Twenty years ago I embarked on a new sommelier career in New York City. I worked on the floor in fine dining restaurants for notable chefs, managing cellars consisting of thousands of wine bottles and selling $1,000 bottles of wine to exclusive guests. It was exhilarating, busy, stressful and wildly fulfilling.
Two years ago, I gave it all up for love and moved to a small town in Lancaster County. It was a big life change, and I felt like an outsider. I knew I needed to adjust my attitude and take some steps to bring myself everyday happiness in a new place. Fresh starts are similar to the way people approach the new year. If a “new year means a new you,” then a new town means a new me!
Here are five things I did to start a new beginning:
1) Made new neighborhood friends. Being accustomed to living in a city where people walk by each other, rarely making eye contact, made meeting new people in a new town challenging for me. But, working in hospitality, I knew how to break the ice with strangers and build relationships with regular customers. Since I was no longer working in a restaurant, I put myself in places where I could smile and say hello to strangers. I went to my local coffee shop and got to know the staff who would later welcome me by name. I built a garden and gave out excess veggies to neighbors on the street. I found occasions to meet people in my town by going to my town’s website such as: Home | Discover Marietta PA. Happy greetings and welcoming smiles are a sure way to put a smile on your face and a warm fire in your soul!
2) Try a different local restaurant each week. Because I make a lot of meals from scratch, I don't always think of going to restaurants, but they are a great way to experience the world through food, and it’s a delicious and rewarding way to taste new styles of food and beverages and experience different presentations. In the Susquehanna Valley, there are amazing restaurants in Scranton, Lancaster, Harrisburg, York and everywhere in between! Follow along with my blog each month to see some of my favorite restaurants such as my recent post on Lancaster's Newest Restaurant - Susquehanna Style!
3) Go to local wineries. As a sommelier, my interests lie in the world of wine growing. I took short afternoon trips to explore the wine growing locally. There are a surprising number of wineries in Central Pennsylvania, many of them with tasting rooms where staff can lead you through a sampling of their products. Local winemakers are working diligently to make better wines and are excited to show off the fruits of their labor! Get your start with my recommendations in Fall Wine Tour in the Susquehanna Valley - Susquehanna Style, and stay tuned for more winery features on this blog.
4) Engage in community activities. I built my garden as a means to produce my own food, not knowing there is an annual garden tour in my town. As my garden is open to the street, people started to notice. One year, I was invited to give a talk on garden vegetable recipes, and the next year, my garden was featured on the tour! There are many such events in the small towns of Susquehanna Valley including Lebanon, Mount Gretna, Marietta, Lancaster, Demuth and more. Having a goal to grow food and engage with the community kept my mind active; engaging in community events and visiting small towns kept my spirit high. Stay tuned as I share my experiences, but start here: Discover Art, Food and Culture in Easton, PA - Susquehanna Style
5) Enjoy alone time in a new space. No matter what your walk in life is, nor the pace at which you walk, everyone needs down time. Discover what you need to rejuvenate and recharge your batteries for the next day. Walking trails, mountains, river views, parks and gardens offer calm, natural escapes. Or, if nature isn’t your jam, the region offers an amazing culture of live music, festivals and recreation. Check out the abundance of things to do in Central Pennsylvania here: Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau (visitcentralpa.org)
A new year offers the opportunity to “erase the board” and start fresh with new attitudes, habits and journeys. If you enjoy reading about amazing wine and culinary experiences in Central Pennsylvania, check back in this space each month for my recommendations on local culinary experiences in the Susquehanna Valley that can fill your senses, open your mind and enliven your heart.
*Photography by The Jenna Carroll Collective
Carrie Lyn Strong lives locally with her husband in Marietta, PA. In 2015 while living and working in restaurants in New York City, Carrie established her company, Strong Wine Consulting, LLC, and began teaching private wine classes for clients such as Tiffany’s & Co. and Pricewaterhouse Cooper. In early 2020, Carrie began hosting virtual wine tastings for clients including Salesforce, Cisco, PWC, and RAPP as well as working as an online Sommelier and Moderator for the virtual wine company, Purplecork. Carrie has taken her consulting company full time and now works for clients including Champagne Lallier, Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation, and the Government of Japan. She also represents the region of Alsace, France (@drinkalsace), teaches wine classes in NYC for the Somm Society of America, hosts private wine tastings and wine dinners, and has started writing about the world of food and wine for Susquehanna Style.
New Hampshire born, NYC restaurant veteran, Carrie began her career in NYC over fifteen years ago after earning her certification as a Sommelier at the American Sommelier Association and working as the Beverage Manager for Jean-Georges Vongrichten’s Vong and Mercer Kitchen restaurants. She later ran beverage programs in several top NYC restaurants with highly rated wine lists including Jimmy Bradley’s The Harrison, Charlie Palmer’s crown jewel, Aureole, and Sant Ambroeus’ Casa Lever. Carrie has earned the prestigious Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for seven consecutive years over the course of her career.
Follow Carrie on Instagram @carrielynstrong | www.carrielynstrong.com
