Central Market Lancaster, Pennsylvania

238. The town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania is so diverse and filled with surprises around every corner. I have visited this quaint town many times in my life but have always stayed on the outskirts of the city proper. While attending a conference, held at the Marriott in the center of the business district of Lancaster, I discovered a whole new world. The layout of the city streets reminisce back to the late 17oo's when the Old City Hall was built and the Central Market was constructed in the center of town.

There is a resurgence taking place in these old buildings and around the neighborhood. Young artists and entrepreneurs are moving into town, refurbishing these old buildings and opening their doors to sell all sorts of delights. The Central Market is opened on Thursday's and Saturday's for several hours. Just visiting the building is delightful. We strolled through the venders stalls and enjoyed tasting and shopping.

At the PA Fudge Company the Cappuccino Fudge was unlike anything I've ever tasted...it was heavenly!

There were farmers who brought their produce and such a wonderful variety.

I just wish I could have stocked up...the prices were so reasonable!

The atmosphere in the Central Market is so inviting. A touch of old world with new discoveries down each aisle.

We sampled homemade cider, spring rolls from a Thai vendor and Italian cheese from a notable Italian shop. Their Wedding Soup was perfect!

The variety of international shops was surprising: Pakistani, Greek, Italian, Irish, German, to name a few.

And, Amish vendors with their wonderful baked goods, whoopie pies and canned fruits.

This was a perfect place to spend our lunch hour.

My favorite vendor was The Herb Shop. The shopkeeper was a pleasant man with thick glasses. He was surrounded by apothecary jars and mason jars filled with all types of herbs for cooking and supplemental for your diet. I was so excited to see he sold all types of salts and "Fleur Del Sal", which I have been hunting for. The price was fantastic!

I used it on my roasted Pumpkin Seeds just the other day.

If you are heading to Lancaster, Pennsylvania any time soon, take one day and visit the town center at Penn Square. It is delightful! Pick up a visitors map. They also have "Downtown Dollars" you can use at all participating shops and stores. Go explore, you'll thank me!

"Nowhere in this country, from sea to sea, does nature comfort us with such assurance of plenty, such rich and tranquil beauty as in those unsung, unpainted hills of Pennsylvania."

~ Rebecca Harding Davis

My Deal of the Century!

98. While on vacation, I always like to stop in the outlet malls to shop in my favorite stores. Since we are not very close to any outlets, I took advantage of the opportunity. I was searching for a special gift for a dear friend, and just couldn't seem to find that perfect something, till I walked into a store called "Reed and Barton". Have you ever been in Reed and Barton...it is a gift emporium! Wall to wall silver, china, porcelain, crystal and mirrors. I was overwhelmed with the amount of beautiful items...for any and all occasions. The saleslady was wonderful and helped me find just the perfect gift I was looking for. As I walked to the cash register, standing in line, I glanced down to the left side of the counter. There was a great pair of stainless tongs for serving. They looked dressy...not like my everyday tongs. I picked them up and really liked how well they were made and that they had a weight to them. They were laying on top of a box.

The price tag on the box said $19.95. Hmmm, they are very nice, but I don't want to pay that for just a pair of tongs. So I placed them back on the box. With that, the saleslady asked if I was ready. I placed my gift on the counter and then she said, "I noticed you were looking at the stainless tongs. Aren't they wonderful?!! I bought one for each of my family for Christmas gifts." Ummm, Ok, that's so nice...(question to self...*smirk* "Why would you give your whole family a pair of tongs for Christmas?") Then she mentioned, "Did you notice, they are only $19.95! What a bargain...we haven't had a bargain in R & B like this in a long time!"

I'm sorry...*pause*... I just didn't get it! What is so fantastic about a $19.95 pair of stainless tongs. Ok, it is Reed and Barton, and they are very nice...but????? So I said, "Oh, yes, I did see them and they are nice, but I don't need tongs that bad." She stopped everything she was doing and looked me in the eye and said, "Not just the tongs, the whole box!" I didn't understand what she meant, and she realized that...she said again, "The whole box, all 13 pieces!"

"What?" I needed someone to bang me on the head with a frying pan...13 pieces, what 13 pieces? What a very patient woman she was...she picked up the box and removed the tongs, then pulled aside the packaging bubble wrap and voilá, there was more than just tongs...!

There were 2 serving spoons slotted and whole, one sauce spoon, gravy ladle, meat fork, spaghetti server, pie server, square cake server, salad fork and spoon, an awesome meat carver and meat carving fork...and serving tongs!!!! All for only $19.95!!!! I think my eyes grew to the size of dessert plates! The saleslady started to laugh and said..."yep, I bought one box for each of my family for Christmas...my shopping is done for the year!

Now this was worth more than $19.95! They are beautiful and very dressy for the dinner table. I had been searching for a salad fork and spoon set for some time and just hadn't found the right ones. These were perfect! The quality is fantastic, the weight of the stainless is just right and they add a new aesthetic to every meal!

So, there you have it...my deal of the century! Are you smiling along with me? =-)

Shopping is a woman thing.

It's a contact sport like football.

Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds,

the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase.

~Erma Bombeck