I think I’ve said this before but honestly, it bears repeating — the buffet at the Mennonite Heritage Village is SO GOOD.
Aside from the deliciousness factor (I’ll get into that in a second), it’s special for two reasons:
First, it’s seasonal. This is a limited-time-only situation, a May-September situation. Because the Livery Barn Restaurant (LBR for short) is located in the heart of the pioneer village, and these buildings are closed in the winter, October-April. Do not misunderstand — the MHV itself is still very much open during the winter! But the LBR and its delicious buffet is something you cannot have (unless you hire them as caterers for an event of course). And, you know how fast the summer goes. You need to visit the LBR while you can! And its Sunday buffet is a total highlight.
Second, it’s atmospheric! You’re eating in a barn that is not really a barn. For me, it’s the way the light hits everything differently in there. When Andrew led a Mennonite/s Writing walking tour in June and we concluded with faspa at the MHV, I walked into the room after everyone was seated and the way the glowy light was resting on the group seated at the long table was positively magical. I think there’s more to the atmosphere part but I struggle to articulate it.
Now, obviously, it’s really all about the food. You guys. It is SO GOOD. I already said that. Well. Andrew and I were there today (Sunday July 13) and as I was visiting (and revisiting) the buffet line, I couldn’t help but overhear my fellow diners joyfully exclaiming over the options — and their love for each dish. One woman cruised past the schmuantfatt, then realized her error and cried, “What am I doing?!” before stepping back and taking the ladle. (I noticed this because I had had the same thought — I couldn’t believe someone would bypass the schmauntfatt!)
Others were declaring how good and special the food is, and were just having a lot of fun having and opportunity to enjoy this tasty buffet in this unique environment.
Let me attempt to go over the dishes as I remember them: Caesar salad, coleslaw, cucumber salad, beets, sweet pickles, fresh buns (seriously soft and delicious) and whole wheat bread baked with flour ground in the nearby windmill, and then we have the star of the show — the cottage cheese vereneki (perogies) with schmauntfatt (cream gravy)! But the buffet does not stop there. I’m also a sucker for the LBR’s mashed potatoes and sweet & sour meatballs. Then there was chicken and I’m not sure what else because even though I revisited the buffet, I did not take everything! I wanted to save room for dessert. The cupcake with its tower of frosting was on-point in my opinion (I have a sweet tooth), the caramel poke cake and the chocolate poke cakes were so tasty, and the cherry fluff was just fun and sugary. My only regret is not getting a coffee to wash it down properly. I was just too full!
And then, the temptation is always to wander the grounds after dining at the buffet. Thing is, you do have to pay admission for that. Andrew and I have lifetime memberships, so we feel okay walking the grounds after eating at the LBR. However, I realized today that it’s important to let the receptionist know! After seeing our passes, she gave us wristbands so we wouldn’t be apprehended. Anyway, the lifetime membership thing is a pretty great deal — when we purchased ours, it was $500 each, and we could claim $300 at tax time. And we never pay admission anymore — we stop by the MHV just to say hi to the cute animals, or maybe to walk around the pond, or to gaze up at the windmill, or walk through the housebarns — but we don’t necessarily stay for hours at a time. We dip in and out at random. Anyway! Just saying, another benefit is the fact that you can walk the grounds after eating your fill at the Sunday buffet!
