Nicki Lefever: September 2008 Archives

"It was so good."

That could be my whole blog, but I guess you need a little more detail.

My friend Kelly and I are both avid runners and exercisers who have slightly fell off the wagon lately and are trying to get back on the healthy eating and exercising track. We decided that for one night we would just be carefree and not worry about what we ate. She has a 10-mile race coming up and I, well, I just want my pants to fit.

Back to the subject of good food.

My beloved friends are scattered all over Central PA and beyond. Many of them are close enough that we can meet in the middle for dinner, which I do often.

In fact, tonight I am meeting my best friend Kelly who lives in Palmyra. Even though it's not quite in the middle (it's closer to her but who cares), we decided on the Lancaster Brewing Co. on Eisenhower Drive in Harrisburg (yes, it's in Harrisburg).

I met my other Palmyra-based friend there earlier this year and it was TASTY!

Check back tomorrow to see how the meal goes. It's her treat. She made me promise I wouldn't order a chicken sandwich or turkey sub. That shouldn't be too hard. Look at the menu.

I don't write about chains in my biweekly column because there are just too many local gems to waste time writing about large cookie-cutter establishments.

But it's hard to ignore Sheetz as a cheap eat.

Apparently, I have something in common with President James Buchanan.

We both love(d) sauerkraut. I'm not sure if he would approve that I eat it cold out of a can, but he might. Who knows?

Anyway, to celebrate the former president's love of the rotten cabbage, Wheatland in Lancaster County is holding President Buchanan's Second Annual Arts & Sauerkraut Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27 and noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 on the Grounds at Wheatland, 1120 Marietta Ave., Lancaster.

You can eat sauerkraut, listen to music or watch the sauerkraut cook-off which is sure to feature some crazy recipes like the chocolate sauerkraut cake from last year. The competing chefs have to cook on site over a charcoal grill. Sounds like fun. The cook-off begins at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Festival admission is $5; children ages 8 to 11 are $3; children under 8 are free. For details, call 392-8721 or visit www.wheatland.org