Hyeholde Restaurant, Moon Township, PA, U.S.A.
The 2011 Impulse Adjusting System seminars kicked off in Pittsburgh, PA, and admittedly as excited as I was to begin our new season’s tour, I wasn’t enthralled with traveling to Pittsburgh in Winter.
My blood has grown thin having lived in Arizona, and the weather reports of this year’s snowfall had contributed to my attitude. Still, there’s something about seeing snow for the first time of the season – and this was my first time. It brought back anchored memories that I have from my days living back East in Upstate, New York.
At the recommendation of a local doctor friend who accompanied us, we booked in to Hyeholde Restaurant near the Pittsburgh Airport. Set upon a hill and adorned with winding stone paths Hyeholde was built as a home and a restaurant in the 1930s by from several old barns.
We were greeted by the owner, Barbara McKenna, daughter of the original builders and owners. As we complimented Barbara on the grandeur of her place, she explained that the property had been sold by her parents and seventeen years later, she and her husband were able to buy it back. Seeing Barbara’s smile and pride assured us that the property was in the right hands again.
By happenstance, Hyeholde happened to be offering a special set menu choice this evening called The Roving Scotsman – An evening and dinner to Celebrate renowned Scottish poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796).
A cultural icon in Scotland and among his Countrymen and around the world, celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature – thus the evening’s dinner dedication.
Burns is perhaps best well known to the popular world by his poem (and song) Auld Lang Syne, sung around the world on New Year’s Eve.
We began with a Single Malt Scotch tasting of:
~ Balvenie Doublewood 12. Yr.
~ Lagavulin 16 Yr.
~ Laphroaig 18 Yr.
All enjoyable, my favorite surprised me – the Balvenie 12 Yr. was smooth and sweet, distinctively characterized by the two woods it is aged in, one of which being sourced from former Sherry barrels.
As we sipped our Scotch, we were graced with Burn’s poetry recited in Scottish accent by one of the staff.
My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer -
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North
The birth place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.Farewell to the mountains high cover'd with snow;
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forrests and wild-hanging woods;
Farwell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, where ever I go
I’ve never been read poetry at my table by a kilt laden lad, but then again, I’ve not yet been to Scotland.
A bottle of South African Chenin Blanc was ordered and the meal began.
Soup
Cock-a-Leekie
Chicken Leek Consommé
Entrée
Grilled Leg of Lamb
Herb fingerlings, cabbage with hot vinaigrette
Dessert
Cranachan
Drambuie cream, berries, and toasted oats
Barbara must have sensed our interest in the place and brought a photo album to our table, showing the property through the years.
The story of the property can be found on their website, excerpts below.
“It began with a romance the day William Kryskill told his bride that someday he would build her a castle on the crest of a cornfield where they stood. The cornfield became the grounds now surrounding Hyeholde. Hyeholde is the castle. What he did not tell her was that they were going to build this dream with their own hands. It took them seven years. The tale of this extraordinary labor of love is told in Mr. Kryskill's book, " The Story of Hyeholde" .
The original half of the building was begun in 1931 with the intent of using it as a restaurant and living quarters. Bill and Clara spent the three summer months operating Clark Studio Tea Room in Noank, Connecticut, then returned, in September of each year, to continue to work on Hyeholde. In 1938, they served their first meals in the West Room. It became an instant success. Bill quickly began construction on the Great Hall.
The beautiful materials used throughout the building came from the old Stonesifer barn in present day Robinson Township. The Kryskill's dismantled and, using every bit of the structure and its stone foundation, created Hyeholde.
The second chapter of the Hyeholde romance concerns Pat Foy and his family. Foy’s contribution to Hyeholde was to convert it from a charming country restaurant, geared to serving limited numbers of guests into a sophisticated operation with an elaborate menu and fine wines, without losing the comfortable charm of a French country inn.
Now a third chapter is being written to this real life fairy tale. William Kryskill’s daughter, Barbara and her husband, Quentin McKenna, repurchased Hyeholde in August 1991. Building on its beauty and on the best from the previous owners, they are creating their own magic castle.”
Needless to say, we enjoyed an outstanding evening at Hyeholde. They offered a truly unique experience that was as rare as this find in Pittsburgh. I recommend it fully.
Restaurant Accolades. Hyeholde was selected in Gourmet Magazine (October 2008) as one of 21 ‘legendary restaurants’ in the United States; has been featured in Wine Spectator magazine and numerous Pittsburgh publications, and has been seen many times on the Food Network’s “Best of” programs. The Dirona award has been conferred on the Hyeholde every year since 1993.