Amish Country
Epicurean Adventure Think of Amish Country, and the usual images come to mind — pastoral settings, handcrafted furniture and life that seems to pass at an enviably slower pace. Gourmet food, however, doesn’t usually nudge out comfort foods for a spot on this list. At least, it didn’t. But these days Amish country is finding its niche with the food-savvy set as a place to source choice ingredients and hard-to-find spices at prices that trump your local gourmet shop. Fueled by the continued popularity of the green movement and the ever-growing interest in eating and drinking locally produced foods and wines, travelers to Holmes, Wayne, Tuscarawas, Trumbull and Geauga counties are just as likely to be filling their trunks with specialty mushrooms and saffron threads as hunks of Amish-made cheddar and homemade jams. Here, we highlight some newer businesses and revisit some old favorites that never stop working to satisfy their customers’ changing palates. As always, when you plan your trip, don’t forget to pack a cooler so you can get your perishables home safely (this includes your wine, which, red or white, is much better off in your cooler than a hot trunk). And bring some napkins for the car, too — we guarantee you’ll want to sneak a few bites before you get home. >>