Home Eats in Milford
Welcome to The Waterwheel Bakery & Grille.
On a fresh spring day this April I took time to have a morning centered in stillness similar to the days of quiet in my Arizona apartment. Those days began during blue hour between 6am and 8am before the rest of the world awoke, making coffee or tea, and vibing to my personally curated playlist 8AM TEA ON SPOTIFY.
To continue with the relaxed day I hit the gym and took my post-workout snack needs to The Waterwheel Cafe & Bakery where the outside patio was open with a light mountain breeze after a weird but blusterous winter.
TODAYS SPECIAL:
mesclun gorgonzola salad with candied pecans, dried cranberries, , green apple, and orange vinaigrette. [YUM!]
Ban Bagnat: Vietnamese sandwich baguette, tuna salad with anchovy, red onion, celery, lettuce, tomato, black olives, mayo base. [high in omega-3 + protein]
In my experience, eating Anchovies is like licking a table made of volcanic salt, and then following it up with a nice cold glass of sea water… however in this dish the bread and mayonnaise help distribute some of the saltiness of the anchovy with the black olives are the perfect touch. The greatest part about The Waterwheel is how affordable eating there for lunch can be! For lunch you can easily have a filling meal in a historic setting for under $20. It’s always nice to eat something I didn’t cook myself for a change.
The last time I came to The Waterwheel for a meal I felt so at home with the couple having a big heated discussion across from me, loud and passionate like all New Yorker’s do, heavy accents and all. This place is a gem, when you ask for a desert menu can you believe they bring the ENTIRE menu board to you? It always makes me giggle, it’s a cool way to make guests feel special (try the lemon mascarpone cake, its delightful).
Fun Fact: The Upper Watermill was one of 9 water power mills in Milford in the early 1800’s. It wasn’t until 1882 that it was replaced with a turbine. In 1922 it was replaced by a 24 foot waterwheel that flowed by gravity moving the wheel, no pump.
Welcome to Apple Valley in Milford, Pennsylvania
On a night of the cancer full moon, I went out in search of a childhood reminiscent meal and ended up at the homey town favorite restaurant Apple Valley. Apple Valley has been a part of Milford History since 1966.
The colourful holiday decals and signs indicating the coming spring line the windows, stained glass of apples allow the sunlight to filter in, and the smell of potatoes, soups, and burgers waft through the door. Every piece of decor and art in the restaurant screams mountain history to me even down to the Indie music playing softly through the speakers along with the wooden walls and ceilings that create a warmth that concrete and neon lights just can not compete with.
On days where you are looking for creature comforts, a simple meal such as chicken tenders and fries can hit the spot in terms of nostalgia. Apple Valley wins the award for America’s Best & Chunkiest Chicken Tenders [outside of the Arizona Cardinals stadium]! If you are looking for something with a bit of kick and sweetness, try the stinging honey garlic sauce. Looking to try something a bit different on a classic? Try the “Side Winder Fries”, they are seasoned, the perfect amount of crunchy and full. Cheers to great chicken tenders and a cold Magic Hat #9 out of Rochester, New York.
One of my favourite things about Apple Valley is their beer list! They have so many different rotating beers on tap and for purchase through the year, you’ll never get bored.
Honestly I haven’t had fried food for a few weeks because we as a family try to focus on baked and pan-seared meats but on a day where comfort is the end goal, Apple Valley’s choices are more than satisfactory.
Welcome to Bar Louis of The Hotel Fauchere
For every bad day, there is a great martini to make it better. Bar Louis is a beautiful basement gem of the Hotel Fauchere, with the entrance a set of steps that lead you down to a frosted glass door and through thick red velvet curtains, keeping the secret of this locale’s dash of specialty hidden from the view of outsiders. Walking through the thick velvet curtains, you are greeted by a hostess and appear right in the center of the room as if you are the most important guest of all. The last time I visited the Bar Louis was for their wonderful unveiling of the remodel, complete with a new ochre neon sign, new bar seating, and tables for a whole breathe of fresh air in the dining area. Fun Fact: The Marquee D’Lafayette himself has stayed in the Hotel Fauchere, can you believe it? My spot is always the bar, where I can get a good look of all that is going on within this underground gem. I love coming here, one because Bob the bartender is the most easy-going person to talk to in this spot, and two because their oysters and dirty martini’s on a Monday can always cute my blues. In the winter it was very common to see me hurrying down the steps to grab a quick get away drink to relieve myself of the stress of caring for a home in the winter of the mountains. Sometimes you just need a moment to step away, and a nightcap at Bar Louie was my go-to. I would just sit there with my Grey Goose Dirty Martini and listen to the glasses clinking in the hangar, making a tinkling cacophony every time a new stem was touched.
A favourite evening of mine are Oyster Monday’s where the oysters are only $1.50 and the wine flows beautifully. My wine of choice on Oyster Monday’s is a sparkling Blanc de Blanc aged in France along with a side of freshly baked French bread and oil. The oysters available were all iridescent pearls from Prince Edward Island off the coast of the Canadian seaboard which are harvested for consumption every 3-4 years. They were fresh, briny, sweet, and healthy and when paired with the hibiscus mignonette it was a perfect addition to the sweetness of the shellfish.
“LITTLE OYSTERS, LITTLE OYSTERS!”, called the Walrus King. —Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland, 1865.
The Hotel Fauchere itself is a historic masterpiece from 1880, and when you visit its French inspired halls you can peruse its long standing history of important figures from American history. Stop by and take a look this summer!
Thank you and welcome for taking the time out to read Brooklynn’s Corner. Brooklynn’s corner is a column and publication of social commentary, event reviews, restaurant reviews, and seasonal zodiac updates. To be a supporting patron of independent journalism and media, check out MY DOT. CARD and DONATE HERE. All proceeds and donations are used to support the path of journalism directly, and I thank you for being apart of this support system.
Love, Brooklynn V
Comments