They often say the kitchen is the heart of the home. So if you're visiting northeast Ohio's Amish Country, "home" to the largest concentration of Amish in the world, you must visit Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen in Mt. Hope.

Since September 1994, Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen's Amish-style cooking has been delighting tourists and the local folks alike. Gloria Yoder (that's the Mrs. Yoder), together with manager and part-owner Robert Burkholder and Gloria's son, Trent, work with nearly 65 employees to make dining at their restaurant an exceptional experience for each and every customer.

Gloria told me she knew "right out of high school" she wanted to have a career in something related to food. Having taken all the 4-H food projects, she always thought a restaurant in Mt. Hope would be perfect. But many people told her there were just too many obstacles in the way for her dream to come true.

"Hey, when someone tells me I can't do something, that's when I work all the harder to make it happen," Gloria said.

Finally, a house in Mt. Hope came up for sale at auction, and then the one next to it was for sale, as well. One by one, those obstacles soon began to fade away ... after much hard work, of course. Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen became a reality, and plates of mouth-watering food have been flowing from the kitchen ever since.

Nearly all the food prepared at Mrs. Yoder's is made from scratch, the old-fashioned way. The restaurant's "signature" item is their Broasted Chicken. Coming in second, is grilled perch; it's usually available, but not always on the menu. Another favorite is "Wedding Steak," a Gloria Yoder original. And, their wonderful mashed potatoes are most definitely not instant.

"Yes, we use real potatoes," Robert said. "Because there aren't any lumps, people assume they're instant mashed potatoes, but they aren't. If someone wants to see for themselves, we'll show "em!"

The restaurant also makes its own homemade applesauce, using bushels and bushels of fresh apples.

Gloria says she likes to buy as much fresh produce from the local farmers produce markets as possible.

"That way we know it's good, and it's fresh," she said.

A breakfast buffet is offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays; a lunch buffet, on Monday through Saturday, July through October only; and on Saturdays, all three buffets: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In early spring (sorry, you'll have to wait until next year), you can get dandelion gravy at Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen, and on occasion, pan-fried domestic rabbit. In the fall, the restaurant normally buys a 4-H lamb at the county fair and serves leg of lamb. Old-fashioned Rivel Soup " sometimes known as Depression Soup " and watercress on the salad bar become other favorites.

The Super Salad Bar and dessert bar are available from March through June, and there's an occasional seafood buffet during winter months. A Mexican buffet occurs once in awhile, as well. During the winter, senior citizens can take advantage of huge savings on selected items on the menu (such as Swiss steak, fish, roasted chicken or liver and onions) each Tuesday between 4 and 8 p.m.
Okay, so how do you know when all these special buffets are going to take place? Via newsletter, that's how! Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen sends out more than 700 newsletters advertising its specials and featuring articles about Mt. Hope and the restaurant's employees. You can pick up a newsletter at the restaurant (available March through June) or call to get put on the mailing list.

Always-pleasing items on the menu include soups, salads and a beautiful salad bar. Dinners include the aforementioned Broasted Chicken and Wedding Steak, pot roast, turkey, pork chops, cod, ham, charbroiled chicken, country-fried steak, chopped sirloin, grilled teriyaki salmon, breaded shrimp and chicken tenders (always a favorite with the kids).

A new popular item on the menu is Pig Wings! They must come from that old saying, "If pigs could fly!" Actually these little barbequed ribs, shaped like a chicken drumstick, come from the ham, and are really delicious, Gloria said.
"In July, at the Mt. Hope Sundown Sale, we sold more than 3,000 Pig Wings. People really have taken to them," she said.

A long list of side dish choices is available to accompany your meal. Sweet potato fries are one of my favorites, so if you haven't tried them yet, you simply must!

A nice variety of sandwiches is on the menu, with all the usual ones plus some new ones. Try the Trail Bologna sandwich, with Holmes County's own distinctive bologna plus Swiss or American cheese (I'd get the Swiss, if I were you!).
You can also get family-style dinners with the choice of one, two or three meats, plus mashed potatoes, bread dressing, gravy, vegetable, salad bar, home-style bread, beverage and dessert. Yum; doesn't that just sound scrumptious?

Speaking of dessert, you'll be in pie heaven at Mrs. Yoder's Restaurant. How about apple pie, cherry pie, custard pie, coconut cream pie, raisin cream pie, peanut butter cream pie, black raspberry pie, pecan pie and a sugar-free pie? And, of course, it's always a good idea to "ala mode" your pie with some delicious ice cream!

Amish-style date-nut pudding is also on the dessert menu, plus old-fashioned cracker pudding, angel food cake, sundaes and Turtle Sundae Pie (worth a trip to Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen by itself!

In the lobby of the restaurant, Mrs. Yoder displays a collection of china teapots, cups and saucers available for purchase, along with assorted tea trays and napkins.

You simply must include Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen on the itinerary of your next trip to Amish Country. Don't have a trip already planned? You'd better start working on one!

If you're one of those fortunate people who live nearby and can visit the restaurant anytime, do so soon.

As I was leaving the restaurant the other day, a young couple had just paid their bill and were also leaving. I overheard the wife telling her husband, "Well, that was good," and she really emphasized the "good."

To which he replied, "No, that was very good!"

Treat yourself to a "good," no, "very good" meal at Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen, and remember, you can always pick up the latest issue of Amish Heartland right in the corner by the door as you exit the restaurant.

Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen, SR 241, Mt. Hope, OH 44660, (330) 674-0922; hours: Mon. thru Sat., 7 a.m.-8 p.m.