How to Eat a Meal in an AMISH HOME (2 ways)

I explain 2 ways to arrange a meal in an Amish home. What's the typical menu like, how much does it cost, and what should you expect? Do the Amish host families interact with you?

I also share a number of experiences from people who've eaten homemade dinners in different Amish communities. As you'll see, results can vary.

More:

Amish home meals listings - Note: I don't endorse these companies or receive any compensation for sharing these. This is a listing of some companies and individual Amish families I've come across that offer in-home meals.

PA:

OH:

IN:

IL:

NY:
Cindy’s Home Cooking
348 Weeks Road
Panama, New York
716-782-3069

Ada M.
Clymer, NY
716-355-6684
Provides dinners in her home

MI:
Countryside Dinners
8400 E Colonville Rd
Clare, MI 48617
989-386-8400

Sources:

[deannajunkin]

Just today my family and I visited Jamesport, MO which has a large Amish population. We did not eat in an Amish home but we did eat in a downtown restaurant where the servers were probably Mennonite. The food was plentiful and good and the price was fantastic, especially in today's economy. (In fact, we rarely eat out since we are a large family and the price for us is so high.) The service was fast and friendly. Normally I leave a restaurant disappointed because I can make better food at home. Not today!

[Anitalevy]

I visited a lovely Amish family in Lancaster county & had a good cooked meal ! Myself coming from the UK I found the Amish way of life interesting... The meal cost $27 each & we had Sliced chicken - Butter mash potatoes, herb gravy, mixed green beans & peas, Home made fresh warm bread rolls. Dessert was the most yummy apple crumble & fresh made ice cream I`ve ever had. Drink was a cold mix berry. But they did charge extra for hot tea or coffee.
Two of the Amish women gave me a small gift bag. one bar of home made goats milk soap. & two hand made tea towels with a pot holder.
Just wish I could buy Amish goods in the UK. !

[melodioushaste]

The way you say home cracks me up every time.

[amberenyeart]

We get invited to Christmas parties and weddings all the time. Food is fantastic.

[suzannefritts]

I drive the Amish frequently. I have been invited in their homes and have eaten meals with them a couple of times. I enjoyed both experiences. The food was good and they were very friendly to me. After dinner I helped the women clear the table and do dishes. We visited and had a good time as we worked. ♥️

[Eagle-zlgz]

I drive up to Berlin- millersburg Ohio once or twice a year from Cincinnati Ohio just to get peace and quiet and food. I also love hanging out with the Amish people. I usually stay for 3 or 4 days . They are the most loving people I’ve ever met. I’ve never had a meal in an Amish home but I’m sure it would be a very hospitable time.

[janesimmons]

I have family members and friends that have Amish & Mennonite neighbors in Indiana. Several of the neighbors homeschool together and we had a graduation pot-luck lunch together early last summer. We brought lawn chairs, a berry cobbler and a couple jars of homemade concord grape jam (which the lady host thanked us for and quickly placed the jam inside as there were several jars already on a table). There were about 20 families (4-10 per family of all ages) there. Unless asked to help... us ladies sat under the shade trees with the small children and sang hymns until the host family said the chickens were done roasting. The pot-luck buffet style lunch covering several tables was all sorts of garden vegetable casseroles, chopped salads, fresh baked breads with apple butter, jams and churned butter, pies, cobblers, cake and to drink there was homemade lemon aid and iced tea. Us ladies all sat in a huge circle with the younger children playing in the middle. The older boys and men were off to the other side of the farm. The food was all very good. We all stayed outside and I think only family members entered the house. It was a very respectful and a sweet gathering.

[CEDL]

Used to live in rural PA, and I do miss the meals and fresh stuff. Best cheesecake I ever had lol. Ended up moving back to my homestate but the memories from PA will always have a special place in my heart ❤️

[thecollierreport]

I've never wondered how to eat a meal in an Amish home, hahaha! But now I will know. Thanks! 😀

[RockinRavenVA]

I've been blessed to have countless meals with the various Amish families I've befriended in Lancaster County over the years. As their families are large, the meals do tend to be on the simple side but everything was made from scratch as much as possible. Their meal traditions can be a little different - maybe worth a whole video for itself. What do you say, Erik? :)

[mikebrouillette]

On a recent bus trip we eat at an Amish home in their basement. About 60 people. The whole family was in on it. Kids helped serve and the food was nothing short of great
In Lancaster. I would definitely do it again#!!

[TheMtggrl]

Very interesting subject, I'm sure there can be many takes on how it goes. I suppose if I was Amish I'd hate living like I was in a fish bowl, but they agree to do it, and there will always be people who want to see for themselves just how different they are. I have not been in an Amish home for a meal, but I stayed at a B&B in Lancaster years ago where the neighboring properties were owned by two Amish families, one of the husbands was good friends with the owners of the B&B and he would come in every morning during our breakfast time and have coffee with us, he would entertain our questions and was extremely friendly. I think I mentioned before that he came back with a jar of his wife's hand canned pickled beets for me after I expressed that I hadn't had them homemade in years, my mom had made them for us growing up. He was sweet, generous and very normal.

[ruthmarini]

Interesting as usual. All I know of the Amish comes from these videos. Enjoy them very much

[karenenglish]

Good job Erik! I've had many meals with my Amish relatives as a child. A cousin just took a Western tour from OH and had dinner at an Amish, horse and buggy, home in Montana. I'll enjoy an Amish meal wherever I'm at. Comfort, starchy, sweet, high carb foods

[lilacsnroses]

Every year as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, I think about all the meals at my Pennsylvania Dutch grandparents home. The cooking style was very close to Amish cooking. The day after Thanksgiving was always a favorite. Turkey Bot boi (pot pie) made with the homemade dumpling style noodles. Then at Christmas we always had ham and green beans (and potatoes) cooked in the leftover ham broth. Sometime during the week, we'd be treated to schnitz und knepp or hog maw. Mammaw made the fluffiest dumplings in her pressure cooker. They were like clouds! I've never gotten that one down exactly right. Recipes were told to you by handfuls and pinches, not cups or teaspoons. She often said " till it looks right".

Nobody makes smoked meats like they have in the Pa. Dutch stores. And desert was a huge assortment of cake's (coconut was my favorite!) pies and other sweets. Boy do I miss those family meals out in the summer kitchen, with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Those are the times you never forget.

The good thing is that we (the girls and women) all helped, so I do know how to make these family favorites. I just can't find the good ham, bacon and smoked sausage we got " up home". What we get now just doesn't seem to measure up. Plus, my handfuls are smaller than mammaws hands were 😁. But I do owe my mammaw and pappaw my deepest thanks for those amazing memories. I wish I could give the same to my kids and grandkids.

[luckyduckie]

We have 6 Amish families that live in my area. They recently hosted an "Amish Wedding Meal" as a fund raiser. The meal was simple but very tasty and plentiful Turns out there are 16 more families on the way and they are raising funds to build a school. I'm excited. The current families are very nice people. However one young man did get a DUI for riding his buggy while a little tipsy. LOL

[Ujuani]

0:30: I like the cleanliness of the walls and the floor, but here in Denmark, we don't make our ceilings shiny.
My walls in my kitchen ARE shiny, though, since it makes cleaning easier. 😄👍

[pennywheeler]

I grew up around the Amish. I suppose I'm blessed I can cook like them and make many of their recipes. I love shoofly

[MissBellaboo]

We had a fabulous dinner at Ruth’s sisters home, the family was absolutely amazing, The food was fabulous and it was a great experience I highly recommend it.

[mercedesfranco]

I went to New Hope, close to Philadelphia, and I loved the Town. It was si peaceful.