I live in the area too. For restaurant inspections, they used to be written up alot. Dieners buy far is the best. Yoders has really great food. I stopped eating at Shady Maple about a decade ago. Yoders. food tastes about the same as SM. and. not too far from them if still open
@@donnalawrence9054 See I prefer Shady Maple to Yoders. I wish I could remember the name of the big PA Dutch diner I used to go to in the 90's. The food was awesome.
"They are just changing from breakfast to lunch", buffet 101, always go when the meals are transitioning from one to another! Well played Mike, well played.
Used to use this trick in college; classes were timed for me in such a way to where I could go, pay one price for breakfast. I would get a plate, and as long as I stayed in the dining area, I could have another lunch plate later.
I bought a clothes basket from an Amish store, and I kid you not...I still have it 30 yrs later. The craftsmanship is outstanding. The food is amazing as well. So need to go back up soon.
What you called a heart attack on a plate, is literally the same breakfast my grandparents ate everyday of their lives. Still going strong at 91 and 84!!
Breakfast was big, dinner was bigger and supper was a light meal. Dairy farm days were sunup to sundown. Some time after dark if work needed to be done before rain or other events. Great life. Wouldn't change a thing.
@@georgebarnessr5472 My Grandpa's family had a few cows they'd milk in the morning. They only had 80 acres, so my Dad growing up raised bulls, they had chickens and geese as well. I lived on that farm as a little guy. I think at 5 was when the farm got sold. I can remember a lot of it. I wouldnt change a thing either, friend.
I actually live in Lancaster. The funny part is when mike is having the soft pretzel, he says “if you want a soft pretzel don’t go to auntie Anne’s, go to intercourse pa”. Fun fact: The family that founded auntie Anne’s is actually from Lancaster/ Gap PA area. Lol
I’m in Lancaster as well! Also the guy who founded Annie Ann’s was a crappy tipper and pretty rude. I would deliver them pizza back in the day. I’m talkin .50cents on a 80$ order if I was lucky lol
I used to haul GM parts from west central PA to the assembly plant in Wilmington, DE every day and really do miss the great dining options around Lancaster.
The pie is called Shoo-Fly, because the pie is very sugary and when they used to leave the pie on the window sill to cool, they'd have to shoo the flies away.
@@abbyiswatching2046 It is also called molasses crumb cake/pie. I grew up eating it -- my mom is from near Lancaster County. She's not Amish, but she grew up with it, too.
I grew up in the area and worked just down the road from Bird in Hand and Intercourse. The food is legit. This coming from an Asian restaurant owner. Amish/Mennonite cooking is a must try for any foodie, especially the baked goods. As Mike stated, it's not for those looking to shed a few pounds but worth the extra 2 hours in the gym that you'll need to counter the calories.
@@supremeetnel7707 varies breakfast lunch and dinner with some nights having speciasl and being a few dollars more. Figure $20-$25 for the dinner menus and cheaper for breakfast and lunch.
The dumpling deal you had is what we call PA Dutch pot pie. Noodles done in a pot in patches. Not to be confused with meat pie baked in the oven in a crust. Stewed tomatoes are served with macaroni and cheese. The base of a shoofly pie is actually molasses which came down from the colonial Treacle tart. I love our food and so glad you liked it too!
Thank you for bringing attention to the diversity of Pennsylvania Dutch/German-American cuisine and cultural richness. It is often overlooked or thought of negatively. An important thing to bear in mind is that Pennsylvania farmers are a huge backbone of the U.S. agricultural industry and this type of food is plentiful, affordable, often seasonal, and provides plenty of energy for those working backbreaking jobs. You ever want to take a spin around the Polish-American food scene in Pennsylvania, I'd love to give you a tour. 😊
Mikey walks into a tent at a Fair and cleans every plate put in front of him, then looks surprised when everybody stands up and starts cheering as he's announce the winner of the competitive eating contest! "What?!?! I thought that this was the buffet tent!"
I had my wedding reception at Shady Maple back in 2008. One of the reasons why the building is so huge is due to the many "conference rooms" which are separate huge dining halls.
I live in Lancaster and it's an amazing place for food. Several great buffets like Shady Maple including Bird in Hand and Yoders. What's even better is you can find Amish families that host meals at their house and it's amazing. On several occasions they brought their kids out and they sang a few songs. They also typically have quilts and other goods there to buy. Not for those on a diet lol
Normal people on a diet: I'll get the salad with no croutons please. Mike on a diet: I'm only going to eat enough baked goods for a family of 6. No ice cream.
Shoefly pie is molassas! One kind is cakey, the other, called "wet bottom" has a later of sticky stuff on the bottom, with a cakier top crust. My favorite!
Takes me back to my childhood, every year on the way to our family reunion in Georgia, we would stop there. Our entire family would eat big meals together at long wooden tables. It was a very fond memory of mine
@@UltimateGamerCC same here I lived off of the cheapest ramen noodles I could find and cold pizza and loved when relative's came to visit and gave me leftovers
If you make it back to Lancaster you should totally hit up the Lancaster Central Market. It's Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday Morning/Afternoon. I would totally wait till after things are back to normal because it gets packed but it's all produce and fresh made foods. It's very much worth the visit.
I grew up on what we called “corn fritters” and “potato pancakes”, both usually made from leftovers. So yum! Thanks for transporting me back to my western PA youth! :)
Amish food is legit some of the best home cooking you'll ever find. Wish he'd tried the chicken and noodles over the mashed potatoes. That's the ultimate Amish comfort food!
Shady Maple is disgusting. I've lived here for 40+ years and this video is a lie. A complete puff piece made to Garner interest in his channel. This food is literally disgusting. Even the video couldn't make it look appetizing if you ever cooked a decent meal in your life
1st time I ever heard of chicken & noodles over mashed potatoes was in Iowa. My sister who used to live in Iowa still make it ever year for special occasions. When I lived in Kansas Chicken & Noodles over mashed potatoes was staple for School lunches.
@@gulfportflamefighter4545 Well then you're missing out, I guess. My grandmother grew up with Amish neighbors and learned to cook from those ladies. Homemade chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes and fried chicken all were on the table for every special occasion. The Amish restaurants in the Amish communities in Indiana where we lived always served this too. It's a very traditional Amish meal.
I love Shady Maple. Though they have really high prices. I know a buffet that is smaller but tastes ten times better and is like only $13 a person compared to Shady Maple's prices. This buffet is called Dienner's Dinner. It is like 20 minutes away from Shady Maple but is definitely worth the drive. This buffet is definitely worth trying!!!!! It is right up the road from Dutch Wonderland. It has the best food ever!!!!!!!! And by the way, it is Amish/ Dutch food.
I’ve been to both. They are both good. Shady Maple has more variety and is bigger. But Dienner’s is more small scale and locals. You know your getting good true Amish food. They both have their benefits. Usually hit both up on a trip.
Mikey - as a Pennsylvanian who now lives in Boston, seeing you at Shady Maple brings back so many memories!! I used to live 30 min outside of Lancaster, and I would go to Shady Maple with my grandparents all the time!!! Thanks for featuring it in one of your videos!! This is amazing!
Can you really call yourself a south central PA resident if you haven't gone to Shady Maple for your birthday at least once? Like come on. - a York county resident.
That's because a lot of the Amish were Swiss German so their traditions and language were not strictly Germany the way we think. Germany as we know it didn't exist when many PA dutch/ Amish came over
@@batkat0 that’s not entirely true, amish mostly come from Germany, Austria and small parts of Switzerland while Mennonites came from Northern Germany and small parts of the Netherlands.
I love going to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, I and my family usually spend the whole Day there shopping then eating. We'd go to the Dutch Farm House where they feed you till you pass out, great hospitality. Thanks for sharing your trip to Penn with us.
Amish food is easily one of my favorite kinds of American food. Last year I taught myself how to make a shoofly pie. It came out great! By the way it is the molasses that makes shoofly pie so distinctive. Just the smell of it brought back memories of a trip to Amish country from Pennsylvania to Ohio. This has inspired me to revisit that trip as an adult.
I'm so utterly impressed with your ability to eat! After that smorgasbord-frenzy a normal person would probably not continue on, eating a big pretzel and buying pies :)
I'm jealous. That buffet had every single southern food item I've always wanted to try!! I come from and still live in South Africa. Hope to one day visit America often.
Welcome to Amish Country! I live very close to there and love the buffet at Shady Maple. I'm so glad you had the opportunity to experience Lancaster. You're welcome back anytime my friend ☺️
The Dutchie way to eat, is Stewed Tomatoes on Mac-n-Cheese. In south central PA, if you get mac-n-cheese you will always be offered stewed tomatoes on it.
Amish folks can COOK. We used to drive for hours to eat in a converted 40's era school building they had turned into a restaurant and living quarters for the three or four families that ran the place. The furniture was all beautiful stuff they had made. And the food...best pot roast ever. I was absolutely addicted to it. I make awesome pot roast but I can never quite match theirs. (By the way, potato pancakes are amazing doused with either applesauce or sour cream.) Love your videos!
I’m from Lancaster,PA. I call myself Puerto Rican Dutch 😂 I’m not lol. But since I eat Shoefly pie, love making chicken an dumpling 😍Shepherds Pie. Etc….. take a horse and buggy ride as well. You make me want to bake a peach cobbler pie and pumpkin rolls 🥰 btw it’s molasses in the shoe fly pie.
The "chicken & dumblings" we call chicken pot pie. :-) I think they call it that there strictly for the tourist. So they don't feel mislead. Shoofly Pie.. it's molasses based. -Native Lancaster Countian
It actually should be called Pennsylvania dutch style cooking. Pennsylvania dutch should not just include the amish but menoites, lutherans, moravanites and other individuals who immigrated from eruope in the 1600's in and around Germany who immigrated for freedom of religion.
@@sarablyler7689 lol emigtated from England, do some research., i live right next to the home of the pilgrim fathers in the towns of Retford and Gainsborough in England the pilgrims left England for Holland initially in 1604 to seek safety from religous persecution, they then salied in 1620 from Plymouth Englad to the America's to establish a colony where they could live and practice puritan religion freely, there is historical information everywhere around where i live about the pilgrims, not sayimg there wasn't other european religous communities involved there were but the english pilgrims started it all and to this day the english pilgrims are at the heart of the religous history of America.
@@SE-tc3cr they didn't say they founded the US, just that they too moved there for religious freedom. Many ppl from all over Europe have mass migrated to America over the years; pennsylvania and other areas happen to have heavy influences from the Dutch, Germans & others of that region.
@@SE-tc3cr do your research on the pennsylvania dutch and why pennsylvania was founded. It was not all english and I wasnt referring to who founded the first colony or which state started the religious freedom. I was talking only about the communities of the Pennsylvania dutch. Pennsylvania did contain quakers who were mostly from england and also those called the PA dutch. Also Indiana is not an originally colony. Alot of the amish who now live in places like kentucky, indiana and other states can trace there ancestry to Pennsylvania.
Thank you, you made me smile. I have no idea how you ate everything. I live less than a 1/2 hour and have never been there will need to go. You are an excellent ambassador.
I was there years ago...so glad that they are still open during COVID-19 pandemic. I really liked their smoked meats and the desserts. Oh, and the fried chicken is amazing.
There's an Amish market where I live in Balto, Md that serves the meatiest pork ribs. They leave the tenderloin on the rack when they cook them. If they have a condiment section I'd highly recommend buying a jar of their sauteed onion jelly and if they have a candy section ask if they have any vinegar taffy, my neighbor was from Scranton and used to make it and drove all the kids crazy when she did. Chocolate covered bacon is also a treat.
I moved from out west to Lancaster to help the company I worked for at the time with a 2 year multi-million dollar project. It was for a facility in a town called Denver outside of Reading. It is one of the greatest places I've lived. The people were great, the food was some of the best regional, home cooking you will ever experience. My wife and I have been back quite a bit to visit friends (but really to eat as much as possible). Also, you drove right past where my house was!
@@nobnarblee1725 it was 2007ish to 2009 I worked on the standardization of Albertson/Acme after SuperValu purchased the Albertson Co. We also worked on a 2 year project to install an automatic robotic selection/shipping system in their million square ft. distribution grocery facility with the German engineering firm, "WITRON". I was finished in 2009 and moved on to the next project. I really loved the area though.
Mikey thank you so much for visiting Lancaster! Watching the video was very heart warming since I used to live in that area. I never knew what food was good at Shady Maples except for the roast beef, now I know the chicken is good too! Thank you so much! Also, you need to try a Philadelphia Philly cheese steak from the Philadelphia airport or the local area. It is the absolute best and no one dose it better then Philadelphia. You gotta try it. Thank you so much again for the video and keep up the amazing work! 😊
Marsadee Basile Say hello to my beloved Allegheny College for me- got my undergrad degree in Meadville, then went to grad school at the U. Of Hawaii! Small town life to tropical Paradise!
My Aunt and Uncle lived there for years and raised my little cousins in the Amish community. I got some awesome Amish recipes from her that I still cook to this day.
Funny thing is.... as a local .... I only eat there when relatives come in from far away. Haha can barely shop at the grocery store anymore because of all the tourists.
Breakfast and lunch are cheaper than supper. Their breakfast is best but I also love the brisket that you can get at the lunch seating. I used to go there a lot when my husband was living and still try to go there about four times a year. The woman who's serving him the pig stomach is Fannie, a lovely little lady who's been working there forever. If you want to come to Lancaster County for the smorgs stay at the Olde Amish Inn, or the Fulton Steamboat hotel. Dienner's is just a quarter mile down the road on Rt. 30, on the left. Shady Maple is about 25 minutes away.
I'm so excited you came to Lancaster!! Shady Maple is seriously the best place and the Bird in Hand bake shop is marvelous. Hope you enjoyed your tour of my home county!!
This was truly beautiful!!! I thoroughly enjoyed watching this & appreciated how much you know about the Amish people & how respectful you were to them....& how much you appreciated their food!!! Much love!!!
I can’t believe how much food you can eat at one time and still drive long distances AND you still have an awesome body. I used to be that way but not anymore. Love these videos. One of my best friends is in Missouri and told me about a grocer that has an olive bar and mushroom bar. I love olives. She also referenced the Amish foods near her. Can’t wait to see another video. Here in Louisiana I don’t really hunger for flavorful foods but I would love to experience others. God bless you.
Grew up so close to there, and my elementary school was right next to Shady maple smorgasbord. Also went there many times since it's free on your birthday. Once you try the baked goods from Lancaster like pies and doughnuts, everywhere else in America seems to fall short. I agree Amish, and Mennonite cooking reminds you of grandma's cooking, depending on the grandma.
So much to teach you! Shoe fly pie also has molasses in it and if you go to the ‘Dutch Haven’ on route 30, they will find you with a piece of that pie, warm with whip cream! Walking distance from this store (50’) I’d Dienners restaurant and it is a must . Yes it is Amish! The town of Intercourse is named after two intersecting roads. You didn’t even mention the town of Strasburg at all! Well there is a TON more to tell you and it will take a lot of time. 28 years and counting and I know what I’m talking about. I’ll be there in September of 2022. Can hardly wait. 🎚
Currently sitting in Shady Maple eating all the things. Two hour trip from Baltimore for my Anniversary weekend and got to check this off the bucket list. Thanks for always making videos that makes me hungry Mike lol.
@@vladokingsley297 I think it is. Between the buffet, gift shop and giant market across from it you have so many many tasty things to try. If you're like me and get full fast stick to the more expensive foods like the steaks to get your money's worth. The chocolate milk on tap is amazing. I'm hoping to go back and try their breakfast.
The gravy that was on the biscuit was “dried beef gravy” that is usually on toast or home fried potatoes. And the corn pancake is called a “corn fritter”. The best Shoo Fly Pie to get is from Dutch Haven. Theirs is a wet bottom pie that is so good. My opinion anyway. I’m from here and you should check out a map of Lancaster County for all the wonderful names of towns. Bird-in-Hand, Blue Ball, Intercourse, and Paradise just to name a few. I live in Ephrata but I used to live near White Horse. Have an amazing day! 🙂
I grew up in Adamstown he really needs to go to Green Dragon next time he's in the area. Also, the best place for Soft Pretzels is Dutch Country in New Holland.
I love this place. I can't wait to go back after my next Sight and Sound Theatre production. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Thanks for posting such a fun video! I grew up a mile from Shady Maple Smorgasbord, and seeing this reminded me of all the fun breakfasts I'd have there with my friends. They give you a free breakfast on your birthday, so obviously you all take turns using that as an excuse to come in late to school. Now I have a video to show people when I'm trying to describe this to them, lol
4.5 hours away. I must.... Best restaurant I've had was an Amish one in Hutchinson Kansas when I was in the police academy called Carriage Crossing. They also had those huge cinnamon rolls among other things in their bakery and right down the road was a superb butcher shop.
Oh my god, I never thought I'd see a video of you driving around a couple of minutes from my house. If you're ever in Lancaster again you MUST try Achenbach's pastries!
These are my favorite quotes of the episode, Mike! They are GOLDEN!!! Thank you!!!! :-) Looks at all the biscuits and gravy and eggs: "...and yeah- I DO miss this!" "Pecan soggy thing..." "It's starting to get crowded in here, now we're going for speed!" "Don't go to Auntie Ann's, go to Intercourse!" **I love that you brought attention to Amish food! This was a wonderful episode :-)
Excellent Review. You ate two Gravies on the biscuits from the breakfast buffet. The Sausage Gravy and the other one that you thought may be bacon is Dried Beef Gravy also called Chipped Beef. So Good!!
So much of this is what we ( in PA) call Pennsylvania Dutch cooking. One of my mom's go to cuisines as she grew up in the very southwestern part of PA. Except those potato (mashed potato) pancakes. Ours are like latkes. Next time, get the rhubarb or strawberry rhubarb pie. We actually are more apt to go to the Ohio Amish areas as they are just as close to Pittsburgh. Pies are so good because the shortening in the crust MUST be at least 1/2 lard. No one could make as good a pie crust as my mom. Enjoying this totally different buffet visit. Especially, as I was eating udon and beef dumplings while watching.
I watched this video for the `2nd time and enjoyed every minute. Your facial expressions make me smile, I grew up eating a lot of the dishes you raved about. I need to invite a bunch of folks over for Sunday dinner and get busy in the kitchen. Thank you for all the work you put into your videos and taking us along on your adventures.
to anyone watching: bring your ID on your birthday, you'll eat for free. LOVE IT. HOWEVER you MUST be with other people who aren't having a birthday. Odd, but eh.
We LOVE Shady Maple. Great place! Because of the massive amount of Dairy farms there, they grow a lot of corn. Corn is placed in everything :) They have the best milk in Lancaster too. If you ever get a chance go to Oregon Dairy for the best mild ever
Omg, Shady Maple is amazing but it is just one of several local Amish style buffets. Definitely on the blander side but still warm and filling and delicious.
Lancaster/Ronks has always been one of my favorite places to go in PA. As a Philly native who really doesn't care for the city, I'd take the rural scene any day. The food is just...DELICIOUS and so comforting. 😋
There's some really good food in this part of the country. Amish bacon is second to none and Hoss's Steak and Seafood has excellent meats cooked to order plus a fine salad/dessert bar. If it weren't for the winters I'd move back there just for the food..
I'm so glad that you give places like Shady Maple recognition. As someone who lives around the area, this is so heartwarming to see.
ok but who asked?
What's that pecan thinggy
As someone who lives on the other side of the state, I'm just super happy to see somewhere other than Philly get some recognition.
I live in the area too. For restaurant inspections, they used to be written up alot. Dieners buy far is the best. Yoders has really great food. I stopped eating at Shady Maple about a decade ago. Yoders. food tastes about the same as SM. and. not too far from them if still open
@@donnalawrence9054 See I prefer Shady Maple to Yoders. I wish I could remember the name of the big PA Dutch diner I used to go to in the 90's. The food was awesome.
"They are just changing from breakfast to lunch", buffet 101, always go when the meals are transitioning from one to another! Well played Mike, well played.
Used to use this trick in college; classes were timed for me in such a way to where I could go, pay one price for breakfast. I would get a plate, and as long as I stayed in the dining area, I could have another lunch plate later.
Buffet 101 go when they are busy so you get fresh food but sheep are scared of the flu
That only works if you can eat a lot.
Go right before they close sometimes they give you some leftovers
@@yongwoo1020 I'm thinking Mike has a spare tank hidden somewhere. He can sure pack it away
I bought a clothes basket from an Amish store, and I kid you not...I still have it 30 yrs later. The craftsmanship is outstanding. The food is amazing as well. So need to go back up soon.
things that never happened, it unhappened the things that happened
@@aritrosan7698 ?
@@venom5809 then how do they make those heaters you don't have to plug in?!? Are the amish now wizards??
@@venom5809 i so agree
He missed out on the frosted raisin bread!
What you called a heart attack on a plate, is literally the same breakfast my grandparents ate everyday of their lives. Still going strong at 91 and 84!!
It’s all in the genes my friend lol. You see professional soccer players give out during a game because of a heart attack.
@@CaliD0LL I'd have a heart attack too if I made my living flopping like I was shot.
Breakfast was big, dinner was bigger and supper was a light meal. Dairy farm days were sunup to sundown. Some time after dark if work needed to be done before rain or other events. Great life. Wouldn't change a thing.
@@georgebarnessr5472 My Grandpa's family had a few cows they'd milk in the morning. They only had 80 acres, so my Dad growing up raised bulls, they had chickens and geese as well. I lived on that farm as a little guy. I think at 5 was when the farm got sold. I can remember a lot of it. I wouldnt change a thing either, friend.
Hard physical WORK
I actually live in Lancaster. The funny part is when mike is having the soft pretzel, he says “if you want a soft pretzel don’t go to auntie Anne’s, go to intercourse pa”. Fun fact: The family that founded auntie Anne’s is actually from Lancaster/ Gap PA area. Lol
Amish mafia yo.
@@argonwheatbelly637 lol, It hurt me too.
@@argonwheatbelly637 everyone outside pa says "lan caster" . Everyone in pa says "lank uh stir" . At least in central pa , that's how we say it.
I’m in Lancaster as well! Also the guy who founded Annie Ann’s was a crappy tipper and pretty rude. I would deliver them pizza back in the day. I’m talkin .50cents on a 80$ order if I was lucky lol
I used to haul GM parts from west central PA to the assembly plant in Wilmington, DE every day and really do miss the great dining options around Lancaster.
The pie is called Shoo-Fly, because the pie is very sugary and when they used to leave the pie on the window sill to cool, they'd have to shoo the flies away.
and then you are eating fly poo pie.
Love this factoid!!!!
@@bkbk4003 😂
Thank you. M y grandmother used to make something similar and I couldn't renember what it was called. I kinda like the name Mike gave it!
@@abbyiswatching2046 It is also called molasses crumb cake/pie. I grew up eating it -- my mom is from near Lancaster County. She's not Amish, but she grew up with it, too.
I’m an Aussie and I’ve never been to this area of the US, but the food looks so warm and hearty, and the people were so lovely.
Please come. You will NOT be disappointed
I grew up in the area and worked just down the road from Bird in Hand and Intercourse. The food is legit. This coming from an Asian restaurant owner. Amish/Mennonite cooking is a must try for any foodie, especially the baked goods. As Mike stated, it's not for those looking to shed a few pounds but worth the extra 2 hours in the gym that you'll need to counter the calories.
As a PA native, this place is the BOMBBBBB. It’s about 2 hours from me and well worth the trip!!!!
As a PA transplant I second that.
Yes I've eaten here several times! PA native too! Love it!
Shady maple?
How much is the food.
@@supremeetnel7707 varies breakfast lunch and dinner with some nights having speciasl and being a few dollars more. Figure $20-$25 for the dinner menus and cheaper for breakfast and lunch.
The dumpling deal you had is what we call PA Dutch pot pie. Noodles done in a pot in patches. Not to be confused with meat pie baked in the oven in a crust. Stewed tomatoes are served with macaroni and cheese. The base of a shoofly pie is actually molasses which came down from the colonial Treacle tart. I love our food and so glad you liked it too!
In Lancaster County we just call it Chicken pot pie.
Don't forget the cream chipped beef...I mean shit on a shigle!
This is sooo cool!!
Bottboi (pot pie) un melassisch riwwelkuche (shoofly pie, or literally molasses streusel cake) in our language, PA Deitsch.
Chicken Pot Pie is not soup!
Love that you came to my hometown it’s definitely nothing fancy but I’m glad you can see why it’s so special
Thank you for bringing attention to the diversity of Pennsylvania Dutch/German-American cuisine and cultural richness. It is often overlooked or thought of negatively. An important thing to bear in mind is that Pennsylvania farmers are a huge backbone of the U.S. agricultural industry and this type of food is plentiful, affordable, often seasonal, and provides plenty of energy for those working backbreaking jobs. You ever want to take a spin around the Polish-American food scene in Pennsylvania, I'd love to give you a tour. 😊
Absolutely! No one works as hard as a PA farmer, especially putting up hay! Mike should do a pierogi tour of Pittsburgh!!
Yessss thank you!!!!
I love living in PA and passing all of our farms, I don't live far from Lancaster and I love all the delicious food 😋
Mikey walks into a tent at a Fair and cleans every plate put in front of him, then looks surprised when everybody stands up and starts cheering as he's announce the winner of the competitive eating contest! "What?!?! I thought that this was the buffet tent!"
he's like a leisurely matt stonie
I had my wedding reception at Shady Maple back in 2008. One of the reasons why the building is so huge is due to the many "conference rooms" which are separate huge dining halls.
That is a really good idea
Did they cater?
The layout looks like a movie theater
@@LetMeTellYouSomething144 it's gigantic, like a warehouse or airplane hanger
There was another place similar to this in Lancaster' we used to go to for our family reunions
I live in Lancaster and it's an amazing place for food. Several great buffets like Shady Maple including Bird in Hand and Yoders. What's even better is you can find Amish families that host meals at their house and it's amazing. On several occasions they brought their kids out and they sang a few songs. They also typically have quilts and other goods there to buy. Not for those on a diet lol
I love that a "diet" for Mike means eating an entire apple pie by himself but not putting ice cream on it
🤣
Normal people on a diet: I'll get the salad with no croutons please.
Mike on a diet: I'm only going to eat enough baked goods for a family of 6. No ice cream.
Lmaooooo
Who eats pie from the pie plate? 🤔
Shoefly pie is molassas! One kind is cakey, the other, called "wet bottom" has a later of sticky stuff on the bottom, with a cakier top crust. My favorite!
Breakfast
I prefer the cakey type! They are so good!
No, it’s made from shoes and flys. 🪰
I Live in Lancaster! This makes me feel special you came here 🥰
Heyyyy! Pennsylvania represent! Welcome to my neck of the woods!
We call it the pipe.
Takes me back to my childhood, every year on the way to our family reunion in Georgia, we would stop there. Our entire family would eat big meals together at long wooden tables. It was a very fond memory of mine
The way mike fills the square footage of a plate at a buffet is pure genius
Mikey learned all the tricks of the trade back in College, since you had very little food money and a bottomless appetite. lol
Hashtag FACTS
@@UltimateGamerCC same here I lived off of the cheapest ramen noodles I could find and cold pizza and loved when relative's came to visit and gave me leftovers
Mike is to buffet plates as Oshiya are to Japanese subway cars.
Guys guys, it's because he's Asian. Asians use everything to its worth. So when it comes to buffets, you must expect there to be heaping plates.
The food at amish buffets, grocery stores and delis is soooo good
Amish cheese shops are the best!
Wow i gotta say all these amish workers are well-endowed.
Food is great where the food is done from the heart,and cooked with love.that’s what makes food so great.
The best is that they use local produced food, nice place ,it tastes good and the people are very friendly
If you make it back to Lancaster you should totally hit up the Lancaster Central Market. It's Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday Morning/Afternoon. I would totally wait till after things are back to normal because it gets packed but it's all produce and fresh made foods. It's very much worth the visit.
I grew up on what we called “corn fritters” and “potato pancakes”, both usually made from leftovers. So yum! Thanks for transporting me back to my western PA youth! :)
Me to, but was in Oklahoma.
Amish food is legit some of the best home cooking you'll ever find. Wish he'd tried the chicken and noodles over the mashed potatoes. That's the ultimate Amish comfort food!
Shady Maple is disgusting. I've lived here for 40+ years and this video is a lie. A complete puff piece made to Garner interest in his channel. This food is literally disgusting. Even the video couldn't make it look appetizing if you ever cooked a decent meal in your life
1st time I ever heard of chicken & noodles over mashed potatoes was in Iowa. My sister who used to live in Iowa still make it ever year for special occasions. When I lived in Kansas Chicken & Noodles over mashed potatoes was staple for School lunches.
Not from the ones I have had.
@@gulfportflamefighter4545 Well then you're missing out, I guess. My grandmother grew up with Amish neighbors and learned to cook from those ladies. Homemade chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes and fried chicken all were on the table for every special occasion. The Amish restaurants in the Amish communities in Indiana where we lived always served this too. It's a very traditional Amish meal.
I love Shady Maple. Though they have really high prices. I know a buffet that is smaller but tastes ten times better and is like only $13 a person compared to Shady Maple's prices. This buffet is called Dienner's Dinner. It is like 20 minutes away from Shady Maple but is definitely worth the drive. This buffet is definitely worth trying!!!!! It is right up the road from Dutch Wonderland. It has the best food ever!!!!!!!! And by the way, it is Amish/ Dutch food.
We ate at Deinners Diner twice on a recent trip to Lancaster. Loved it!!!
Thanks for the info, I have to check it out, are they also a shmorgasboard too or a regular restaurant?
They are a buffet. A small scale smorgasbord. Worth the time and the money.
I’ve been to both. They are both good. Shady Maple has more variety and is bigger. But Dienner’s is more small scale and locals. You know your getting good true Amish food. They both have their benefits. Usually hit both up on a trip.
Agreed. Shady maple is where the tourists go. Dienners is where the locals go. Always eat where the locals do.
Mikey - as a Pennsylvanian who now lives in Boston, seeing you at Shady Maple brings back so many memories!! I used to live 30 min outside of Lancaster, and I would go to Shady Maple with my grandparents all the time!!! Thanks for featuring it in one of your videos!! This is amazing!
Shady Maple is the BEST!
Can you really call yourself a south central PA resident if you haven't gone to Shady Maple for your birthday at least once? Like come on.
- a York county resident.
@@CaliforniaPearls77 I like Good n plenty more but shady maples is good too.
Thats what I admire about the US: Amish (German Immigrants) which provide a smargasbord (swedish) presented by somebody with asian heritage!
I love that twist too.
That's because a lot of the Amish were Swiss German so their traditions and language were not strictly Germany the way we think. Germany as we know it didn't exist when many PA dutch/ Amish came over
He's Asian American
@@batkat0 that’s not entirely true, amish mostly come from Germany, Austria and small parts of Switzerland while Mennonites came from Northern Germany and small parts of the Netherlands.
I love going to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, I and my family usually spend the whole Day there shopping then eating. We'd go to the Dutch Farm House where they feed you till you pass out, great hospitality. Thanks for sharing your trip to Penn with us.
It’s rlly great living in those areas bc the farmers market is 100% amazing bc they all go and sell foods
Thank you for recognizing Pennsylvania! I’m a native New Yorker and I moved to Pennsylvania in 2004. Best decision ever❤️
Amish food is easily one of my favorite kinds of American food. Last year I taught myself how to make a shoofly pie. It came out great! By the way it is the molasses that makes shoofly pie so distinctive. Just the smell of it brought back memories of a trip to Amish country from Pennsylvania to Ohio. This has inspired me to revisit that trip as an adult.
Yes i have family friends who live in Downingtown but we went to Lancaster the place and people are great and shoofly pie is one in a million
I was hollering, IT’S MOLASSES lol.
I'm so utterly impressed with your ability to eat! After that smorgasbord-frenzy a normal person would probably not continue on, eating a big pretzel and buying pies :)
I would be even more impressed if I saw him eat absolutely everything, like a food challenge, you know.
Gotta take Stoney here
How many flushes after that one or do you just hit the porta potty.
@@TheMatthewhoffman 8
I know I'm not the only one who watched this video and drooled! Looks like an awesome trip, and food. 😛
Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Pennsylvania is loaded with huge buffets.
I'm jealous. That buffet had every single southern food item I've always wanted to try!! I come from and still live in South Africa. Hope to one day visit America often.
The land of the red Maple leaf. 😜
Have eaten here. Let me tell you those ladies know how to cook!! Absolutely scrumptious food. No diets allowed.
6:04 : That little spoon of corn killed me 😂😂😂
💀
lmao me to
I used to live in Lancaster PA, worked at TMI in the mid to late 80’s. Loved it there.
I almost cried! Your video made me miss that place even more. That area is where I grew up.
Welcome to Amish Country! I live very close to there and love the buffet at Shady Maple. I'm so glad you had the opportunity to experience Lancaster. You're welcome back anytime my friend ☺️
When I read “Try the Largest Amish Buffet” I immediately thought of shady maple. You should try the stewed tomatoes with some fried fish.
Or on the roast beef.
The Dutchie way to eat, is Stewed Tomatoes on Mac-n-Cheese. In south central PA, if you get mac-n-cheese you will always be offered stewed tomatoes on it.
Shady Maple is the best.
Yummmmmmm
That’s what I thought too
And Mac and cheese soo good
Amish folks can COOK. We used to drive for hours to eat in a converted 40's era school building they had turned into a restaurant and living quarters for the three or four families that ran the place. The furniture was all beautiful stuff they had made. And the food...best pot roast ever. I was absolutely addicted to it. I make awesome pot roast but I can never quite match theirs. (By the way, potato pancakes are amazing doused with either applesauce or sour cream.)
Love your videos!
I’m from Lancaster,PA. I call myself Puerto Rican Dutch 😂 I’m not lol. But since I eat Shoefly pie, love making chicken an dumpling 😍Shepherds Pie. Etc….. take a horse and buggy ride as well. You make me want to bake a peach cobbler pie and pumpkin rolls 🥰 btw it’s molasses in the shoe fly pie.
I have traveled to this buffet many times I love it. Whenever I'm in Lancaster I leave with shoofly pies and all types of pastries
Before I even clicked on this video I said “The only Amish buffet I know of is Shady Maple in Lancaster” damnit Mikey LOL
Same!
Im in ohio we have tons of amish places haha.
@@whitneysanders6996 same I live in Ohio as well plenty of amish places here, I'm more north towards cleveland
I enjoy Der Dutchman in Belleville.
The "chicken & dumblings" we call chicken pot pie. :-) I think they call it that there strictly for the tourist. So they don't feel mislead.
Shoofly Pie.. it's molasses based. -Native Lancaster Countian
I love this area, it's a tradition spot with my mom and I. Absolutely adore it. Thanks for showcasing it!
As an Arkansan, I'm sitting here wondering if the Pennsylvania Amish are my long-lost cousins. That buffet food was all stuff we eat around here.
Lucky you
It actually should be called Pennsylvania dutch style cooking. Pennsylvania dutch should not just include the amish but menoites, lutherans, moravanites and other individuals who immigrated from eruope in the 1600's in and around Germany who immigrated for freedom of religion.
@@sarablyler7689 lol emigtated from England, do some research., i live right next to the home of the pilgrim fathers in the towns of Retford and Gainsborough in England the pilgrims left England for Holland initially in 1604 to seek safety from religous persecution, they then salied in 1620 from Plymouth Englad to the America's to establish a colony where they could live and practice puritan religion freely, there is historical information everywhere around where i live about the pilgrims, not sayimg there wasn't other european religous communities involved there were but the english pilgrims started it all and to this day the english pilgrims are at the heart of the religous history of America.
@@SE-tc3cr they didn't say they founded the US, just that they too moved there for religious freedom. Many ppl from all over Europe have mass migrated to America over the years; pennsylvania and other areas happen to have heavy influences from the Dutch, Germans & others of that region.
@@SE-tc3cr do your research on the pennsylvania dutch and why pennsylvania was founded. It was not all english and I wasnt referring to who founded the first colony or which state started the religious freedom. I was talking only about the communities of the Pennsylvania dutch. Pennsylvania did contain quakers who were mostly from england and also those called the PA dutch. Also Indiana is not an originally colony. Alot of the amish who now live in places like kentucky, indiana and other states can trace there ancestry to Pennsylvania.
Blue Ball is also near Intercourse down there. You need to come to the Wilkes Barre area in PA for the pizza.
Thank you, you made me smile. I have no idea how you ate everything. I live less than a 1/2 hour and have never been there will need to go. You are an excellent ambassador.
I was there years ago...so glad that they are still open during COVID-19 pandemic. I really liked their smoked meats and the desserts. Oh, and the fried chicken is amazing.
Hello 👋 how’re you doing?
I grew up in PA and love Shady Maple! This makes me miss home 🥺
There's an Amish market where I live in Balto, Md that serves the meatiest pork ribs. They leave the tenderloin on the rack when they cook them. If they have a condiment section I'd highly recommend buying a jar of their sauteed onion jelly and if they have a candy section ask if they have any vinegar taffy, my neighbor was from Scranton and used to make it and drove all the kids crazy when she did. Chocolate covered bacon is also a treat.
I moved from out west to Lancaster to help the company I worked for at the time with a 2 year multi-million dollar project. It was for a facility in a town called Denver outside of Reading. It is one of the greatest places I've lived. The people were great, the food was some of the best regional, home cooking you will ever experience. My wife and I have been back quite a bit to visit friends (but really to eat as much as possible). Also, you drove right past where my house was!
I live in Denver, what project were you on?
@@nobnarblee1725 it was 2007ish to 2009 I worked on the standardization of Albertson/Acme after SuperValu purchased the Albertson Co. We also worked on a 2 year project to install an automatic robotic selection/shipping system in their million square ft. distribution grocery facility with the German engineering firm, "WITRON". I was finished in 2009 and moved on to the next project. I really loved the area though.
Biscuits and gravy purest form of soul food.
uh ....... no
@@GenX...MCMLXV I'm thinking cornbread right? Collard greens
Mikey thank you so much for visiting Lancaster! Watching the video was very heart warming since I used to live in that area. I never knew what food was good at Shady Maples except for the roast beef, now I know the chicken is good too! Thank you so much! Also, you need to try a Philadelphia Philly cheese steak from the Philadelphia airport or the local area. It is the absolute best and no one dose it better then Philadelphia. You gotta try it. Thank you so much again for the video and keep up the amazing work! 😊
Omg I love shady maple!! I actually used to live in Lancaster when I was growing up. Now I’m in Meadville!!
Marsadee Basile Say hello to my beloved Allegheny College for me- got my undergrad degree in Meadville, then went to grad school at the U. Of Hawaii! Small town life to tropical Paradise!
My Aunt and Uncle lived there for years and raised my little cousins in the Amish community. I got some awesome Amish recipes from her that I still cook to this day.
I LOVED this video!!! You are a very personable young man! Well done!!!
Hey Mikey! I live ( literally) around the corner from “Shady”!! It IS Heaven on Earth to live in Lancaster County, PA!
Lucky!
Funny thing is.... as a local .... I only eat there when relatives come in from far away. Haha can barely shop at the grocery store anymore because of all the tourists.
Breakfast and lunch are cheaper than supper. Their breakfast is best but I also love the brisket that you can get at the lunch seating.
I used to go there a lot when my husband was living and still try to go there about four times a year. The woman who's serving him the pig stomach is Fannie, a lovely little lady who's been working there forever.
If you want to come to Lancaster County for the smorgs stay at the Olde Amish Inn, or the Fulton Steamboat hotel. Dienner's is just a quarter mile down the road on Rt. 30, on the left. Shady Maple is about 25 minutes away.
So glad that you enjoyed yourself in PA! We have so much to offer!
Thank you for your amazing videos!
Peace and Love🕊❤️
"I'm on a diet"
*Eats a loaf of banana bread a whole pie and slab of sticky buns*
Brother
Varvalian
And two whoopie pies!
At least the banana bread isn't that bad hahaha
It’s the see food diet
I live in Lancaster and this was so fun to see! Glad you enjoyed our town!
You amaze me. I love watching you eat. What you ate in one meal I could eat in 3 days and still be stuffed at each meal. Hats off to you!!!
I'm so excited you came to Lancaster!! Shady Maple is seriously the best place and the Bird in Hand bake shop is marvelous. Hope you enjoyed your tour of my home county!!
Awesome to see someone else from the 717 area following Mike!
This was truly beautiful!!! I thoroughly enjoyed watching this & appreciated how much you know about the Amish people & how respectful you were to them....& how much you appreciated their food!!! Much love!!!
Have to give you big props for even attempting to eat that steak. Had all the appearance of a saddle and I'm sure it tasted like one too.
I can’t believe how much food you can eat at one time and still drive long distances AND you still have an awesome body. I used to be that way but not anymore. Love these videos. One of my best friends is in Missouri and told me about a grocer that has an olive bar and mushroom bar. I love olives. She also referenced the Amish foods near her. Can’t wait to see another video. Here in Louisiana I don’t really hunger for flavorful foods but I would love to experience others. God bless you.
Shady maple is amazing I love going there when we head to Lancaster for vacation
Shady Maple ROCKS! Great food, great prices. The pies are home-made,(I mean home-made AMISH!) Doesn't get any better!
Grew up so close to there, and my elementary school was right next to Shady maple smorgasbord. Also went there many times since it's free on your birthday. Once you try the baked goods from Lancaster like pies and doughnuts, everywhere else in America seems to fall short. I agree Amish, and Mennonite cooking reminds you of grandma's cooking, depending on the grandma.
Pies yeah but voodoo in Oregon got the doughnuts on lock 😉
@@aprilgabrielrodriguez7158 Got to try it if I am ever out that way.
@@aprilgabrielrodriguez7158 Joe's in sandy is better
blue ball elementary
@@kylefrancis184 yup that's the one
So much to teach you! Shoe fly pie also has molasses in it and if you go to the ‘Dutch Haven’ on route 30, they will find you with a piece of that pie, warm with whip cream! Walking distance from this store (50’) I’d Dienners restaurant and it is a must . Yes it is Amish! The town of Intercourse is named after two intersecting roads. You didn’t even mention the town of Strasburg at all! Well there is a TON more to tell you and it will take a lot of time. 28 years and counting and I know what I’m talking about. I’ll be there in September of 2022. Can hardly wait. 🎚
Currently sitting in Shady Maple eating all the things. Two hour trip from Baltimore for my Anniversary weekend and got to check this off the bucket list. Thanks for always making videos that makes me hungry Mike lol.
Was it worth the drive? I live in northern Virginia and wonder if I should eat here
@@vladokingsley297 I think it is. Between the buffet, gift shop and giant market across from it you have so many many tasty things to try. If you're like me and get full fast stick to the more expensive foods like the steaks to get your money's worth. The chocolate milk on tap is amazing. I'm hoping to go back and try their breakfast.
The gravy that was on the biscuit was “dried beef gravy” that is usually on toast or home fried potatoes. And the corn pancake is called a “corn fritter”. The best Shoo Fly Pie to get is from Dutch Haven. Theirs is a wet bottom pie that is so good. My opinion anyway.
I’m from here and you should check out a map of Lancaster County for all the wonderful names of towns. Bird-in-Hand, Blue Ball, Intercourse, and Paradise just to name a few. I live in Ephrata but I used to live near White Horse.
Have an amazing day! 🙂
I grew up in Adamstown he really needs to go to Green Dragon next time he's in the area. Also, the best place for Soft Pretzels is Dutch Country in New Holland.
I love this place. I can't wait to go back after my next Sight and Sound Theatre production.
I would recommend this place to anyone visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The Pig's Stomach is the Amish version of Scottish Haggis. The potato pancake is polish comfort food, it really needs some sour cream to go with it.
My family & I visit Shady Maples Smorgasbord often.
KEY NOTE: YOUR MEAL IS FREE IF YOU VISIT ON YOUR BIRTHDAY.
Can confirm 😁
My mom goes there every year for her birthday.
@@candilee9046 that's one of the best things to do on that's special day.! Nothing beats a once a year celebration over a good meal.
With an accompanying full paying person
Stayed at the Bird in Hand Family inn. Great place, amazing home style food and beautiful atmosphere.
Thanks for posting such a fun video! I grew up a mile from Shady Maple Smorgasbord, and seeing this reminded me of all the fun breakfasts I'd have there with my friends. They give you a free breakfast on your birthday, so obviously you all take turns using that as an excuse to come in late to school. Now I have a video to show people when I'm trying to describe this to them, lol
4.5 hours away. I must.... Best restaurant I've had was an Amish one in Hutchinson Kansas when I was in the police academy called Carriage Crossing. They also had those huge cinnamon rolls among other things in their bakery and right down the road was a superb butcher shop.
Dang it! We were JUST there Saturday! I was literally sitting there saying I wonder when Mikey will come? Glad you came man. Welcome!
Oh my god, I never thought I'd see a video of you driving around a couple of minutes from my house. If you're ever in Lancaster again you MUST try Achenbach's pastries!
These are my favorite quotes of the episode, Mike! They are GOLDEN!!! Thank you!!!! :-)
Looks at all the biscuits and gravy and eggs: "...and yeah- I DO miss this!"
"Pecan soggy thing..."
"It's starting to get crowded in here, now we're going for speed!"
"Don't go to Auntie Ann's, go to Intercourse!"
**I love that you brought attention to Amish food! This was a wonderful episode :-)
Excellent Review. You ate two Gravies on the biscuits from the breakfast buffet. The Sausage Gravy and the other one that you thought may be bacon is Dried Beef Gravy also called Chipped Beef. So Good!!
So much of this is what we ( in PA) call Pennsylvania Dutch cooking. One of my mom's go to cuisines as she grew up in the very southwestern part of PA. Except those potato (mashed potato) pancakes. Ours are like latkes. Next time, get the rhubarb or strawberry rhubarb pie. We actually are more apt to go to the Ohio Amish areas as they are just as close to Pittsburgh. Pies are so good because the shortening in the crust MUST be at least 1/2 lard. No one could make as good a pie crust as my mom. Enjoying this totally different buffet visit. Especially, as I was eating udon and beef dumplings while watching.
Shady Maple has it's own supermarket, too!
I love Shady Maple. The roast beef is amazing. The desserts will put you to sleep. That shoofly pie is delicious.
Friendship bread is the best thing I ever ate.
I will not retort this comment for fear I will look like a weirdo
Most fun in school was passing around the starter bags lol
@@Teaniinja that and the starter kits for monkey bread. A very great day was bread starter kit was
I definitely agree! It’s SO 😋
Friendship bread is the best thing EVER!
I watched this video for the `2nd time and enjoyed every minute. Your facial expressions make me smile, I grew up eating a lot of the dishes you raved about. I need to invite a bunch of folks over for Sunday dinner and get busy in the kitchen. Thank you for all the work you put into your videos and taking us along on your adventures.
I grew up close to Amish country in Ohio and dude it’s crazy to me you have never had apple dumplings. That with ice cream is gooooood
to anyone watching: bring your ID on your birthday, you'll eat for free. LOVE IT. HOWEVER you MUST be with other people who aren't having a birthday. Odd, but eh.
id's are 🤫reysist 🤫
@@batchagaloopytv5816??????
Yes I use to go every year until I moved to GA. :(
Just went
@@DBRAVOGROnice! how was it? what was your favorite food?
You literally were a 2 minute walk from my house, Immergut is SO good
I wi be here tomorrow. We'll, I hope I see your house. In case I habe a food coma and need somewhere to crash.
I legit never knew this place existed. I love that you're always introducing us to new things!!!
We LOVE Shady Maple. Great place! Because of the massive amount of Dairy farms there, they grow a lot of corn. Corn is placed in everything :)
They have the best milk in Lancaster too. If you ever get a chance go to Oregon Dairy for the best mild ever
Ok, amish buffet... two words I never really expected to see together.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
But it somehow sounds really appetizing.
Omg, Shady Maple is amazing but it is just one of several local Amish style buffets. Definitely on the blander side but still warm and filling and delicious.
@@Kallynthehuntress lol u lost me at bland
@@prgsim been to Shady maples once over a decade ago. Area might be bland but the food isn’t.
I just fell in love with the Amish community and their food.❤😘😍🥰👍🙏
Lancaster/Ronks has always been one of my favorite places to go in PA. As a Philly native who really doesn't care for the city, I'd take the rural scene any day. The food is just...DELICIOUS and so comforting. 😋
the little dance mikey does when he first bites into that pancake. so wholesome! :)
It's so cool seeing such a big creator....in one of my fav places and driving down rides ik like the back of my hand!
There's some really good food in this part of the country. Amish bacon is second to none and Hoss's Steak and Seafood has excellent meats cooked to order plus a fine salad/dessert bar. If it weren't for the winters I'd move back there just for the food..
Mike, it does my heart good to see you enjoying yourself and saying "I'm so happy."