A Very Fun Evening, Eh!

A couple of years ago, my husband Isaac and I stumbled on a wonderful little restaurant on Prince Street, Lancaster, called Ma(i)son, and have enjoyed many great meals there.  Leeann and Taylor Mason have created a very gracious neighborhood place where you can enjoy a warm welcome and the best food in town!    The small space is filled with oatmeal-colored barn boards, mounted ceramic animal heads, orange corners, and lovely place settings on rustic tables, creating a very comfortable and warm experience.  Our favorite spot is the two-person bar overlooking the kitchen where Sarah and Matt turn out the likes of comforting Slow-Braised Beef Cheeks and Squid and Barlotti Beans.  Our young server, Christian, is always very knowledgeable and never steers us wrong.  Best of all, he cheerfully endures my husband's advice about his love life!

Lancaster has some of the most fertile farmland in the country and so we enjoy abundant sources of produce, meats and cheeses.  The Masons have forged relationships with local farmers and food artisans in order to create a short, focused menu of simple, fresh, but by no means ordinary, plates.

This week we were lucky enough to snag a reservation at one of their occasional, special-theme dinners.  The Masons and their staff recently ate their way through Montreal, Canada, and created a "Grand Service" Montreal-inspired meal.  Instead of the usual individual tables, they placed everyone at two long tables, where they'd inscribed our names on long paper runners.  It didn't take long for everyone to get comfortable and soon we were all making new friends and enjoying a relaxing evening, lingering for over three hours over multiple courses and being taken care of.

Some of the many highlights:  The "Bloody Caesar",  the freshest, from-scratch (no mix here) Bloody Mary topped off with a fresh oyster, a jumbo shrimp, a cornichon, fresh celery leaf and a thin slice of salami!  Also:

                     Tortiere Quebecoise, a venison and pork meat pie that's ubiquitous in Canada

                     Poutine: Nova Scotia lobster!  Cheese curds!  Tarragon!  Gravy!  Frites!

I was so enamored and in a state while enjoying one of the deserts that I forgot to take a picture.  Cool, creamy, maple and brandy milkshakes!

I can't wait for Leann's and Taylor's next trip!