Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Hints of Autumn

Guests have been hiking and biking and eating lobster and scallops and duck and blueberry pancakes ("best ever"). Folks from England and France and Maine and all over the south have been loving the weather and the pretty New England scapes. All sorts of folks celebrated Maine Lighthouse Weekend with boatrides and flights and hikes. We are lucky to have so many both in Maine and close by. If you'd like a copy of "Lighthouses and Lobsters in DownEast and Acadia Region" full of information about them both, just call the inn.

I received a very fun email from a previous guest: "I married my high school sweetheart on April 30, 1983. We are both Vermonters of many generations, and we traveled to Maine with a stop or two in New Hampshire. I had been to the Bar Harbor area before and loved it. We stayed in many little inns, but yours stands out in my memory as something special. We were there sometime during the first week of May 1983. It would be kind of neat if you actually did have a book with an entry, because I am sure if there was a guest book, and you still have it, we would have written in it.

It was a very special night, having the whole place to ourselves. We were given the key, and told to enjoy the place as we wished. I remember the huge and wonderful kitchen. My wife and I both love to cook. Here we are almost 30 years later, with two of our children who are professional chefs. I am still in love with my wife, more today than ever. It does happen, even in this crazy world of today. You could say I met my soulmate, and we are joined forever.

If we ever get back up that way, you can count on a visit.

And you are right, you may own the place, but really it owns you for a short time. That is why we stayed in as many places like that as we could. I would not be writing to the Holiday Inn today."

You can see why I love my job! Although we have guest registers and menus books going back many years, I couldn't tell them much about their stay. Did I tell you about the waitress from 1967?! She and her husband stayed for a few nights recently and told me all sorts of tidbits from her summer here. I wonder what one of the first guests or waitstaff, from 1840, would have to say!

I'm noticing I like a symbol. Here at the inn one of our symbols has to be the Rackliffe coffee mug. I adore the blue and white mugs (they come in yellow as well) and love knowing that the clay is from East Blue Hill, just down the road. They are making us napkin rings as well as syrup pitchers and saucers--these aren't on their website but if you call them up and mention the Blue Hill Inn, they will know just what you mean!

We often talk about how to help guests extend the vacation feeling. I had a friend who would "point" the ends of the toilet paper from time to time at home! I will sometimes send guests away with a handful of pillow chocolates and suggest they do a turndown service for themselves (I tend to do this especially with guests who leave us to go camping--having your sleeping bag turned down at the end of the day and an organic chocolate on your pillow helps make that transition!). Serving warmed maple syrup in a Rackliffe pitcher is a certain method for continuing the vacation feeling!

Come try the maze! Could there be a better fall activity? The Homewood Farm is my favorite for strawberries and pumpkins, in part because they have springer spaniels!

From the guest book:
"What a wonderful place. Your gracious hospitality combined with the charm of the Inn and friendliness of guests made for a beautiful visit." Miami, FL
"We feel so lucky to have discovered Blue Hill and the Blue Hill Inn, both of which are idyllic. Thank you for a wonderful stay--it was perfect in every way." United Kingdom

If you aren't having a perfect time where you are, come see us!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The recipe is... Coffee Squares!

You might think I am describing nerds who talk about coffee way too much, but I'm not. Instead, coffee squares, or mocha bars, as we sometimes call them, are the latest "oh, this is so good, I have to share the recipe" treat at the Blue Hill Inn.

Coffee Squares
As suggested by the Summer Inn Bed and Breakfast in Haines, Alaska

Cake
½ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup hot coffee

Frosting
1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup melted butter
Cold coffee

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Add egg and vanilla extract, and mix well. Into a separate bowl sift flour, salt, and baking powder. Alternately add flour mixture and hot coffee to the creamed mixture. Mix well and pour batter into a 9-inch square pan. Bake in a 350° oven for 30 minutes.

Into a small bowl sift together confectioner’ sugar, cocoa, and salt. Pour in melted butter, and add the cold coffee one tablespoon at a time, mixing well, to make a spreadable icing. Frost the cake when completely cooled. Serves 9.
We of course use our Carrabassett Coffee Company organic coffee, which makes the squares especially delicious.

Guests have been hiking to Barred Island, climbing Blue Hill Mountain, jogging past the country club, kayaking in the bay and in Stonington and in Castine, biking all over, swimming in Walker's Pond, and wondering about town. All of which is to say, you can indulge in coffee squares and pancakes at breakfast (with an extra slice of bacon!) and pillow chocolates and still fit into your work clothes when you head home from vacation.

I've started a little collection of silly Maine art. A bright red lobster on a bright blue car is my idea of a color scheme!

If you aren't having a colorful season, come visit us! The blueberries are mighty blue, and so is the sky, and so is the water...