Cookin’ Up Something Good in Lancaster

It’s not often that an innkeeper can get away in the fall. Ah, but a bit of planning paid off last week when I attended a cooking class with Scott Martino at The Good Cooking Store in Intercourse.  You may remember that I met Scott on my first visit to this store –he was handing out samples of his Italian spaghetti sauces.  (See my previous blog, It's a Good Thing For Cooks in Lancaster County.)

The setting is delightful – Upstairs on the second level of the store is a state-of-the-art kitchen complete with TV screens and room for 18 of your closest friends.

Scott started out by saying that he’s not a typical chef with an ego that fills the room.  We were encouraged to ask any kind of cooking question during the whole process.  This casual atmosphere gave us time to jot down some notes ....while being served a three-course dinner.

Dinner was Radish and Cranberry Salad with Goat Cheese and Black Pepper, Pan Seared Diver Scallops with Sweet Pea and Asiago Risotto and....my favorite.....Chocolate and Valoplicella Crema with Fresh Whipped Cream.  Yum!

Scott was trained in the classic French style – hot pans to sear and seal in the juices and finishing in the oven. I had taken cooking classes a long time ago at a French restaurant that used the same technique.  However, this kitchen had brand new All-Clad cookware which stood in start contrast to the beat-up pans of my favorite French restaurant from long ago.

Scott's advice was that the most important thing is to cook love into everything you make – don’t just follow the recipes....taste...adjust....love the food.  And remember that butter is better.  I soooo agree!

He also talked a lot about working at various restaurants like The Loft and Doneckers, passing along little tricks of the trade.

A little present appeared in the back of the book of recipes....10% off all non-sale items that evening.  It provided what little incentive I needed to shop at one of my favorite stores.  And so I set off – the Cuisinart double boiler was a good buy at $34.99 – it will fit snugly over 1, 2 or 3 quart pans and had a nice rounded bottom that will make tempering chocolate a dream, a little pig that will sit on my soup kettles and hold my spoon (after all, soup season is just around the corner) and a new Kyocera ceramic knife.  This is my kind of store and there is always something that I need. 

Ah, a wonderful evening out indeed. To see the list of cooking demonstrations and upcoming classes, click here.  If you’d like to make it a complete girls’ night out, don’t forget to book your room at The Artist’s Inn.  We’re only 20 minutes away.

Dance Explosion at American Music Theatre

One of the best things about going to a high-energy theater performance is that it is so exhilarating. That delightful “high” feeling affects me long after the last curtain goes down. I sing in the shower, croon in the car (if I keep those speakers turned up high, I sound halfway decent), and dance while I’m brushing my teeth, as the tunes from the show bounce around in my head.

The latest show from American Music Theater delivers a ton of excitement – from Broadway tunes to songs by famous singers and dancers. Michelle Rajotte must have an endless source of energy.  I’d be exhausted just from the costume changes she makes in one night. She and Melanie Gaskins do a terrific version of Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag. That is most impressive, since it comes toward the end of the show.

So, what was my favorite part? That’s hard to say. I loved the tributes to Fred Astaire, Elvis and Michael Jackson, and OF COURSE, In The Mood and any tap number. And I’m not sure which of the men tumbled high across the stage several times, but whoever he was, he was incredible and I hope he heard my applause. Then there was the drum solo – making me regret not taking drum lessons. Wah.

If there was one song that I wasn’t too crazy about it would be Oklahoma. Judging by the audience reaction, clearly I was the only one there that night that didn’t like that song. I don’t understand why I can’t remember guests’ names from last week, yet I know every word of that song. Maybe it’s because just talking about it firmly embeds in my brain, sort of like being stuck in the movie, Groundhog Day.

I’m sure there are many songs from the show that you’ll like. So if you need an energy boost, don’t miss this original production at AMT. It is playing until October 8 right here in Lancaster County.

Napa Meets Lancaster and the World Rejoices

Those of us who have been mourning the loss of Effie Ophelia can now raise our wine glasses and cheer. The intimate space at 230 North Prince Street has been brought back to life by Taylor and Leeann Mason.

Ma(i)son, An Urban Cookery, features a marriage of Italian cuisine with a French flair, and there are enough changes to make the space seem new while maintaining that wonderful “Cheers” like familiarity.

Unlike Effie’s, Ma(i)son takes reservations – a welcome change. We couldn’t get in on a Wednesday, but on the second try we were able to reserve the Chef’s table for a Thursday night. The small restaurant echoed with laughter and two large groups were clearly enjoying their evening.

We could watch the care and attention to detail that every dish received before being sent out of the kitchen.

Taylor’s smile lit up the small kitchen and Leeann was warm and welcoming.  She was born in Lancaster and moved away when she was four, so it is a bit of a homecoming to move back from Napa Valley.

We shared some of our wine, Cherry Tree Merlot from local Waltz Vineyard and urged them to visit Kim and Jan Waltz when they got a chance.

Dishes feature local produce and cheese from Lancaster County farms – in fact, we recognized the cheese from one of our favorite local Amish cheese makers.

The menu is small and seasonal and will change often – Taylor was already talking about dishes featuring the anticipated tomato crop. We liked both the Ricotta Fritta (so light and delicate) and the Squash and Zucchini Salad. The squash salad had a light dressing and the herbs on the tomato salad oozed the freshness of summer. Crusty bread and the house-made butter with herbs were a nice touch. Yum.

I had the burrata – mozzarella with braised artichokes and country bread, (yes, now that I think of it both dishes show my love of cheese) and Bruce had the slow roasted pork with swiss chard over cannelini beans. The pork melted in your mouth.

Desserts danced on our tongues - a blueberry tart with a hint of lemon and honey in the crust and a lemon verbena crème brulee served, of course, in a small mason jar.

If you go, tell them The Artist's Inn sent you.  Better yet, give us a call and we'll meet you there!

A Taste of Lancaster County, Now Available Nationwide

Want to keep cool on a hot day? Head to the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia. You’ll be able to spend a couple of hours learning the story behind ice tea and ice cream--and even step inside a cooler.

I love the lights at the entrance - they look like old milk cans!

In fact, the whole experience is as interactive as you’d like. And fun. You can create your own flavor of ice cream, design the package and even star in the commercial. I designed a concoction called Chocolate Dreams! Kids (or adults) can milk a cow, pose in an old delivery truck,

and learn about cows. A lot about cows! Did you know they have 32 teeth? Or that dairy cows produce over 7 gallons of milk each day? That’s 112 glasses!

A vendor at the 1905 Worlds Fair in St. Louis dumped some ice into tea because it wouldn’t sell on a hot day. And that is how Ice Tea was born. Now Americans consume it daily. At the Turkey Hill Experience, there’s a kiosk where you can match your personality to one of their teas...my “quirky” one paired with the Cherry Pomegranate.

I learned all sorts of things – that coconut is actually a nut and not a fruit, that the delivery business was started in 1931 in Columbia at the height of the Great Depression. And I learned that the third generation owners care as much about the local area as their predecessors.

In fact, here are some of the most impressive things I learned today:

- The experience is housed in an old Silk Factory building that was vacant for 25 years, so they have reused an existing building and preserved farmland rather than building a brand-new structure.

- Turkey Hill Dairy donates about 20% of their profits to charity.

- 25% of their power will be produced by their own wind turbines this year.

- They are so committed to quality that when they try a new flavor of ice cream, they cut the entire box in half to see if the ingredients are mixed properly.

If you get hungry or thirsty during your visit, no problem; there are 150 flavors of ice cream and 20 flavors of ice tea. Downstairs in the café, you’ll be able to sample many of them. They also had gelatos that were wonderful. My favorite was the almond fig. Yum.

Not familiar with Turkey Hill yet? Chances are you will be as they now produce the nation’s No. 1 refrigerated ice tea (be sure to try the Sweet Blackberry Tea (diet) – it’s my favorite!). Their ice cream ranks No. 4 nationwide. You’ll be seeing more of them at sporting events as they produce special flavors for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New York Yankees, and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Turkey Hill - a cool experience indeed!

Put this on your list the next time you visit The Artist's Inn.

Falling In Love at The American Music Theatre

Bruce and I recently saw Music of the Night (The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Weber) at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster. It was a tribute to the many musicals that Weber has produced. Like many of the shows we’ve seen at AMT over the years, this one was terrific and we fell in love.

But it wasn’t with the singing - although there are many incredibly talented voices singing some well-loved but very difficult songs.

And it wasn’t with the production – although the sets went from fun and fast for Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat to mournful with Phantom.

And we certainly enjoyed the trip down memory lane – having seen most of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s classic shows when they first played on Broadway.

What we fell in love with was the emcee for the evening, Jeremy Beveridge. This ten-year old performer stole our hearts from the moment he appeared on stage in his top hat and cane. He wound his way through every one of Weber’s shows, sometimes on skates, sometimes running up and down the steps and once jumping right through the bottom of the stage floor.

This original production features a youth ensemble that energizes the entire show. What a terrific way to introduce kids to the theater – whether they are in the show or audience, they will forever appreciate all the work that takes place both on and off stage. And, for all we know, we witnessed the future stars of Broadway!

One of the things that we’ve always loved about American Music Theatre is that the cast comes out after every show and, if you work your way down to the front, you’ll have a chance to chat with them.

We talked with some of our favorites and got a chance to meet Jeremy’s mom. When I asked Jeremy if this was his first show, he informed me that it was, in fact, his eighth! Wow, that’s impressive for a ten-year old.

In fact, the whole show is impressive. Catch it while you can....on stage until July 1. Stay with us at The Artist's Inn and we'll order your tickets at a discount.

You just might fall in love.

It’s a Good Thing for Cooks in Lancaster County

Guests were telling me about it, I saw the ads, and finally I got there myself. Phyllis Pellman Good, author of Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbooks (which have sold more than 9 million copies) has opened a cooking store.

It's called the Good Cooking Store and it's located in nearby Intercourse.  Add it to your list of fun things to do the next time you visit us at The Artist's Inn.

While other women like to shop for clothes or shoes, I am drawn to all things "kitchen"....so a store devoted entirely to cooking items is right up my alley. 

Right now, The Good Cooking Store is having a Grand Opening Event – it runs until February 12, so if you hurry, you’ll be there for special sales, demonstrations and tastings.

On the day I visited, J. Scott Martino, CEO of Cortazzo Foods, was handing out samples of his family’s spaghetti sauce..(no preservatives, no trans fats and gluten free)...and, best of all, made right here in Lancaster County. He used to work at Doneckers and we soon found out that some of his friends are some of my favorite chefs.....it’s a small world, after all.

I couldn’t decide between the Marinara or the Arrabbiata sauce, so naturally I bought both. I love the picture of his family on the label and am happy to support local products.

The store is brightly lit, not too big, and they have packed great quality and products into every inch. I ran into two friends from Terre Hill! They were as delighted as I was with the selection.

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with one of the most expensive items in the store – this wonderful Staub enamel cookware.  No, I didn't get the roaster, but it's already on my Christmas list!

There are shiny new pans, containers, a nice selection of microplanes and bowls.  There was a great salsa bowl shaped like a red chile,

wonderful stacking bowls that would solve anyone's challenge for lack of shelf space,

a banana peel that doubles as a handle protector,

and the cutest cocktail picks shaped like nails.

So many great things in one spot!

I'm a gadget gal and loved seeing the display. 

You just never know when you'll need a banana slicer

 or a scrubby shaped like a mushroom

or an avocado slicer!

There's a whole line of cute stuff for cooking with kids.

I found my way upstairs where there was a gadget demonstration in progress. Of course I ended up buying a little flour duster and will use it to sprinkle confectioner’s sugar, cocoa on truffles or anything else that I can think of on dessert.

Oh yes, that brownie tasted even better once it was properly dusted.

This is the kitchen where they are planning to have cooking demonstrations soon - we'll keep you posted on those - and don't be surprised if you see me in class!

Here are some interesting quotes that I found on the wall in the store:

This is from the New York Times:  Good's books have sold more in the United States than the combined works of popular Food Network hosts Ina Garten, Giada de Laurentiis, and Jamie Oliver.

and

"The author who came in second to Rachel Ray in total foodie sales was Phyllis Pellman Good, who does not have a TV show."  - Publishers Weekly

Pretty darn impressive.  And right in our own backyard.  YAY for Lancaster!

I was almost done making my purchases, when I discovered the knives under the counter by the cash register. I was really intrigued by the ceramic knives by Kyocera – ten times sharper than metal, but very light. Tina, the Assistant Manager, explained that the knives are so sharp that you can cut a tomato without a serrated knife. Wow.

I sent more guests to the store this weekend. I think they’ll agree, and perhaps Martha would too, “It’s a good thing”.