T's Travels

Tatiana's, Palmyra, PA--now moved to Mechanicsburg, PA

More than my interest in history, my love of travel, my fascination with the offbeat, my entire travel writing career has grown from a driving passion (pun intended) for new experiences among the everyday, especially when dining. Okay, regular readers already know what I won’t eat, but that doesn’t mean I would ever stop someone else from trying whatever it was.

This restaurant—Tatiana’s in Palmyra—was selected for two reasons: (1) it was convenient for me and my friend Esther, and (2) I had driven by it and always wondered about a restaurant with a sign that said, “Italian, American, French, Mediterranean, and Ukrainian.” What I think it should say is “Come in. We’ll surprise you—and in a good way.”

Esther was perusing the menu when I arrived. It was 6:00 on a Tuesday evening and we had the place to ourselves, but the room didn’t feel empty. It was warm and cheerful, and we wouldn’t be alone for long. Chef Ash himself came out to greet us and talk a bit about the food. (Mind you, he didn’t know I write, he was just being himself.) He’s from Egypt, his wife Tatiana is from Ukraine, hence the food influences. He asked if I had been there before and when I said no, he asked what I was in the mood for. I mentioned seafood and he described in lush detail a sea bass dish and then a sockeye salmon. I chose the salmon, but told Chef Ash I would put myself in his hands.

We started with soup; mine was thick and tomato-y, Esther’s was vegetables in broth (sorry, I made no notes, but they were delicious). After that, she had the roasted veal meatballs with white champagne Alfredo sauce and Gorgonzola cheese; at Chef Ash’s suggestion I had the Mediterranean flatbread—hummus, smoky chipotle, grilled marinated eggplant, crimini mushroom, onion, Roma tomato, and broccoli. These were just the appetizers. The flatbread was amazing—vegetables cooked to perfection (meaning not mushy), with a pleasantly lingering smoky flavor; I could have stopped right there.

But, no, we were only getting to the entrée. As I said, I ordered the salmon: “wild-caught salmon, shrimp, eggplant, and Roma tomato, pan-seared in a lemon olive oil wine sauce over roasted vegetable ravioli Asiago.” Esther chose the osso bucco: “lamb or pork shank hand-seasoned with spice rub and perfectly pan-seared, then braised in our classic demi glace.” My salmon was excellent. Esther’s osso bucco, however, was out of this world (and I don’t think I’ve ever used that term in a review before). From the online reviews I read, I see that other people have raved about it and they’re right. If you were to go to Tatiana’s and you could only get one dish, osso bucco would be it.

After all that—dessert? Well of course you have to try something! Again, I didn’t take notes but I did take a picture of the chocolate cake (I took a slice home for my husband). My own dessert was a cheesecake with lime drizzle.

You may be wondering how we could possibly move after all this food. Of course the answer is takeout containers. I shared with my husband (as Esther did with hers) and the leftovers still lasted three days.

Tatiana’s serves a brunch I would love to try—I’m sure the food is as creative and delicious as our dinner was. This is not a frou-frou, tiny servings, pretentious dining experience. They serve food like you can’t get anywhere else in Central PA (and if I’m wrong, please let me know!). For my fellow Harrisburgers, it’s not even a long drive, just on the other side of Hershey. To eat in a chain restaurant when you could be at Tatiana’s would be a real shame.  

Bistrot La Minette, Philadelphia

South Philly. Those words make one think Philly cheesesteaks, right? Or Italian food—pastas, red sauces, olive oils. Mangia!

No, wait. Not this time. I’ve been in many fantastic Italian restaurants in South Philadelphia. But this time I was traveling with Husb (not the biggest fan of red sauce) and we were meeting Miss C and her Vince for dinner. There’s no one better at finding a good restaurant than Miss C and so I gave her Husb’s parameters. She came up with Bistrot La Minette. Voilà!

Sixth Street just below South. Saturday evening. Of course the streets were full and parking was difficult. But I knew the struggle would be worth it. We arrived at the restaurant exactly on time. And hungry. I had perused the menu on-line a few days before and had only one thing on my mind: haricot verts. Some might say that “green beans” is not usually what people look forward to, but back when we had a garden Husb grew the best haricot verts I’ve ever eaten. Slender, dark green, tender, and full of flavor. I have no idea why anyone grows any other green bean.

So yes, I was getting the haricot verts. But first a drink, madame? Bien sure. I was surprised to see French 75s on the menu, something I haven’t had since Le Bistro (now Café 210) in college. Fun way to start a meal.

What to order for dinner? Miss C was decisive: Terrine de Foie Gras (“duck liver paté, arugula, cognac raisins, honey vejus vinaigrette, red wine reduction”) to start and Escargots à la Bourguignonne (“Burgundy snails, garlic herb butter, croutons”) for entrée. Needless to say, I did not ask to share hers. Vince chose the Lapin Rôti à la Moutarde (“mustard-braised rabbit, house-made taglietelle, rabbit jus”). Thinking of the duck we used to have at the Blue Moon in York (now the Blue Heron and soon to be reviewed!), as well as the trout amandine we once experienced at Maison Robert in Boston, Husb and I were of like minds. He ordered the Magret de Canard Vigneronne (“pan-seared duck breast, vigneronne sauce, grapes, raisins, sautéed cauliflower, pommes purées”) and I the Truite Meunier (“Miller-style trout, green beans, fingerling potatoes, lemon brown butter, almonds”). Yes, my meal came with haricot verts, but we still ordered a side to share.

Dinner met our expectations (which, honestly, were pretty high). We split a bottle of wine, enjoyed and shared our meals (except those pesky snails!), and just pretty much had a great time. Serving size was perfect—enough to enjoy but not enough to ruin opportunities for dessert.  My Tarte Tatin (“upside down apple tart, caramel ice cream”) reminded me of the apple tart at the Blue Moon. Husb’s Pot de Crème au Chocolat (really, they shouldn’t call it chocolate pudding, that’s an injustice) was light and silky smooth.

The owner and executive chef at Bistrot La Minette is Peter Woolsey, with quite the Philadelphia fine dining record (remember Striped Bass?). Read the “About” on the website if you are hesitating at all. This is a wonderful place for French bistro food. I’m sure it’s where Husb will suggest we go in Philadelphia from now on.

Photos from the restaurant website.

Giacomo’s Italian Restaurant, Fayetteville, PA

We had plans—Mary the Photographer and I—to go take a look at a place for the book on overnight stays in PA. We both did a little looking on-line for somewhere to eat lunch and found a place near where we were headed. Independent business, interesting history, not adventurous food but certainly okay . . .

And that’s where we went. And shortly thereafter we left. I don’t usually write criticism and I will not name names when I do, so let me just say we walked in and no one waited on us. The person who clearly was supposed to be the waitress did not say so much as boo to us. No “hello,” no “I’ll be with you in a minute” (she was unloading something from boxes and chatting with another woman as we walked by her). Nothing. We sat a few minutes and decided they weren’t very interested in our business and left.

Miles later, we stopped at Giacomo’s Italian Restaurant on Route 30 in Fayetteville (formerly Mamma’s II, just east of Chambersburg). Completely different experience. We walked in and heard a cheerful voice say, “Sit anywhere where you want!” The waitress came over as soon as she finished with another table to bring us menus and silverware.

Mary and I both ordered from the lunch specials—two slices of cheese pizza for her, baked ziti for me (you know I have to order something other than what my dining companions order!), which came with its own breadstick. Diet Pepsi for me (I could do an entire blog entry on the superiority of Diet Pepsi over Diet Coke), Dr. Pepper for Mary (because sadly she doesn’t appreciate Diet Pepsi).

We do agree, however, on the quality of the pizza at Giacomo’s. My baked ziti was fine but her pizza was, as she says, “Worthy.” Have you had pizza with a cardboard crust? Or one that’s more bread than crust? How about sauce slathered on so thick the cheese slides off? Or cheese so thick that that you feel like you’re eating nothing but?

Not at Giacomo’s. The pizza crust was thin and tender (foldable if you were so inclined). The sauce was flavorful but not dominant (and not sweet, which is a common failing in Central PA). The cheese was so good Mary thought it was a blend of cheeses. When the waitress came to refill our drinks, Mary asked about it and the waitress said, “Oh no, that’s just real mozzarella.” She went back to the kitchen and brought us a little sample of cheese—no blend, no fillers, just real mozzarella.

No surprise but half the baked ziti went home with me. The waitress tried to sell us on the chocolate cheesecake but we chose no dessert (although we did stop at Twirly Top in Gardners later in the day for ice cream cones!). Friendly service and good food—I’m sure in my travels I’ll be back at Giacomo’s and I’m sure I’ll have the pizza, no matter what my dining companions get.

 Photo (c) 2012 Mary Brenner.