Walking Lancaster’s Food Scene
In recent years, Lancaster has received its fair share of attention from national publications — The New York Times wrote of Lancaster as, “A Global Feast in an Unlikely Spot,” while the New York Post called us, “the new Brooklyn… [with] a rich culinary scene.” Lancaster’s own Passenger Roastery & Coffee Bar was selected as the best coffee in Pennsylvania by Food & Wine, and Thrillist named Lancaster as one of 15 U.S. cities that, “Secretly Have Great Food Scenes,” thanks to our “inventive, international array of flavors fed by Amish farms.”
And so for visitors and locals alike, it’s clear that Lancaster is a dream destination for foodies. One wonderful way to explore the culinary offerings of our city? A guided food tour led by Kendra Wolfe, founder and executive tour guide at Unique Lancaster Experiences.
Join one of Wolfe’s walking tours and you will spend two hours exploring some of the very best of what Lancaster City has to offer. Participants will, “enjoy and experience food from around the world while right here in Lancaster,” according to the ULE website.
Our own food tour began at Sprout Vietnamese Eatery, for a delicious appetizer of egg rolls with crab and pork. Already a personal favorite, I was thrilled to dive in while learning a bit of the history of this delicious dish, a family recipe that dates back nearly 50 years.
Next up, our little group of culinary adventurers were off to The Spice & Tea Exchange. There, we sampled the shop’s Rootbeer Chai Herbal Tea, made over ice for a hot summer afternoon. As we sipped and browsed the shop’s offerings, Wolfe shared the beneficial properties and history of rooibos (one of the main ingredients in the tea blend).
Then, a short walk past Central Market (which is included on the morning tour, but not the afternoon outing, as the market has already closed for the day) and down W. King Street to arrive at Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom. There, our small group learned to sample olive oil like an expert (though I don’t think we’ll be quitting our day jobs anytime soon…) and tasted delicious specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
Here, the temptation to use the 10-percent discount that comes with being a part of the tour group was too much to withstand. Lucky for us, Wolfe shared a number of facts about proper olive oil storage and use, as well as the family history behind Seasons Taproom.
Trust me when I tell you: You will not walk away from your food tour experience feeling hungry. After our lessons in olive oil, Wolfe led our group to Lancaster’s newly renovated and reopened Southern Market. There, after learning a bit about the market’s history and revitalization, Chef Eddy Rodriguez, owner of Four E’s Latin Cuisine, chatted with us about his career in the culinary arts and his goals for his restaurant — and shared a plate of his delicious, fan-favorite empanadas. I cannot recommend these house-made empanadas enough — we devoured a plate of chicken and beef in record time.
Our next stop was the corner of Vine and S. Queen Streets, where Wolfe paused to share a short history of Lancaster City, Thaddeus Stevens, Lydia Hamilton Smith, and their contributions to the Underground Railroad. Wolfe also shared the history of a handful of locations in Lancaster City that were included in The Green Book.
Wolfe then led us to Barberet Bistro & Bakery, where we selected from a case of decadent, gorgeous French patisserie. We went with a raspberry macaroon — perfect for enjoying the best of the summer’s berries.
But the sweet treats didn’t stop there. After a short walk, we grabbed a favorite local treat (one included in Food is Love, Volume One) — a stroopie from The Lancaster Sweet Shoppe! Though it was a brief tour stop, Wolfe provided an overview of Stroopies’ mission to, “provide meaningful employment in support of refugees as they work to overcome language and cultural barriers.”
With a stroopie in hand (AKA a Lancaster-made Dutch stroopwafel, a delightful cinnamon cookie sandwich filled with homemade caramel), we ventured to our final stop: Fresh Pressed Juice Bar. There, we sampled a fruit smoothie made with strawberry, peach, banana, and a unique superfood — fresh sea moss.
If it seems like I left a few of the details out — it’s because I did. Kendra Wolfe took our group on such an informative and delightful tour of Lancaster City that I couldn’t possibly share everything we learned, sampled, and enjoyed in one blog post. But — even if I could — I wouldn’t want to! Because you have to enjoy this delicious tour for yourself.
Tickets cost $65 per person and are available for purchase at www.experiencelancasterpa.com.
By Maddy Pontz
