Some time ago I made a promise to dedicate an entire post to the Golden Temple, "the holiest Gurdwara of Sikhism" and their recent decision to serve 100% organic food (for free) to the public. This is not that post. I promise (yet again) that it will be written, in the near-ish future, but for now I have been busy exploring local flavors in my own back yard, give or take 3 hours.
Last weekend my boo and I journeyed to the quaint village of Easton, P.A. to visit what we thought would be a dog breeder (will explain later). We were there to see Shiba Inus (yes we are getting a dog!!), but we ended up discovering a vibrant, self sustaining culture replete with family farms, organically grown grapes (for winemaking!), microbreweries, and rustic, local cafes.
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| View from our table at the Riegelsville Inn, built in 1838 |
Before we arrived I already knew that we were in for something special. You cannot get to Easton by taking a highway. We discovered this when our GPS unexpectedly took us onto a narrow, windy path traveling along the Delaware river... for 2 hours. Over mountains, alongside cliffs, passing strawberry fields and Georgian Colonials made out of stone, we scoured the landscape until we entered a village both historic and contemporary, marked by couth graffiti & hipster-esc smoke shops, as well as 200+ year old bridges and gothic revivalist cathedrals.
"This is Spectre! We are in Spectre!" I blurted out as we parked our car, "It's just like in
Big Fish, the perfect town, untouched by the outside"
To be honest, it really did feel Tim Burton-esque. From the bizarre back roads leading in, to the strange artistry that littered the city, I could have been in another reality for all I knew. And just like the town of Spectre, there was a feeling of separation, a distinct otherness despite it's relative proximity to the humdrum world. Flush with the haunting beauty of contradiction at peace, Easton, at least superficially, was as perfect as fiction.
As mentioned, we were there to see about a puppy. A breeder actually,
Icewind Farms, which turned out to be, well, less than perfect. Although the puppies were adorable (see below), it was disheartening to discover that many had health problems (according to several objective reviews) and that so many animals were being kept, with too little support by their caretakers. What we thought was puppy paradise turned out to be no more than a puppy profit farm, packaging beauty for proceeds, with minimal care or responsibility for the lives at stake. Although I understand that making money is a necessary evil in our world, it's especially shameful when business & greed are disguised as altruism and masked by a veil of phony consideration for others.
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| Looks can be deceiving; while these pups are absolutely adorable, making a decision on cuteness alone would be to support an industry of neglect, abuse & greed |
Such was our experience at
Icewind Farms, but fortunately, we were able to educate ourselves in the complex process of selecting a responsible breeder and have since located several others that have successfully restored our faith in human kind, at least for now.
Luckily for us, the rest of our trip was outstanding...
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| Our visit to Villa Milagro Vineyards, a local winery owned & operated by quite possibly the nicest and wisest woman you could ever meet |
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| The vines ! |
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Tasting room !
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Winery & Home (my dream come true)
After a relaxing afternoon spent sipping wine and learning about sustainable grape growing (Thanks Audrey!) what else was there to do but head back into town and visit a beer brewery?
Just steps outside of our hotel ( Grand Estonian Suites) we found the Two Rivers Brewing Co., a local microbrewery, specializing in hand produced craft beers and an impressive farm to table menu that redefines the meaning of "bar food".
Gurpreet ordered the Colonel Left Eye IPA (pictured above), a refreshing, season-appropriate brew; bright, aromatic, and full of citrus. I stuck to wine (I didn't like the beer in Germany, and I don't like it here, sorry!)
For dinner, we enjoyed the chicken breast sautéed in fresh veggies and Banker's Brown Ale, along with a delectable beer-braised pulled pork sandwich, topped off with a fried pickle . Everything was local. Everything was delicious. I make a conscious effort to avoid meat, but there are rare occasions where I would say it's worth it, and this was definitely one of them.
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<---Chicken breast smothered in fresh veggies & beer based gravy!
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The next morning we had a quick breakfast at the hotel so that we could get out early and enjoy the stunning vista at
Delaware Canal State Park ...
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| View of the canal & trail |
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| Delaware River |
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| Rock Island |
All that nature had us working up an appetite! Did somebody say brunch?!
Yes, me!
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| Black bean & quinoa burger with salsa, guac, mixed greens, & MORE SWEET POTATO FRIES! |
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| Lamb burger with fries & home made bun |
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| A great shot of Gurpreet excited to eat, at the historic Riegelsville Inn |
After brunch we hopped in the car and headed for home, sad and mesmerized in equal measure because although we were leaving : ( we had the great fortune of discovering a fascinating place full of magic and beauty; a place that will stay with us in thought and feeling, serving as a reminder that sometimes real life can be as enchanting as a fairy tale. Though we will not be returning for our puppy, Easton, it's been unreal... we will miss you!
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| Life is Marvelous! |
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