LIVINGSTON COUNTY — A purple Covered Wagon Tours motorcoach traveled around the county for ten hours yesterday, stopping at restaurants in several towns.
The motorcoach, donated by Covered Wagon Tours, carried people from Livingston County and surrounding counties on the 9th Annual County Familiarization Motorcoach Tour, or the FAM Tour, as it’s nicknamed. This year’s theme was “Nibbles & Bits,” which focused on local restaurants and chefs, and, of course, food.
The motorcoach stopped at seven restaurants, as well as the Abbey of the Genesee and the Papa Jay’s Homemade Cafe stand at the opening day of the Geneseo Farmers Market. At each stop, participants talked to the restaurant’s owner and/or chef and learned about the restaurant’s history and about the produce used by the chefs. They also tasted “nibbles” prepared specially by the chefs.
At the day’s first stop, Brian’s USA Diner in Mount Morris, guests chose from a pancake breakfast or a vegetable and sausage omelet. At Dansville’s Jack’s Place Gaslight Grill, guests sampled modern-day granola with Greek yogurt and strawberries, as well as the original recipe “granula” developed in Dansville.
At Geneseo’s Deer Run Winery, guests sampled a red and a white wine, along with a mini quiche made by Groveland catering company Lavender Fields. The motorcoach then traveled to Lakeville’s 3 Legged Pig BBQ for a sampling of pulled pork and pulled chicken sliders. At the American Hotel in Lima, guests got to try a cup of cream of asparagus soup before exploring the historic hotel.
At Avon’s Tom Wahl’s, guests were treated to a root beer float before heading to Piffard’s The Yard of Ale Restaurant for a refreshing shrimp and lettuce wrap.
The tour’s final stop was at opening day of the Geneseo Farmers Market, where guests sampled ice cream from Papa Jay’s Homemade Café in Geneseo in the sunny, warm weather.
Livingston County Tourism Director Lisa Burns lead the FAM tour, along with FAM Tour Committee members Roland Beck, Alberta Dunn and Kathy Trainor, who shared county fun facts throughout the tour.