{"id":1800,"date":"2015-07-08T18:57:39","date_gmt":"2015-07-08T18:57:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=1800"},"modified":"2015-07-11T13:03:40","modified_gmt":"2015-07-11T13:03:40","slug":"farm-to-table-at-shawnee-inn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2015\/07\/farm-to-table-at-shawnee-inn.html","title":{"rendered":"Farm to Table at Shawnee Inn"},"content":{"rendered":"
Many restaurants and resorts are making an effort to produce dishes with local ingredients. This movement not only creates great food, but a story behind it. That’s the case at Shawnee Inn<\/a>, a resort nestled in the lush nature of the Pocono Mountains. Not only do they collaborate with local farms, but they raise their own vegetables and herbs onsite. \u00a0I\u00a0recently\u00a0had the opportunity to experience a farm to table dinner with several other DC-based bloggers at Shawnee Inn on-site brewery and share the dining experience with the local farmers of the region.<\/p>\n The scene:<\/strong> <\/em>\u00a0The rustic facade with the light scent of hops was the perfect setting for a beer dinner. \u00a0Dinners are not typically served in the tasting room, however, it can be booked for special occasions. \u00a0The room can sit around 25 people and the intimate setting makes for a perfect rehearsal dinner or birthday party. \u00a0On the long dining table, we all came together: DC Travel Bloggers, the staff of Shawnee Inn, their family members, and local farmers of the area such as the lovely managers of Easton Farmer’s Market<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Food:<\/strong> <\/em>\u00a0The menu was simple yet hearty. \u00a0It was perfect as we spent the day white water rafting and the group had built quite the appetite. \u00a0Chef Rodney Tallada began the dinner with savory veal meatballs (veal from\u00a0Aspen Ridge Farm<\/a>). \u00a0The meatballs were paired with Sunfish Blonde, a light beer. \u00a0We enjoyed that although flavorful in its own, it did not steal the richness of the meat.\u00a0\u00a0We continued our meal with a mixed green salad with Cranberry Creek farm goat cheese. \u00a0Not only was the salad paired with the Berliner Weisse beer but the salad dressing was made with it as well.<\/p>\n Our main course was a hearty pork chop from Ironstone Creamery<\/a>, a farm located in\u00a0nearby Lehigh County, PA. \u00a0It was served with red potatoes, snow peas, and wild mushrooms. \u00a0We had received the menu the evening before the meal. When I was white water rafting in cold, rainy weather, I kept on fantasizing about that pork chop. It lived to my expectations. \u00a0It was paired with a ShawneeCraft Belgian Tripel. \u00a0After living in Belgium for six years, I can be a snob when it comes to Belgian beers. \u00a0Although the beer had a nice, crisp taste to it, it was sweeter than the authentic Tripels made in Belgium.<\/p>\n Sweet Endings<\/strong><\/em>:\u00a0\u00a0We concluded our dinner with a homemade rhubarb and strawberry pie, however, what stole the apres dinner show was the Mountain Ridge Coffee. \u00a0The coffee was served from the cart used at Monroe\u00a0Farmer’s Market<\/a>, a vintage red bike with a stand for the coffee. \u00a0The owner passionately talked to us about how she roasts the beans which come from all over the world right at home in Pennsylvania. A nice espresso was the perfect ending to a beautiful dinner.<\/p>\n The Verdict:<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0For me, a dining experience\u00a0is a well crafted story. \u00a0The protagonist will always be the food and in this case, it played a great starting role. \u00a0The supporting cast: the location, beer, attendees, made it into an award winning story. \u00a0We had an eventful 48 hours in the Pocono Mountains but this dining experience was the highlight!<\/p>\n<\/a>
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*Disclaimer: We were hosted by Pocono Tourism and Shawnee Inn as part of the #DCTravelBlogger FAM Trip.\u00a0<\/em><\/h6>\n