While visiting Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania, I was lucky to find a very special eatery serving fresh ingredients with a quite different flare than most of the other eateries in the area. The Hudson Botanical Café in Smoketown is run by owner and Executive Chef Brent Hudson and his wife Madeline. Located off of Old Philadelphia Pike, Hudson Botanical also sells plants, rents out space for private events and caters events. Working with local farmers for their menu, these include Oasis Creamery in Ronks, Goose Lane Egg Farm in Sinking Spring, Green Meadow Farm in Gap, Stoltzfus Meats in Intercourse, Smuckers Farm Market in Lancaster and Stoltzfus Produce and Market Farm in Leola.
Arriving there with Lori right on the border between breakfast and lunch, we both went different ways with our choices. I went with the Thai Peanut Curry Bowl, which was amazing, but by the end I wish I had slightly more of that fantastic curry sauce for the rice to soak in. The dish consisted of baby potatoes, yams, broccoli, carrots and fresh herbs. Served with white rice, I decided to go meatless, but shrimp, chicken and lamb were offered. Sometimes, I just want to have vegetables if they are prepared right and this dish was outstanding
Lori, my better half, went with the Tiny Big Breakfast. This dish consisted of Lizzy's toasted bagel, two eggs soft scrambled, a hash brown, a roasted tomato and local greens. I watched her enjoy every bite with a smile on her face. She loves trying out different places with me. I feel guilty for not trying the Vegemite on Toast, but this now gives me another reason to visit this place on my next visit. The Lox and Latke also looked interesting because I do like cream cheese and Lox, as well as Potato Pancakes. Mr. Hudson has a very special place right in the middle of Amish Country with a menu consisting of Australian and South East Asian Fusion cuisine!