As the famed hero of the Odyssey, Odysseus takes a historic trip of epic proportions guided in part on his travels by Circe. This journey takes him to many a place, to meet legions of people and to encounter a myriad of cultures. As epic as his journey proved to be, so can a culinary odyssey be for those staying at the Bridgeton House on Delaware. By venturing right outside their door many a country can be visited, if only for an afternoon or evening, without the hassle of going through customs and donning a passport. For their travels, all one needs is a bit of sage advice, maybe some navigational tools and of course an appetite.
The first stop on the journey is Italy at it’s best. Sette Luna, A Tuscan Trattoria located in Easton, PA is rustic Italian. It is everyday. It is about passion. The ambiance can be deliciously romantic, yet vibrant and fun. To say the food is excellent would be sadly underrating it. Bravo! The service is as impeccable as the food. There is only one mistake you can make at this restaurant – not saving room for dessert and Limoncello. If your journey has you heading South on River Road, a short 3 mile jaunt will land seeming smack dab in the middle of Naples. At PiAzzi, located on Bridge Street in charming Frenchtown, NJ, everything in their scratch kitchen is wood-fired – the way Naples intended.
Talk about taking the worry out traveling afar, if one has a proclivity for some footwork, the Descendants Brewing Company at the Old Ship Inn is a brisk walk from the front door of the Bridgeton House and offers a trip to the English Countryside. New Jersey’s first Craft Brew Pub. While perusing the menu – you can keep it traditional with fish & chips or if your tradition is American – go for the meatloaf sandwich.
A trip to the orient is fantasy for many people, but it isn’t an out of reach dream. Forget the frenetic pace of navigating Japan in all its splendor and take a trip stateside instead. The Bamboo House offers fabled sushi and delectable Thai. The daughter of the former owner of the Bo Bo Kitchen, a Chinese take out place, proprietor Cara Lin has brought the city to the country. 
The Thai food and sushi at this little cottage is as cityfied as one can find, as they lured away two chefs from the big apple. Bamboo House is as popular with those who chose to dine in as it is with those who carry out their delicacies to enjoy in their privacy of their home or room. A favorite among the entrees is the lemongrass pork chop, a hefty serving of chops pounded to a tender thinness and served with a tangy sauce of fragrant lemongrass, galangal, garlic and lime juice. The curries and pad thai are offered up in splendor. The secret when your filling up is to save room for the sweet dragon eggs which will end your dining experience on a sweet note.
Imagine you are wanting to traverse the countryside to dine on wonderful provincial meals with farm fresh ingredients without having to cross the seas on a transatlantic flight. The Golden Pheasant (as of February 2020 – under new management and reopening soon) is French country dining at its best. Dinner and Sunday brunch served in the Solarium overlooking the canal and river or in the tavern with a roaring fire are simply divine. The restaurant located in Erwinna, Pennsylvania harkens back to a way of life that is gone but still resonates in the covered bridges, stone walls and canals of the area. Serving French cuisine for more than two decades, Blake, daughter of the Faure family patriarch, Michel Faure, inherited her father’s gift for the culinary arts while working at his side for many years in the kitchen. With a culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu she and partner, Chef Jon Ramsay create meals and presentations that rival any of the best, presenting traditional French recipes with new American cuisine.
For every health conscious, vegetarian diner, Dharma Bums offers a selection that both vegetarians and those seeking gluten free can happily fill themselves on. The chef offers culinary concoctions with ingredients as fresh as they come, and food that is simple yet mouth watering in a time when too many culinary circle recipes are much to much over thought. Named one of the country’s best restaurants by USA today – A visit offers more than just the dining experience. Take time to explore the space designed to welcome friends, old and new to enjoy the coziness with a nod to the past and perhaps enjoy some local music, workshops and events.
All traveling aside, if one doesn’t want to leave the comforts of their one of a kind room in the Inn, Chef Karen will create an abundantly stuffed picnic basket that will delight even the most particular foodie. The attentive staff will serve the meal at a beautifully graced table, by request or you may enjoy it in your room or on your private riverside porch. The service is as impeccable as are the one of a kind recipes perfected by the Chef.
Whatever your desire for a culinary trip, there is nothing that cannot be satisfied when staying at the simply divine Bridgeton House.
By Janis Adams
