Seen Through A Glass

Mansfield is at the intersection of two great Pennsylvania highways, Routes 15 and 6. People pass through it every day...but I decided to stop. 

I got an interview with Jarrod York of Yorkholo Brewing, stopped at three coffee shops, got two lunches, checked out a butcher, and did a little shopping. It's definitely worth stopping. 

Jarrod told me at one point that Mansfield's weather is more New York than PA, and the rest of the episode is too. I went up to Buffalo and Rochester to do some beer judging, and stopped at a few breweries while I was there (okay, I stopped at seven, sue me!). Come romp with me through the Quehanna Wild Area, the Allegany Indian Nation, and beautiful, exotic Buffalo. 

Next episode is a surprise (to me, too!), see you in two weeks!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

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

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

Arrow sound effect from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

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

It's fish fry time, and that means Fish Fry Friday!

I love fish fries! The crisp crust of fried haddock, the tender flake of baked cod, and the banquet of side dishes -- french fries, mac & cheese, cole slaw, stewed tomatoes! -- and a sweet delight at the end. It's even better when it's a community meal, served by volunteers and enjoyed at long tables with folks you may or may not know (and with the desserts being a huge spread of homemade wonders to choose from). 

What else? There's a Lock Haven follow-up: a visit to the Main Street Grill for dinner and cocktails. And not to bury it, but big news on the sponsor I've been hinting about! Here's a hint: listen for news on the Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest. 

Next episode? We're finally back to town profiles, as I visit Mansfield, and interview Jarrod York at Yorkholo Brewing. Two weeks! 

Until then? Tomorrow is fish fry Friday, go get some! Remember: TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Altoona diocese fish fry guide 

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.

We Are!

Meat Lab!

Centre County folks know that Penn State drives central Pennsylvania, but some of us also know that Penn State's Butcher Block is the outlet for the school's Meat Lab, where students learn animal husbandry, butchering, meat processing (we'll talk about that difference), and even how to wrap a fresh piece of meat. I talked to Dr. Jonathan Campbell, who teaches at the Meat Lab about all that, and more. 

There's also some podcast news -- hello, WSOV-FM listeners! -- a tribute to my Uncle Don Harnish, and tasting notes on Bowmore 12 Year Old single malt.  

Next episode? Well, with luck, we'll do that town profile I promised you last time. 

Until then? Get your grill fired up and listen to the episode!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

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

Storm Sound Effect by PlacidPlace on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/users/placidplace-25572496/)

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

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

Mass beer hysteria!

I wanted to get more beer content in the podcast, so I invited The Beer Thrillers! Ben Kline, Amy Wolfe, and Josh Doncevic write The Beer Thrillers blog, which is...mostly about beer in Central PA, but they do book reviews (and not just beer books), beer trips well outside the area, and...well, a lot of stuff. We got together at Boneshire Brew Works on a snowy Saturday, ate great pizza and drank great beer while talking about hazy IPAs, the resurgence of classic styles, and why so many Central PA breweries went under recently. 

What else? A quick Farm Show report (Goat Sloppy Joes!), and a description of the Burns Night dinner my wife and I are hosting; the annual commemoration of Scottish poet Robert Burns. 

Next episode: a town profile episode, because I know you love 'em! Cheers!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

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

"People Talking in Small Room" effect from https://pixabay.com//

"Auld Lang Syne" (traditional), performed by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

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

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

It's soup!

Get a fresh hot bowl of podcast, because it's Soup Season! I've got an interview with mysterious soup cook Jillian Leigh at Otto's Pub and Brewery in State College, spilling the beans about how she makes those amazing soups, the difference between soup and stew, and tips for you to make better soup! I'll tell you about the mad variety of soups we've been eating over the past month, walk you through my father's Snowy Day Soup recipe, and get up close with a bowl of Koru Ramen at Tadashi in State College. Plus some BIG podcast news, and my take on Dry January (right after sampling a 120 proof bourbon).  

Next episode? I interviewed three beer bloggers, and we talked about what's wrong with central PA brewers, pizza, and Big Bad Beers. I'll also tell you about our visit to the Farm Show (it's mostly about eating at the Farm Show). 

Until then? Grab a bowl, a spoon, and some crackers, and listen to the episode!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

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

Bubbling Cauldron effect by Mary S. from https://pixabay.com//

"Little Bits", Written by Jimmy Blythe (1901-1931)

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

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

For our last episode of 2023, I have an interview with Anne Quinn Corr, long-time food writer for the Centre Daily Times, and author of Seasons of Central Pennsylvania, a beloved cookbook. And of course, you know me: I had to try cooking some of the recipes. (I forgot to thank the members of the "Foodies of State College" Facebook group for their help in connecting me to Ms. Corr; greatly appreciated!)

Then come along as my wife and I have our anniversary dinner at the Allen Street Grill in State College, and to the 27th anniversary celebration at Selin's Grove Brewing and the 16th anniversary at Elk Creek Café & Aleworks. I'll sample Boal City Brewing's Bohemian Pilsner and a Keystone State favorite, Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog. (By the way; made a small mistake there. Chas. Jacquin et Cie, the Philadelphia distillery, was founded in 1884, not in the 1840s.) 

One more thing: a late-breaking Boilo-making tip, just in time for New Year's!  

Enjoy! Happy New Year!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

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

"Auld Lang Syne" (traditional), performed by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

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

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

It's another extra-special, double-sized, chockful of drinks HOLIDAY EPISODE!! I've got three interviews for you: Dr. Jonathan Campbell of Penn State's Meat Lab talks about your holiday ham; co-founder of The Hummingbird Room, Claudia "Miss Ruby" Sarnow, talks about growing farm to table networks to create their exceptional Christmas menu; and I talk to the folks at Gardners Candies about peanut butter meltaways and bash cakes. I mix up a bunch of great hot holiday drinks (including Boilo!), share my wife's family recipe for fish chowder, and, oh yeah, the first Seen Through A Glass contest!

Enjoy! Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

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

"record_scratch_short.wav" by Halleck (https://freesound.org/people/Halleck/sounds/29938/ ) 

Music Box (Carol Of The Bells) by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/

Santa Arriving Sound Effect BY SPANAC 

"God Rest Ye Merry Ukuleles," by matthewmikecolemusic  https://www.mikecolemusic.net/

Shhhh....

This short secret episode is for regular listeners only: I won't be announcing it on social media. It announces our first Seen Through A Glass contest. Listen for details, and you can win the very first pieces of Seen Through A Glass merch! Er...feel free to tell your friends about the secret. You know...your good friends. 

We'll be back with the holiday episode in two weeks. See you then!

Reminder: we'll be off until December 16th, when the show returns for a second season, starting with the Holiday show. 

Hanover may have thought it was a frontier town, a market town, a transportation hub. But the peckish German-Americans who populated it in the late 1800s and early 1900s knew better. Their ovens and kettles, and a vague hunger between meals, were destined to make Hanover known as Snack Town!

My friend Dave Dreese and I hit town on our way to Baltimore, and wow. We visited two of the biggest snack food companies in America, two very old school hot dog joints, and a great butcher shop with their own smoked sausage and cheese. And of course, all those snacky eats need beer, so we hit the town's six breweries. I interviewed the man who makes the last hand-rolled pretzels in Snack Town, Kevin Bidelspach of Revonah Pretzels. 

Plus that Baltimore trip: a quick report on the Rye Revival festival and a visit to The Brewers' Art brewpub and a great Irish pub. I make dried beef gravy for breakfast, and give you some suggestions for upcoming small town Christmas celebrations in small town Central PA! 

Stick around to the end, some important announcements about the show. See you next month! 

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

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

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

Chips sound effect from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

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

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Our first Thanksgiving episode features interviews with two turkey farmers, Nancy Kaltenbach of Polecat Hollow Farm and Mark Sharer of Willow Creek Family Farm. They'll tell you how to get a farm-fresh turkey in Centre County...but you'll have to move fast, Turkey Day is coming!

I've got drink suggestions for the big day: cider, beer, wine, and whiskey! 

I baked a sweet potato pie, and, well, it could have gone better, but by the time it was done, it was a mighty toothsome slice, I tell ya. 

Finally, I invited all my guests from this first year, everyone, back to tell us what side dishes (or drinks) must be on their Thanksgiving table. It was a fun time.  

Next episode? To be honest, not sure at this point. But it's going to be coming out on November 16, and then we're taking four weeks off to get ready for the big Holiday 2023 episode coming in December!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

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

Goose sound effect promoted by www.pixabay.com

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

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