Kensington’s Restaurant at The Spa at Norwich Inn welcomes this season with a lighter, fresher palette of wall colors along with new window treatments that allow diners to enjoy views of the lawns and gardens on the property.
“We are very happy with the results,” said John G. O’Shaughnessy, general manager of The Spa at Norwich Inn. “We wanted to open up the room with more sunlight, more views, and lighter colors that come from the same decorating palette of the public rooms in the rest of the Norwich Inn.”
The large, hand-painted mural of flowers and fruits that covers one long wall of the room remains, as do the chandeliers. The dark paneling on the other walls received a totally different treatment.
In order to highlight the picture-frame moldings that were virtually unnoticeable on the dark walls, a light neutral color was applied to all the areas above the chair rail. Inside the moldings, a soft green paisley wall covering brought in color and highlighted the existing crystal wall sconces that also were retained. Below the chair rail, the walls are painted a rich russet, much brighter and warmer than the previous dark brown. The colors tie in with the patterned carpet and the hand-painted mural, which stands out even more by the dramatic change in the surrounding colors.
The large balloon shades that blocked the exterior views were removed, and the windows are now decorated by textured silk-like swags and jabots in the same russet tone as the window trim. Embossed pleated shades in taupe further soften the windows and easily control natural light.
Gail Sharkey supervised the renovations for Solidus in Rocky Hill.
Kensington’s is open 365 days a year for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For reservations, call 860.425.3630, or visit www.thespaatnorwichinn.com for menus and additional information.
Stop in for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or dinner. They do it all – plus more – at the Mystic Market. If you stand long enough at any of the counters trying to make a decision about what to order, don’t be surprised if you hear an unsolicited testimonial, such as “Just pick anything. It’s all good.”
For breakfast, there are rolls of every description with lemon and poppy seed reputed to be among the best. No matter what the name, the size is the same: extra large. Two can easily share one of these muffins. Try a danish, which come in a variety of flavors and are also popular. Fresh baked bagels can be topped with everything from butter to sliced smoked Scottish salmon, cream cheese, red onion and tomato. Cost ranges from a low of $1.59 to a high of $7.95 for the salmon topping.
While doing the breakfast run, it may also be practical to get lunch-to-go at the same time. The array of choices is impressive. French baguette, rolls, pumpernickel, rye, wheat, spinach, sundried tomato and white tortilla are bread options. As for fillings, there’s almost nothing that is impossible to find. Small and large grinders are also offered. You can also get a Gourmet Boxed Lunch with a choice of a Sandwich or Wrap with Pasta Salad, Fresh Cut Fruit, Mystic Chips and a Jumbo Cookie for $12.95!
Soups at the market gained a wide following. Made fresh daily, they range from an incredible New England clam chowder to a delicate carrot-ginger blend. Enjoy a salad with the soup and feast on such items as Grilled Chicken Caesar, Antipasto, Greek, or the East Market Salad with Goat Cheese or Gorgonzola.
Dinner menu items include an extensive selection of fine foods prepared fresh daily. Some favorites are Sautéed Chicken with Boursin Cheese and Spinach, Veal Creole, Grilled Red Snapper with Mango Salsa, Vegetarian Brown Rice Pie, and Grilled Fillet with Wild Mushroom Jalapeno Demi-Glaze.
A Mystic Market cookie is a must. One of the largest can be relished any time of day or night. It’s true by many accounts: “They’re all good.”
You can also view Mystic Market’s complete menu online at www.coastalgourmetct.com.
Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. For the specials of the day, call 860.536.1500 for Mystic Market West (Rt. 215) or 860.572.7992 for Mystic Market East (Rt. 1).
Farmer Extrodinaire Whit Davis, Stanton-Davis Farm, Stonington, offered his expertise for the Johnny Cakes, which the Octagon made for the first of their Farmers’ Dinner series on Monday, June 28th.
story & photos
by Don Church & Tony Schillaci
The first of a series of three “Farmers’ Dinner” evenings was enjoyed by an overflow group of serious diners at the Mystic Marriott’s stylish Octagon Restaurant on Monday, June 28th.
Representing the CT Farmland Trust, a Hartford-based group dedicated to “preserving working lands for future generations,” and chatting with guests at a pre-dinner wine and cheese reception were Henry Talmage, Executive Director, CT Farmland Trust, Nancy Weiss, Pomfret, and Fumiko Ishikawa Foos, Middletown.
Jonathan Edward’s Cabernet and Chardonnay were poured while nibblers were able to sample exceptional local cheeses from Cato Corner Farm, Colchester, while the Octagon’s friendly and professional staff passed Johnny Cakes with maple mushroom caviar, sweet pea pancakes with smoked salmon and early summer vegetable salsa with chips.
Chef Steve Rosen and his team worked with local farmers in designing and preparing the appetizer fare and five-course dinner which immediately followed. Steve told the Resident, “I worked on the Johnny Cakes with Whit Davis, whose Stanton-Davis Farm in Stonington has been worked every year since 1654. Farmer Davis wouldn’t leave the kitchen until we got his recipe and preparation method exactly right!”
(l-r) Nancy Weiss, Pomfret; Henry Talmage, CT Farmland Trust, and Fumiko Foos, Middletown, represented the CT Farmland Trust, a Hartford-based group dedicated to “preserving working lands for future generations.”
During dinner, Emily Brooks from the Edibles Advocate Alliance, Woodbury, donned her emcee hat and introduced CT farmers, fishermen and gardeners, all dedicated to the preservation and sustainability of farmlands – both on land and sea.
Doctor and farmer Warren Burrows spoke about Groton Family Farm’s free-range eggs which contain one-third less cholesterol than store-bought. The first course salad was topped with one of those perfectly-poached eggs.
The next two Farmers’ Dinners in the series will be held on August 23 and October 25. Don’t miss out! Go to www.octagonsteakhouse.com, or visit the Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa online. And be sure to say “hello” to the Resident at the next Farmers’ Dinner!
Chefs Michael Stafford and James Martell welcome you to the Fisherman Restaurant of Noank.
Imagine you’re sitting and enjoying some exceptional food and a beverage, feeling like this is what being on the water is all about. In front of you sits pristine Palmers Cove, to your left a fantastic view of Fishers Island, and a bit off to the East, only a stones throw away, the white sands of Esker Point Beach. You are on the patio of The Fisherman Restaurant! Offering extraordinary value, and exceptional food in a relaxed casual atmosphere.
Planning on hosting a party or event? We have a variety of options to meet any budget, executed by a personable, professional staff. We treat every event as if it were our very own.
With a seaside setting and close proximity to some of New England’s most productive fishing ports, we are fortunate to be able to offer the very best of our local waters bounty.
In our dining room, you will find fresh and imaginative preparations well prepared and created with flair. Whether in for a lunch with friends or out for dinner, find out for yourself why people are talking, and loving The Fisherman.
We’re back and better than ever!!
937 Groton Long Pt. Rd. (Route 215), Noank, CT www.fishermanrestaurant.com
Reservations recommended
860.536.1717
Octagon celebrates community, farmers, local food and farmland preservation.
The first in a three part series Farmer’s Dinner will be held on June 28th at Octagon in Groton and will feature a reception, with speakers from some of the local farms, followed by a five course menu featuring locally grown produced and harvested items from this region’s best source of sustainable foods. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the CT Farmland Trust, whose sole mission is to permanently protect CT’s farmland.
June 28th, 2010
Reception at 6:00pm • Dinner at 7:00pm
$89 per person includes tax and gratuity
Passed Hors D’ oeuvres
• Sweet pea pancakes with duck trap smoked salmon
• Johnny cakes with maple mushroom “caviar”
• Early summer salsa and chips
• Local cheeses with condiments
Dinner Menu
1st Course
Groton Family Farms soft poached egg with a spinach salad with toasted sunflower seeds, warm Nodine juniper bacon vinaigrette
2nd Course
Seared Bomster Scallops with a bronze fennel jam and spiced potatoes
3rd Course
House smoked Stony Ledge Farms Cornish game hen with a Swiss chard tart and Nasturtium honey
4th Course
Roast leg of lamb from Sankow’s Beaverbrook Farm with a green garlic aioli baby arugula and paprika oil
5th Course
Frozen goats milk parfait with basil and chocolate
Octagon is located in the Mystic Marriott and Spa at 625 North Road in Groton. For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.octagonsteakhouse.com or call 860.326.0360
