BACK TO EASTON

A busy day in Easton was to be had and so we needed to skip breakfast at Tilghman Island Inn.

It took about 45 minutes through St. Michaels and parts of Easton to get to Chapel's Country Creamery on Chapel Road.  We were greeted by three dogs and Holly Foster, the co-owner of the dairy.  Holly owns it with her husband, who happens to be a veterinarian.  Their offspring work the farm as well.  Holly uses Jersey Cows for the raw milk products.  Each time a cow gives birth, the milk is ready to be pumped out.  We saw a bunch of calves, each having their own "indoor-outdoor" home.  Alongside was a dog who tended to the cows.  The dog was barking much and when we over to the fence it turned out that a 3-day old calf got out and walking about.  Before they put it in it's own cubby hole, I was able to pet it. One calf was newly born and still wet.

Holly then shared her experience of how she cuts the cheese...that is...cutting the curds.  The milk is combined with a vegetable rennet and heated causing the curds to rise and separate from the whey.  Prior to this, certain cultures are added, in order to produce the type of cheese.  The results depends upon the packing and further draining of the whey.  Aging cheese is another factor.  When you look at the ingredients for cheese, you will most likely see that same ingredients in most cheeses.  We then had the opportunity to do a cheese tasting.  Most delicious was another product; yogurt with the cream at the top.  Only a few flavors such as adding local honey or vanilla bean. Gee...all the things you can do with milk. 

Easton is for the birds at the Pickering Creek Audubon Center at Audubon Lane.  Mark Scallion gave us a quick tour of the center that is composed of many trails to view many birds.  I didn't see many as I was unable to hike into the trails.  However, I did see and eagle going after its prey.  I expected to see turkey vultures.  As it turns out, these bald eagles are much stronger than the vultures....if you know what I mean. 

It was now time for lunch as we went back into town to Mason's, located just next door to the Bartlett Pear Inn.  Outdoor seating was both on the side and on the porch.  We lunched on the porch so we could see the people walking on Harrison Street.  I had a scrumptious quiche of the day along with a bit of a salad.  Abutting the restaurant is their gourmet food store selling chocolates....mmmmm....chocolate.

At one point on the trip we stopped at a drive-in kiosk selling coffee.  I'm not a coffee drinker, but more curious.  Loved it.  It was called Rise Up, a local coffee roaster on Dover Street.  Needless to say, with much local products being used in this area, we ventured to their main building.  Timothy Cureton and Noah Kegley are the owners and Sarah Pitre is the Head Roaster...no...she doesn't roast heads....

The front of the store is set up for people to purchase their cups of coffee or buy it by the organic beans.  It's a sort of warehouse as you go to the back area that has odd tables, chairs and couches.  Free wi-fi.  Behind that area is where you can see the roaster. I took home a bag of regular and decaf.  Drinking it depends upon what time of day it is.

Not being sure on how much time it would take to go home, we stopped at a place called Capriotti's to pick up a sandwich.  It's a small chain of  stores that are way a cut above from Subway.  In fact, I chose a turkey sandwich where they are using real turkey and does not look like deli meat.  Added the trimmings and we were off to New York.