newsgal

Lancaster and York Counties really are the mecca (and can I just say... my mouth is now watering just reading this thread... must hit Central Market now at lunchtime...mmmmm.....). Gotta say, I'm partial to the Grandma Utz as well... and you can just FEEL your arteries clogging as you eat those things. I've done the Herr's, Martin's, and Utz tours (warm potato chips just off the line...mmmm...nothing like it), and if you've never done the factory tour... Martin's is different - you're RIGHT THERE on the line - not looking from an observation window or anything. It's quite cool. Potato chips (and tortilla chips) are my downfall... I can resist chocolate anytime, but a good bag of chips... lemme at it!

Or...if you head west, there's Annie Bailey's in downtown Lancaster or Molly Brannigan's in Harrisburg - both have good food and that genuine Irish pub feel.

I'd make reservations, personally, since this is a really busy weekend here, but i'm kind of neurotic about that kind of thing and always overplan everything when i'm traveling. Can't hurt! Have fun!

Hello! Friendly PA Dutch Country tourism rep here... Green Dragon is, unfortunately, not open on Saturdays (just Fridays). However, Central Market in downtown Lancaster, is open on Saturdays (6am - 2pm), as is Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market (since the poster said he/she was headed to Kitchen Kettle, BIH is right down the street). Kitchen Kettle does, in fact, have its famous pickled beets (don't think they have pickled eggs, but you can definitely find them at either of the farmers markets). There's also a great art walk this weekend around Central Market. And yes, Wilbur Chocolate is in Lititz - Lititz is actually celebrating its 250th birthday this year, and definitely worth a visit to both Wilbur (try the Wilbur bud - arguably one of the most addictive chocolates on earth - seriously - can't keep them anywhere NEAR my desk) and the Sturgis Pretzel House - which still uses the old stone ovens from more than 150 years ago!!! PA Dutch Country is actually celebrating culinary tourism all year with its "FlavorFest" campaign - look for the "Foodie Guides" at the Visitors Center or at your hotel or B&B. And have fun!!!

Countless governors, candidates, House and Senate members, etc. have all tried the idea of privatizing the state stores, but it's turned down each and every time. Why? Both the revenue the state stores bring, and from what I've been told - labor unions representing the state store employees. So...yes...it's been discussed, but always nixed. I will agree, however, that's it's gotten MUCH better in recent years. I just returned from a trip to Sonoma, and the tasting room clerks there were all interested in the Chairman's Selection program and wondered how they could become a part of it.

oh yeah - last year on a 10th anniversary trip to Italy, the only things hubby and I had scheduled before we left were appointments to visit three wineries in Umbria (I HIGHLY recommend anyone visiting the area to visit Paola Bea winery in Montefalco - we were there nearly three hours visiting with Giampiero, the winemaker, and tasting various wines as his mother brought us little plates of food to sample along with it) and a cooking class in Assisi. Also, just got back from a wine-week in Sonoma. From a professional standpoint, I can definitely agree though that culinary tourism is HUGE right now. I work in tourism, and my destination (PA Dutch Country) has launched an entire culinary tourism theme, with behind-the-scenes tours, B&Bs doing cooking demos, foodie trails, etc. What we found in our research is that culinary tourism as a whole is one of the most popular travel trends out there!

Add me to the list of definite cheerleaders for the General's Daughter. Based on recommendations on this board, made reservations for a week ago for hubby's and my Sonoma venture. Absolutely FANTASTIC!! Started with the baked oysters, which was paired with a Chardonnay (sorry, don't have my notes with me - so I can't comment on which one), followed by the scallops and risotto dished, which they paired with a Pinot Noir (which I wouldn't have initially thought of to pair with the dish, but it was perfect), and completed with the brulee, paired with a dessert white (I think it was a late harvest reisling, but I can't remember). Service was impeccable - with the servers explaining everything about each wine as it came, lovely atmosphere, just a wonderful experience overall. Can't say enough great stuff about it. However, I can't say the same about the girl in the fig, which I think needs to step it up a little based on the fantastic new restaurants in Sonoma. Ordered the 3-course Bistro special and paired with wines. Food was fine (a roasted pepper and eggplant soup, hanger steak, and fig ice cream), but the service was atrocious. Servers knew nothing about their wines, and none of my three "pairings" arrived anywhere near the time of the food... so soup was lukewarm by the time wine appeared for first dish, wine was completely finished 10 minutes before my steak arrived, and I waited about 10 minutes after dessert arrived for the wine, then asked a server... waited... then asked ANOTHER server to please ask mine (who had vanished) for the wine... so needless to say, ice cream was essentially melted by the time I gave up on the wine (it came about 7-8 minutes after I'd finished dessert). Kind of defeated the purpose of the pairing. I remember a wonderful meal at girl and the fig last time I was in Sonoma, and I was just very disappointed. So if you're wavering... definitely go with General's Daughter. Might be a little pricier, but it's well worth every penny...and then some!!! Hey Daughter... any thoughts to opening a sister restaurant in the Northeast so I can visit more often ??

There's a sushi place on Second Street in Harrisburg... the name escapes me at the moment, but it's just across the street from Zia's Italian. I've never eaten there personally, but when I worked at the Capitol, people used to order from there all the time. (I want to say it's call Mikayo? Not sure.) There are rumors about a new Asian fusion place coming into downtown sometime soon...

Thanks for the welcome! Thanks for the advice on the Barolo and the Brunello... will see if I can stand to actually let it sit for awhile before impatience wins out . Cara Don't miss: www.padutchcountry.com/restaurantweek

Okay folks - be kind - my very first post. I've been lurking on here for months now and finally joined so I could chat away! I have to agree on the Chiarlo Gavi - very crisp, a little tart, but not too much. Great summer white. I cleaned out the Lancaster store's stock of it, I think. Wasn't quite as impressed with the Chiarlo Barolo that's at $35 - just didn't have as much oomph as I was expecting it to. Also, kind of underwhelmed at the Conti d'Arco Pinot Grigio - had a bottle, it was fine, nothing special... don't think I'd rush back to buy more. Still have the Silvio Nardi (did I spell that right? Not looking at the bottle at the moment) Brunello di Montalcino to try... need to open that some night this week. Cara Don't miss: www.padutchcountry.com/restaurantweek