stepping across the ocean to a classic ideal of a British pub.  I'm so happy the Brits managed to get past that whole 'Revolution' thing, and feel willing to bring some of their culture back across the pond to our fine State.

We were looking for a bit quieter scene for our lunch, and investigated past the pub to the adjoining hotel lobby, and through another set of doors to a charming vintage style dining room occupying the front corner of the building.

Two entire walls being windows, the dining room is bright and cheerful. Olive walls, bold white trim, and brilliant white table clothes make the whole room just pop.  We were actually smiling in anticipation as we were seated, with the atmosphere soaking in.

Taking a corner table, our (Evil Food Temptress) waitress presented us with menus and offered some drink options.  Yes.... a large and fascinating menu of beer on tap... certainly that.  BUT.... an entire other menu of..... get this..... Whiskey flights!  No, I'm quite serious here.  The Sutter has a menu of whiskey flights, putting together tastings of some spectacular offerings three at a time for not unreasonable prices.

Now, being on the road that day, we were forced... FORCED I tell you, to decline such a wonderful opportunity.  On the other hand, we investigated the hotel room situation, and fully intend to go back for an overnight stay so we can partake of the wonderfullness!  Bloody damn right we are going to do exactly that, and soon.  Take a room for Saturday night, enjoy a fantastic dinner followed by a night in the pub, and then a lazy Sunday morning with a stunning breakfast.  OH....HELL....YES!

Instead, I availed myself of the beer menu, having a Lost Abbey Red Poppy.... which frankly, I didn't care for.  The waitress was kind enough to trade it in for an Old Speckled Hen ale, which was perfect with the lunch we were to order. 

The menu at The Sutter is especially temping, with a great variety of fare.  Appetizers, salads, Pub Grub, and fine dining.... it's all there.  Their food menu presentation is on a clipboard, the same as the beer tap menu.  This makes wonderful sense for a place that makes rapid changes to the menu based on local availability, as I suspect The Sutter does.   It's also quirky, and we like that.

For appies, our evil mistress of a waitress enticed us into trying the Scotch Egg, a favorite of Herself.  We also ordered the cheese plate, as good cheese is a weakness of ours.

Now normally, Scotch Egg doesn't do much for me. The Sutter version though, was rather tasty. Not served with the traditional mustard, but an interesting sauce... which I can't quite pin down.  Also, drizzled on the plate, a Hella Spicy red sauce that brave souls can dredge their forks through. Assembled together, it made for an excellent Scotch Egg offering.

The cheese tray..... just damn.  That was really good.  From The Sutter's menu:

Fromager Affinois Brie mild, creamy, buttery flavor, slight sweetness

Midnight Moon aged six months, ivory-colored cheese is dense and smooth with a slight crunch of protein crystals

Caramelized Onion English Cheddar creamy, buttery cheddar is perfectly blended with tangy, caramelized onions

It was plated attractively, and encouraged experimentation. Whole grain mustard, savory crackers, Pita, olives, dried fruit and candied pecans... and Oh-My-God stunning cheeses.  Cheeses so good, we asked for their provenance and were told of a specialty food shop just blocks from the restaurant.

At $10, I simply can't see how they make money on that cheese board.  It alone may have been the best value I've seen anywhere in a long time.

Naturally, herself and I took turned making combinations of flavors in competition with each other.  Some of this, a dab of that, a few dried cranberries.... and Voila!   Of course, mine were the best (He said with some pride) Pfft. Whatever. Mine were little works of art. In all seriousness though, it was some amazing cheese. The waitress said that the cheese selection changes weekly and is procured from a specialty food shop down the road. One that we will be reviewing!

For lunch mains, Herself had an interesting grilled cheese and soup combination that she can speak to.  

I had the house Tomato Bisque which is everything I want in a tomato bisque. Rich, creamy, with a light tomato tang. Not at all gritty, with a smooth texture. The grilled cheese was good, on sourdough bread, although here a week later, I am having a hard time really recalling it, so it wasn't a showstopper. But man that Bisque....

Me?   There was Pub Fare... and that means Fish and Chips.... and our waitress mentioned the Sutter's owners are British and take pride in their pub food..... and Fish and Chips!

Guess what I had for lunch?  Yup..... Fish and Chips.

They offer both small and large servings, I gather the difference being the amount of fried fish. Naturally, I had the large, because I'm a fatty foodie and all that.

The fish itself had nice mild flavor, with breading that held together well bite by bite.  Slightly greasy from the fryer, but isn't that part of the charm?  I half expected a package of food wrapped in newspaper!

Served with crispy fries, tarter sauce, and plenty of good Ketchup... it's a lunch time win.

 I suppose we could have had something fancier, but we were out-and-about, not doing a fancy dinner thing.  As lunches go, it was really, really good.   The fine dining.... yeah, we are going back for that.

As I mentioned earlier, we plan to make a weekend trip of the Sutter, and walking Lititz.  Yes, it's only 30-40 minutes from the house, but who cares?  It's away.... different..... special.... and worth it. Our reservation is already made!

Did I mention they offer Scotch and Whiskey tasting flights? 
How The Sutter Inn Lititz, PA Forks up?
4.75 Forks for flavor.
5 Forks for atmosphere.  
3 Forks for location (parking is limited)  
4.15 Forks for your value.
4.75 Forks for service.
4.33 Forks overall

Chef Demo at The Spice and Tea Exchange!

We've blogged here before about The Spice Shop on Orange St. in Lancaster.

In this piece, we'd like to report on something new The Spice and Tea Exchange has begun.... and it's something we *really* hope they continue!

We had the good fortune to attend the first ever 'Cooking Demo' The Spice Shop hosted.  It was mentioned the event might be held monthly, and that would be 'A Good Thing'.

What it was, put simply, was a shop full of chairs seating folks who are interested in good food.  At the front, a local chef who demonstrates some foodalicious goings on.

The evening we were lucky to attend, the chef was Meghan Young, owner and head chef of Characters Pub.  She brought with her a saute chef as an assistant, and a whole bunch of spectacular goodies. The theme for the evening.... TACOS!

Not just Tacos.... but TACOS!  Seriously upscale offerings using premium ingredients and simple preparation techniques.  It's absolutely clear the Chef knows her stuff, loves good food, and also loves to wow her guests with seriously good flavors. (She spoke about her trips to Mexico and training at one of the premier Mexican restaurants in NYC)

Chef Young doesn't seem used to public speaking, but her obvious love of the subject carried her through the entire evening.  She began with a dissertation on Tequila, a topic she's apparently quite knowledgeable on.   To back up the talk, a quick demo on making a spectacularly good Margarita with mango, cucumber, and Habanero sugar (Available at the shop).  Everyone was given a tasting portion, and it was memorable.  Herself is quoted as saying  "Whoooo.... My Lips are burning!".  It really was an exceptional margarita, and the cucumber made an unexpected hit with us. (Himself was kind enough to let me finish his too. It was soo good. The Chef shared with us some great information on the importance of buying decent tequila. That sugar though! Hot stuff! But tasty! )

Moving on, Chef showed us all how to make a traditional Guacamole from scratch (in a molcajete aka big ass mortar and pestle), in minutes.  Again, plates of Guac and fresh tortilla chips were prepared for everyone, and again.... outstanding fare. (om nom nom)

Moving on even more, the Chef and her assistant prepared fresh tacos of beer steamed shrimp with Guac and jicama-pineapple salsa (WAY good stuff!!).  All prepared from scratch as we watched, with a running monologue on methods and techniques.  Yes.... questions were taken and answered. (Turns out I love Jicama! She gave us a ton of cool ideas to use it in different ways. I am excited to make it a part of regular cooking.)

Following this... tacos with duck breast, pico de gallo, and smokey crema.... and a seared tuna taco with wakame-cabbage slaw and wasabi aioli (this was an outstanding taco!).  Every last bit prepared from scratch, demonstrated in detail, and shared with all plate by plate.

The cost to attend was only $15 each, and that included $10 in free spices and tea after the event (totally our choices!), and so much 'tasting' that it was roughly a meal (Himself wanted to call it a "light" meal, it was honestly a full meal, but we are chunky and eat too much!).  Detailed recipes for everything we tried were also handed out. (It was a really cool way to get to see the way each dish incorporated items from the shelves at Spice and Tea Exchange. It was also an amazing way to try some new foods, that I may not have normally been excited to try. Example, I don't eat a lot of duck or tuna but they were fun prepared this way and I would eat tuna made like this, again! The sesame crust with the tuna was delicious. )

We know there's no way The Spice Shop is making money on this, but it's a sweet way for local foodies to learn from top notch local chefs.  At the same time, it's a good introduction to what is perhaps the best spice shop in Lancaster County.

As we were ringing up our 'free' spices and tea, plus the additional we bought, we asked the nice lady to please put us on a list for automatic inclusion in every future event.  It's a wonderful flavor filled evening, and an astounding value!

 

Station House Tavern, Lancaster.. Bar food done well

Hello intrepid reader(s). Sorry we have been slacking in posting, but life has a way of flying by. I have been a little overwhelmed lately and not feeling very creative. I am hoping to jump start my brain and my metabolism. I am doing a juice cleanse, so that blog will be in the near future, in the mean time... 

We hit Station House Tavern, (1335 Fruitville Pike) on Sunday February 26th. (Holy crap! We really have been slacking at this blog stuff!)

We all stopped at this place after attempting the throngs of people at 'Lancaster City for the Blues and Jazz Festival'. We couldn't get food with less than an hour+ wait in the city, which made my companions growly. Himself's daughter-in-law is a great person, but a very picky eater, and she gets like.. super HANGRY, I likened her to a seething ball of hungry rage.  We needed a place and fast! Station House Tavern was on our list of restaurants to review, and it had a menu that appealed to us all... and could seat us quickly!

They have a fairly traditional tavern menu they kind of spiced up. A few of the things really stood out to me, like mac and cheese bites made with Gouda. Oh, and what's this?! Oh No! More novelty burgers! Stay tuned beloved readers because we found a place that does novelty well.

I had the mac daddy burger, a burger topped with mac and cheese bites (and American cheese and bacon). Now, I know you are asking if I didn't learn my lesson from the last novelty burger himself and I shared, and the answer is no. This time I was glad! This was a really tasty burger, and I would head back to this restaurant just for these mac and cheese bites and their amazing drinks menu

As for me (himself), I tried a favorite bar food .... fish and chips.  The Station House version involves some.... slightly greasy.... chunks of fried white fish, and a big pile of nicely done coated fries.  Very basic fair, and could use some flavor. 

On the table we also had a big basket of the same fries, a serving of fairly decent wings, and another burger with stuff on it.

It's a bar.  The place serves bar food.  Nothing we had was bad, but nothing was spectacular either.  Typical average bar with lots of TV's playing sportsball, a bunch of tall bar tables, and a dining area with booths. All in all, I've nothing negative to say.  Nothing wildly positive either.  The place got busy, and I guess they earn that, but I honestly can't say I'm drawn to go back soon.

How The Station House Tavern in Lancaster, PA Forks up?
2.85 Forks for flavor.
3 Forks for atmosphere.
3 Forks for location.   
3.25 Forks for your value.
3 Forks for service.
3.02 Forks overall