Hagerstown Maryland
The Safron Bakery is a delightful little eatery near the Community College just off Robinwood Drive. They serve deli sandwiches, specialty coffees and of course, Pastries!
I forgot to take a picture of our paninis. They were turkey breast with fresh greens and cheese grilled to perfection. Zip and I shared a sandwich so that we could have dessert. The desserts are to die for and created by the owner himself.
A friend of mine who lives in Hagerstown says that the macaroons are a favorite of her husband's. She likes the donuts. Zip and I went for the fancy pastries. I got a cream puff with the most delicious pastry cream I've had in a long time. Zip opted for tiramisu. We were there just before closing time so the bakery case was getting empty.
To see more of the Safron Bakery products, please Google Safron Bakery Hagerstown MD.
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Biscotti
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Yesterday we tried a new restaurant that just opened in Shippensburg PA. on north Earl Street near the entrance to Shippensburg University.
We stopped for lunch but they also serve breakfast and dinner.
Zip ordered the cheese steak sandwich. He shared some with me. WOW! One of the best I've tasted in a long time (maybe ever!)
I had the grilled chicken with roasted red peppers and feta cheese. Yum!
They were very generous with the feta.
I also ordered a side of cucumber and marshmallow salad. This is a new one for me! Sounds strange, but it was really quite good. Tasted like creamed cucumber.
Everything was very nice. The greens were fresh, the french fries crispy. Service was decent. Tasteful atmosphere. Prices were about normal for the area.
By the time we had finished the place was getting full.
We took lunch leftovers with us.
Since we had eaten enough, we ordered dessert to go.
This is the blueberry and lemon mascarpone cake. Isn't it lovely? And quite good!
But the one Zip and I both thought tasted the best was the cheesecake. Light, creamy and better even than I make. And I make a darn good cheesecake!
I can't wait to see their dinner menu!
If you're in the area, check it out. It's a step above the usual around here!
Note: Since we've eaten here, I've heard mixed revies from other people. Mostly the lunch reviews have been favorable, but people seem to think the evening meals leave a lot to be desired. On both Urban Spoon and Yelp there are some negative comments. I friend of mine said she had an unfavorable experience at a dinner that was catered by Biscotti. Now I'm not sure I want to go and spend money (they are not inexpensive!) on an evening meal that may end up being dreadful. To be continued....
THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
AND IS CALLED 'THE WHEELHOUSE'. It's OK regular family dining, nothing special.
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Bombay Junction
Indian Cuisine at 6499 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg, PA
They have a website http://www.bombayjunction.com/
We had plans to have dinner with Willa and Chuck. Zip was having allergy problems and declined to join us. Chuck was golfing with friends and agreed to meet us at the restaurant.
Willa and I drove to Mechanicsburg to the Bombay Junction.
I'm so glad we went!
Of course we wanted to try everything on the menu!
These are the appetizers. The long tube is a dosa. It is a crispy crepe that comes with several side items of lentils and vegetables, spicy ginger mustard, extra spicy cooked potatoes and onions and a coconut sauce. Totally funky!
The little fried things are vegetable fritters called pakara. The small dish cntains a cilantro dipping sauce.
My entree was lamb in a mild mango curry sauce. It was delicious. I didn't take a picture because by that time we were so involved in talking and eating that the camera was forgotten. The rice pudding for dessert had to come home with me.
This is a delightful restaurant located on the Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg near the junction of route 114. They have a buffet lunch Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday). The buffet is a great way to sample a variety of interesting dishes.
I can't wait to go back!
Next time I'll take more pictures.
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Cafe d'Italia
Our pick for this month was the Cafe d'Italia on the square in Chambersburg, PA
We've eaten here before and enjoyed it. This is not just your basic pizza place. They do, of course, serve pizza and a nice selection of sandwiches, but it's their entrees that make it worth the trip.
Our appetizer was baked brie on fingers of Italian bread with a topping of fruit chutney.
Diane chose the special of the day, chicken and spinach ravioli topped with cream sauce and more spinach and chicken breast. A very generous portion!
Eggplant parm is Willa's favorite.
For me, chicken salcicci with chicken breast, spicy sausage, spinach and onion in an oil and white wine sauce with lots of garlic. Yum!!! I would like to try to reproduce this one at home.
It was a huge portion so half of mine went home for Zip and I to share for lunch.
The desserts: a frozen pistachio pudding with swirls of chocolate and nuts on top and in the back is limoncello. The desserts are NOT made in the restaurant. They are from that magical place where decent Italian restaurants get their desserts, but were delicious.
They have an open kitchen so that you can see the food being prepared.
I should have gotten a general shot of the dining area, but by the time I thought of it, the place was full. And on a Wednesday night even.
It's one of Chambersburg's nicer places to enjoy a meal. Great food and a delightful atmosphere.
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