This is (I think) part of the old mill structures on Hershey’s Mill Road in West Chester (East Goshen). It looks like it is getting a new lease on life. It is the landmark for Hershey’s Mill Road off of Greenhill Road.
This is also one of my favorite roads.
Probably because it hasn’t been torn asunder by development.
We have had so much rain that the pond that had been drained is back.
But this is a road where you take your time, meander, and exhale. It’s lovely.
Dear Senator Dinniman,
Today I was not expecting to learn that you’ve decided to retire. Truthfully it makes me sad.
Why?
Because you are a rare public servant who has ALWAYS served the public. You have been so good to us no matter what our political affiliation.
You have been our steadfast and stalwart supporter on issues like the pipelines. You also are a big supporter of animal rescue which I am personally appreciative of. You appreciate historic preservation and land preservation. You are the real deal in a time when so many are not.
I know you would not have made this decision lightly, and family must always come first. But you have been so good to us over the years, that even I know as a resident of Chester County not as many years as some, that you treat your constituents like family.
So I just wanted to say most sincerely, thank you for your service. I also hope your wife gets better soon.
For my readers please FOLLOW THIS LINK to read Andy Dinniman’s statement.
Full disclosure: haven’t been there yet. But I will be going. They had me at beignets. And a breakfast and lunch menu that looks fun and has some Louisiana and other flair to it. And I actually love a good breakfast and lunch place, don’t you?
So yes, they had me at beignets and if Chef makes gumbo, I may volunteer to ladle it out. I found a bio of the chef-owner Chef Paul Marshall on the Blue Star Stove website. That in and of itself amuses me because one of my best friends swear by these stoves. Chef Paul Marshall has quite a culinary resume and I would say we are lucky to have him local.
His Farm Boy Fresh is where the Three Crazy Ladies was at the Sunoco Gas Station at 7 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern or… the corner of Route 30 and Route 29. They are new enough that Google Maps doesn’t pick them up yet. So here is my version of a map:
Now I checked with them for a menu because they don’t have a website up yet (they are new and renovating) and heard back from them very promptly:
Hey thanks for reaching out. We don’t have a website and are looking to update the Facebook page in the coming weeks. We getting a system installed shortly that will allow for online ordering. Paul Marshall is the owner and chef, he has a long career as an executive chef in restaurants and wanted to do something local to bring his food in an affordable quick environment. The cafe is going through some renovations as well, new bar tables will be in the shop soon, so you can eat in store. I have a menu, I’ll attach it here.
Umm yes so this is a chef with some serious chops. Found this elsewhere:
…From his childhood on the bayou in rural Louisiana, the land of cayenne pepper, roux, seafood gumbo, beignets, and Andouille Sausage, Paul always showed a passion for cooking. During seven years under the watchful eye of Fernando Oca he learned classical French technique. Marshall returned to his New Orleans roots to work under Emeril Lagasse at Commander’s Palace. There he further developed his passion for ‘the new’ New Orleans cuisine, a melting pot of French, Spanish and American flavors.
Chef Marshall also was the Chef de Cuisine of Oscars at The French Brasserie in The Waldorf Astoria. Since then, he moved to Malvern, PA with wife Julie …
I like quirky. And I also love food with Louisiana influence (well except for catfish. I just don’t cotton to catfish.) And you have to respect someone with a passion for their craft. So below is the menu and I will be visiting soon. I learned about them from someone in my area!
I hear they are open while they are renovating, but it possibly could be a little bit limited while they polish and shine, which is totally reasonable. That’s why I haven’t been yet. But I will be stopping by soon!
Did I need this little miniature cookbook? No but this little cookbook booklet was sitting on a shelf when I went barn picking this morning.
It’s partially a little time capsule but it is also a great little how to book for making piecrust, apple dumplings, chocolate layer cake, biscuits, sour milk gingerbread and more.
These are old school recipes like your grandmother would make. Now mind you I don’t cook with lard, and I think that is part of this cookbook. It was a gimme and advertising for Armour Lard.
And this booklet was created by Fannie Farmer in 1912!
Yes you are looking at photos of the entire booklet. It’s from 1912 so no harm in sharing. Also note the letter from the Principal of the Philadelphia School of Cookery on Powelton Avenue in West Philadelphia. Needless to say I don’t even think the building exists any longer!
Enjoy!
Hands down one of my favorite places for breakfast and lunch in Chester County is Dixie Picnic in the Lincoln Court Shopping Center on Route 30 in Frazer/Malvern.
I realized that although I have been enjoying the place for years, I have never written about them. Well I need to rectify that.
It’s not fussy, it’s not pretentious, it’s good food, well-prepared, served with a smile. It’s a wonderful scratch kitchen and I love sending people there because they are always so happy that they’ve gone! And now through the website you can even order online to pick up.
And they have catering available!
The owners are as lovely as can be, and when we went today for breakfast we could smell the delicious smells of baking bread. (Their sourdough bread is my favorite.)
Today my husband had an omelette which is his usual go to go out to breakfast fare. It arrived the table fluffy and pretty.
He said it was delicious as always!
I tried something different today. I tried their avocado toast. I have had it a bunch of places recently where I wasn’t thrilled with it. It’s a pretty basic thing to make but some people just do too much. Today was perfect.
It arrived on a slice of their lovely sourdough bread and the avocados were just perfectly ripe and slightly smashed with an over easy egg on top. I added a little salt and pepper and some Tabasco sauce and oh my it was awesome! Truthfully it’s the best avocado toast I have had anywhere.
Something else they are known for that I did not have today are the upcakes . Delightfully homemade simply iced cakes in an array of flavors every time you go in the door. Some of my favorites include the carrot cake upcake and the red velvet upcake . And they also have this devil’s food one that has this amazing mocha frosting. And if you’re looking for something that is a lighter and fluffier upcake try the lemon. Upcakes are magically delicious.
Dixie Picnic is a wonderful Chester County business and I hope you give them a try!
