Seen Through A Glass

When your central PA town is too small to get the attention of Wegmans, or Giant, or Weis, it's time for a local hero: the independent grocer!

Rural Pennsylvanians need to eat too, and we like variety just as much as city-dwellers. Luckily, just like with craft brewers, and small butchers, independent grocers can often deliver stuff that bigger supermarkets can't. Local stuff that's too small to work with the big guys, the delicious favorites that the big guys don't understand (pepper slaw? Pickled quail eggs? Ham salad!!), and fresh-as-this-morning local produce!

I interviewed two local grocers: Russ Burkholder, of Burkholder's Country Market right here in Millheim, and Lindsay Hutchinson, who runs People's Provisions, in Elliotsburg. Burkholder's has made local a mission, and Russ has some great insights on how an independent stays afloat. Lindsay has a very special idea at People's Provisions, about fostering community with food in central Perry County. You'll want to visit both places -- and your local grocer -- when you're done listening. 

I cooked with some provisions I got at Burkholders, mixed with vegetables from a friend's garden, and I'll tell you about that; lots of hot peppers and corn and cheese! 

What else? The Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest collaboration beer is What I'm Drinking Today, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about finding the blazingly fresh locally-grown food that's bursting out of Centre County fields right now. I'm also going to be taping new episodes of What's Brewing PA with Glen Macnow next month, and I give you a heads up on what's coming there. 

Next episode? After almost three years, I finally have an episode about Pennsylvania wineries! I got a bottle of Traminette, and it intrigued me, and I just kept digging till I came up with a story.   

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

You've got to do what I finally did this episode, and get off the highways that bypass the town of Duncannon, sitting just downstream of the confluence of the Juniata and the Susquehanna.

This episode came together in about a day and a half, thanks to Michael Lindgren at Lindgren Craft Brewery in Duncannon. I've been drinking their beer at Pisano's Winery here in Millheim, and when circumstances put me on the road to Duncannon, I thought I'd see if he could give us an interview. 

He did, and my traveling companion Dave Dreese and I went there, and to the Doyle Hotel across the way, and an Appalachian Trail hostel called Kind Of Outdoorsy, and the iconic Red Rabbit Drive In, and then on up the river to Williams French Fries in Millersburg.

That put us on the far side of the Susquehanna, 20 miles either way from a bridge to our side of the river. No worries: we got a ride on the only remaining paddlewheel ferry in the US, the Millersburg Ferry. Come along, it's like riding with Hank and Tom and Becky on the river.  

What else? Well, What I'm Drinking Today was a delicious dram of Michter's 10 Year Old Rye, the 2025 release, and it is exceptional. The Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about the upcoming Another World Music Festival, three days of 30 bands on two stages, right here in beautiful Penns Valley, the smack-dab center itself!

Of course there's more American Whiskey Master Class news as we get closer to the September 23 launch date! Events in Washington, PA and Baltimore, and if you just can't wait, you can pre-order it here! 

Next episode will be about the great local grocery stores in central PA, everything from four aisle markets to ten-store chains with full-service butcher shops and fresh seafood. They aren't Whole Foods or Wegmans, but they're not 7-11s either, and they're out here where central PA actually lives. Let's go shopping!

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au  Music promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

You all know about the Battle of Gettysburg, so we're not talking about that. 

Instead, I'm jumping right into the town before the battle (a little bit of history, some of it is still around today), and the town today, which is a huge tourist attraction that tends to be a little less touristy than most huge tourist attractions, because of the solemn nature of the history. 

But when we've toured the battlefield...we're looking to get our drink on, and Seen Through A Glass has you covered. 

I interview Yianni Barakos, the founder, owner, and distiller at Mason Dixon Distillery. Yianni built his first still when he was 11. That's right, eleven years old. It's an interesting story. We talk about how that happened, how he survived that (and almost didn't survive a car crash), why he opened a distillery, how he wangled a permit to grow grain on the Gettysburg battlefield, and why he bottles most of his whiskey as single barrels. We also talk about Tsipouro, a clear spirit, "like Greek grappa," he said. 

Then Dave Dreese and I take a grueling excellent tour of Gettysburg's drinking spots, missing a few out of a desire to stay healthy: the Garryowen Irish Pub, Gettysburg Moonshine Company, the Dobbin House, Bantam Coffee Roasters, Appalachian Brewing Co., Reid's Orchard and Winery, Michaux Brewing, Fourscore Beer Co., and Spirits of Gettysburg. Yes, all in an afternoon. Don't try this at home, we are professionals. 

We announce the winners of our DelGrosso Foods contest, with a winner for a selection of 12 jars of their Original and La Famiglia DelGrosso sauces, and another winner of two day passes to the DelGrosso Amusement Park and Laguna Splash Water Park! Thank you to everyone who participated!

I went out looking for good farm fresh food, and found two dozen "seconds" peaches that just needed a loving home. I cut them up and made two quarts of peach shrub, then used the pulp to make a delicious peach-blueberry pie. That's getting the most out of your fruit!

What I'm Drinking Today was A.Bowman rye whiskey, a softer, sweeter version of Old Overholt. The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment is all about the 151st annual Centre County Grange Fair, coming in August!

Next episode? I'm being a little cagey about it, because I'm not 100% sure it's going to pan out, but...it's very local, and very central PA at the same time. The interview is already done, and let's just say I was a little surprised at how forthcoming my interviewee was. Very informative!  

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

"Swallowtail Jig" by Grumpynora at https://pixabay.com/users/grumpynora-14374548/

US Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps "The Caissons Go Rolling Along"

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

What's the Biggest Thing In Tipton? 

America's oldest family-owned pasta sauce maker, DelGrosso Foods!

The DelGrosso family has been making pasta sauce in Tipton for over 75 years, and running their amusement park even longer. Joe and Michael DelGrosso tell me the stories behind this; the love story, the beer garden story, the innovation story, and through it all, their family story. Maybe the most amazing story is how this 78 year old sauce company doubled their sales in the past two years. It's a real success story!

Hear about hot pepperoni, hot sauce, and how DelGrosso's new sauce has catapulted into second place nationally in only a few years of sales. You'll also hear stories about this clan grew up together, then spread out, but still comes together to keep the business running. It's very much a central PA story, about small towns, small companies, and family strength, with a dash of railroads and luck. 

Once again, a long interview; the longest we've run yet, so not a lot of time for other stuff, but we do have a contest for you! DelGrosso Foods donated two prizes: a selection of 12 jars of their Original and La Famiglia DelGrosso sauces, and two day passes to the DelGrosso Amusement Park and Laguna Splash Water Park! Easy directions for how to enter are in the episode, listen and win!

And just because, I still shoehorned in Tipton and Tyrone stuff: Austin's Texas Hot Dogs in Tipton, and then Tyrone stuff: The Brew Coffee and Tap serving great coffee and craft beer and wines, the small but mighty -- mighty delicious! -- Sugar Mill Bakery, and a great little deli, Mac's Market and The Gridiron, with full service meats and the signature Tyrone hoagies topped with a cool drift of thin-sliced onions.  It's a long episode, but it's worth it!

What I'm Drinking Today was the latest Michter's 10 Year Old Bourbon release, a leaner Michter's than usual. The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment covers the upcoming Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest, coming next weekend, July 19th! 

Next episode? It's a Gettysburg episode, which required a marathon pub crawl with my buddy Dave Dreese. Plus the winners of our big DelGrosso Giveaway!  

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

“Un petit tour de manège” by jean-paul-v  from pixabay.com/music

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

One interview, two absolutely iconic central PA bars: Zeno's, and Chumley's.

I got an interview with Ellen Braun, who is the general manager of Zeno's, the bar that brought great beer to State College; and also the general manager of Chumley's, the bar that has quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) provided a safe haven for gay folks from Penn State and the region around State College since the early 80's. We also talked with two of her lieutenants, Justin and Sofie. 

I already got the history of Zeno's from long-time manager Dave Staab way back in Episode 4, but things have changed a lot since then, so we needed an update. Chumley's, well, I've wanted to do a 'gay bars of central PA' episode for a long time, and the story is as fascinating and varied as I'd hoped, especially when you throw in the excellent cocktail program. 

This is a great interview. I enjoyed doing it, I enjoyed listening to it when I edited it, and I hope you enjoy it too.  (One small correction; Ellen contacted me to note that she misspoke when she said Chumley's new owners had purchased the building. They did not, they only purchased the business.)

It is also a long interview, and I didn't have a lot of room for much else, though I did squeeze in how we made a great blueberry cobbler out of our fresh Kiwanis Club blueberries. What I'm Drinking Today was two bourbons, the latest Larceny Barrel Proof release and the new Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 7 Year Old, both Heaven Hill whiskeys with the same wheated bourbon mash bill; I taste and compare them. The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment is about the upcoming Route 45 Getaways event which will be right in front of my house. Really! 

Next episode? I've got everything ready for a Gettysburg episode, which required a marathon pub crawl with my buddy Dave Dreese. But I'm also getting an interview with...well, with a major central PA food company, and there will be giveaways, folks, prizes for you! So maybe we'll do that one next week, because who doesn't like prizes?  

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

"By the Lake" by Musinova at https://pixabay.com/users/musinova-47643763/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

It's another OG Beer Bar interview with a real original: Paula Seguin of Boxer's Cafe in Huntingdon, serving craft beer since 1991!

I went down to Huntingdon to get the interview and have a beer at one of the most welcoming bars I know, and wound up with more than I'd planned: barbecue, fresh-roasted coffee at Standing Stone Coffee, good beer at Juniata Brewing, a couple-three cuts at Best-Way Pizza, and a look at some incredible old cars at the Swigart Auto Museum. 

It's a Huntingdon episode, about this "ancient borough" built where ridges, creeks, and the blue Juniata all come together. It's a town that's set in natural beauty, with a small liberal arts college and a high-security state prison, and a lot of people who are trying to make it all work. 

What else? I drank a big cup of Standing Stone's Blue and Gold blend coffee, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about Centre County's two historic underground attractions: Penn's Cave and Woodward Cave, which are cool all summer long. There's the PA Cider Fest this weekend, the American Philatelic Society Open House the following weekend, and I've got some news about the first event for my new book (American Whiskey Master Class, out in September, event is at Iron City Distilling on October 18, more details to come!)

Next episode? Heck, I don't know. We've got a few irons in the fire. 

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

It's "barbecue," but you know...if you spell it "barbeque," or "BBQ," or "Bar-b-que," it's gonna taste just as good!

I got an interview with my man Dave Graham of Graham's Up In Smoke in Philipsburg. Dave's got opinions about barbecue, and that's 100% cool, because he makes excellent barbecue: brisket, pork, chicken (when it's reasonable), sausage, turkey, and salmon. Yes, salmon...but you'll have to wait for Lent! Dave and I got well into the weeds, temperatures, wood, and cuts of meat, and you will be drooling by the time we're done. 

I'll give you my opinions on barbecue as well; I have been smoking/barbecueing for well over ten years, and I will challenge your thoughts on this ancient method of meat magic cookery. 

What else? I finally got my first Maibock of the year, from New Trail Brewing, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about three GREAT music venues in Centre County (all of them have a liquor license, so, you know). 

Next episode? I've got an interview on Monday that I have wanted to get for longer than we've had the podcast, an OG beer bar that I first visited over 20 years ago. That's going to be the heart of a great town profile, I guarantee.  

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

When you tell me who to interview, I listen.

Who should I interview, I asked folks on Facebook. What central PA creators would you like to hear from? And one of the most asked-for names was Sc'eric Horner, the bartender at Pine Grove Hall in Pine Grove Mills, PA. He's a regular on top bartender lists in the area, he's creative, some say eccentric, but almost everyone agrees: he makes great drinks. 

I got the interview, and it's here, all 50 minutes of it. I found him to be open, honest, and a fascinating interview. I think you're going to enjoy this, whether you find cocktails intriguing or not.

To be honest, a 50 minute interview didn't give me a lot of room for much else. What I'm Drinking Today is a Liberty Pole Spirits canned Old Fashioned, made with their straight rye whiskey. Can a canned Old Fashioned be any good? We'll find out! The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment is about some great cocktail bars in State College. 

I would remind you about the small contest we have going on. I'm asking you for your favorite central Pennsylvania foods, and suggestions on which one you'd like to hear about in a future episode. If your suggestion is the winner, I'll thank you by name in the episode and send you five STAG stickers; and I'll draw a random winner from all respondents to get another five-pack of STAG stickers!

Next episode? I have a barbecue interview, but I'd rather keep that for warmer weather. I have a couple interview prospects bubbling, they might work out; or I might do a town profile, seems like a good time to get on the road.  

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Our water tastes great in Millheim. Wanna know why? 

Trout. 

Trout fishing is a very big deal in central PA, from the Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland County, to Cedar Run in Lycoming County, the Little Juniata, and Centre County's Spruce, Spring, and Penns Creeks. I talked to a pair of young fishing guides at The Feathered Hook fishing store in Coburn, and to Tom Doman, a licensed guide who's been fishing Penns Creek since 1979. 

We didn't just talk about Green Drakes and wet flies, riffles and lies. We talked about how trout fishing and anglers have brought back and preserved the quality of the waterways in central PA, and how that affects every day quality of life here. 

Then I went to a couple of Opening Day parties, which also affect the quality of life around here! Everything can be a celebration, and Opening Day is a good one. 

What I Drank Today was a bottle I'd misplaced when we moved back in 2021: Paul John Indian Single Malt Christmas Edition. The extra three years sitting in the dark hadn't hurt it at all. If you've never experienced Indian malt whisky, I hope this encourages you to try some. 

The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau spot highlighted four Centre County lodging spots that are perfect for anglers. 

And I told you more about a small contest we're running: finding a central PA food to star in an upcoming episode! Tell me what you love, and why it should be the winner! (This is your chance to make me cook ham pot pie!)

What's next? I promise you, it won't be fish again!

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Water Stream" FX by "SPANAC" on https://www.freesoundslibrary.com/

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

I went way out in the Pennsylvania Wilds, up in elk country (not Elk County), to interview a couple who make salad dressings and ship them across the country.  

Village Eatinghouse dressings...or are they sauces? Marinades? Whatever they are, they're delicious and versatile, and they're made here in Centre County, so I went out and found Clay and Melanie Phillips in Pine Glen, PA. We talked, we tasted, we had a few laughs. You'll like it. 

Those dressings made me think of all the ways I do little hacks and additions when I'm cooking, so I talked about that, including another central PA favorite, Gazebo Room Salad Dressing. I give you a couple short recipes for shortcut family favorites, including one with a surprising secret ingredient. 

We have another small contest! I'm asking you to fill in a list of Pennsylvania foods at the end of the episode, and suggest what Pennsylvania food you'd like to hear about in a future episode. I'll draw a random winner from respondents to get a five-pack of STAG stickers!

There's an absolute bonus on What I'm Drinking Today: three different Dad's Hat rye whiskey tasting, including an as-yet-unreleased Danko rye whiskey. 

Next episode, if I can get a second short interview, will be about trout fishing in central PA. I've interviewed two fishing guides, I went to a couple opening day parties -- why didn't anyone tell me about opening day parties?! -- and I learned about fishing. 

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.