Enchanting Place

Where fairy tales – and dreams of a magical meal – come true.If you ever imagined what Grandmother’s House in “Little Red Riding Hood” looked like, it no doubt was much like the house shown here. Though it’s a real 18th-century house in the town of Mason, it seems somehow enchanted, sprinkled with magic dust. And the ancient ash tree adds just the right touch of fairy-tale foreboding.

Certainly Elizabeth Orton Jones, the famed illustrator and long-time resident of Mason, thought the house matched people’s imaginings. She used it as a model for her illustrations (see below) in the 1948 Golden Book re-telling of the fairy tale.

Today there’s a small Little Red Riding Hood museum in the house. It’s called the “Wolf Room,” where you-know-who is in Grandmother’s bed. Other artifacts and memorabilia of the fairy tale are there as well.

The museum is part of the Pickity Place experience, but only part. There’s also a gift shop, a gourmet restaurant, Old English gardens with brick paths for exploring and an herb shop in a nearby rustic barn. A second barn contains a garden shop and greenhouse.

Keith Grimes, chef/owner of Pickity Place, says there’s lots to see and touch and smell there. After a walk through the gardens and herb shop, guests can relax with an herbal-themed five-course luncheon served at three seatings each day in an intimate dining room.

For his meals Chef Grimes chooses from among the more than 200 varieties of herbs grown at Pickity Place. He often adds edible flowers – nasturtiums, pansies and bee baum to name a few – to his recipes

Not to worry, the Big Bad Wolf is occupied elsewhere. Just enjoy.