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by Bob & Tanya Waite
Tanya cannot wait to get started. Packed and ready, she patiently waits for me to finish my calls and emails before we go to the Valley Forge Casino Resort. I have been there for crafts shows but have never really seen the inside of the hotel or the casino.
Ready to go, we leave around 2 p.m. on a hot July day. Tanya says, “I really, really, really want to get away.” Cooped up by pandemic restrictions, we want to get out. Both of us are tired of looking at our walls, as pretty and tastefully decorated as they are. Although cautious, we are ready to venture out of our safe cocoon and hit the road.
The traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is heavy. That’s good, because not too long ago we could have safely walked on it. Things are looking up and the exit for Valley Forge takes us off the crowded highway. We arrive.
After we haggle about what is the best spot for parking we present ourselves at the check-in. Antonette Carson, a friendly and very diligent front office supervisor, checks us in. She makes sure we know where to get food, where our room is and tells us that if there is anything she can help us with, please call.
We cannot wait to unpack and see the casino. We passed it on the way to check-in. Tanya, at this time gets hyped. Having a love for all fashion, especially interior décor, she is always impatient to see our new, temporary quarters.
Entering the room, we notice that there is a living room. In it is a dark brown sofa, a chair, a coffee table and a little dining area with a table and two chairs. The pole lamp near the dining area is stainless steel and is up-to-date in the minimalist style. The contrast with the earth tones of brown and tan and the minimalist lamp and a dining table with a white marble top and a stainless steel pedestal blends in such a way as to give the room warmth without making it dated. There is also a refrigerator, a microwave and a Keurig coffeemaker with coffee and tea to brew. There is a set of drawers and a television in the living room. As Tanya takes photos for her Facebook friends, I stretch out on the sofa and shut my eyes for a minute.
The hallway from the kitchen to the bedroom grabs Tanya’s attention. It has a slate floor and on the wall is a full length mirror, something I probably should avoid. The bathroom is off the hallway. Tanya looks in and says “Wow!” loud enough to get me off the sofa and come in. It is nice. The shower has tiled walls that are gray with pinkish lavender highlights. The floor of the glass enclosed shower is done in gray. The marble sink has an illuminated mirror, and besides the usual shampoo and soap, it also has just about anything we may have forgotten, including two razors (male and female), toothbrushes, toothpaste, Secret and Old Spice deodorants, combs, and even makeup remover and Q-tips. Tanya smiles from cheek to cheek.
The bedroom has a larger tv than the one in the living room. This is good, because we like to watch movies late into the night when we are away. The bed is a very comfortable king. I jump right in and stretch out better than I did in the living room. Tanya, says sternly, “Get up! I have to take photos!” I lunge at her and bite her nose, something that always causes her to laugh. She does, but even that spontaneous act of affection will not get me back in napping position. I have to wait.
The bed has a backboard that is like four earth brown cushioned panels with space between them. The bottom cushioned panel is perfect to put pillows against it for watching tv or reading. Each side of the bed has an end table that is brown with a marble top. The lamps are on the wall over the tables. There are USB ports and electric outlets on the wall, right above the tables.
The dark brown dresser has a glass top and on it is what looks like a little rectangular table where the tv sits. Next to the dresser is a desk with a glass top. Behind the desk is black desk chair that really works. It is also very back friendly.
After oohing and aahing about the room, we go down the elevator to see the casino. At the entrance to the casino we have to pull down our masks and get our temperature taken. It is done automatically, not sure how, but I do not worry. My temperature is fine and so is Tanya’s. So we walk around and are surprised to see how many people are there, even during the Covid-19 pandemic. In response to that there are many hand sanitizing stations and spots where you can grab a wet, sanitized towel to clean off the machine. There are also closed slot machines that allow at least six feet of distance between gamers. There is no drinking alcoholic beverages or smoking allowed on the floor. However, people may bring beer in a clear cup from the food court to the floor to finish. The casino is in total compliance with Governor Wolf’s required and recommended restrictions. We feel safe.
On the floor I notice that tables have only three players and a dealer, another safety precaution. I don’t play at the tables and even if I wanted to, Tanya would be on the phone to Gambler’s Anonymous if I tried. So we walk around looking for a penny slot that calls our name. I find one that has a theme of Alice and Wonderland and Tanya sits at the Playboy themed machine. After about an hour of going back and forth, we leave with almost exactly what we came in with—$60. For us that is successful and we are happy with our recreational gaming.
Hunger strikes and it is off to the food court. There we share some Shrimp Eggrolls and Shrimp Fried Rice. We have a bag of snacks in our room and are not very hungry. We meet a nice couple who own a bagel shop in West Chester called the Bagel Bistro, which is doing well during this time of economic downturn because they have a large base of local customers.
It’s dark and we look forward to resting in our comfortable room. On HBO are a couple of movies we already saw but want to watch again. I fall asleep on the first one and Tanya quickly follows suit. We both wake up in wee hours of the morning realizing what we did and straighten out the pillows and go back into a deep nod on this incredibly comfortable bed.
Mornings are funny when we travel. I get up fast, have coffee and get dressed, whereas Tanya goes through a long ritual that takes almost two hours. It begins with making sure what she is going to wear, then taking her shower, then beginning to get dressed but usually changing her mind about what she is wearing and starting over again. The whole thing ends with her “fixing her face,” something I continually tell her is not broken. But she persists. After that comes the jewelry, which is a back and forth thing about whether this or that looks right, and finally is my fastening the chain behind her neck. Did I forget, cleaning her shoes, doing facial exercises, talking to at least one daughter? Anyway by around 11 a.m. she is done. I have read War And Peace several times.
We are ready to go. We want to go to Valley Forge National Historical Park, which is within a hop, skip and jump, but it is raining on and off. So we decide to simply take a ride around the area. It turns out we end up in Chester County, which is well worth the ride. The rural areas have horse farms and nicely appointed colonial homes. Something I notice right away is how different the stone looks than what I am familiar with throughout the Bucks County Countryside. We spend lots of time driving through small towns. We try to hit all the main ones—Phoenixville, Malvern, West Chester, Downingtown, Coatesville, Kennett Square, etc. We spend three hours on the road and stop to get a quick lunch at a small café. Then back. We are excited that we are going to Revolution Chop House at the Valley Forge Casino.
The sun is out now and we are in our room. Sometimes a vacation is best staying in the room, especially if the weather is damp and you have plans for the evening. So I read while Tanya naps and watches tv. We have a reservation at Revolution Chop House at 7 p.m. We are both hungry.
The interior of Chop House is a nicely appointed blend of modern and traditional. The tables are spread apart to keep in line with rules for social distancing. Classy French doors separate one section from another. The spread out tables give a sense of airiness that adds to the ambiance.
Our hostess, Veronica Fulmer, brings us to a table but indulges us when we request another spot that makes the dining room more visible. She asks us if want plain or sparkling spring water. We take the sparkling. Our server, Nikki Ciara, known for her mixology skills, comes next and we order drinks. Tanya orders a Bahama Mama, her all-time favorite cocktail and I order a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, Kendall Jackson. We are not ready to order. Tanya is gleeful, taking in the atmosphere. I study the menu.
Our server comes back. I knew we would share a shrimp cocktail but the chef, Justin Nelson, wants us to try the Tiger Shrimp Tempura which is a combination of lots of Tiger shrimp with blistered shisito peppers, sweet chili Aioli, Boston Bibb lettuce and chive. It is so good, that I plan to come to Revolution Chop House just for this appetizer. Tanya orders a Caesar Salad and I order the Wedge Salad, which has Roquefort dressing, heirloom tomatoes, Applewood smoked bacon and an aged balsamic glaze on a hearty sized wedge of iceberg lettuce. Yum!!!!
Entrees include an assortment of steaks, lamb, chicken and seafood. For our entrees, Tanya orders Seafood Scampi, which has shrimp, scallops, crab meat, and toasted garlic bread. I order the 8 OZ. Filet Mignon, cooked medium rare, with mashed potatoes and herb butter. I receive from Chef Justin Nelson his remarkable Crispy Brussel Sprouts too, which is sweet with burnt sugar and dressing that is amazing.
Beth Flicker, Director of Restaurants at the resort, visits our table to make sure everything is ok. She is busy too, like the wait staff, chef and others who make up the team. She has a pleasant manner and is both nice and very professional. Chef Justin visits our table too. He is young and visionary and explains menu changes throughout the year.
My filet could be cut with a butter knife. It is perfect medium rare, which is an art. And anyone whose preference is medium rare knows how often it is over or under cooked. Not here. The demi-glace that covers the steak is the best I’ve ever had. It came with the vegetable of the day—broccoli, which gives off just a little heat and is scrumptious.
Tanya, is in love with the Seafood Scampi. “This is so good!” she exclaims. Everything is good, perfectly cooked and fresh. She says, “I like the atmosphere here, with classy décor, soft music and the presentation of the food, I am overwhelmed.”
It doesn’t seem possible for us to eat dessert, but we give it a try, being coaxed by Nikki and well aware that we can always make room for sweets. I have the Crème Brûlée and Tanya has the Vanilla Gelato. Both are too good not to finish, even though we are going to have limp back to our rooms. The Revolution Chop House is something that should not be missed by anyone going to Valley Forge.
Back in the room, we relax, sitting on the sofa and watch tv until we digest our meal, and then we turn in early to return to Bucks County. It is nice that there isn’t a long drive ahead of us. There are many amenities at the Valley Forge Casino Resort. Some are temporarily closed because of the pandemic, but the trip is worth it. It is a great getaway. For more information, visit www.vfcasino.com.
Bob Waite is the editor of Bucks County Magazine and Tanya is his wife, travel companion and the co-writer of this department.