Let’s face it. For most of us flowers and chocolates are overdone on Valentine’s Day.  The way to really impress your Valentine is through romantic experiences. at New England inns.  After all,  actions speak louder than words. For those with everything but time for relaxation and romance, a dreamy getaway to a Distinctive Inn of New England is the answer to the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

Yet this year, Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of the week.  For that reason, Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE) has declared February is for lovers.  Visit a DINE inn anytime in February and you can rest assured that romance will be served in large helpings.

Four ways to find romance at a DINE inn February and beyond

Quiet dinners

Whether you choose an inn with fine dining or one with great dining nearby, your culinary adventure will take you to romantic firelit dining rooms featuring local cuisine. Enjoy quiet tete-a-tetes while you partake in an epicurean escape with the one you love on your next Distinctive Inns of New England getaways. Your innkeeper is happy to make dining reservations for you.

Couples Massages

Partake in a couples massage either at the inn-house spa or at a nearby day spa.  Some DINE inns can make arrangements for in-room massages too. A couples massage offers the ultimate pampered pastime, while leaving you both glowing and positively relaxed for the first time in a long time.  Doesn’t that sound worth the splurge for Valentine’s day?

Private breakfast

Each of the Distinctive Inns of New England offer private tables for breakfasts.  Some will even serve breakfast in your room or on your private balcony or patio (in warmer months, of course!).  Whether it’s breakfast in bed or breakfast fireside in the dining room, rest assured that innkeepers know the way to a fabulous getaway with the one you love starts with the most important meal of the day.

Outdoor Adventure

Each of the Distinctive Inns of New England are located in settings where outdoor fun abounds by land or by sea.  From hiking to skiing and snowshoeing to ziplining and snowmobiling, you can do it together close to one of the Distinctive Inns of New England.  Looking for more soft adventure?  How about sleigh rides, wine tasting or maple syrup collecting?  Simply ask your DINE innkeeper, and suggestions will abound.

For a complete list of romantic packages at DINE inns, click here.  DINE inns also feature Spa Packages and Outdoor Fun offers too. To learn more about the Distinctive Inns of New England, visit www.DistinctiveInnns.com.

Note: Since February is for lovers, weekends tend to fill up quicker.  Book your Valentine’s Day escape soon so you won’t be HEARTbroken with little availability.

There’s a new kid on the DINE block.  Actually, they’re two new kids, but they’re not new to innkeeping or to Lenox, MA.  We said nostalgic farewells to Fabrizio and Rosemary as they began their next journey, and we welcome in Eiran and Michele Gazit as they start their new chapter at the Gateways Inn & Restaurant in Lenox, MA. We’re sure the worldly focus and international panache is here to stay at the Gateways Inn as this romantic New England inn enters a new phase in welcoming guests.

Born in Israel, bred in England, married to an American and widely traveled, Eiran Gazit’s international charm exudes from the moment guests enter the Gateways Inn. His many years as an entrepreneur and business consultant in the tourism industry offer the perfect perspective to fill Fabrizio and Rosemary’s shoes.  Clearly, the Gateways Inn thrives on that international flair!

No newcomer to innkeeping, Eiran managed the Cornell Inn in Lenox, MA and later was appointed Business Manager for the deluxe Winthrop Estate in Lenox, branding it as a premier destination-wedding venue in the Berkshires. Prior to that  he was the founder and CEO of Mini Israel, a unique outdoor park featuring exact scale replicas of all the famous and important sites in Israel. A graduate of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, with a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Australia’s Swinburne Institute, Eiran is deeply involved in local marketing efforts and the Berkshires Jewish community and well suited to manage a New England country inn and restaurant.

Michele is Eiran’s steadfast wife and partner at the inn and in his tourism endeavors. Born a New Jersey girl, Michele lived in Dallas TX, Miami FL and Wichita KA before moving to Israel. A  graduate of Syracuse University with degrees in Business and Psychology, Michele is a licensed massage and reflexology therapist, specializing in geriatric and Alzheimer stricken patients. However,  her passion in healthy and artfully presented cooking will quickly make her a celebrity at the Gateways Inn & Restaurant.

The couple’s three sons help out at the inn when their busy schedules allow. Adam, the oldest is a soldier in the Israeli army, Lior and Matan are high school students in Lenox.

When asked about their plans for the inn, Eiran explained he and Michele plan to open a piano bar that will serve as a meeting place for the after dinner, after show/concert crowd, that prefers a quiet spot for a drink over an active sports bar. ” We are excited about this new opportunity, “ said Eiran. “It is an enormous responsibility to keep this gorgeous mansion in the manner it deserves and continue to serve our guests and our community at the highest level of hospitality,” he finished.

Everyone at Distinctive Inns of New England look forward to getting to know and working with Eiran and Michele.  Welcome to the group!

Nothing goes better with a cold winter morning than piping hot pancakes.  Of course the best way to enjoy pancakes is with the person you love by your side in the dining room of a Distinctive Inn of New England.  However, if your romantic winter escape must take place in the comfort of your own home, here are a few recipes to create that perfect “next best thing to being at a DINE inn” breakfast entree.  We all know the way to your loved ones heart is through his or her stomach, and here are a few tried and true favorites from the Captain’s House Inn and the Cliffside Inn.

LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES FROM CAPTAIN’S HOUSE INN

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar

1 cup ricotta cheese

2 eggs

2/3 cup milk

1 lemon, zested and juiced

Butter for griddle

Directions

1.       Preheat a nonstick griddle.

2.       Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg, salt, and sugar in a small bowl. Whisk together the cheese, eggs, milk, lemon juice and zest in a large bowl.

3.       Whisk the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Brush the hot griddle with butter.

4.        For each pancake, pour approximately 1/4 cup measure of the batter on the griddle and cook on both sides until light golden brown. Repeat until no batter remains.

Serve with fresh raspberries and maple syrup or lemon glaze.

STRAWBERRY BUTTERMILK PANCAKE ROLL-UPS

 Ingredients

6 cups fresh strawberries; rinse and remove hulls

6  Tbsp.  sugar

2  Tbsp. lemon juice

8  oz.  Kraft cream cheese; at room temperature

1- ½  cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp.  salt

2  large eggs

1-½  cups buttermilk

1 cup milk

Vegetable oil for cooking pancakes

 Directions:

1. Thinly slice 2 cups of the strawberries and set aside.
2. In a food processor or blender, purée the remaining 4 cups of the strawberries until smooth. Press the strawberry purée, with the back of a wooden spoon or a spatula, through a fine mesh strainer and into a bowl, extracting as much of the liquid as possible. Discard the residue. Whisk ¼ cup of sugar and the lemon juice into the strawberry purée.
3. In the food processor or blender, blend the cream cheese and ½ cup of the strawberry purée until blended and smooth.  Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and milk just enough to blend. Whisk the milk mixture into the flour mixture just until evenly moistened. Batter will be thin.
5. Place a nonstick griddle over medium heat; when hot, coat the griddle lightly with oil and adjust the heat to maintain temperature. Spoon the batter in ½ -cup portions onto the griddle and cook until pancakes are browned on the bottom and the edges begin to look dry, (about 2 minutes); turn the pancakes with a wide spatula and brown the other side, 1 ½  to 2 minutes longer.  As the pancakes are cooked, transfer them to baking sheets and keep them warm in a 200° oven.

Presentation:

1. Spread each pancake with about 2 tablespoons of the strawberry/cream cheese mixture and roll up. Set two roll-ups, side-by-side, on each plate and top with the reserved sliced strawberries.  Drizzle the roll-ups with some of the strawberry purée and serve.  The remaining strawberry purée may be served, on the side, in a small pitcher to taste.

Yield:     Makes approximately 10 roll-ups; or 5 servings

It’s a new year and DINE members have resolved to bring inngoers fabulous offers throughout the year.  This year not only will the nine Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE) offer the perfect luxury getaway, but we’re sweetening the pot by bringing you monthly DINE-o-mite offers.  In December all those signed up to receive emails from DINE received a 50-percent off the next stay offer from these romantic country inns.  We’re getting ready to send the next offer out, and without tipping our hats on what it will be, let’s just say it’s about as good as finding a $100 bill on your pillow when you arrive at your favorite Distinctive Inn of New England.

How do you get in on these offers?  It’s simple.  Either sign up to receive email offers from Distinctive Inns of New England inputting your email address in the box on the left of this blog, OR sign up on the Distinctive Inns of New England’s Facebook page. We regularly post contests and offers for promotional codes good on newly booked reservations on Facebook, but the DINE-o-mite offers are reserved exclusively for our email subscribers.

Let this be the year you spend more time traveling and rekindling the romance with the most important person in your life.  Getting away to a place where you can be pampered and relaxed is not only an important resolution, it’s good for the body, mind and soul.  DINE offers will make your resolution easier and more affordable this year.  If you’ve already signed up for emails and Facebook, pass this on to a friend who will thank you for your concern for their body, mind and soul after one trip to a DINE member property. Simply suggest they sign up on the box just to the left of this blog.

We’re having fun creating DINE-o-mite offers for our guests this year.  We look forward to welcoming you to a Distinctive Inn of New England this winter.

Right about now is the time of year that resolutions start forming.  Being travelers, chances are taking more trips to New England country inns is high on your list.  Do a search for popular resolutions and you’ll find the same old pledges to lose weight, live a more healthy lifestyle and  and save money.  What you probably won’t find, however, is that Distinctive Inns of New England offer the  perfect resolution solution for just about any resolution you might decide upon for 2012. Whether it’s a romantic New England getaway or fine culinary adventure you’ve resolved for  the coming year, Distinctive Inns of New England will prove that resolutions don’t have to be work and in fact can be fun to achieve this year.

Get rid of stress in my life: Your answer: a spa getaway.  Choose between the Manor On Golden Pond and the Inn at Thorn Hill and you’ll be treated to fabulous couples massages, facials and all the treatments you need to caress your cares away.  Add to that fine food and accommodations and you’ll return with not a care in the world, ready to face the challenges of the week.

Eat more healthy: With a focus on farm-to-table and local fare, both the Rabbit Hill Inn and Chesterfield Inn are will offer resolution results when it comes to filling  your body with farm fresh and the highest quality culinary adventure, not to mention afternoon refreshments, tea and delicious dinners and breakfasts too.

Revive the Romance: While any DINE member inn will certainly offer the perfect solution here, the Cliffside Inn with newly designed rooms offers a great solution for revving the romance.  Baths with glass showers, deep whirlpool or soaking tubs and fireplaces are just the beginning.  Add Newport’s fabulous restaurants and waterfront, and this is one perfect place to refresh the romance.  Another perfect option for romance is the Captain’s House Inn.  Offering fireplaces in every room, many with deep double whirlpool baths, the spacious rooms paired with a winter Cape Cod getaway is as cozy and romantic as it gets!  Actually, many DINE members offer romantic getaway packages so this year, resolve to romance throughout New England.

Get inn and out and get fit: Explore the Berkshires with the Gateways Inn as your home base and spend the day hiking, biking or walking through beautiful New England towns. Rather go seaside?  Check into the Camden Maine Stay and climb Mount Battie for fabulous views of Camden Harbor, and then take to the slopes at the Camden Snowbowl!

Save money: Visit Distinctive Inns of New England and you’ll find a host of New England getaway packages offering money saving ideas. 

Discover something new: While Hurricane Irene sent a five foot wall of water through the first floor of the Deerfield Inn, the good news is that construction is underway and by summer time they’ll open their doors to a brand new restaurant and selection of guest rooms.  The anticipation is building while Deerfield Inn is closed for renovations, but in just a few months, this will be the place to discover what’s new in the Berkshires.

This year, resolve to DINE better and more often.  Happy New Year!

Planning to tie the knot this holiday season….in your apron that is??  Tis the season to get jolly in the kitchen, and innkeepers from Distinctive Inns of New England are here to not only provide luxury country inn getaways, but also the perfect ideas for holiday entertaining.  Leslie Mulcahy at the Rabbit Hill Inn passed along some great advice for making your holiday gathering easy and delicious.  ” Without doubt, shrimp is ALWAYS the first thing to disappear at a party,” she mused.  “This year, forget the typical shrimp cocktail. This chilled shrimp dish will be a HUGE hit at your holiday gathering.  It can easily be prepared in advance.  As a bonus, you won’t have to deal with a messy side bowl of dipping sauce,” advises Leslie.  In fact, no need to serve margaritas – the tequila is in the marinade!  Doubly easy. Check out Rabbit Hill Inn’s best guest entertaining suggestion.

Grilled Lime Tequila Shrimp from Rabbit Hill Inn

Preparation of the Marinade (Yield 1 ½ cups)

¼ cup lime juice, fresh squeezed

¼ cup tequila

½ Tbls garlic

2 Tbls shallots

6 Tbls olive oil

1 Tbls Dijon mustard

¾ tsp fresh black pepper

2 Tbls minced cilantro

4 Tbls minced parsley

-> Combine all ingredients and incorporate well.

Preparation of the Shrimp:

2 lbs large shrimp (deveined and shelled)

-> In ziplock bag, soak in marinade for 2-3 hours (longer if possible)

-> Remove shrimp from marinade and let drain for 2-3 minutes

-> Oil hot grill rack to prevent sticking

-> Grill on both sides until done (3-5 minutes total)

Serve warmed or chilled. Either way, it will be FANTASTIC!

There’s an interesting campaign underway sponsored by the B&B industry which might be of interest to everyone in search of  romantic New England getaways and New England travel.  A sort of “Got Milk” campaign to help travelers discover what today’s inn and B&Bs offer, the Better Way To Stay campaign is determined to show the world that inns and B&Bs are simply the better way to stay.  Recently a story about choosing an inn over a B&B appeared on the Better Way To Stay blog which is worth sharing  here with DINE guests who share a love of New England luxury travel.  If home for the holidays conjures up visions of anxiety rather than sugarplums for you, let us convince you that choosing a DINE inn rather than Mom’s lumpy sofa bed might be a great idea for you.  Here’s an excerpt from the Better Way To Stay blog about why inns might be the better choicde this holiday season…

It’s countdown to the holidays and while the family gathering is supposed to be joyful, the anticipation of sleepless nights on the sofabed…or worse yet blow up mattress… is not putting visions of sugarplums in your head.   While it takes less energy to smile than frown at family gatherings, sleepless nights in the uncomfortable guest bed – whatever it may be – means you’d better use caution that you don’t fall asleep while roasting chestnuts near the open fire. 

No need to lose any more sleep thinking about how to explain the dark circles under your eyes to Mom and the family.  There’s surely still plenty of room at the inn nearby.  Consider these ten reasons a B&B is the better way to stay this holiday season.

1.       Their walls don’t talk:    Everyone needs time to process that insensitive comment from the sister-in-law, crazy Aunt Helen’s antics or the re-gifting of the blue scarf you gave your brother last year.  Rather than being overheard at Mom’s house, retreat to a quiet B&B where you can rehash all the family fun with your spouse later in the evening.

2.       A place for your toothbrush:  Pet peeve #21 about staying at Mom’s: no room for the toilet kit.  Book a holiday stay at an inn or B&B close to Mom’s and you’ll have a private bath all to yourself.  And you don’t even have to put the toilet seat down if you don’t want to!

3.       Start the day out right:  While you know Mom wants you to get plenty of fiber, her idea of soupy oatmeal is not your idea of the perfect breakfast.  Since breakfast is the half the B&B’s name you can count on a delicious and hearty start to your day if you book a stay this holiday season.

4.       Greetings with a smile:  The holidays can take their toll on Mom and Dad, especially when company is involved.  Check into a nearby B&B and you’ll be greeted with a smile from an innkeeper who’s happy to carry your baggage rather than remind you of it.

5.       No need to make the bed:  You don’t make your bed at home but when you stay at Mom’s it’s not only a requirement it has to be done to her specs.  Leave the bed making to your innkeeper, and spend your holiday making holiday pies not beds.

To read the rest of the top reasons to choose an inn over Mom’s house this holiday season, go to http://www.betterwaytostay.com/blog/ and remember, this holiday season, make a New England Distinctive Inn your refuge.

It’s always amazed me that in a small consortium of nine inns, two of the DINE member inns are owned by innkeepers who’ve come from Italy.  You can imagine the meetings when DINE innkeepers get together – lessons in Italian and fine Italian food once in awhile too! I thought it might be fun to explore some Italian Christmas traditions, and Claudio Latanza, co-owner of the Camden Maine Stay Inn, along with his bride Roberta (also an Italian native) responded to my request for info about Italian holiday traditions with the tale of Befana.

While Befana does not bear any physical resemblance to the jolly old soul, her intentions are certainly as noble.  She arrives well after Santa has done his rounds, on the eve of the Epiphany (January 5  – just in time to catch plenty of after-Christmas sales!) so children awake on January 6 (celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany) to gifts.  Befana assumes the character of a kindly old witch.  She enters through the chimney to leave the gifts for the children in the big socks provided for this use.  According to Claudio, “the Befana  would bring gifts to the GOOD children, while the bad ones got only pieces of coal, which by the way were made of sugar and were not bad at all”.  Our question to Claudio is how many times did he get coal rather than candy?

According to Claudio, some of these age-old  traditions are changing in Italy.  He tells us that Italian families now gather on Christmas Eve to enjoy a family dinner and to exchange gifts, and increasingly, holiday lights and decorations are appearing in Italian neighborhoods, according to Claudio. Yet, I am sure that socks still are hung by Claudio and Roberta’s chimney in hopes that this year Befana will leave sweet gifts.

It’s holiday time and throughout DINE inns, holiday decorations are WOWing guests.  Fresh pine and red berries, baby’s breath, boxwood, and Santa hats add holiday cheer.  Yet for some decorating-challenged Martha-Stewart wanna be’s (like me), the holidays pose a particular challenge.  While we all want our homes to look like a distinctive inn, some of us simply don’t have the flair.  We asked DINE innkeepers to share some of their wisdom collected from years of creating breathtaking  settings during the holidays and beyond.  Here are some tips they shared.

From Judy Heuber at the Chesterfield Inn:

Here are my tips for easy-to-make decorations using nature’s holiday trim:

1) Add sprigs of boxwood to a traditional evergreen wreath for another dimension. The boxwood looks good for months, which is how long we keep Christmas wreaths up in Northern new England!

2) Fill a glass vase with fresh cranberries, add water, holly branches with berries and  big red bow.

3) Glue cinnamon sticks to a white pillar candle for a woodsy look, and set it in a shallow bowl filled with greens, red Christmas ornaments, and pine cones

From Leslie Mulcahy at the Rabbit Hill Inn:

1) Mantels are a focal point in all of our common rooms and each one deserves a unique décor treatment.  However, I need to decorate them in a quick & easy fashion.  I always begin with a high quality pre-lit green garland.  I then place varied heights of candle holders in the garland.  To prevent a fire hazard, I replace candles with large, striking ornaments on top of the candle holders (secure the ornaments to the holders using adhesive putty).  I decorate the garlands, to include some longer shaped ornaments cascading down the sides, and also adorn the back wall to create some height to the scene.  The soft glow of the lit mantel and light reflective decorations adds outstanding festive ambiance to any room.

2) Tree décor tips – add lights, then MORE lights, especially deep along the trunk of the tree for an awesome effect.  In addition to the traditional use of lights & ornaments, I also use a “filler” product to create a visual effect.  A recent example is a high quality artificial baby’s breath (ordered from a wholesale floral company).  I cut off most of the wire stem and place these flowers on the tree and deep inside the branches.

From Jill and James at Captain’s House Inn

This might not work for every dining room, but we add “Santa Hat Seat Backs” to the chairs in our dining room for a whimsical and fun effect.  The red and white hats along with our red tablecloths and tables decorated with natural greens create the perfect holiday scene.  Kids will love these too!

You want every moment of Christmas day to be special, and we all know that the best way to start the day is with a good breakfast.  Breakfast is half the name of the B&Bs and inn-members of Distinctive Inns of New England.  Here are two recipes shared by the Captain’s House Inn and Chesterfield Inn to make Christmas morning….or any other morning just a little more special.

Stollen Scones from Captain’s House Inn

Oven Temperature:   350°

Yield: Single batch  – 10 /12 scones, Double batch – 22 / 24 Scones

Cutter: #3 Plain Circular Edge Cutter

Ingredients (single batch)

2 Cups  all purpose flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

3 Tbsp sugar

½ tsp Cardamom

½ Cup butter

½ Cup mixed dried fruit

2 large eggs (for a double batch only use 3 eggs)

1/8 Cup  heavy cream

Ingredients – Egg Wash

1 egg

A little heavy cream

Pinch raw sugar

Method

1.     Sift the dry ingredients into the mixer and cut in the butter until the mixture resembles bread crumbs and then incorporate the mixed dried fruit

2.     Add the eggs and then the cream a little at a time. Do not over moisten the dough.

3.     Roll the dough LIGHTLY to a ¾” thickness and use a #3 plain circular edge cutter to shape the scones.

4.     Place the scones on a greased cookie sheet and brush them lightly with egg wash (beat the two egg wash ingredients together).

5.     Sprinkle a little raw sugar on top.

6.     Bake for 15 minutes at 350° until they have risen and are lightly browned.

Christmas Morning Pancakes from Chesterfield Inn

Ingredients:

1 Cup whole milk

2 eggs

3 Tbsp, plus ½ t. vegetable oil

8 Tbsp. butter (1 stick), melted and cooled

1 Cup flour

4 tsp. baking powder

4 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

Mix together milk, eggs, and 2 tablespoons oil in a medium bowl. Then whisk in butter. Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in another bowl. Whisk in egg mixture until just combined. Heat   ½ teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet. Pour 1/3  cup portions of batter to make the pancakes, adding more oil between batches. Cook until bubbles form on the top of each pancake before flipping. Cook until undersides are golden. Serve with warm New Hampshire maple syrup.

You can add blueberries to them or serve with sugared strawberries  on top, but we like them just plain with syrup.

 Stay tuned for more great holiday recipes to be posted on the DINE blog soon!