Yes, it has been awhile. I wish it were not and that we were out trying new places but not much new (one for next Thursday) and this is not in that category. Each of the places in this note have been featured on TLT “Eats!’ in the past. Last week we were in Lancaster along with Dennis and Kathy Mook (The Wandering Lensman). It was wonderful to get out but it was also a bit odd. We ate at Dienners, Good n Plenty, Lapps (ice cream), Lancaster Market, and the Tomato Pie in Lititz . Dienners was at the top of their game. The restaurant was refreshed and pleasant, the former “dish it yourself service” was now more like a cafeteria and the folks who served you were just great. The food was fine and the experience was really nice. Well done in the new environment. Good n Plenty was the opposite. The atmosphere and the service were poor, the staff indifferent and the food from mediocre at best. It was uninspired, luke warm and too limited in the selection. They had a great reputation years ago and, I think, lived off the tour bus traffic for a while, I do not expect them to be there by 2021. And if they continue to provide food like our meal, they will not be missed. Lapps Family Farm is just ice cream but that is like saying Monet was just a painter or Jordan just a basketball player. They do ice cream very well and the place is a delight. It was the least changed by the new rules though masks were in abundance. Sitting on the porch on a nice afternoon (or two or three nice afternoons) was special, felt familiar and we enjoyed our time poking around the farm. The Lancaster Market - when you have been in business for 290 years or so you are not going to let a plague force you to close. It was mostly like the past but limited numbers in the building, masks and don’t handle the produce. Still super food, unique offerings, great selections all at fair prices. Yay for the market. Tomato Pie was good, maybe a bit better than most but they did not quite have the rhythm of serving and staffing down. I think they will get there and the food will improve again to the expected quality. But we were fine with our meal here. We will share the one new place we ate next Thursday, stay tuned.
Central Market in downtown Lancaster. This market has continuously operated since 1730. I remember coming here in the late 60’s on to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Notice the few people. They were limiting the number of individuals allowed in at one time due to the need to socially distance during this viral pandemic. Also notice how well the Fuji dealt with the extreme contrast of sunny outside and dark inside. Who says the APS 26MP BSI X-Trans CMOS 4 doesn't have good dynamic range? (click to enlarge)
Fujifilm X-T3 with Fujifilm XF16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR, 1/30th sec. @ f/4; ISO 1600 at 19.2mm metering on average, hand held with 71% average humidity and s slight humming noise from the fans.™