Lancaster County Tours

Grape Expectations for Lancaster County

2011-07-10T14:39:00.000-04:00

Plentiful rainfall this spring and a warm summer are making vintners pretty happy in Lancaster County. Jan Waltz, of Waltz Vineyard says that the heat index is ahead of last year and they are busy thinning the canopy of leaves so that the grapes have ample sun and air flow.

Here at Lancaster County Tours we’re gearing up for another Wine and Cheese Tour on July 23.

It’s not too late to join us and discover the beautiful vistas of Lancaster County and get to know the artisans that create the cheese and produce the wines. It’s a place unlike anywhere else on earth.

Because this tour is so popular, we’ve added an additional Wine and Cheese Tour on September 10 - our harvest tour.

No two tours are ever the same. Book the tour (888-449-4423) and stay for the weekend at one of our fabulous inns: The Australian Walkabout, The Artist's Inn, Flowers and Thyme Bed and Breakfast, Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast and Historic Smithton Inn.

The best part is that you don't have to worry about drinking and driving, following directions or getting lost....

And there's a wonderful wine-paired dinner at the end of the day!

I Was Born in the Wrong Country!

2011-06-28T20:23:00.000-04:00

When I sit and think about my favorite culinary indulgences, I have to remind myself that I was born and bred in the USA. I would not find it difficult to live on a diet of cheese, bread, pasta, olives, wine and fruit. I've never been to Greece, Italy or France, but I love the food! My shelves are filled with cookbooks with these types of inspiration.

Now that I'm an innkeeper , I get to experience all kinds of food. Not that I didn't before this, you understand, I just couldn't find a way to legally write it off until recently. What's even better is that I've found that I don't have to visit Greece, Italy or France, nor do I have to live in a major metropolitan area to have access to the superb food and wine offered by such places. I now live in Lancaster County, PA - one of the most agriculturally rich areas of the US. We have farmers here who turn out some of the most wonderful produce, meats, cheeses and grains in the world!

I'm also fortunate that I get to offer to my guests 'behind the scenes' type tours of the area several different times of the year. This July 23rd, for example, we'll be taking guests to visit some places that offer wine and cheese, among other culinary delights. These are not just your run-of-the-mill type tours, either. We get up close and personal with the farmers, the wine-makers, the shop owners; we get to see the inside workings of what makes Lancaster County such a great destination for foodies.

We hope you'll join us for the tour. Find out more here.

Lancaster County Ghost? One Dark and Stormy Night......

2011-06-08T10:13:00.000-04:00

Remember being a kid? You know, crazy about mystery, spooks, ghosts and stories around the camp-fire. It was all I could do to keep myself from thinking that my everyday life was not an excerpt from the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries.

Well today I have grown up, (albeit, just a tiny bit) and can still recall the sounds of my youth resonating me back to the Halloween parties I once enjoyed. Here is a verse that still chimes in my head....

"You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing. High on a hilltop near your home, there stands a dilapidated old mansion. Some say the place is haunted, but you don't believe in such myths. One night, a light appears in the topmost window in a tower of the old house. You decide to investigate. And you never return..."

You are a bold and courageous person.....

Yeah.... you nailed it, it's from the Disney sound effects album for Halloween. And still to this day holds so much fascination. And although I have grown up, (HAHA) I found last fall after enjoying the Unexplained Lancaster County Tour in downtown Columbia and visiting secret tunnels, that I really was that "Bold and Courageous" person. Just like Frank and Joe Hardy were in book # 29, The Secret of the Lost Tunnel.

So that's right... Call me Joe or Frank; it's all good! I will always enjoy a great mystery. And as we here start to prepare the dastardly "ingredients" for our next tour, we'll keep everyone in the soup.... Opps, did I say that out loud..... I meant to say in the loop!

The Unexplained Lancaster County Tour is during Halloween weekend; begins at 6:00 pm on Friday the 28th of October and is a full weekend of "investigation". We hope to see you there.

Pretzels With a Twist

2011-05-26T18:45:00.000-04:00

What better place than Lancaster County to find pretzels! After all, this is the home of the Auntie Anne pretzel. We have those yummy soft pretzels as well as several harder type pretzels like Sturgis Pretzels, Martin’s Pretzels, and Hammond Pretzels made right here in the County. I especially like the soft ones –here is a recipe for you to try yourself.

SOFT PRETZELS
1 T. yeast
2 T. very warm water
½ c. brown sugar
1 ½ c. warm water

4 ½ c. flour

3 T. soda

3 c. boiling water

Melted margarine or butter

Pretzel salt

Dissolve yeast in 2 tablespoons water. This becomes a pasty ball. Add brown sugar and mix well. Add warm water. Mix in flour. Divide dough into 16 pieces and roll by hand into long snake-like pieces. Boil 3 cups water and soda and remove from heat. Dip dough pieces into water and make into desired shape. Place on a well-greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or until brown. Be careful, they burn quickly. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter. Add salt, if desired.

Better yet, join Lancaster County Tours on June 11th for the Beer and Pretzel tour where you will be introduced to both the hard and the soft pretzels plus two micro-breweries. The tour will again be repeated on August 6th. Call 888-449-4423 to be included on this fun tour to learn about beer and pretzels – Lancaster County Style.

Putting Spring Herbs to Good Use: Tarragon Chicken Salad Recipe

2011-05-10T10:35:00.000-04:00

Lancaster County Tour's annual "Herb Tour of Lancaster County" is behind us, but the lessons we learned and the desire to enjoy all the wonderful herbs we discovered remains. With that in mind, I thought I'd share an absolutely simple, yet delicious recipe that uses Tarragon, one of my favorite herbs both for scent and flavor. This recipe has a fresh, unique flavor that makes it a hit!

Tarragon Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
1 lb. Chicken Tenders
1/4 Cup Sour Cream
1/4 Cup Mayonaise
1/4 Cup Plain Yogurt
2 Tbsp. Fresh Chopped Tarragon
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:
* Line a broiler pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Broil chicken tenders for approximately 10 minutes or until cooked through, flipping half-way. Set aside to cool.
* Blend together sour cream, mayonaise and yogurt.
* In a medium sized bowl, shred the chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces, removing any tendons along the way.
* Mix in sour cream mixture - use the amount you need for the salad to reach the consistency you like.
* Fold in chopped tarragon and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chilled. Tastes delicious stuffed in a pita, or as a sandwich on thick-cut homemade bread!

If you missed this year's tour, never fear! We host our annual Herb Tour of Lancaster County every May. And if you're looking for an interesting, fun and delicious way to explore Lancaster County, check out our upcoming schedule of events. Up next is our Beer and Pretzel tour... could be a great Father's Day present!

What is Spilanthes and Can You Find it in Lancaster

2011-05-05T11:45:00.000-04:00

I love this time of year in Lancaster County! I am forever running around trying to find the weirdest plants that I can. And so on one of my journeys with great plant friends, I came across this little weird plant.... Not much of a looker, however it had powers I would soon discover.

After looking around the nursery a bit, I found myself sneaking back at this ugly little plant; it captivated me, I was drawn to it like a magnet. And soon after that, it was in my hand and ready to go back to the house. What interested me, was that it was a dark green leaf, and had this yellow/red button flower that poked up at of the plant on very firm stalks. And the name was something I could not say, (thank goodness for the common names).

They tag on the plant said Spilanthes and the common name is the Toothache Plant, which really intrigued me. And although in the herb section, I was reluctant to put it in my mouth until someone said that it would be all right to do so. (heck; I'll try just about anything pertaining to culinary).

Brought the plant home and stuck it in the ground soon to discover that the plant held it's own in the herb garden. A small mounding plant that was very happy in the part sun/part shade spot I found for it. But did I find out what the name meant? I could not wait any more and had to go to one of our Herb friends. It was then that I discovered that the Toothache plant is just that, A plant that contains an analgesic used for numbing the mouth and or throat.

Now don't take my word for it, as with all herbs and spices, you should be checking up on them yourself to discover if any medications you are on could have any diverse affects. Knowledge is paramount when it comes to herbs, the more you know, the more prepared you will be when having to deal with them.

In the mean time, I am forever on the prowl for awesome herbs! This weekend with our Herbal Tour coming up, I'll be on the hunt once again for anything out of the ordinary! And by the way... yes, you can find Spilanthes here in Lancaster, we'll show you where.

Got Beer? Lancaster County Does....and Pretzels too!

2011-04-28T20:57:00.003-04:00

Maybe it’s because so many Germans settled here. Maybe it’s because beer and pretzels just naturally go together. Maybe it’s because.....well, who cares? Lancaster County Tours has put together the perfect weekend for the man in your life.

We’ll explore several different breweries, do the twist (with pretzels that is) and learn a bit about history as we explore the back roads of Lancaster County.

In a tour designed to entertain, enlighten and delight your taste buds, you’ll enjoy good eats and great beer – and never have to worry about driving because we’ve rented a van and hired a driver.

So sit back and relax....this Father’s Day, the gift is an experience. (tours available June 11 & August 6)

To find out all the particulars, call 888-449-4423. He’s gonna love it.....and we’ll bet that you are too!

Lancaster County Tours consist of: The Artist's Inn, Australian Walkabout, Flowers and Thyme, Harvest Moon B&B and the Historic Smithton Inn. All offer excellent accommodations.

HERB & GARDEN TOUR

2011-04-22T20:14:00.001-04:00

Lancaster County Tours has planned an upcoming Herb & Garden Tour for May 7th, 2011 that you won’t want to miss. Now that warmer days are coming, a new season will be ushered in of local farmers markets and roadside produce stands with their colors, flavors and fragrances and displaying their veggies and herbs.

Spend a day with us as we explore gardening shops with their displays of herbs . Learn secrets of how fresh herbs make a world of difference in recipes to spice them up. Gain ideas of growing them in sunny gardens or in containers. Learn how to grow a kitchen garden and the convenience of snipping a few sprigs for your kitchen whenever you like. Learn the medicinal remedies for ailments that can be garnered by the use of herbs.

We have the day packed full from morning till evening and ending with a fabulous herb inspired dinner for $150 per person for the tour, transportation, lunch and dinner. Give Lancaster County Tours a call at 888-449-4423 to reserve your reservation.

A Wine & Cheese Tour Deserves a Special Recipe -Wine Muffins Anyone?

2011-04-04T18:52:00.000-04:00

Our upcoming Wine & Cheese Tour (April 16th) got me thinking... there are plenty of recipes for "cooking" with wine, but what about baking? As an innkeeper I do much more baking than cooking these days, and so I started searching the web, trying things out and ultimately taste-testing recipes to find one worthy of our unique culinary tour.

I started at the usual spot, Google, and was excited / encouraged by my very first discovery. WebMD has an article which basically recommends using wine when baking as a way to reduce the amount of oil used in the recipe, while keeping it moist!! "YEAH" I thought... "I get to JUSTIFY using wine while baking!!". I was really into this quest now!!!

I found a number of recipes that looked promising. One was a chocolate cake that sounded good, but I was looking for something to serve at breakfast so I set than one aside to try later. I finally settled on two recipes which I played around with a bit. I made them both and utilized the ultimate taste test to determine which one was the best... I served both at breakfast and waited to see which one got eaten up the most.

And the winner is....:

Tipsy Red Grape Muffins

Adapted from a recipe for Individual Grape and Vin Santo Cakes on epicurious.com

1 1/2 cups plus 1 tbsp all-purpose flour, divided

1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbsp orange zest
2/3 cup Raspberry Wine (or other sweet wine)
1 cup seedless red grapes
2 tbsp raw sugar
confectioners' sugar for garnish

Directions:

Place a rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat to 375 degrees F.
Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Beat butter with granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed, until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time until mixed in, then add in zest.
Add flour mixture in two batches, alternately with wine, mixing until just incorporated.
Toss grapes with remaining tablespoon flour, then fold into batter.
Divide batter among muffin cups. Sprinkle with raw sugar. Bake until golden and springy to the touch, 18-20 minutes.
Cool in pan 5 minutes, then loosen with a knife, and remove. Cool to warm, 5-10 minutes more. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving

I hope you give this recipe a try and enjoy it as much as we did. Our guests' comments included, "moist", "tasty!", and "how fragrant!!". If you try them for yourself, be sure to let us know what you think!

I, and the other innkeepers from Lancaster County Tours, also hope you'll join us for our upcoming Wine & Cheese Tour, where you'll enjoy a unique, immersing culinary experience related to about wine and cheese, while exploring the rolling hills and farmland of Lancaster County.

The perfect Christmas Present from Lancaster County....

2010-12-06T23:43:00.000-05:00

Looking for the perfect gift? If you’ve already given all the clothes, books, techy gadgets, and jewelry of Christmases past, think of giving something a little more lasting this year.

We suggest making a memory – give a weekend culinary tour that explores Lancaster County. The best part of the gift is that you’ll be sharing time with the one you love. You’ll spend the day together enjoying great food, tour a beautiful place and learn something new.

And, this present is definitely as much fun to give as it is to receive!

A gift certificate from Lancaster County Tours promises a great time with your special someone – and there are many tours to choose from – starting with the ever-popular Wine and Cheese tour.

If your guy likes microbrews, treat him to a Beer and Pretzel tour that you’ll both enjoy. Lancaster County is home to a variety of mircrobreweries and pretzel makers.

Foodies love The Many Faces of Herbs in the spring. The Cajun weekend includes a murder mystery and cookout in the summer.

The Paranoraml Tour provides an intriguing way to spend Halloween weekend.

Can’t decide? The Unexpected Amish weekend has the broadest appeal and will introduce you to a behind-the-scenes look at several Lancaster County businesses – and of course, great food.

A gift certificate to Lancaster County Tours rewards you twice – once on the tour and once now, because, part of the fun is the anticipation. No two tours are every the same and are offered throughout 2011 so you can plan ahead.

Click on Lancaster Count y Tours to read more about individual tours.

To order a gift certificate, call any of our five participating inns. They offer romantic accommodations, outstanding food and will act as your tour guide:

The Artist's Inn - 888-999-4479

Harvest Moon Bed &Breakfast – 888-824-3763

Australian Walkabout Inn – 888-WALKABT

Flowers and Thyme Bed & Breakfast – 717-393-1460

Historic Smithton Inn – 877-755-4590

Come explore Lancaster County with us and have yourself a merry little 2011!

Lancaster County Haunts over Halloween.... Really.

2010-10-14T08:07:00.000-04:00

OK! So you be the judge! Research and Development over the past few years have been exciting. All of our tours here in Lancaster County have been all about cutting edge culinary. How the Locals contribute to that and the beauty of the land.

Down in the Dungeon

Our next tour features a more Unexplained Lancaster County.... with visits to Landis Valley Museum, Lectures from Kelly Weaver and a tour of a dungeon, the Lancaster County Haunts are just as real as some in Gettysburg.

So as we go and research different venues, we go there with an open mind. We only want the best for our guest, something that will excite them either on a culinary note or something that will give them a great experience... in other words, we want them to be immersed into Lancaster, it's culture and history.

Lancaster County Haunts

Well we did it again! The tour this coming Halloween Weekend will be one of our most exciting, the Unexplained Lancaster Tour which is our Paranormal tour! We were just invited last night to the Columbian Historic Preservation Society with Mr. Chris Vera. What an exciting night needless to say!

We have arranged for our guest, a visit to see C.H.P.S and discover why Columbia is one of the most haunted cities in all of Pennsylvania.

Oh and by the way.... this picture is one that I took last night... None of us could figure out what the blue streak on the right hand side of the picture is... can YOU?

Find it in Lancaster County

2010-08-31T08:04:00.007-04:00

You know... when I moved to Lancaster County, I never realized how connected it's people are to the land. After only a short time here, I was amazed at the constant supply of fresh local produce that was being offered. From Heirloom Tomatoes to Home Grown Gooseberries, the offerings are endless. If it grows in our region, you could find it.

So as the years go by and I become a "Lancastrian" in other words a local, I find myself more amazed every day! Each year the supply comes at us with nothing but the best of produce. We start in the spring with the cold weather produce... Spinach, lettuce, asparagus, radishes and so on. Then as if by cue, the rhubarb and strawberries make there debut. With that, come the strawberry festivals and socials... end of May towards the beginning of June is when you can expect to find the freshest of local strawberries... and they are actually red inside.

Soon after, we begin to see lots of squash. With zucchini, and summer squash varieties, the summer has just begun. Soon the onslaught of melons come into play, cantaloupe seems to be the variety of choice for the locals, however there are others to find. Then the tomatoes and peaches come... Everyone seems to wait just for these two to come all year. Look carefully, and you will find all the heirloom varieties you care to. And the peaches.... so juicy, you must have a supply of napkins available; it would not work otherwise.

As the summer growing season winds down, you begin seeing the pumpkins. This is my favorite time. Pumpkins of every variety are there for the taking. From Large Fairy Tale Pumpkins to Orange and white striped varieties... the choices are endless.

So fall being my favorite time of the year also has a certain sadness to it as well. The growing season is all but over. The fields are baron, except for a lone brussel sprout plant offering sunshine on the dinner table during the colder months of the year.

You see, Lancaster County is just that special place to enjoy all the goodness of the land. You can't say that about many places; we have it all hear though in Lancaster!

It's Just a Thing of Nature

2010-04-13T13:47:00.011-04:00

That was the answer given by Rubin, a 13-year old Amish boy, explaining to inquisitive guests why goats have wattles on their chins. He then led his audience to the baby goats who happily walked through the end of the path to meet them. Rubin explained that if a baby goat gets sick, it is returned to its mother to nurse until it grows stronger. He said that it’s the love that helps the baby goat get well. So began another culinary tour conducted by Lancaster County Tours – run by two innkeepers - Jan Garrabrandt from The Artist’s Inn and Carl Kosko from Harvest Moon B&B - who specialize in immersing small groups into the Lancaster County experience. In this case, we visited a goat cheese farmer and his family. In much of the country, family farms are a rarity. In fact, less than 2% of the U. S. population makes its living in farming. But in Lancaster County, small farms are common. The bucolic rolling landscape brings a nostalgic longing for a simpler time. Guests enjoy the smell of fresh hay, seeing cows and horses grazing in the pastures, and meeting the families that are maintaining this centuries-old traditional way of life. LCT specializes in finding farmers and small family businesses – helping educate guests in the ways of the farm – from bringing in the bounty of the land to processing the milk for cheese...to growing grapes that will become wine. Many visitors have been to Lancaster County before, but this time they’ve come to learn, to explore at a leisurely pace and to appreciate all that the county has to offer. And that journey begins with the land and the people who work it.

While many are familiar with the Lancaster County scenery, they may not realize that a concerted effort has been made, over the past 20 years, to help preserve farms and our agricultural heritage. Thanks to the Lancaster Farmland Trust, over 18,000 acres have been allocated for preservation, assuring that future generations of visitors can enjoy the rich contributions made by our Old Order Amish and Mennonite neighbors.

A complete list of our tours is included in the blog, for more information, check our website at http://www.lancastercountytours.com.com or our facebook page.
There’s a tour almost every month – and no two are ever the same.

We hope you can join us.

Lancaster Tours Does it Again... An Exciting Amish Excursion Through the County

2010-03-02T15:03:00.011-05:00

An Amish Tour in Lancaster County

Last year when Lancaster County Tours went on their Amish Tour of Lancaster County, they discovered so many exciting places to bring their guest. At the end of the tour they asked themselves, "how could we top this" The tour was special. The day consisted of travels to different Amish venues where the locals explained and celebrated the local culture. It was surely a great day.

So as with each tour, they always mix it up a bit. Their cheese and wine tours bring them to different vineyards each time. These vineyards bring them throughout Lancaster County and beyond. Same with the cheese makers; each one describes a unique characteristic specific to their own process of cheese making. So when it all comes down to it, each Lancaster Cheese and Wine tour brings you a new and exciting look into Lancaster's contribution to the Wine/Cheese world.

So when it came to our Amish tour, they needed to do the same thing, change it up a bit. However what could they add that would make it special, unique and not your grandmother's bridge club tour. After searching, they nailed it. This year, they bring to their guest a more specific style of quilting; our friends explain to them the art of mini quilting. Later in the day, they travel across the county to one of their new finds... An Amish Silo builder. Here they learn the story of Silo building; past, present and future.

They say... half the fun in coming up with these tours is figuring out where to go. It's not just that fact that they find a new place, they also find a new friend. Their tours are not your typical tours, they are part of them, they run their tours as they run their bed and breakfast... they are unique in every way. They hope you join them. Their tour is on March 20th 2010. You can view all the details here at, www.lancastercountytours.com

A Time of Culinary Discovery in Lancaster County

2010-01-21T15:30:00.006-05:00

Each winter we sit back and ask ourselves what we can do different this year for our culinary tours in Lancaster County PA. With that we start to search both on internet and on ground for new and exciting venues to bring our guest when staying at one of our bed and breakfast. What we discover is that our search is not that difficult.

Lancaster County is a very exciting place to live... the search for fresh and local is easy to come by. Lancaster County boasts loads of local produce, fresh smoked meats and cheeses, home canned goods and fresh baked breads just to name a few. Many of you may have been on some of our tours and have experienced many of these culinary treats.

Well this year we are locating new and exciting "one-of-a-kind" places to bring our guest. From brew houses and vintners to candy makers and Amish cheese mongers the list goes on. As a matter of fact just talking today with one of the Local Cheese Artisans; he mentioned that perhaps soon they will be making cave ripened cheese. The craftsmanship in Lancaster County is continuing to grow.

We start off our year with a new and exciting twist to our February Chocolate Tour.... This one will pair our two favorite things, Chocolate and Wine. As we traverse the Amish Country side, we take our guest on a tour to two different wineries and two different Candy Makers. The two swirled together are an intoxicating mixture of culinary pleasure throughout the day.

We continue on with our Amish tour in March and then our Cheese and Wine tours starting in April. The tour list continues on with many of our guests favorites, only difference is that many of the venues will be different this time as we bring to you our new found discoveries throughout the county.

Be sure to catch all the excitement and keep up to date as we update the Lancaster County Tours website. This is total immersion into Lancaster County and the Amish way of life... come see for yourself.

As the Seasons Change, Our Thoughts Turn to Wine

2009-11-10T14:02:00.009-05:00

Golden leaves cover the ground and pumpkins and gourds grow in farms all around Lancaster County. It’s harvest time, both in the fields and in the barrels…and our thoughts turn to the crisp whites of summer giving way to the more hearty reds of fall. It’s a perfect time to enjoy the backroads of Lancaster County on our last Wine and Cheese Tour of the year- this Saturday, November 14. (We still have room for a few more wine lovers, so give us a call at 888-999-4479 or 888-824-3763.)

As the Christmas holiday nears, we can’t help but be excited – ah, the decorations, ah, the smells of a hundred different kinds of cookies, ah, a glass of port in front of the fireplace….and good times spent with family and friends.

Foodies that we are, Carl (Harvest Moon B&B) and I (Artist’s Inn) just think differently than most folks. We are your tour guides on Lancaster County Tours. With each season, we reflect not only on the change in nature, but on how different foods reflect those changes and--of course—on what wines pair best with the seasonal fare.

I love the way the sunlight comes in my dining room window in the fall. It’s from a different angle than summer, and it shines on the yellow and orange fall flowers on the table, and through the glass of buttery yellow Vouvrey.

And doesn’t that Cabernet Sauvignon look beautiful in the big, bold wine glass set against the Lenox china in gold and cranberry colors for the holidays. Real cranberries and fresh greens serve as the centerpiece to create a perfect harmony.

Come February, everyone thinks of chocolate. So do we—though we like to pair it with wine! Rich dark chocolate truffles look so nice sitting next to a glass of Merlot, and offer the perfect finish to our Chocolate and Wine tour.

In March we head out to rediscover the Amish world around us – especially the food. And, yes, several Amish friends have told me that they make their own wine….from all sorts of fruits and vegetables….

Baby animals appear in the fields in April – calves and lambs and horses try out their new legs to discover the world around them. We take their lead and head out on our Herb tour – to discover the local experts and the all the goodness that the earth brings forth in herbs. Partnered with crisp or sweet Rieslings, this dinner celebrates the green world around us, from the subtlest herbs to the bold wild things. Our Cajun Weekend in July calls for bold flavors, bold personalities (you’ll need that for the murder mystery the night before) and lots of fun as we learn about this special culture deep in the heart of Louisiana, and celebrate on the porch as the chefs from Prudhommes grill catfish and shrimp for our lunch.

So join us on one of our tours where we think wine is always in season. You just may become a Lancaster County Tours Foodie….

Grapes and Hobgoblins... In Lancaster?

2009-10-20T10:52:00.007-04:00

Here in Lancaster County, we are now deep into the fall, and with that brings all things that one can expect from autumn in Lancaster. As the locals prepare for the winter with their harvesting and canning, the area is filled with the smell of crisp leaves, warm cider and loads of home baked goods at every corner. And with the close of the 2009 season, Lancaster County Tours brings to you education, excitement and just the tiniest bit of mystery.

And as Jan from the Artist's Inn and I from the Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast prepare for our up coming tours, we are anxious to get out on the back roads of Lancaster. Our goal: discover new and exciting wineries, unexplored cheese caves and unique culinary venues that will make it on the A list of next years tours.

In the mean time, we anxiously await our new tour this year... Lancaster's Unexplained Tour. With a visit from Charles J. Adams III, ( paranormal writer ) a tour of the Fulton Opera House, and a stop at the Cocalico Historical Society, the tour is sure to be a winner. The ghost will not be popping out at every corner, however the thrill of a yarn from years ago will conjure spooks in everyone's mind.

November is not a time to be missed for touring Lancaster County, especially when it is an educational tour like our Wine and Cheese tours. As we travel through Lancaster County we discover what makes it so special. With stops at two of the areas growing list of wineries and visits with the local cheese artisans, the day could only be topped with a dinner at one of Lancaster's finest restaurants.

As we end our year of tours, we have new endeavors lined up for next year; one of them being a Chocolate and Wine tour in February, ( if you have never tried... the two go great together ). Along with new restaurants, dairy farms and breweries, the list goes on with the many things available for us in Lancaster... our mission, simple... bring to you the finest in culinary that Lancaster has to offer. We hope that you enjoy!

Buggy Rides in Lancaster County - The Real Thing

2009-07-23T16:01:00.008-04:00

The other day a guest asked me how to stop the buggies that go by the inn so that she could get a ride. I had to explain that these Amish and Mennonite buggies are the real deal – they are not for hire.

That got me to thinking about all the things we take for granted--like hearing the clip-clop of buggies from both The Artist's Inn and Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast.

While Lancaster County has several business providing buggy rides in the more touristy spots, the buggies you see passing through Terre Hill and New Holland hold passengers who are going shopping, to work, to church or visiting. Our old-order neighbors and friends live a life not too different from our own. They still have schedules to keep and places to go. It’s just that their form of transportation reflects an earlier time and a slower pace.

Buggies provide part of the fabric that forms a unique mix in these two small towns. When I lived in a bordering state, I was stuck in suburbia with its many big box stores, chain restaurants, and commuters hurring off to jobs in the city. Streets there pretty much looked like streets up and down the East coast.

New Holland and Terre Hill are two towns our guests have come to appreciate. There’s a real community here. People come together to help each other, raise money for those in need, and to have fun.

Just as John Mellencamp sings, our guests have themselves a ball in a small town (or two!). Outhouse races, Christmas festivals, town-wide yard sales, breakfast, lunch, concerts and ice cream socials in our parks, one of the biggest harvest parades in the state – there’s no end to the fun you can have. They offer small shops, restaurants, and post offices where people know your name, hold the door, and sit on the park bench to discuss the latest events.

Our towns here offer a glimpse into life as it once was – and a chance to slow down and rejoice because we are blessed to live in a very special place. And it is our honor to share it with our guests.

So the next time you visit Terre Hill or New Holland, take a closer look at our main streets, lined with century homes and buildings, and imagine a time, not so long ago, when we all traveled by buggy. Not for rides, but for real.

Thanks to Larry Williams, a repeat guest and friend, who captured this picture of a buggy from the front porch of The Artist's Inn on a Saturday night.

The Taste of Cajun/Creole in Lancaster

2009-07-08T19:34:00.007-04:00

As we sit down towards the end of each year, we contemplate what we should do for the following year with our culinary tours here in Lancaster County. This is all part of the many things your Innkeepers, Jan at the Artist's Inn and Carl at the Harvest Moon do behind the scenes with the Culinary Tours that we put on. Many ideas are always thrown out on the table. Oriental... German... Holiday Cookies... and the list goes on. With the daily chores we each have of running our bed and breakfast, there is never enough time to implement all the ideas, however each year we seem to come up with quite a substantial list of tours.

Each year the Cajun Murder Mystery Weekend is added sometime in the summer. It has now been part of the line up for the past three years. It is after all one of the favorites! We start Friday night off with a good ole fashioned murder mystery somehow geared around New Orleans. Guest participate in what is always a great evening of fine Cajun hors d' oeurves, intrigue and a fun all around.

The following day we invite our friends from Prudhomme's Lost Cajun Kitchen to come by and cook for us. David and Sharon own this Unique Restaurant in Columbia PA. David is the nephew of Chef Paul Prudhomme from Louisiana.

Picture This: Authentic Cajun/Creole cooking grilled right in front of us as we dine Al Fresco. The smells of the Grill along with the Cajun music creating an authentic Mardi Gras atmosphere. Beads and masks placed all around daring you to pick them up.

The menu:

Blackened Shrimp Grilled

House Salad served with Honey Mustard Poppyseed dressing

Grilled Catfish with a Mushroom Sauce, Fried Green Tomatoes served with Rice

All above served with Lost Cajun Kitchen's Jalapeno Cheddar Rolls homemade of course.

David and Sharon put on a great show each year. We are thankful for their participation with our tours and demos. The food is fresh, cooked just right and is never too fiery for my Northern tastebuds, and the catfish is always... well let's just say one piece is not enough.

We have another demo coming up this weekend, July 10th and 11th 2009. Come along and join us if you wish. As we always say, "the more the merrier", and besides that everyone love a great "who dun it"

The Call of the Wine in Lancaster

2009-05-28T20:19:00.009-04:00

It was a perfect Spring day: The birds were singing, the flowers were growing, the sky was the deepest blue-and the wines were calling. I had heard that a new winery had opened in Manheim. Wow, what great timing to check it out - for me, anyway. Carl (my partner from Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast) was too busy to get away. And so off I went alone….hey, it’s a tough job but someone has to do it.

I drove across the county…through Ephrata and Lititz and then into Manheim, passing lots of farms along the way. It seemed that people everywhere were working….plowing fields, planting flowers. Just a little guilt crept into my mind, but I fought it off. After all, I was working too! This is what is called “research” for one of our wine tours.

Just outside Manheim, as I headed farther into the country, I saw them - row after row of grapes. I turned up the drive and went over the hill and arrived. What a view….it was almost as though I were back in Napa Valley….the long rows of vines…the quiet except for the song of the birds…just the slightest breeze. The only telltale sign that I was in Lancaster was the silo rising from the ground at the end of the rows.
Waltz Vineyards is owned and operated by Kim and Jan Waltz. They’ve been growing grapes for the past twelve years. If you’ve tasted any of the best wines that Pennsylvania has to offer, chances are good that you’ve tasted their grapes. And grapes they have – 80 tons of them each year, all hand-picked by local folks in the Fall. I settled in for my tasting, joining a group of four women who had brought a picnic and clearly were enjoying the wine, food and weather.

Everything is beautiful here – the meticulous vineyard, the marble counter in the tasting room, the French oak barrels, the patina of the old tobacco lathe from the family farm, the brand-new winemaking equipment that just arrived from Italy.

I must admit that I love big, bold red wines, and Waltz’s delivered. But I also liked their Chardonnay. The crisp cool taste would be lovely on the porch of The Artist’s Inn with cheese and apples!

Jan and I talked a lot about the terroir – the unique soil conditions that exist in Lancaster County and the fact that some of our favorite wineries in Pennsylvania and Virginia were the same. These are not only smart vintners that they have hosted many viticulture lectures and workshops – but they are so, so nice.

We talked, scheduled a wine tour date, discussed the details, and before I knew it, two hours had flown by. “One last tasting”, Jan said, as he pointed to the fermenting room where I got to sample the Merlot right out of the tank.

So, the next time you feel the “call of the wine,” be sure to head to Waltz’s Vineyard just outside Manheim. Or, better yet, join us on our Wine and Cheese Tour on Saturday, July 25 and really get to know these new wines and the folks behind them. Jan has promised a very informative session.

Lancaster County Wine Talk!

2009-05-25T18:48:00.005-04:00

Want to enjoy a great crisp wine on a warm summer day? May I make a suggestion then. I thoroughly enjoyed this particular wine and find myself during the warmer weather wanting to purchase it again.

I highly recommend Weingut Stadt Krems as a great tasting crisp summer white wine. This vinyard has been around for over 550 years. It is claimed to be the oldest wine producer in Austria and throughout the whole of Europe.

I have pulled some info off of their website to check it out for yourself. Enjoy!

The variety I enjoyed was the Sandgrube '05 Gruner Veltliner:

Characterization:

This Veltliner is dry and fruity; creamy and charming. This wine fits for many opportunities.

Analysis - Fact:

Alcohol content 12,5%, acidity 6,1g, residual sugar 1,2g (dry)

Storage – Time:

You can drink this wine young, but you can also store this wine for 3-4 years.

Ideal temperature:

50 - 54° Fahrenheit (10 - 12° Celsius)

Food – Reference:

The Grüner Veltliner is an ideal partner for traditional Austrian meals, but you can drink it also to Asian food.

Recommendations:

89/100 ... Falstaff Weinguide 2006/2007
2 stars ... Weinguide Vinaria 2006/2007
87/100 ... Wine Advocate
15,5/20 ... Vinaria 5/2006

What do goats, 16 teachers from a private school, and a couple from France have in common?

2009-05-01T11:34:00.010-04:00

Answer: They were all part of our Wine and Cheese Tour of Lancaster County on April 18. It doesn’t matter that guests come from different backgrounds, vary in their levels of wine expertise, or if they’ve never met a goat up close.

What matters is that guests usually share something important in common – and that is the desire to learn. After all, life is a journey of learning and our tours present a fun way to accomplish that.

That is why the last part of our tours – the very elegant meal that usually completes our day – is sometimes interspersed with a quiz of the day’s events.

These are questions that we’ve scribbled down during the tour – notes taken during a presentation while standing in a barn, or written with difficulty on a moving bus….so reading these questions after several glasses of wine sometimes presents a bit of a challenge. I guess it would also help if either Carl (from The Harvest Moon) or I (from The Artist’s Inn) had decent handwriting. Well, that’s simply not the case. And so we struggle through, turning papers upside down, straining to read through the giggles and sometimes just making up what we think might have been the question. There is always a lot of audience participation!

Some questions in our quiz are hard, others are just common observations, and some may even be silly. Answers are shouted out, and we give random prizes for some of the more tricky answers.

The final question (which we won’t reveal here) is where we learn from our guests. It’s the only question where guests are invited to write their answer and present it to the group. Usually it’s just a sentence or two but it often represents the most rewarding part of our day – the point where we realize that fun and learning evoke an emotion, create a memory, and touch a heart. And for that winning answer we offer the “big” prize.

On our last tour, the guests themselves voted for whom they thought should win. Things went very smoothly until one guest was found stuffing the ballots!

In the end, the one lesson learned repeatedly is that we all have much more in common than we would have first thought. I’ll bet even the goats would agree.

The Tasting That Never Was

2009-04-04T18:01:00.002-04:00

As the tours go by, I am reminded of all the special memories that go into each and every one of them. Each one has it's own unique quality or remembrance that we take away. As I sit here thinking back on the laughs, games and overall experience that we offer our guest wanting to dig just a little bit deeper into Lancaster County, I can't help but think and laugh about our last R&D day.

R&D... short for "Research and Development" came to light when we started planning our tours. Little did we know that it would one day become a very important part of the whole piece. Sometimes we get just a bit giddy when planning a day for R&D, as if school kids going on a field trip... I guess we actually are.

Our visits always appear on the surface as if we are quite versed on wine. What we lack in knowledge on the subject, we make up for with three different things:

1. A desire to learn
2. A willingness to sample
3. A fun-filled sarcastic bantering back and forth amongst each other

So not to long ago, we decided to go for a tasting at two wineries we have never been to in Chester County. We did our homework and left messages. It was still early in the morning and for sure a message should be plenty.

So off we went, map, pen and paper in hand ready to conquer the wine world. There is nothing better than the sweet anticipation of sampling wine. Next thing, who is the designated driver? Paper... scissors... rock! Paper... scissors... rock! Darn, I am the DD today, which means that I will be just a little less "educated" We had two victims on our list, Old Mill Race Wine and Black Walnut Winery.

Black Walnut first! We thought for sure they would be there. Working on there dream getting ready for the summer season. I commented on the labels as we were driving there. Simple elegance. As we drove up, we thought to ourselves wow, they are really doing a lot of work. So we knocked, walked around and called. No one answered, we poked into the basement and saw all their stock. Case upon Case of wine with those beautiful labels. We went upstairs and saw some construction workers there filling us in on where the owners were. W0rking. It seems that they did not have the winery open yet. As we left, walking by each and every case on our way out, we left dry as a desert. We had a good feeling there and thought to ourselves that this will soon be on our list.

The next one was Old Mill Race Wine. As we approached, we noticed that there was a detour. We had to circumnavigate around until ultimately reaching our destination. What beautiful countryside. The property with it's wine tasting room directly in front of the vineyards, boast a home on the National Register of Historic Places. A home built in circa 1767 and occupied by Zachariah and Abigail Hartman Rice. Both were integral during the Revolutionary War. So we go to knock on the door and alas, once again no one there. We lost out again. We could see the wine in the tasting room, but must have just missed the owner.

So although we did not get to taste wine, we know that these two are keepers. Their appearance, websites and for me the labels are all it takes to sell me. I guess that means that one day soon, we will have to plan another trip for wine tasting. Hopefully just hopefully, this time I will win at Paper... Scissors... Rock!

Our Tours Will Give You A Boost!

2009-03-31T22:39:00.009-04:00

Even the weather can’t dampen our spirits when we set out on an excursion through Lancaster County. Such was the case on Saturday when the skies looked gloomy, the wind was blowing and spring flowers seemed like they were put on “hold” for the day.
But it didn’t stop our tour guests from enjoying the back roads, sharing jokes and laughing, and exploring hidden gems of Amish culture that had somehow escaped all of their previous trips.

These were seasoned visitors of our two bed and breakfasts. They had been to Lancaster County many times...and decided to take part in our first ever Amish Culinary Tour. Judging from the thank-you notes that we both received by email, we accomplished our goal of introducing these folks to new places that they would never have found on their own.

Carl (The Harvest Moon B&B) and I (The Artist’s Inn) had scoured the pristine countryside several weeks earlier looking for businesses that were willing to give a “behind-the-scenes” look at all things Amish – from the baking of whoopie pies to canning red beets to the manufacturing of buggies. These were our secret places – some belonged to friends that opened their homes, others were buried deep in the heart of Amish country waiting to be discovered.

And so we listened and learned, shopped and sampled goodies like home-made chips, warm soft pretzels, and hand-dipped ice cream, and visited many furries – from friendly dogs and cats and horses to one-week old calves - and generally “boosted” our spirits – no matter what the weather.

One of our guests, whose name shall remain anonymous to protect the guilty, was too nice for her own good. Sporting an air cast for her broken foot, she insisted in sitting in the middle of the van so as not to inconvenience anyone. This required a different kind of "boost" up the steps of the van…..as you can see!

Join us on one of our tours and you’ll experience a boost too!

The Wine Wizard

2009-03-09T12:29:00.005-04:00

In our never-ending quest to discover the culinary treasures of Lancaster County, Carl and I visited the new tasting room at Tamanend Winery. This winery is named in honor of the Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, who signed a treaty with William Penn for land that became Penn's Woods (Pennsylvania).

Never judge a book by its cover. (It seems this is a lesson that we are destined to learn again and again as we explore new places…but more on that in another blog). Although the setting of the winery is based across the street from a Mercedes dealer, the tasting room inside, with Kate Albert as our guide, soon made you forget those cars!

We learned about their Wild Wines first. Named after Pennsylvania wildflowers, these have labels that picture scenes photographed by the owners – some in their own backyard. These wines are sold in a bag-in-box, a method becoming more popular –because it limits the amount of wine that is exposed to oxygen, thereby extending the “life” of the wine.
The premium wine labels are beautiful too – and truly works of art. They are taken from original paintings by Suk Shuglie. All the wines are made from grapes grown in Pennsylvania – with the exception of their Torosa Zinfandel and the Trop, a dessert wine made from the same California zinfandel grapes. Ironically, these were my two favorites - what can I say, I’m a California red girl at heart. All their wines tended to be more on the dry side (yeah!) with a nice clean finish. Yummy.

It was about that time that we met Dr. Richard Carey. He owns the winery with his wife, Linda Jones McKee, and also runs the Vitis Wine Center that services the mid-Atlantic region. Say you own a vineyard and something goes wrong along the way….perhaps your wine has too much alcohol, or you just can’t figure out what went awry. This Wine Wizard helps you figure out the problem – and correct it. He says, “Wine is half science and half art and the trouble is that we don’t know which is which!” We think his love of both science and art are apparent in his wines…Here’s a picture of him in his lab. We got a peek at a machine that helps him – it looked to be right out of the Wizard of Oz – full of dials and controls…I thought I heard a faint voice in the background saying “don’t touch those dials” ….but maybe that was the wine talking.

There’s a new research project that he’s trying – storing wine in big white plastic “tubs” instead of the traditional French or American oak barrels. The plastic allows the same amount of oxygen exchange as the oak, but lasts 20 years, instead of 3. (Wow, very green indeed.) It also provides a better barrier for temperature fluctuations. I never knew I liked science so much!

We hope to have Tamenand on one of our Lancaster County Tours later this year, so stay tuned for details.

A new side of Lancaster County

2009-03-07T18:53:00.009-05:00

You know, when I left Massachusetts to move down here there was a bittersweet feeling that emulated from within. I knew that we were moving on down to open up a Lancaster Bed and Breakfast...our dream. However, leaving the Blue Ocean... That was hard. Blue like I would never see again... or would I?? I'll get to that later.

Anyway, the other day, I was doing some research for our tours. Just a quick day to try to find some interesting, new and exciting cheese places. Jan (The Artist's Inn) and I (The Harvest Moon) are always on the hunt for them. I had three lined up. I was trying to locate one south of Christia na, ( neat little Lancaster County Town ). After leaving Christiana and driving just out of Atglen, I discovered a new side of Lancaster.

This part of Lancaster County borders Chester County, a place that is known for it's rolling hills and sweeping views. This side of Lancaster commands the same feel, difference is... the Amish way of life is thrown into the setting.

As I drive through the countryside going up and down each hill, I can't help but be amazed. Each crest of a hill, holds a new surprise on the other side. It truly was spectacular. Hidden covered bridges, sprawling farms lined with fences, one room school houses ( of course the Amish boys and girls were outside playing ) and all the other typical Amish scenes that make up Lancaster.

Then I turn the last bend and see my destination, just a long winding driveway that leads me down to a farm. Once I stop, get out of the car, I notice... well nothing! It was so quite. The day was beautiful... beautiful. It was a place that you could not/would not forget. And as I mentioned earlier, how I thought nothing could compare to the blue of the Ocean... take a look at what I saw. I think I am OK now; I found my blue once again.

Oh... and by the way, this dairy farm is a keeper, it will one day be on one of our tours.

Culinary Tour Research and Development

2009-02-28T12:43:00.006-05:00

Or should we call it the adventure behind the tours? Carl (Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast) and I (The Artist’s Inn & Gallery) are in our fifth year of creating excursions …. but they don’t just happen. Because we want these tours to be interesting, yummy and, most of all, fun, we are always on the lookout for new places that we think you’ll like.
We’ve discovered farmers who produce cheese for some of the best restaurants around - without so much as a sign on the outside of their buildings. We’ve convinced unique businesses to give our guests behind-the-scenes tours. And culinary experts, who don’t usually give demonstrations, come to our inns and, after a little wine, share their expertise with our guests.

But it does not come easily. Here are some lessons we’ve learned along the way:

Mapquest, Google Maps, GPS, and a variety of other sources are not always reliable. Sometimes they just plain don’t work in rural Lancaster, Berks or Chester Counties. Like the time we "arrived at our destination" only to find an electrical substation. And in the case of detours – now that can lead to some very interesting places to visit! As you can see in these pictures, occasionally we are forced to study the map and figure it out ourselves.

There is nothing like paying a personal visit. Websites and phonecalls help, but they can’t prepare you for the real experience of being on the farm. We’ve been greeted by an overly friendly bull dog that was sure we wanted to play with him – so sure that he climbed in the car before we even had a chance to get out. He did, however, leave his bowling ball outside the car…

We’ve met quite a few critters – most of which were as curious about us as we were about them; cats, sheep, chickens, roosters, dogs, goats and cows. The lesson we’ve learned? It’s best to wear your old shoes on these exploratory excursions. Heels sink in mud.

Of course any culinary tour would not be complete without tastings. We’ve sampled cheeses in kitchens, talked to farmers in fields, and tasted wine, beer, chocolate, all matter of greens and herbs, throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Lesson learned: The best way to start off your day is hungry – for knowledge, good times and great food.

So, if you’re hungry for adventure as well, join us as we discover the hidden gems in our own backyard. Watch this blog or follow us on Twitter for announcements of our tours. We're gonna have some fun this year.

Spring in Lancaster

2009-02-19T14:51:00.007-05:00

Hey Folks,

Yes I know the calender still says February, just the middle at best, but signs of spring are popping up all over the place. With that renewed feeling just around the corner, Lancaster County is getting itself ready for the spring planting season. With flowers, vegetables, herbs and so on, the growing season is just around the corner. With the success last year of our Spring Herb Tour held on Mothers Day weekend, we have decided to run it once again this year. Below is a little snippet of what to expect during our Herb Tour. Hope you decide to join us.

Our Herb Weekend covers all facets of these versatile plants-- medicinal, culinary and just plain good gardening. This tour is a feast for the senses. We start with a culinary demonstration for lunch and then visit a Mennonite gardening shop that carries 10 different kinds of basil, stevia, and even lemongrass. Next is a lesson in container gardening with herbs, and then a medicinal guided walk through an Amish herb garden- where you'll learn how to treat what ails you. Tour offered May 10 and 11. $150 per person.

Find out more by visiting our websites at either the Artist's Inn or The Harvest Moon.

Chocolate Covered Romance Tour

2009-01-28T16:39:00.007-05:00

Lancaster sits between two chocolate giants – Hershey and Godiva….but it can hold its own in this confectionery arena. We’ll enjoy an evening of Getting to Know Chocolate on Friday – learning the history of chocolate and how to taste. On Saturday, we explore several area chocolate factories and end the day with a chocolate-inspired four-course dinner. Tour offered February 28. $150/person.

Go to either the Artist's Inn or the Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast to find out more.