Day Trip to Kennett Square and the Brandywine Valley
Whether it’s sipping a hot toddy by a fire pit or attending a Christmas concert, Kennett Square has unique winter charms. The town and countryside scenes are reminiscent of Norman Rockwell paintings, luring wintertime day-trippers to this cozy corner in the Brandywine Valley.
For foodies, there are many delights worth relishing. Portabellos restaurant is a must for lunch or dinner at their new location on State Street. In the land of mushrooms, indulge in Chef Bret’s version of mushroom soup, a Kennett Square staple, and the menu also includes a must-try mushroom crepe with a creamy-dreamy mix of flavors from the forest. For lunch, the State Street Burger is one of the best in the nation! This house-ground, high-quality burger is made from chuck roast and is so tall and full of toppings it requires a steak knife through the top to hold it together. The dinner selection offers excellent steaks and seafood, and a view of the passers-by on shopping and dining adventures of their own.
One of Kennett Square’s best restaurants is Talula’s Table at 102 W. State Street. Talula’s is a local gourmet market favorite for fresh coffee, fabulous baked goods, food market, and their Farm Table dinners. For lunch, walk up to the deli counter and peruse the offerings. If this is your first time, ask lots of questions as you don’t want to miss anything. In the refrigerator sections are salads, sandwiches, and several heat-and-eat options for dine-in or take home, and their mushroom soup is one of the best in this self-proclaimed Mushroom Capital of the World. The Farm Table dinners (booked by reservation only, a year in advance!) is perfect for groups of 8-12 attending this eight-course, BYOB extravagant dinner feast. The chef’s table seating is also available for smaller parties of 4-8 guests. Well worth the advance planning and $108 price tag.
For more specialty food shopping, The Woodlands at Phillips occupies an 1828 farmhouse two miles south of Kennett Square. This unique shop at the Phillips Mushroom Farms might have the most mushroom products for sale to the public under one roof anywhere. Run by four sisters from the Phillips family, offerings include fresh mushrooms, mushroom pasta, medicinal mushroom products, frozen mushroom soup, and much more. One Saturday per month, Phillips hosts free mushroom cooking demonstrations, where chefs showcase how to prepare specialty mushrooms in easy and tasty ways.
The world-famous Longwood Gardens stages A Longwood Christmas (November 22-January 6) with half-a-million lights indoors and out, leading to an enchanting holiday journey through the Gardens, and the lush Orchid Extravanganza begins in mid-January. Throughout the season, Longwood’s Grand Ballroom hosts free and ticketed performances, and one of the best aspects of visiting Longwood in winter is a visit to the warm indoor conservatory. Behold exotic orchids, tropical plants like banana, cactus, and other warm-country flora while the chilly weather is kept at bay. Consider lunch or dinner at Longwood’s two restaurants: 1906 for fine dining, or The Café, a casual eatery.
Just to the north-east of Kennett Square in Chadds Ford, find The Gables, a former dairy barn where down-home fare with a Southern twist will fill you up and warm you up. With a full bar, The Gables is a great place to grab a warm beverage of your choice and hang out near their fire pit before or after dinner. Don’t miss the cheesy-good French onion-style mushroom soup, or the shrimp and grits entrée for a taste of the South.
Another must-see indoor activity in Chadds Ford is the Brandywine River Museum of Art. This showcase of American art features artist Andrew Wyeth and family, with many other artists’ works on display in this 19th-century grist mill. For a delightful lunch at the museum, try the recently upgraded Millstone Café menu that features local farm fare, wines by the glass, and artisanal foods.
Not far from the Brandywine River Museum of Art is Chaddsford Winery, Pennsylvania’s largest winemaker. Open year-round, except Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, come for a tour, tasting, or wine shopping. Find a decent selection of both dry and sweet wines in this former dairy farm.
On Saturdays, foodies in the know head to the Artisan Exchange in West Chester, a twenty-minute drive north of Kennett Square. At the Artisan Exchange, you’ll find an assortment of small-batch producers of everything from ice cream sandwiches and artisan coffee, Irish victory cakes and popcorn, honey, pasta, mushrooms, and more. The brainchild of Frank Baldassarre, Artisan Exchange offers a startup space for those wanting to produce and sell their food products to a broad market. Baldassarre not only provides commercial kitchen space for rent but helps the producers by holding a Saturday market.
It’s easy to get carried away and need more than a day in Kennett Square. For an overnight stay, try the lovely Kennett House, built in 1910 and constructed of granite to stand the test of time. The inn is walking distance to the shops and restaurants on State Street, and with only four rooms to choose from, be sure and book in advance if you think you will want an extra day in town.
While Kennett Square is a year-round destination, winter holds certain magic not to be missed. Grab your winter shoes, a warm coat, and come experience this gem of the Brandywine Valley.
WHEN YOU GO
Portabellos of Kennett Square, 115 West State Street, Kennett Square, 610.925.4984
Talula’s Table, 102 West State Street, Kennett Square, 610.444.8255
The Woodlands at Phillips, 1020 Kaolin Road, Kennett Square, 610.444.2192
Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square
The Gables at Chadds Ford, 423 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610.388.7700
Brandywine River Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, 610.388.2700
Chaddsford Winery, 623 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610.388.6221
Artisan Exchange, 208 Carter Drive, West Chester, 610.719.0282
Kennett House Bed & Breakfast, 503 West State Street, Kennett Square, 610.444.9592
