The Bake Oven Inn near a rock formation called Bake Oven Knob is a little out of the way for Nic and I, but Jim Thorpe is packed during fall foliage, so we decided a drive in the country was just fine. I had the devil of a time finding them on the internet because they changed their name to Curious Goods. In the mountains, you can't just type in an address. Finally I found them on Google Maps.
The new owners advertise farm to table cuisine with local ingredients. That's always a good sign even though its a bit difficult to pull off in October in Pennsylvania. However, the menu was nice, and a lot of young people were eating there. The chef had little surprises like a tiny loaf of bread baked in a flower pot and looking like a baker's hat. That was fun.
Nic always gets seafood soup-bisque-chowder if it's on offer. He was a very happy camper when the special turned out to be seafood soup. The soup was delicious—lots of fish bits in a cream base. I took a pass because I figured I wouldn't eat my dinner.
My entree was bacon wrapped meatloaf with potato gratin and creamed spinach. I happen to love meatloaf, so I was glad I didn't have an appetizer when I saw the portion size. I ate half and still had some to take home.
I didn't take any pictures of the food because we were talking to the owner, the wife of the chef. The restaurant was really buzzing, so it was a conversation in snatches. I was impressed with the professional way she handled the dining room, and the waitresses were great.
All in all, the description they give themselves is exactly spot on "upscale farm to table cuisine in a casual fine dining atmosphere. I'll give you a link to the menu so you can see it for yourself. Curious Goods at 7705 Bake Oven Road in Germansville, PA (610) 760-8580.
