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Faithful Foodie Adventure: Emmitsburg, MD

Posted February 16th, 2011 | Faithful Foodie, Past Emails, Restaurants, Reviews

Faithful Foodie Adventures is all about exciting opportunities that await us at various tables and food destinations across God’s beautiful world. Some weeks I may offer a cooking class tip, a restaurant critique, or even some food ideas that hopefully expands faith and satisfy our culinary sensibilities. If you have any food adventure ideas, please be sure to let us know. E-mail me your ideas at assistant@gracebeforemeals.com.

(An angel to welcome visitors)

This week’s food adventure brings you to Emmitsburg, Md. That’s where I live, teach, and serve as a priest. As the Chair of Pastoral Theology at Mount St. Mary’s University I am always reminded of how blessed I am to work and live here. Located in such a pastoral setting, the area is flooded with a great spirit of peace – not just from the good example of the seminarians and faith-filled college students, but also from the surroundings that are filled with other impressive Catholic History. If you didn’t know, Emmitsburg, Md., is one of the stops for people who visit the Gettysburg Battlefield. There are beautiful areas to hike nearby at Catoctin Mountain Park, which also contains the very secretive and high security grounds of Camp David.

(Seminarians hiking on Wolf Rock.)

Frederick County and the surrounding towns are also a wonderful place of spiritual pilgrimage. It’s the home of the First American National Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Visitors make their way through landscaped prayer paths leading to a grotto replica of Lourdes, France; a pool of blessed water; devotional shrines; and a view that makes you want to say, “God is good!”

Only a few miles away is the shrine and burial place of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American born Catholic Saint. Her story, which you can learn about and experience in a short movie when you visit the museum, will truly inspire you. As a dedicated wife, soon to be widow, mother, and convert from the Episcopalian faith, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton showed that saints are very real. Her courage to start up an educational system was a prelude to the Catholic Education system in America. It’s perfect for family day trips.

(Pilgrim Seminarians praying at the Seton Shrine)

Admittedly, Emmitsburg, Md., isn’t known for any culinary excellence. However, the Wikipedia article for “Emmitsburg, Maryland” actually makes mention of the cooking competition I won against Food Network’s Bobby Flay in his hit show Throwdown!. Seriously? Grace Before Meals is in Wikipedia twice – once for Bobby Flay and now for Emmitsburg!

If you come to Emmitsburg and find yourself a bit hungry, there are a couple places I’d recommend. First is the Carriage House Inn – a local, rustic, but very quaint restaurant around the corner from the only traffic light, right in the center of town. This restaurant features delicious American fare. There are a small handful of other places to eat in the area. A favorite breakfast place for seminarians is called the Palm House. They always make their thick-cut bacon perfectly extra crispy, and their sweet potato pancakes are fluffy and naturally sweet!

For dinner, the seminarians usually make their way to either Gettysburg or Frederick, each about 20 minutes away. In Frederick you’ll find plenty of variety, including one very high-end restaurant called Volt, where Top Chef runner-up Bryan Voltaggio wows locals along with food connoisseurs from DC, Baltimore and beyond with his intensely unique and even scientific gastronomy.

(Bryan and I at the final episode screening party.)

But if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, not travel too far, and still have something more “exotic,” I would recommend a simply elegant Asian “bistro” called Simply Asia. Before the restaurant came under new ownership I stayed away because the service was poor and unreliable, yet the décor (even for such a small town) was “quaint.” Thank God the new owners got rid of the fish tank. The water was never clean and the fishy water smell lingered. The new owners made delightful changes in the ambiance, menu, and most importantly, their service! Their food covers a variety of Asian preparations, from Thai to Japanese Teriyakis to traditional Chinese cuisine.

(Simply Asia even has fresh sushi)

Some of my favorites: Pork-stuffed Eggplant and their Curry Shrimp, served with a rich and complex flavored broth and all the traditional goodness that makes curry a soul-satisfying comfort food.

Emmitsburg. Md., and the surrounding towns will never be a food destination – but they have enough to satisfy people coming to hike, to explore the history, and most importantly, to pray.

Perhaps I may even host a public cooking class at the seminary during one of the summer breaks. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful way to bring our Grace Before Meals family all together in a spirit of food, faith, and fun?

(Small Chapel at Grotto of Lourdes.)

Come and visit this faithful foodie adventure and be filled in body, mind, and spirit!

Have you ever visited Emmitsburg or these restaurants? Tell our subscribers what you think? Are there other faithful foodie destinations you want to tell us about? Would you be interested in coming to this peaceful part of the world for a culinary “retreat”? Post your questions and comments!

Posted in Faithful Foodie, Past Emails, Restaurants, Reviews | 16 Comments

16 Responses to “Faithful Foodie Adventure: Emmitsburg, MD”

My friends, husband and I always stop at at The Palms Restaurant on the way to Christmas services at the Eylers Valley Chapel. The food is always great and the desserts are to die for!!! We have be going to Eylers Valley since the mid-80′s when we moved to Carroll
County. I am Catholic and my husband is Lutheran. We have always been moved by the services at Eylers Valley during their 12 Days of Christmas service that welcomes all to experience the Gift of Christmas; it has become one of our Christmas traditions. Fr. Leo, I hope that you can attend one or more of the services next Christmas season – it is a blessing.
Posted by Denise Ei on February 16th, 2011 at 3:58 pm.
I congratulate you Fr. Leo on spreading the word on Emittsburg and namely The Grotto. It is my most favorite place in the US, always peaceful and always refreshing. Whenever I travel nearby, I always make a ‘detour’ to visit, even just for few minutes. God is truly present on that mountain.
Posted by Marta Hnizda on February 16th, 2011 at 5:04 pm.
We enjoy going to Carriage House on our visits to Emmitsburg, also. We have also enjoyed Fitzgerald’s Shamrock Restaurant which is a little down the road.
Posted by Jennifer Gregory Miller on February 16th, 2011 at 5:36 pm.
I just wanted to say I am really enjoying the new format for the weekly email blasts, with the different weekly themes.
Posted by Rose on February 16th, 2011 at 7:39 pm.
Dear Fr. Leo,
I enjoy you so much and since i’m not much of a cook (68 yrs old!); i enjoy your faith teaching. That alone is a gift to you.
Regarding visiting the area, the most outstanding moment for me, was being DRAWN like a magnet to the tiny historic chapel. There i knelt in profound prayer and Presence. I will never forget that trip and especially that moment. Praise God for all His blessings to us through you. Love,
Posted by Sharon Whipkey on February 17th, 2011 at 1:17 pm.
Yes, it’s definitely a great place to pray!
Posted by Fr. Leo on February 17th, 2011 at 2:20 pm.
Shamrock is a bit too expensive for me, but I know the locals truly enjoy it – especially on a certain March 17 feast day!
Posted by Fr. Leo on February 17th, 2011 at 2:20 pm.
You are welcome anytime to visit too… and bring those delicious breads and pastries! Just kidding! It’s always nice to visit with your family. Long overdue!
Posted by Fr. Leo on February 17th, 2011 at 2:21 pm.
Heard about this chapel, and some seminarians visited last year. Happy to come by and connect with our other Christian brothers and sisters! Perhaps a Grace Before Meals even in the local area would be very fitting!
Posted by Fr. Leo on February 17th, 2011 at 2:22 pm.
We would love to come & see Mount St. Mary’s!
Our youngest daughter lives in Laurel,MD.
Maybe we can visit!
Posted by John & Kathleen Higgins on February 17th, 2011 at 5:25 pm.
When I lived up in Westminster (St. John’s Catholic Church; miss you Father Leo) would go up to the Grotto often. Enjoy the serenity walking the path, praying and taking in the beautiful scenery along with others. Whoever has the opportunity to be in Emmitsburg or surrounding area, please do not pass up the opportunity of the Grotto and its’ surroundings
Posted by Julie Salamone on February 18th, 2011 at 4:32 am.
I guess there’s a need to try and gather some faithful foodies here at the Mount for a possible cooking class, prayer time and fellowship?!? Looks like it, so I’ll see what’s possible in the calendar.
Posted by Fr. Leo on February 18th, 2011 at 5:02 am.
Check out Rocky’s Pizza in Thurmont. Owned by the Testa family, the pizza is very good. My favorite is Mrs. Testa’s lasagne. Unique and delicious!
Posted by Meg on February 18th, 2011 at 2:47 pm.
Yes, Rocky’s pizza is also a local favorite for the seminarians!
Posted by Fr. Leo on February 20th, 2011 at 9:20 am.
I cannot wait for you to host a cooking class in beautiful Emmitsburg where I live, play and enjoy the great local restaurants. I found you by way of my teenagers who came back from Steubenville last year and raved about you. They were delighted that they were able to see you again at the Mount Epic retreat a few weeks ago. I’m so glad that you are inspiring them in their faith. I will keep my eyes open for an announcement about a cooking class!
Posted by Anne on February 21st, 2011 at 6:14 am.
We love the pulled pork sandwiches at Chubby’s when we visit our daughter at the Mount and lunch at the Shamrock is also a good stop….great soups and bourbon salmon!!!
Posted by Margie Christie on February 25th, 2011 at 3:26 pm.

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16 Responses to “Faithful Foodie Adventure: Emmitsburg, MD”

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