Memorial Weekend!

Have you seen our Special Offers page yet?

We just posted a fantastic deal for Memorial Weekend, and it highlights an event called the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. I'm very excited about it. According to the event's website, it's the largest environmental film festival in the country. It also happens to be a touring festival, and on May 24th, it's coming to Lenox. The three hour presentation will feature literally dozens of films ranging in length from 2 minutes to just under an hour and covering various topics from the American Grasslands to Foraging to Climate Change and White Water Kayaking. Certainly an eclectic mix! There's even a list of all the movies that will be coming on tour available here. You can also watch trailers of all the movies on this page.

The Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival happens to be coming to town during Memorial Weekend, which is great news for anyone visiting the Berkshires. Why? Because there are a ton of events going on that weekend. For example:

Romeo & Juliet at Shakespeare & Company
Dickey Betts at The Colonial Theatre
The Berkshire Extreme Green Festival at the Lenox Town Hall
Poolside at the Hotel Bel Air at the Barrington Stage Company
Gather Up the Fragments: The Andrews Shaker Collection at Hancock Shaker Village (free admission on Tuesday!)
Project Sprout Fundraiser and Four-Course Meal at Route 7 Grill
The Berkshire International Fiml Festival at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Gourmet food, theatre, history, music, ecology, film, and community. Sounds like a great weekend! If you haven't made a reservation yet, feel free to give us a call and we'd be happy to help you plan your trip. It's what we're here for!

With Love,
~Brande N.

Ashes to Ashes, Eggshells to Dust

How serendipitous and grand that we should start composting on Earth Day! A local woman recently responded to our Craigslist ad advertising free compost, and let us know that she'll be picking her first batch up during the first week of May. That makes today the perfect day to start separating our eggshells and coffee grounds from saran wrap and burnt bacon bits. Even the ashes from our fireplaces can be composted.

It's so encouraging to see what a difference these changes are making! When Dan and I started only 6 months ago every bit of waste went to the dumpster. All of our food scraps; every can, bottle, carton, box, and wrapper; all of these ash and soot from the fireplaces; everything. Now it's ALL getting a second life through either recycling or composting. Really, I wouldn't feel I was exaggerating if I said we've reduced our waste by 60% or more.

I love, too, that these changes we're so easy to make. To begin recycling we just gave our waste management company a call, found out which days are recycling days, and signed up (at a slight extra cost). To compost, I spent about 5 minutes making a Craigslist ad and then waited for a call. Add a few separating bins to the mix and that's it!

I think the biggest challenge that hindered me from composting was the fact that I have no idea how to make compost. There's turning and mulching and carbon and nitrogen and this-is-good and this-is-bad--it's overwhelming! Collecting it is easy. Once I realized that I could find someone else to take it and use their expertise to turn it into rich fertilizer, there were no more hindrances.

So If you're thinking about composting but are too scared, or your yard is too small, or your green thumb turns things black; try Craigslist or even Freecycle. You know what they say: "One person's trash is another's treasure!"

Good luck and Happy Earth Day!
~Brande N.

A Picture is Worth...

You know the old saying "A picture is worth 1,000 words?" Well, 1,000 is a lot of words. And a lot of time. And while I might be able to pull 1,000 words out of these Valentine's Weekend photos if I really wanted to, I'm going to try 10. Because sometimes it's more fun to limit yourself, no?

Here we go:

Bubble Bath Kit. Himalayan Salt. Smells of Lavender. Fun project.


Heart-shaped pancake. Does a hyphen count as one word?


Dark chocolate. Organic Strawberries. Yum! Shouldn't have eaten so many...


Manchego. Cheddar. Gouda. Olives. Pita. Chocolate. Fruits. I am hungry.


Cheese plate and wine? I wish I was a guest!

This was actually surprisingly fun! I think next time I'll try photo-inspired haiku...

With Love,
~Brande N.

L'Amour

So, Valentine's Day prep pretty much eliminated any time I had for blogging yesterday. And today I'm even more busy. But I wanted to post something for my lovely readers.

You may have noticed that today is Friday the 13th which is my all-time favorite holiday... Well, it's a holiday to me. You see, when I was in high school, my friends and I always referred to Friday the 13th as "Freaky Friday" and celebrated it by doing things like wearing mismatched socks and dying our hair purple (Yeah, we were all the "weirdos", and were proud of it!). In honor of that, and for your entertainment, I was going to post some of those strange and "freaky" photos that people alter in photoshop. The one's that, for example, make Albert Einstein's head shaped like an egg. Get it? Egg head? Yeah, I know. Bad joke. It's a good thing I didn't make that post, huh?

Especially since just before I was about to start it, I got this email. And knew that I had to share it with you. It's much too funny to not share with the world. So, without further adieu:

(Click to Enlarge)

And if you really want to translate it and enjoy it's true hilarity, click here.

Happy Freaky-Valentine's-Friday-Eve!
~Brande N.

Salt and Bubbles and Cookies

One of my absolute favorite things about innkeeping is that, for the first time, I have the opportunity to exercise my creative muscles.

Okay, the second time, actually. I used to work at a small bakery in NY and I was allowed to try out new recipe ideas I had formulated. My favorite creation was this:


Yes, that's right, those are broken hearted gingerbread people. They were our special Valentine's Day cookie and I remember being SO proud of these little guys because they sold out. Twice. I felt spiffy. And talented. And cool.

But even though that job allowed me to be creative, it was a terrible work atmosphere. As in, bad enough that our head baker was deported for not having a green card and I (as in Ms. Just Out of High School with ZERO Professional Baking Experience) had to come on as the full time pastry chef. I was working 7 days, 50+ hours per week, but I was only paid about $3 and hour. It was bad.

Being at the Inn is exactly the opposite. I'm appreciated, encouraged, and the work atmosphere is great. And that makes me oh-so-happy. I make funky biscotti, develop our special event menus, design signs and notes and things that go around the Inn... Almost everyday involves doing something creative.

Today is the day that I immerse myself in a flurry of crafty packaging, prepping, and Valentine's Day preparations. Last night I made these:
And today I'll be making these:
The bubble bath will look essentially just like the salts when I'm all set. We have a really cool idea for how we're going to present the "rose" part of our "Rose Petal Bubble Bath Kit" but I can't show you that until we're done.

So, I'm off to go cut fabric and trim ribbon and do other creative, artsy things that classify as work but are SO much fun. It's a good life.

With Love,
~Brande N.

Romance in The Berkshires

Looking for something fun to do this Valentine's Day? Maybe even something a little romantic? Here's a few links to some Valentine's Weekend events. I know I'm rather notorious for being a little last minute (Did I order Dan's gift yet? Nope.) so hopefully these recommendations save you from being in the same boat as me come this weekend. Good luck!

(Note: Applicable dates for each event can be found on the event's webpage)


First off, Bad Dates. A spectacular one woman play being held only 1 mile from the Inn at Shakespeare and Company. Dan and I saw this play about a month ago and were very impressed. Shakespeare and Company says, "Theresa Rebeck writes some of the funniest and most authentic language heard in American theatre today. We're pleased to present her sharp-toothed, comic take on surviving single motherhood, the working life, and finding romance in today's world." Special bonus, they're offering tickets at the Berkshire County Resident price of 40% off to everyone! A great play for a great price.






Next is Kiss This Cabaret at the Barrington Stage Company, only about 10 minutes from the Inn, in downtown Pittsfield. The event page says: "Join some of our hottest Musical Theatre Lab writers as they share their version of the perfect Valentine Day's song: funny, serious, loving, not-so-loving and outrageous!" I'm going to put this out there: If any of my guests go to this, I'll be a little jealous. Seriously.






If you're feeling a bit French on the 15th, perhaps you can woo your chérie with a bit of Shakespeare en français at the Colonial Theatre, also located in downtown Pittsfield. The Colonial is presenting Roméo et Juliette (an opera on film) for one night only. All the thrill of an opera without the mini-binoculars! On top of that, Colonial has also partnered with Patrick's Pub to offer any guest of the film 10% off at the restaurant. (I love the contrast here of French Operatic Film and Classic American Pub Food. Très amusant.)




Lastly, when I think "Valentine's Day" I think "Good Excuse to Eat Really Good Food and Call It an Occasion." Mission Tapas Bar in Pittsfield is doing a prix-fixe four course menu for Valentine's Day with live entertainment. I'd love to give you a bit more info, but this place is so quirky they don't even have a phone! But you can email them for more info, by visiting this link. I've never been here, but one look at the menu has convinced me that I might need to make it a priority.




So there you go! A small sampling of the goings-on this weekend. If you happen to read this and would like a little more information on the events, or if you're a guest and would like to purchase tickets, give us a call at the Inn and we'd love to help.

With (Valentine) Love,
~Brande N.

New Years Eve Part II

Thank you for tuning into our second installment of "New Year's Eve at The Garden Gables Inn"! Please turn off all cell phones, beepers, and baby monitors. Enjoy the show!

Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Asparagus. Yum!

Surf 'n' Turf anyone? Oh wait, Dan has brought to my attention that HE cut the lemon crown, and would like everyone to be aware of that. Way to go, honey! I'm proud of you. (Prior to innkeeping, Dan's cooking skills were limited to microwaves and protein bars, so this is a big step!)

A lovely piece of freshly seared Filet Mignon.

Grilled Salmon with Beurre Blanc and roasted potatoes.

This decanter has a great story behind it. There is this very nice couple that comes up every summer and stays with us for about a week. They decided to stay during our New Year's Package this year, and they brought some friends along as well. One of their friends had given this couple a bottle of 1963 Port 20 years prior and they had kept it. So they welcomed the new year by opening this 45 year old bottle and sharing it with friends. How neat is that?

This is only moments before the ball dropped, all of us flocked into the Guest Pantry to watch the ceremony. In the rush of congregating around the TV, trying to remain unobtrusive, and trying to still get pictures, I got this one which I find amusing because, yes, that is Dan's chin. The picture is even better if you click and see the full-sized version.

There are only seconds left in 2008!

And here are the first embraces of 2009! (and a kiss too, how sweet!)

And what better way to recover from a night of champagne, staying up late, and laughing until your stomach hurts than with a big, hearty breakfast? Oven roasted potatoes, anyone?

How about some steak and eggs with those potatoes? And maybe a mimosa, too?

And if steak and eggs isn't your thing, how about an omelet with a rainbow of fillings? And the best part: omelets aren't just for New Years, you can get them anytime!

With Love and Sudden Hunger,
~Brande N.

DISCLAIMER:
Brande N. and The Garden Gables Inn are not responsible for any broken New Year's resolutions including but not limited to: no more meat, no more red meat, no more junk food, dining out less, or losing weight. Thank you.

New Years Eve Part I

So I've told you a little bit about our New Years Package, and you probably read about it on our website, but I'm sure you're just dying to actually see it, huh? Well lucky for you I took A LOT of pictures. Thursday's post was just an appetizer, this will be your first course, and I'll post the entree on Monday. So, without further adieu: the photos!


Tart Cherry and Pistachio Tea Cookies. I actually made some of these for John and his family for Christmas and he asked me to make them again for New Years. They're incredibly easy and look impressive. Definitely one of my favorite recipes. You want to know the best part? You can swap any fruit and nut combo for the cherries and pistachioes. I'm thinking about mango and macadamia for my next batch...

This picture is only mildly relevant to New Years. You see, when we decorated the tables, we had all of these leftover fresh flowers that were jut going to get thrown out. And these roses were so pretty that I just couldn't stand to see them go into the wastebasket. So I cut the stems short, added a few pieces of stray greenery, and threw them in a crystal wineglass. In no way am I a florist, but I think this turned out pretty nice.

A picture of one of our tables once it was all decorated. Kelly, our head waitstaffer, designed and decorated each table herself and did an excellent job. Thanks, Kelly!


A bit of our decor in the dining room.

Champagne glasses, poised and ready for the midnight toast!

A fully set, fully decorated table. Seriously Kelly, you rock!


This is Dan chopping some fresh parsley for garnish. Aren't fresh herbs lovely?

One of our two Salad options for the big dinner: Caprese. This picture was taken before it was drizzled with EVOO (can you tell I watch 30-Minute Meals?), but I think its deliciousness is still quite evident.


Our second Salad option. Organic Field Greens with Apple, Toasted Walnut, Bleu Cheese, and Cider Vinegrette. (Meals like this make it abundantly obvious that John owns an apple orchard.)

Does this look familiar? It's one of the Mole Hollow Candles I wrote about! They burned really well and looked great. Three cheers for an easy positive impact!

My favorite photo of the night. The way the light hit the table was eerie, mysterious, intruguing and beautiful. And yet it's just a plate. One of the any reasons why I do so love photography.

More to come on Monday! And many of those are more food, ooooh!

Until then, best wishes!
~Brande N.

Using the Green Light

Bye bye 2008! It was nice knowing you!

I'm so glad Dan and I got to usher 2009 in with our New Year's Eve package. We met so many wonderful, interesting, fun, lovely people; ate more good food than should be legally allowed; listened to beautiful music by Alexandra and her husband, Tsuyoshi: and generally had a great time. With the exception of the whole sleep deprivation aspect, I can't wait to do it again next year!

And I get really excited when I think about how green next year could potentially be! Imagine a locally farmed, grass-fed filet mignon. Mmmmm!

I think we did pretty well this year, ecologically speaking, especially considering the time restraints. We used primarily paper favors (i.e. hats, noisemakers, decorations), served locally produced wine and coffee, and organic teas. Plus our salad greens were organic! All in all, not too bad.

But my favorite green change for New Years was a small one.

This:

Mole Hollow Candles.

Locally produced and hand-dipped in Shelburne Falls, Ma. Dan and I discovered this company (and their beautiful gift shop) when we were vacationing in Massachusetts a few months ago. When we decided to use a greener candle for our table décor, we knew Mole Hollow was the best choice.

This is what we were using last year:

There are a few less-than ideal things about these candles.

Firstly, that they are produced in Vietnam. That's almost 8,000 miles away. According to one source, that's up to 160,000 pounds of jet fuel to transport them to the USA. I don't even want to know how much atmospheric CO2 that generates. But I do know that the distance between Shelburne Falls and the Whole Foods these were purchased at is 28 miles. And even in a big ol’ transport van that might get 10mpg, that's still not even 3 gallons of gasoline. WOW! Talk about an easy and effective change!

Additionally, these candles are scented. Anything that is fragranced synthetically could be hiding phthalates, and I think it's best to stay far, far away from them.

Plus, these candles are packaged in plastic. Sadly, as useful and versatile as plastic is, it is completely non-biodegradable and is home to any number of scary and potentially hazardous chemicals. For everything you'd ever want to know about plastic, check out one of my favorite blogs, Fake Plastic Fish.

And lastly, these candles came from Target. Much to Dan's dismay, I am a BIG Target fan. Bright colors, an abundance of accessories, shoes, trendy clothes, music, food, and kitchen supplies all in one place? Heaven! But when given the chance, I always feel better if I try to put my dollars in the pocket of a person rather than a faceless, nameless corporation. And knowing that our purchasing these candles helps the nice folks at Mole Hollow make a living feels really good.

Well, I know I pretty much just snowpiled you with links to this and that, and quite frankly, I am pooped! So I’m off to bed! I wish you all the best of luck in the New Year and may all of your resolutions involve more chocolate!

With Love,
~Brande N.

Apologies!

Dan and I got back from New York on Sunday afternoon and before I even took off my coat, it was back to work! There's been a flurry of decorating, prepping, planning, calling, and brainstorming for our big New Year's Eve Package and I'm having trouble finding time to drop a line here on the blog. So rather than give you a half-dazed late night groggy post or a rushed, gotta-get-done-because-the-cookies-are-baking-and-if-they-bake-any-longer-than-6-and-a-half-minutes-they-turn-into-frisbees post, I decided to take a little break until Thursday, and leave you with the following thoughts:

---A person checks into a hotel for the first time in his life, and goes up to his room. Five minutes later he calls the desk and say, "You've given me a room with no exit. How do I leave?"

The desk clerk says, "Sir, that's absurd. Have you looked for the door?"

The person says, " Well, there's one door that leads to the bathroom. There's a second door that goes into the closet. And there's a door I haven't tried, but it has a 'do not disturb' sign on it."---

Until Thursday, Have a great New Years everyone!

With Love,
~Brande N.

Happy Holidays!

Hello everyone!
The Inn will be closed for the holidays this week, and Dan and I are headed back to NY to visit with family. I'll be back and blogging on the 28th, hopefully with some fun new stories to share. Happy holidays, travel safely, and make some memories!

With Love,
~Brande N.

Biscotti Ponderings

I love biscotti. Love them. Mmmm, Biscotti. And the next best thing to eating biscotti is making them. Biscotti are nearly fool-proof and unbelievably versatile. Cranberry-Pistachio? Delicious. Peanut Butter Cup? Amazing. Apricot-Almond. yum! I'm sure even something as crazy as Maple-Bacon could be great. It's so much fun to sit and stare blankly off into space pondering on what would be the next great biscotti. Some ideas I have pondered on include:

-Spiced Pumpkin with Nutmeg Cream Cheese Glaze

-Vanilla Chai Spice with Crystallized Ginger

-Peanut Butter and Jelly (PB biscotti with Jelly Filling inside)

-Carrot Cake

-Dark Chocolate with White Chocolate Mint Center

-Raspberry-Lemon Swirl

-Apple-Walnut with Cinnamon-Caramel Glaze

-Just Honey

-Chocolate Dipped Sweet Cherry

-Maple-Fig

-S'more-style (Chocolate with Fluff filling and Crushed Graham Crackers on top)

-Gingerbread Dipped in Ginger-White Chocolate Ganache

And it just so happens that tomorrow is a big baking day for me. I'm making 5 different kinds of cookies to give to friends and family for the Holidays. I've decided on 4 varieties of cookies which thus far include: Cinnamon Bun Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Turtle Shortbreads, Raspberry-Lemon Cutout Sandwiches, and Tart Cherry Pistachio Tea Cookies. But I have not yet decided on a biscotti.

Any suggestions, oh lovely readers of mine?


(...Drat! All this talk of cookies has made me hungry now!)