A recipe for Short Rib Ragu inspired by our time in Hershey, Pennsylvania! These cocoa-braised short ribs are slowly simmered in a seasoned red wine tomato sauce until tender.
Hershey
We recently drove to Hershey for a long weekend to celebrate Claire’s birthday! Just east of Harrisburg (Pennsylvania’s capital) in Dauphin County, Hershey is the perfect stop for all things chocolate.
It is home to The Hershey Company, Hersheypark (closed January-March), Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey Gardens, ZooAmerica, a variety of restaurants, unique experiences, and shopping.
Getting to Hershey
From Northern Virginia, it took us about 2 1/2 hours (125 miles/201 kilometers) to reach Hershey by car.
The town is also 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Baltimore, 95 miles (153 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia, 164 miles (264 kilometers) west of New York City, and 215 miles (346 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh.
The nearest airport is Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), about 12 miles (19 kilometers) southeast.
Hershey Lodge
After researching a few different options, Claire requested Hershey Lodge for our hotel. This incredibly family-oriented and large resort has 665 rooms, five on-site restaurants, a gift shop, arcades, an indoor pool complex (Hershey’s Water Works), and multiple event/meeting spaces.
We stayed in a Standard Double Queen room in the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup section just up the stairs from the indoor pools and arcade.
This 305 square ft (28 square meter) space fits up to four people with two queen beds, a desk, television, coffee maker, and complimentary WiFi. Even the soap and wallpaper in the bathroom were covered in Hershey Kisses.
The Bears’ Den
After checking in and dropping everything off, we had dinner at The Bears’ Den. Themed after a hockey rink, they are open daily for lunch and dinner with American-style small bites, soups, salads, burgers, wings, larger meals, cocktails, mocktails, and options for kids.
No reservations are currently accepted, so it was the perfect option after an afternoon of driving when we didn’t know exactly when our arrival time would be. We decided on the following:
- Chocolate Coconut Martini- 360 Chocolate Vodka, Malibu Rum, Jacquin‘s White Crème de Cacao.
- The Relaxer- Jameson Irish Whiskey, elderflower liqueur, pomegranate liqueur, ginger ale.
- Chocolate Strawberry Mocktini- milk, strawberry syrup, chocolate syrup.
- Crispy Chicken Caesar Wrap- crispy chicken tenders, romaine lettuce, Parmesan, Caesar dressing, and house made chips.
- Steak and Frites- grilled 10 ounce NY Strip Steak. Usually served with garlic Parmesan fries, but Evan opted for plain.
- Fish Sandwich- Yuengling battered haddock with lettuce, tomato, grilled brioche bun, coleslaw and tartar sauce. Chad also added pickle fries.
- Children‘s Cheesy Mac n Cheese with Fries.
Fire and Grain
Fire & Grain is located in the lobby of Hershey Lodge and is open daily for happy hour and dinner + breakfast on select dates.
Their menu features American and Italian specialties along with flatbreads, small bites, cocktails, and a kids menu. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
For a Valentine’s Day dinner, we had the:
- 3-Martini Flight- Hershey‘s Signature Chocolate Martini, Reese‘s Peanut Butter Cup Martini, and Hershey‘s Chocolate Caramel Martini. Each one also has a Hershey‘s Kiss or mini peanut butter cup. So fun!
- Pappardelle Bolognese- Italian sausage and short rib ragu, ricotta, Pecorino Romano.
- Wild Mushroom Garganelli- fresh Garganelli pasta, wild mushrooms, roasted garlic cream, fresh herbs, black truffle and Parmesan reggiano.
- Black Walnut Old Fashioned- rye whiskey, turbinado sugar, orange peel, black walnut bitters.
- Kids Chicken Fingers with Macaroni and Cheese.
- Steak Burger- chargrilled angus chuck and short rib patty, bacon onion jam, aged cheddar, arugula, and crispy potato wedges.
Cocoa Beanery
Cocoa Beanery is to the right of Fire & Grain. They are open daily with an assortment of pastries, ice cream, mac and cheese, sandwiches, grab-and-go snacks, coffee, and other drinks. The kids especially enjoyed the toasted bagels.
Stacks
Stacks is located just outside the southern end of the Hershey Lodge and is open daily 7-2 for breakfast and lunch.
They have a fun variety of American style breakfast appetizers, build your own stacks (pancakes, French toast, waffles), larger entrees, salads, drink flights, coffee, cocktails, mocktails, and a kids menu. We picked the:
- Vanilla Doughnut.
- Fried Green Tomato Benedict- toasted English muffin, fried green tomatoes, bacon, poached eggs, Cajun dusted hollandaise, hash browns.
- Coffee Flight- Chocolate Lovers, S‘mores, White Chocolate Covered Raspberry, Cinnamon Bun.
- Wake Up Call- two eggs, breakfast sausage, hash browns, toast.
- Breakfast Quesadilla- scrambled eggs, bacon, peppers, scallions, flour tortilla, cheddar cheese, salsa verde dip, sour cream, hash browns.
Simply Greek
Just around the corner from Hershey Lodge is Simply Greek at 1190 W Chocolate Avenue.
Simply Greek is open daily for lunch and dinner with a variety of Greek classics, appetizers, wraps, build your own bowls, salads, dips and spreads, souvlaki, burgers, platters, and desserts. There is a small parking lot in front of the restaurant and additional street parking on Lucy Avenue.
We ordered the Pastitsio (oven baked macaroni layered with sautéed ground beef and Béchamel and served with side salad), Lamb Souvlaki Bowl with Rice/Quinoa Mix and Tzatziki, Kid‘s Chicken Souvlaki with Fries, and Makaronia Me Kima (spaghetti with warm spiced meat sauce).
The Underground Yarn and Book Shop
A little further down the road at 203 W Caracas Avenue is The Underground Yarn and Book Shop. We were so excited to come across this store and it was such a highlight of our weekend.
As the name suggests, The Underground Yarn and Book Shop is packed with yarn and books! Locally owned by Kayla, a yarn dyer, and Eric, a book seller, their shelves feature both with a variety of fiction and nonfiction titles, Little Loopy yarns, and other products.
They also have space for knitting/crochet classes and serve coffee/tea.
The Chocolate Avenue Grill
The Chocolate Avenue Grill at 114 W Chocolate Avenue is open daily for lunch, dinner, and happy hour.
There is a small parking lot wrapping around the building, but it fills up quickly. We ended up parking in the garage across the street by The Hershey Story Museum.
Their menu features a variety of appetizers, tacos, wraps, burgers, salads, sandwiches, steak, seafood, pasta, desserts, and cocktails (including zero proof). Reservations are available through their website. We had the following:
- Old Man Smash- small batch bourbon, Five Saints blood orange, muddled orange and cherry, sweet vermouth, bitters, Luxardo cherry.
- The Chocolate Ave Old Fashioned- cacao nib and Madagascar vanilla infused bourbon, Demerara, cocoa bitters, expressed orange, Luxardo cherry.
- The Smash Deluxe- two smash seared beef patties with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and Animal-style sauce.
- Short Rib Pappardelle- this was my personal favorite meal of the trip! Braised cocoa and ancho rubbed beef short ribs with red wine and beef jus Demi over pappardelle pasta with sautéed mushrooms. I paired it with a side Caesar salad.
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich- House-made crispy chicken breast, Black Forest honey ham, Swiss cheese, arugula, toasted ciabatta loaf, tangy sweet golden bleu sauce.
- Kids Kraft Mac and Cheese with Fries.
- Cookie Dough Pie to celebrate Claire‘s birthday! This was also fantastic and tasted just like cookie dough.
The Hershey Story Museum
Entry tickets to The Hershey Story Museum at 63 W Chocolate Avenue were included with our stay at Hershey Lodge.
Open since 2009, this museum focuses on the history of Milton S. Hershey and The Hershey Company with interactive exhibits, activities, and even a scavenger hunt.
You can also purchase additional experiences such as the Chocolate Lab and Chocolate Tastings. These tickets are on a first come first served basis and are only available at the front desk.
During peak days/holidays, I recommend arriving as close to opening as possible if you are interested in attending.
Chocolate Lab
For Valentine’s Day weekend, the Chocolate Lab was featuring a festive heart-shaped chocolate class.
During the 45 minute class, we poured melted chocolate into heart-shaped molds and decorated them with miniature marshmallows and heart sprinkles. While waiting for the chocolate to set, we learned all about the origins of cocoa beans and the process of turning them into bars.
The exact class options vary based on the season and day. Check the events calendar before visiting.
Chocolate Tastings
The Chocolate Tastings bar has flights of warm drinking chocolates from around the world. You can either get the full flight, half flight, single flavor, or a milk & chocolate stirring lolly for younger visitors.
The full flight is arranged from the highest concentration of cacao to the lowest. During our visit, we tried the 75% from Tanzania, 70% from Dominican Republic, 66% from Mexico, 40% Alunga, 33% from Java, and 33% Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. The kids both loved the milk chocolate, while I preferred the Alunga and Tanzania-based chocolate.
Lisa’s Cafe on Chocolate
Lisa‘s Cafe on Chocolate is attached to The Hershey Story Museum and open daily for breakfast and lunch.
They feature an assortment of specialty drinks, seasonal pastries, eggs, sandwiches, salads, and a kids menu. The original location has been open in Palmyra since 1999.
We started the day with a French Toast Cappuccino (Valentine Special), two scrambled eggs with toast, and a reuben sandwich (corned beef, Swiss cheese, Sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on marble rye).
Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square
Just behind The Hershey Story Museum is Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square.
Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square is an indoor market spanning across two levels with a farmer‘s market on the lower level and food hall on the second floor. It is currently open Thursday-Saturday with garage parking attached to the building.
Pikku Piru Creations
I was so so excited to come across Pikku Piru while walking through the ground level of the market. Open since September 2025, Kristi first started Pikku Piru Creations as a hot sauce company, then incorporated Scandinavian and Nordic treats/meals inspired by her heritage.
We picked the Suolainen Pannukakku (savory Finnish pancake with mushroom ragu- really want to make this at home sometime), Smørrebrød (open faced sandwich with roast beef), cardamom bun, and saffron bun.
Armstrong Valley Vineyard and Winery
Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery was situated next door to Pikku Piru on the ground level. This boutique winery makes small-batch wines from their vineyard in Halifax, Pennsylvania.
I took home a bottle of Dry Rosé and a Traminette.
Susquehanna Purls
My daughter especially loved Susquehanna Purls’ booth with a wonderful selection of yarn and crochet supplies.
She ended up using the yarn to make a bear-shaped coaster while the rest of us were eating breakfast.
Doggie Delights
Another fun stop was Doggie Delights. We took home a bag of blueberry pumpkin star treats for Olivia, but there were so many cute options on display such as the Canine Cannolis.
Food Hall
We visited first thing in the morning, so most of the vendors in the food hall weren’t yet open, but the kids were instantly drawn to the buttery pretzels and pretzel dogs at Foltz’s Pretzels.
Other options upstairs range from bagels, sandwiches, and tacos to cookies, Caribbean cuisine, phở, empanadas, bao, pizza, and ice cream.
Desserts Etc
Desserts Etc. at 840 E Chocolate Avenue is open daily 6am-9pm with a beautiful variety of seasonal cupcakes, cakes, cookies, breakfast pastries, pies, other treats, drinks, and grab-and-go sandwiches/salads. They also have vegan and gluten free options.
I picked up a few cupcakes along with a Strawberry Matcha (strawberry syrup, steamed milk, matcha, strawberry cold foam) and Red Velvet Latte (espresso, steamed milk, red velvet cake, white chocolate syrup).
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hershey’s Chocolate World is located next to Hersheypark at 101 Chocolate World Way.
This visitor center is home to the world’s largest Hershey’s store, interactive activities, seasonal events, a food hall, and other experiences.
Entry to Chocolate World is free, but you do have to pay for parking if visiting for over two hours and many of the activities.
We purchased the Adventure Bundle 3 about a week before our trip which included parking, Create Your Own Candy Bar, and Hershey’s Unwrapped. We also added on a Reese’s Stuff Your Cup for Evan.
The Food Hall at Chocolate World has a variety of sweet and savory options from coffee, milkshakes, and hot chocolate to pizza, bakery items, sandwiches, wraps, and larger entrees.
Reese’s Stuff Your Cup
With the Reese’s Stuff Your Cup experience, you can customize your own massive 1 pound (450 gram) Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup using fresh peanut butter and a variety of mix-ins.
Evan went with Reese’s Puffs and additional chopped peanut butter cups. Other options included chips, peanuts, Reese’s Pieces, pretzels, and more.
Create Your Own Candy Bar
Our favorite part of Chocolate World was the Create Your Own Candy Bar. This was also the most popular area in the building. Definitely book in advance on busy weekends.
With this experience, you can customize your own chocolate bar from the base to the fillings and even the design of the wrapper. Allow for about 45 minutes to an hour to walk through the factory with your bar.
Overall, we had such a wonderful weekend in Hershey. Keep in mind that Hersheypark is often closed from January-March (but if you are buying a decent amount of chocolate as souvenirs, it is easier to transport without melting during the winter).
Short Rib Ragu
Of everything we tried in Hershey, my personal favorite meal was the Short Rib Pappardelle at The Chocolate Avenue Grill.
I was so excited to recreate it at home and remembered coming across a similar dish called Rigatoni with Dark Cocoa and Red Wine Short Rib Ragu while reviewing Simple, Elegant Pasta Dinners. It was also used as inspiration for today’s recipe.
Boneless short ribs are briefly seared on each side, then slowly simmered for a few hours in a cocoa and red wine-spiced tomato sauce until thickened and tender.
The braised Short Rib Ragù can be served warm with a favorite pasta (we especially love pappardelle or rigatoni- plus a splash or two of pasta water to bring everything together), gnocchi, mashed potatoes, or even polenta.
I garnished the meal with a sprinkling of Parmesan and got the idea from Chasing the Seasons to grate a little extra chocolate over the top, as well.
A Few Short Rib Ragu Tips
I used Chianti Biskero for the dry red wine. If avoiding alcohol, swap the 1 cup (240 milliliters) wine for another 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef stock. You may also want to add a splash of balsamic vinegar.
I made this recipe with boneless short ribs. If using bone-in, increase the amount to 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms).
Adjust the salt and pepper to taste. I like to generously season each side of the short ribs, then add more salt and pepper as needed to the sauce towards the end of cooking. The exact amount will depend on the salt content of the beef stock and personal preference.
The dried thyme can be swapped for a small bunch of fresh thyme.
If I have a leftover Parmesan rind on hand, I often like to toss that in the pot when adding the beef stock.
The chocolate is subtle. If you want an even lighter chocolate flavor, decrease the cocoa powder to 1-2 tablespoons. If you are looking for a more prominent chocolate pasta dish, check out my Kakaós Tészta (Hungarian Cocoa Noodles).
If the sauce is too thick after simmering, slowly stir in a little more beef stock. If too thin, simmer for about 10 more minutes or add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon/15 milliliters) water.
Leftover Short Rib Ragu can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Short Rib Ragu Recipe
Adapted from Chasing the Seasons
Short Rib Ragu
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (907 grams) boneless short ribs
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 2 medium carrots peeled and finely chopped
- 1 medium onion peeled and finely chopped
- 1 celery rib finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) tomato paste
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) dry red wine
- 2 cups (470 milliliters) beef stock
- 24 ounces (710 milliliters) tomato passata pureed, strained tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons (22 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2-1 teaspoon Ancho chili powder
- 2 bay leaves
For Serving:
- freshly grated Parmesan
- grated dark chocolate
Instructions
- Pat the boneless short ribs dry with a paper towel and season each side generously with salt and pepper.
- Drizzle the olive oil into a large pot and place over medium high heat.
- Once heated, add the boneless short ribs and sear on each side until deeply golden.
- Remove the short ribs to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium low and add the carrots, onion, and celery to the pot.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomato paste until evenly coated and it starts to darken.
- Slowly pour in the red wine and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to remove any browned bits. Simmer until the red wine reduces by half.
- Pour in the beef stock, then the tomato passata. Season with the cocoa powder, thyme, oregano, Ancho chili, bay leaves, and additional salt (I usually add about a teaspoon), and pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon).
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally and skimming off any fat that rises to the top, for 3 hours, until the beef is tender and easily able to be shredded with a fork.
- Uncover the pot and carefully use two forks to shred the beef into smaller, bite size pieces. If your pot is ceramic or susceptible to scratching, remove the beef to a rimmed plate or pan, shred, then place back in the pot.
- Increase heat to medium low and simmer for another 30 minutes to thicken, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasonings to taste, adding more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve warm with desired base such as pasta or polenta and with a fresh grating of Parmesan and chocolate over the top.
mimi rippee
When my father’s family moved from Sicily to the US they ended up in Hershey! I remember visiting and it smelled like chocolate. Fun post! Great recipe.