One of my dear food friends sent a text to me while we were driving that I should get ready for the best dining experience of my life. I will still keep that distinction for the three star Michelin Maison Lameloise in Chagny, France. The Inn, however runs a close second. You have to do it sometime.
What made this occasion so memorable is not only the food and Inn experience, but the fact that I could share it with MFO and the FOJ families. Somehow this 70th birthday thing has got me to thinking about mortality and so being able to do this while we can all enjoy each other made it very special to us.
Both “kids” arrived safely Friday night, and we loaded up around noon on Saturday and headed out to the Inn, located in Washington, Virginia. We drove through Fredericksberg (a monument to poor urban planning), then through Culpeper, finally reaching the beginnings of the mountains. It was a gorgeous drive as the leaves were beginning to change and the weather was warm, the sky was blue
About the time we got to Sperryville, all the phones went “searching for service” and pretty much killed our navigational capabilities. And you know, somehow that added to the weekend. No cell phones. Once you get over the panic it isn’t so bad. You can actually just talk to people.
Anyway, we finally got to Washington, and at first drove right by the place, with some of their staff sort of staring and waving at us as we went by. After we did a turnabout, we drove into the little driveway in front of the Inn.. Their shops are in the background across the street.....
We thought it bore a resemblance (or vice versa) to the Bartlett Pear Inn in Easton. Anyway we confirmed it was the right place.
The young men opened the car doors for us, with a “you must be Mr. Moody!”, and got the names of both the FOJ’s. At this point the concierge of the day introduced himself, we surrendered the car keys to the porters (bad term, but you get the idea), and he led us into the Inn. Once inside, the lobby is very impressive
This theme is carried throughout the inn and the dining spaces. IF you like this décor you would love it, if not, it might be a bit much for you, but it somehow adds to the elegance of the place. Our host said he would like to tour the Inn with us, but first perhaps a little refreshment (in the "Monkey Room"). The little refreshment turned out to be a lovely glass of silver gray sparkling pear wine in a lovely crystal flute. We then walked around the dining spaces, he showed us where breakfast would be served, what the hours were and asked if there were any questions. He said there was currently a book signing going in their shop across the street, and Mr. O’Connell was over there helping. He knew our dinner reservation was for the early seating at the chef’s table, but said we’d have time to check it out. Then back outside where the nice young men again met us, and walked us all over to our living quarters, in one of the little houses that are around the town.
We would be the only occupants of the building that had the three rooms.
There was a lovely sitting room
In the hall was this beauty, which I thought might be just fine for King Oyster
The exterior of the building belied the interior as the rooms were indeed lovely, FOJTY’s had a nice flat screen (for the upcoming LSU/Alabama game) and amenities (refrigerator, private garden, and a tub he could fit into). In our room there was a chilled bottle of champagne and flowers arranged for by the “kids” with a little silver dish of wonderful spiced nuts, and two crystal champagne glasses. How nice.
So we changed a bit and went over to the book signing in the shops
The little shop(s) had all sorts of Inn things, food/chef/cook books, chef garb, little tiles, and so forth. We went into the room where the signing was taking place, were offered a glass of Chardonnay, and there he was: Patrick O’Connell. The book the lady wrote (“The Next Course”; by Melanie Dunea) included him, so he was signing his page. I had thought perhaps to bring his cookbook which I have, but in the fray of leaving of course I forgot it, so got one of her books and they both signed. Had it signed “to the Bottom Feeder” and gave her my card and she said she’d look at the blog. We’ll see.
Anyway Patrick was very easy to talk to and we chatted some and he said he’d see us in the kitchen for dinner.
That “Dinner” is so special that I want to devote a whole entry to it, so won’t extend this one. After “doing” the gift shop and arriving back at the room with the bags of new acquisitions, we freshened up, got my game face on and got
DF (the Big) D
a lifetime memory
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