Sliding behind the wheel of a shiny new convertible is how many people imagine celebrating their 50th birthday.
But as Father Leo Patalinghug approached his 50th milestone, his wheels turned in a different direction. Continue reading A Vehicle for Good
If you need a new reason to visit Gettysburg—besides hallowed battlefields and history—chances are you’ll find it at Mela Kitchen at Jack’s Hard Cider. The new flagship restaurant showcasing Jack’s Hard Cider and freshly-launched Atomic Dog Wines is located at one of the region’s largest open-air outlets, the Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg.
“We’re a fast, casual-style restaurant with a quality of food that matches some of the area’s best full-service restaurants,” says Chef Josh Fidler, who considers his latest gig the “highlight” of his 20-year career. Continue reading Cheers to Mela Kitchen
The soul of a business is often depicted in a logo. And that’s the case for Uncle Moe’s Soul Food Truck, which, on any given day, rolls into Gettysburg or throughout the region—from Frederick, Md., to Chambersburg, Hanover to Fairfield.
Eldridge “Moe” Moses walks to the side of his bright red food truck and stands beside the logo—a circle containing hands, stretched upward toward a blue sky, clouds, and a sunburst.
“When praises go up, blessings come down,” says Moses. Continue reading A Taste of Heart and Soul
George Keeney has two affirmations he says every morning and every night.
First, he asks St. George to help all those in need. Then he asks that his family’s new endeavor, Mansion House 1757, he a positive influence on the community. Continue reading Mansion House 1757
Hometown pride is something that touches your soul.
That’s what Donovan (“Dono”) Krebs felt when he met longtime Hummelstown resident Mike VanGavree. And that’s why he accepted VanGavree’s offer to become head brewer at Rubber Soul Brewing Co. Continue reading Hometown Soul
If Dauphin County were a city, it would be in the top 30, nationwide, for breweries per capita.
Based on population, and with more breweries set to open, it would take the next round of national beer statistics by storm. Nearby, Lancaster is already in the top 25.
Jason Meckes did his homework when he helped design Visit Hershey & Harrisburg’s (VHH) new Brew Barons Beer Trail, which launched in mid-July. Continue reading Banking on Beer
Only in 2020 could “Restaurant Week” involve a month-long celebration of takeout.
Tuesday kicks off “Harrisburg Takeout Month,” organized by the nonprofit Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (DID). It replaces Harrisburg Restaurant Week, in its 12th year in the capital city. Continue reading Takeout Turnabout
There’s a new show in town at Gettysburg’s former Frank Theatres. It’s not a Hollywood production, but there’s plenty of action, name recognition, and star power.
Mela Kitchen, led by Chef Josh Fidler, is Gettysburg’s newest restaurant. Affiliated with parent company Jack’s Hard Cider and Atomic Dog Wines, it’s located at the former movie house at The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg. Continue reading Mela Kitchen
Lucas Brownback is sitting on a cash crop.
“We’ve been preparing and hoping for a year like this—we just wish it wasn’t under these circumstances,” said Brownback, a second-generation farmer who co-owns and operates Perry County’s 300-acre Spiral Path Farm with his brother, Will. Continue reading Agriculture Restructure: Farmers shift gears amid the pandemic
Carryout is king during these pandemic times. When the carryout is king crab—or Maryland’s famous blue crabs—even better for area seafood lovers.
The success of Harbour House Crabs is no fish story or fisherman’s tale. Jessica and Curt Engle hooked the catch of their lives 20 years ago when they founded their Harrisburg-based business. Continue reading Get Crackin’ with Harbour House Crabs
Breweries in the ‘Burg offer an experience.
That’s the premise behind the Brew Barons Beer Trail, launched today by Dauphin County’s tourism bureau, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg (VHH). Continue reading Brew Barons Beer Trail Launched
Alex Lemon grew up with a childhood tradition of drinking coffee with her mom on Sunday mornings. It was such a cherished time that it pulled her back home to Dillsburg from West Chester University during her college days, so that their mother-daughter coffee rituals could continue.
Little did she know then that she was just a few years away from becoming co-owner of a highly successful Gettysburg coffeehouse and roasting company—Eighty Two Café and Ragged Edge Roasting Co.—housed together under one roof at 82 Steinwehr Ave. Continue reading Eighty Two Cafe
Sunday brunch is much more than a meal—it’s a state of mind, a respite, a soul-quenching experience that powers us through the rest of our week. And it supports local small businesses, many of them highlighted in this piece. Continue reading Sunday Brunchin’
“People appreciate seeing partnerships,” said Wade Leedy, co-owner of Fourscore Beer Co., Gettysburg, along with his brother Drew.
Indeed partnerships are hopping at three of central Pennsylvania’s newer hot spots for beers and cheers: Fourscore, plus Liquid Noise Brewing Co., Marysville, and Hook & Flask Still Works, Carlisle. Continue reading Three Cheers, Beers
Authentic Italian cuisine is something to crow about. Which makes sense at New Oxford’s Gallo Pizza & Italian Restaurant, since “gallo” is Italian for “rooster.” Continue reading Route 30 Rooster
The roof leaked all the way to the basement when Nam Doan purchased the property on Reily Street in Harrisburg.
“It was a wreck,” Doan, 38, said.
After six months of intense work, he transformed the century-old property into Midtown’s newest restaurant, the Red Boat. Continue reading All Aboard the Red Boat
From American classic, to old Hollywood glam, the 2019 Silver Spoon Award winners have more than great food. Continue reading Silver Spoon 2019 Awards
Sue Pera lives by the motto, “Strong women drink strong coffee.” Continue reading Silver Cup
Chef Christian DeLutis greeted us at the door with a special request. Since opening Koda about a year ago, the chef-owner has preferred the Harrisburg restaurant’s dishes to be photographed with staff, to showcase the culinary team alongside their dishes rather than focusing on solo foodie shots. Continue reading Friendly Fare
Brothers Wade and Drew Leedy say opening Fourscore Beer Co. on July 31 was the big payoff.
Five years of dreaming, planning, and clearing hurdles paved the way for the South Washington Street brewpub to open its doors. Continue reading Fourscore Beer Co.
If butchers were rock stars, chef David T. Mills III would have his name in lights. Continue reading Rockin’ Mechanicsburg with Flavor
Tina Weyant has a distinct childhood memory—helping her grandfather, a distiller in Germany, put labels on bottles. Her grandparents lived on a property encompassing an old monastery with a cellar under the church. It was surrounded by vineyards.
Today, Weyant, 57, has come full circle. For the first time since childhood, she again is surrounded by vineyards. Continue reading Bull’s-Eye in a Bottle
You don’t have to rise at the crack of dawn to run a successful bakery. Amanda Wiles, co-owner of The Cake Bar in downtown Hanover, is living proof of that. Continue reading Hanover’s Sweet Spot
Cumberland County’s craft beer community has beverage lovers covered from A to Z. Continue reading Crafty Carlisle
Not many people decide to open a restaurant during their retirement years. Cheri Ann Freeman operates Chez Cheri Cafe with a vitality and energy that seem to defy her age of 72. Continue reading Worldly Flavors, Friendly Faces
What do you imagine yourself doing at the age of 68? While retirement is likely at the top of most people’s lists, that’s not the case for Diane Krulac, owner of downtown Mechanicsburg’s popular candy shop Brittle Bark. Instead, she recently launched a new line of unique chocolate truffles and bars called Cocoa Creek Chocolates. Continue reading Mechanicsburg’s Sweet Spot
Gettysburg reminds Lori Korczyk of Epcot.
Just like the Disney park’s microcosm of world cultures, Gettysburg’s downtown streets are dotted with eclectic and ethnic restaurants, from Thai to Mexican, Italian to Irish, plus plenty of American eateries that blend cuisines—like melting pots—with culture and history. Continue reading Taste of History
Nicole Baer’s home-based cupcake business was so popular that her kitchen wall oven was on nearly all day, every day, and she still couldn’t bake enough cupcakes to fill orders.
That all changed when she opened Ann’s Cupcakery on Mechanicsburg’s Main Street last fall.
Continue reading Let Them Eat Little Cakes
Mediterranean and Ukrainian cuisine are married throughout the adventurous, flavor-filled menu at Tatiana’s Restaurant, Mechanicsburg—the perfect symbolism for husband-and-wife owners Tatiana and Ashraf El Seaidy. The restaurant’s namesake, Tatiana, hails from Ukraine, while her husband of 19 years, chef Ash, was born and raised in Egypt. Continue reading A Destination to Love
Health and wellness in the golden years are more important today than ever before. That’s because Americans are approaching a shift in population. By 2030, all baby boomers will be 65 and older.
As more and more of us approach and enter senior status, what can we do to protect our health? Nutrition plays one of the most critical roles, according to area health experts. Continue reading Nourishing and Flourishing
How do you choose the food you eat? It may sound like a simple question, but how often do you truly evaluate your nutritional choices and diet? We talked to a number of Susquehanna Valley residents, including health and wellness professionals, who made significant changes by switching to vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based diets and lifestyles. Their anecdotes and results may surprise you. Continue reading Plant Powered
Jeff Jurkowski says he was probably about 4 years old when he first saw crabs being steamed.
Growing up in Baltimore, an uncle owned and operated a popular crab house that served up 600 bushels of crab weekly. With watermen also in the family, Jurkowski grew up learning about the Chesapeake Bay’s bounty. Seafood just might be in his genes, and now the chef/owner is sharing his flair for adventuresome dishes at Gettysburg’s newest restaurant. Continue reading The Hoof, Fin & Fowl
With a name inspired by nearby eagle sightings and owl calls, the Eagle & The Owl Public House at Liberty Mountain Resort features a menu that’s just as adventuresome. Between the sweeping mountain views of the 400-acre Adams County property and the innovative menu, you just may be swept off your feet. Continue reading Taking Creative Liberties
Self-described foodies who enjoy traveling and visiting the world’s finest restaurants, Donna and Tom Ponessa opened Amorette (“little love”) in May of 2018.
“We took the best ideas from all our travels and put them under one roof,” says Donna. Continue reading A Little Love for Foodies
Central PA’s tourism organizations began jumping on the beer trail bandwagon about six years ago, recognizing the opportunity to collectively market area brew pubs to both residents and visitors alike. Brewers seem to embrace and enjoy the team spirit aspect of trails, calling it camaraderie and community, rather than competition. There’s Beer Here! Where to hit the trails for ales, Susquehanna Style, October 2018 Continue reading There’s Beer Here! Where to hit the trails for ales
It’s like shooting a bow and arrows: A Spring Grove couple is taking aim at a delicious new trend in the food industry and hoping to hit the sweet spot right in the middle of the target. Continue reading Dough & Arrows
“We married our family’s two passions together,” says Kevin Knoiuse, business manager at Thirsty Farmer. “Farming–and blending that with a love of craft beer. Thirsty Farmer is centered around agriculture and who we are.” Continue reading Thirsty Farmer Brew Works: An Authentic Adams County Experience
Take a trip off the beaten path to 3 Hogs BBQ in Hanover and you’ll feel as thought you’re discovering the South’s best-kept secret. And we’re not talking “south” as in South Central Pennsylvania; you might actually feel like you’ve been transported somewhere south of Memphis. Continue reading “Hog Wild” for Barbeque at 3 Hogs BBQ
Spring fever has set in and we’re making our bucket list for warmer weather dining destinations. There is nothing like enjoying a stunning outdoor view with a dinner menu to match. From gardens to riverfront views, decks to hillside terraces, urban oases to countryside respites, the region’s top restaurants offer a wide variety of unique outdoor dining backdrops to accompany their exquisite menus. Continue reading 25 Hot Spots to Dine Out(doors)
Against the backdrop of Tuscany, Rynn and David Caputo decided that shortly after their wedding, they would leave their jobs, move to Italy, and attend culinary school together. “I would say our parents were concerned,” recalls David Caputo. Continue reading Caputo Brothers Creamery
The long driveway leading to Allenberry Resort, framed by tall trees, seems to beckon visitors to the longtime Cumberland County resort. “You could travel all over the world and not find as bucolic a location as Allenberry on the Yellow Breeches,” says Mike Kennedy. Continue reading New Frontier
A “roost” is defined as a safe place, a haven, where birds can sit and rest their wings. Step inside one of downtown York’s newest restaurants, Roost Uncommon Kitchen, and you too can “rest your wings,” recharge your batteries, and feel right at home. Continue reading A Place to Rest Your Wings
If the sweeping mountain views aren’t enough to sweep you off your feet, then Eagle & The Owl Public House’s fresh, homemade approach is sure to wow you. Continue reading Eagle & The Owl Public House
Brittle Bark could quite possibly be the happiest place in all of central Pennsylvania—especially during the holiday season. Tucked into a tall corner storefront along Main Street in Mechanicsburg with a brightly decorated seasonal front window, the chocolate and candy shop has earned a sweet reputation over the past 10 years. Continue reading Sweet Break
Gettysburg’s place in history was cemented due to its location—at “the crossroads of America.” During the Civil War era, all major routes running north and south, east and west, met in Gettysburg. Today, just a block from Lincoln Square where those crossroads still collide, a downtown Gettysburg restaurant is gaining a reputation for its creative American fusion menu—bringing traditional American flavors together from the north, south, west and east in fun new ways. Continue reading At the Crossroads of American Fusion
Inspired by family, traditions and Sunday dinners, Chef AnnMarie Nelms has created a warm, welcoming atmosphere at Thea. Tranquil colors, hand-crafted tables and a finetuned menu infused with family heritage all work in gracious harmony—as if Nelms is inviting you directly into her home. Continue reading Like Family
Flour is the foundation of some of our favorite “comfort foods,” including pizza, subs, and pasta. So, how appropriate that Antica Napoli Pizza features more than a dozen unique pizzas, more than three dozen subs plus Stromboli, and a dozen varieties of pasta, all created by Owner Ignazio “Iggy” Farina, whose very name “Farina” is Italian for “flour.” Continue reading Antica Napoli Pizza: Putting Pizazz in Gettysburg’s Pizza
“This 100-year-old building was an incredibly warm space,” says Yianni Barakos. Original brick walls, exposed beams, and thick concrete floors harken back to the restaurant’s former days as Gettysburg Furniture Factory. After a year-and-a-half-long renovation, the father-son duo opened Mason Dixon Distillery’s doors in July of 2016. Now, new spirits are rising from downtown Gettysburg’s industrial past. Continue reading Grit & Grain
It’s all very straightforward and comfortable: a simple and traditional American menu, blended with whiskey and history. Continue reading All-American Spirit
At Tania’s Mexican Restaurant, it’s all about authentic flavors, family, and achieving the American dream. Continue reading An Authentic Taste of Mexico in Adams County
Chef-owner Josh Fidler waits, poised with tongs, until he sees the perfect amount of charring, then flips a piece of octopus on the grill. His eyes, trained by a degree in photography, give him an artistic edge in the kitchen. Continue reading Old School Hospitality and New Age Flavors at Fidler & Co
Craft beer—the art of combining water, malt, yeast, and hops in traditional style with an innovative twist—is a trend growing by leaps and bounds. You could say that Central Pennsylvania is blowing the lid off the craft beer market. Continue reading Brewing Big Business
Karen Hendricks 
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