House’s Loss: The Missed Sweet Treats and Salty Eats Road Trip Part 4

Palate Cleansing

House always seemed to prefer his wine with a fistful of painkillers as a chaser, so it’s hard to imagine his poor taste buds could savor anything. Wilson was clearly the gourmand, and surely would have been tempted to pull off the road if he saw the sign for a winery.

Photo © Gail A. Sisolak

For over 25 years, Allegro has produced incredible vintages with their own unique York County flare. Sample splendid wine and learn everything you ever wanted to know about the winemaking process from resident vintner and owner, Carl Helrich. Be sure to try the Cabernet Franc, and a local favorite, Chambourcin.

Photo © Gail A. Sisolak

While Wilson enjoyed a few elegant wines, I’m sure he also would have enjoyed swapping food recipes and wine pairings. He was such a foodie! Surely he would have wanted to try baking the Chocolate Port Wine Cake.

You can find the recipe here

Allegro Vineyards Tour & Tasting

Brogue, PA

717-927-9148

www.AllegroWines.com

Portions of this story were published in 2009 in the News Journal under the byline of Gail A. Sisolak. All rights reserved.

House’s Loss: The Missed Sweet Treats and Salty Eats Road Trip Part 3

Nature’s Best        

While the Perrydell Dairy Farm Tour was interesting, I keep thinking of all the cutting things House would have to say about the long-lashed calves lining up to be bottle fed by visitors, or their mommies hooked up to tentacle-like automatic milking machines. Unfortunately, none of them can be printed on a family site.

It is widely advertised that contented cows give flavorful milk, but the absence of rBST hormone insures that it is as healthy as it is flavorful. Family owned and operated Perrydell Dairy Farm offers free tours which allow visitors to see the cows being milked, calves being fed or milk being bottled. Their chocolate milk is justifiably a local legend, and regional shoppers cue up to buy rich, creamy, fresh milk.

© 2012 Gail A. Sisolak

When my mother and I visited, we bought a bottle of chocolate milk to savor in our B&B, and it was so rich we ended up foregoing dessert that night.

Portions of this story were published in 2009 in the News Journal under the byline of Gail A. Sisolak. All rights reserved.

Perrydell Dairy Farm Tour

York, PA

www.perrydellfarm.com

Check for seasonal hours

Admission Fee:           No Reservations Required: see below

Guided: No                  Outlet: Yes

Minimum Age: No       Cameras Allowed: Yes

The self-guided tour is free of charge. Cameras are allowed, and children of all ages can tour the farm! Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. Guided tours can only be scheduled Monday through Friday and there is a fee charged per person. For details, call (717) 741-3485 and ask for Wendy or Donna.

Caution: This is a working farm and parents need to be aware of where their children are at all times. Please be sure to give tractors and trucks plenty of space to get their work done.

It is also important that anyone who touches the calves, cows, fences, etc. sanitize their hands as soon as they are finished. Sanitizer is provided on-site near the calf pens

House’s Loss: The Missed Sweet Treats and Salty Eats Road Trip Part 2

Free Chocolate…I’m so There!

Photo courtesy of Wolfgang Chocolate Company

One of the sweetest tours in York has to be the Wolfgang Candy Company Factory Tour, recently voted number four of the “Top 5 Tasty Tours” in the Nation by the Food Network. Their Visitor Center and Museum features illustrations of old-time American candy craftsmen. You’ll see many special display cases filled with wooden sugar molds, glass candy jars, and many other priceless antiques. You’ll also see a video of the Wolfgang candy-making process, along with a complete history of the Wolfgang family who made their candy making dream come true

This family run company has grown to encompass a several blocks of the closely knit community in which it started. Fans of “I Love Lucy” reruns may see similarities between the candy making line and a classic Lucy & Ethel sketch. The candy line moves so fast you’ll understand the temptation to snatch a few treats as they race by.

No need to steal sticky chocolates from the production line. You receive three complimentary chocolates at the end of the tour. You can also stop in the factory shop and stock up on your favorites, or try something from their turn of the century ice cream soda fountain.

Take a virtual tour of the Wolfgang Chocolate Factory

with the FOX 43 crew.

Wolfgang Candy Company Factory Tour

York, PA

1-800-248-4273

www.wolfgangcandy.com

Chocolate Factory Tours

Tour Times: (Labor Day – May 31)

Mon-Thurs 10:00am AND 2:00pm

Reservations Required for All Tours

Tour Times: (June 1 – Labor Day)

M-Thurs 9:00am, 10:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm and 2:00pm

Reservations Required for All Tours

Wolfgang Das Sweeten Haus Store Hours:

M-F 8am – 6pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Telephone: 800-248-4273 x 112

Cameras are permitted on the tour, and there is a retail/gift shop on site. Wolfgang’s chocolate factory tour requires walking 1/4 mile including three short flights of stairs. Footwear with open toes or heels is discouraged (Wolfgang provides booties for those wearing open-toe shoes). All jewelry except a plain band must be removed. Hair nets and beard nets for facial hair are required (provided by Wolfgang). Each child under the age of six must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

House’s Loss: The Missed Sweet Treats and Salty Eats Road Trip Part 1

In the “Post Mortem” episode of House, the crotchety title character asked his long suffering best friend Wilson if they should take the “Sweet Treats & Salty Eats” route on their road trip to Cleveland to meet his childhood crush, actress Julie Christie.

Television programming aside, they missed out big time by not taking the trip. Not only would they have had the chance to score some really tasty free snacks, House could have turned his sharp tongue on the sites, sounds and smells of genuine factory operations.

Noshing through York County, PA makes an ideal weekend getaway. With its amazing mix of potato chip and pretzel manufactures, sweet confectioners, wineries; dairies; gourmet restaurants and roadside diners, you’ll find plenty to tempt your pallet.

Martin’s Potato Chip Factory Tour

Image Courtesy of Martin’s Potato Chips

Martin’s is a family-owned operation known for hand cooked “kettle cooked” potato chips and Bar-B-Q Waffle Chips. I must admit that I’m not much of a salty-snack eater, but Martin’s made a convert out of me. Freshness makes the difference and all visitors have the chance to sample warm, crunchy potato chips scooped from a dancing conveyer belt.

 

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of York County CVB

Their tour covers all aspects of making traditional and Kettle chips from the potatoes arriving by truck through to chips departing in colorful containers and takes about 45 minutes.

It is easy to taste why Martin’s is the politically bipartisan choice. Their products have been served on Air Force 1 during both the Clinton and Bush administrations. They have a great shop at the end of the tour, where you can buy factory fresh “seconds” at a fraction of the retail price.

Martin’s Potato Chip Factory Tour

5847 Lincoln Highway (US Route 30)

Thomasville, PA

1-800-272-4477

www.martinschips.com

Tour Availability: By Reservation Only (No Walk-Ins); Tuesdays 9, 10, and 11am only

Admission Fee: No              Reservations Required: Yes

Guided: Yes                         Outlet: Yes

Minimum Age: No               Cameras Allowed: Yes

Restrictions: Close toed shoes are required on the tour. Cameras are permitted, and the tour is handicap accessible.

Free tours of Martin’s Potato Chips factory are available Tuesdays by Reservation only 9, 10, and 11am.

The tour lasts 45 minutes, and reservations can be made by calling 1-800-272-4477. A factory store is located on-site.

Portions of this story were published by the News Journal in 2009 under the byline of Gail A. Sisolak. All rights reserved.