Hummelstown House, Open Sundays 10am-2pm

So one of the ladies of the Friday Food Club told us about this restaurant near the Hummelstown Square: Hummelstown House it’s called. Wow. How original, I thought.

And then we went there. And I was humbled.

HH offers a most impressive buffet-style brunch in a quaint Victorian homelike setting, complete with fine china and real silverware. At a price of just under $20, each week features Ms. Goldsmith’s infamous French toast along with an egg-based dish and third breakfast dish (such as well-seasoned fried potatoes or the like).

And then there are three “main” dishes, such as boneless chicken in a creamy delectable sauce, Mediterranean salad,  salmon pasta salad, or a host of other well-intentioned meals over which Ms. Goldsmith labored over in much love.

For instance, I never liked French toast. Rather, I could take it or leave it. So even I was surprised when I took a bite of the French toast – and knew immediately that I was going back for seconds. And I did. And I’ve been hooked ever since. But that only added to my dilemma since I knew I just HAD to have the chicken dish, and the fresh veggies, and any one of the three desserts!

Hmmm, was it to be the strawberry cheesecake, the chocolate cake or the blueberries and strawberries enhanced by the Peach Schnapps? After great consideration I decided to have all three (just a dab, mind you); otherwise how would I ever write a complete review? (What I sacrifice for my readers!)

This was only the first of my love affair with HH; I returned just weeks later and it was confirmed: this place is no fluke.

Owned and operated by Kim Goldsmith, who also operates a catering business called Dinner Is Served, Hummelstown House is located at 5 W Main Street in Hummelstown.

Open only on Sundays, from 10am-2pm, reservations are required. The number is 717-566-2500. But use it quickly! Word has it the restaurant might soon close. How sad! This is a well-run establishment which offers the finest dishes anywhere, and at a reasonable price.

So drop by Hummelstown House soon. You won’t regret it. Yum-Yum-Yum-Yum-Yum!!

Sistas Love to Eat! YumYum!

There’s a group of us. Sistas. Not in the familiar sense, but sistas from the heart.

Anyway, recently while attending the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz’s annual event, the Jazz Walk, in our fare town of Harrisburg, PA (yes, we have jazz!), we decided to try an upscale restaurant that was also a part of the Walk.’

Bricco is a “teaching” restaurant, with students enrolling from nearby towns and faraway lands, to learn the fine art of culinary.

They’re getting their money’s worth. And so will you.

My three friends and I decided to go “cheap,” meaning we didn’t have the dinner course but chose something lighter – on both our tummies and our wallets.

I’d informed the waiter that I was brand new to the venue and wasn’t sure which pizza I would prefer. I love mushrooms but not everyone serves fresh mushrooms, and I wasn’t too sure that my simple style of pizza would make a “splash.”

He (the waiter) suggested that I go ahead with the mushroom pizza, emphasizing the “special oil” blend that tops the pizza, giving it its very special taste. In fact, he said that restaurant changes menus periodically but because of its popularity, the mushroom pizza has remained on the menu.

I decided to give it a try.

We weren’t disappointed.

Friend #1 ordered a type of rice dish. The cost was something around $15. She found it hearty and tasty and said that it had the perfect blend of all the ingredients added. (Sorry, I didn’t try her dish because I was too involved in my own tasty selection…but more on that later.)

Friend #2 chose the Soma Margherita pizza sans tomato, while Friend #3 selected the same with tomato. They both raved about the freshness of the vegetables and, like Friend #1, were truly pleased with their choices.

And then there was my Kennet Square Mushroom pizza. I can’t exactly describe how truly delectable it was. Let me just put it to you this way: I’ve obsessed over that pizza ever since – even tried to get it the following Saturday, which didn’t pan out since the restaurant is closed on weekends. It was fantastic.

We were so enthralled with our selections that we decided to dedicate one Friday each month to various restaurants and eateries in and around Harrisburg – just to experience what we’ve apparently been missing.

As we sat at the table, we discussed another fascinating restaurant that Friend #1 had frequented. She raved about its surprise buffet menu, piquing our curiosity.

[Hummelstown House here we come!]

That review is next. YumYum!