Relais & Châteaux

Château du Sureau (breakfast), Oakhurst, CA., 10/2025

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building – 48688 Victoria Ln, Oakhurst, CA 93644-9215

Château du Sureau is a nine acre resort in the Sierra Nevada foothills, a short ride from Yosemite National Park.  I know this is a restaurant blog but sometimes it feels right to give you a little information on where you can stay when you’re in pursuit of dining opportunities.  Also with your stay at this Relais & Châteaux property you get a complimentary breakfast, so that basically fits the criteria.   It’s the perfect place to stay if you want to try Elderberry House for fine dining or The Cellar for casual fare prepared in the same kitchen, as they are both a short walk from Château du Sureau.  There are 10 guest rooms as well as Villa du Sureau, a 2,000 sq. ft. manor.  Each of the Château’s rooms are named for an and herb or flower native to the south of France.  There are no TVs or front desk but there are lots of antiques, tapestries and art.  The rooms were large and service was good.  Breakfast was prepared fresh in a small kitchen in the house and while not outstanding it was a really lovely place to start your day, have a short drive to the entrance of Yosemite and end the day on property with a fun meal. Continue reading →

Twin Farms tasting menu (update), Barnard, VT., 10/2025

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building back (but was the front) – 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 05031

Chef Nathan Rich curates the tasting menu at Twin Farms with the help of a good team.  They were in the midst of a kitchen expansion when we were there which will add the option of chef’s dinners in the kitchen and a window for guests in the dining room to look into the kitchen action.  On  the menu it states that they will modify the tasting if you chose to have it consecutive nights but with their flexibility in plating it’s easy to create your own tasting of the options that interest you.  The server will caution you that the tasting takes at least 2 hours as it’s about 10 courses.  There were no amuse or extras course not on the menu but it did take over 2 hours however the pacing was quite slow.  Wine pairings are available or there are a limited number of bottles you can order, that are included in your fee or there is a reserve wine list that comes with an additional fee.  The pairing pours are mostly from bottles the sommelier chooses and they are not on the list for you to chose from.  They are usually well matched but mostly inexpensive wines.  When the room grew crowded it was mostly impossible for the sommelier to refill an empty glass in a timely fashion.  Overall the tasting was good but I found it interesting that the only fish was the lobster salad in an appetizer.   Also the bread is its own course and not served to go with the entire meal (an annoying trend I’ve noted in other restaurant tastings).  If you want to see our 2024 tasting menu dinner click here.  I hope you’ll let me know what you think if you go! Continue reading →

Twin Farms breakfast (update), Barnard, VT., 10/22-24/25

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place – 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 05031

The breakfast at Twin Farms was served in both of the main house’s dining rooms.  You can compare to last year’s breakfast by clicking here.  The patio room has windows looking outside and was generally a cooler room due to the wall of window but both usually had fires in the fireplaces.  The breakfast menu didn’t change but each day they added one special and varied the potoato preparation.  Service starts with beverages and your daily bread to munch on while you wait for food.  Alcoholic cocktails were available but I never saw anyone getting one.  Lots of teas, coffee and various fruit juices.   They did take good care when cooking the eggs and I never had an overcooked one.  All the bread offerings were good.  As a guest you are offered breakfast the day you check out which is a nice send off.  Hope you’ll let me know what you think if you go.  It’s a lot to eat and drink! Continue reading →

Twin Farms Twiggs dinner (update), Barnard, VT., 10/2025

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building – 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 0503

Twiggs is the more casual of the restaurants on site but neither has dress codes.  Twiggs has its own kitchen and staff as well as a large bar and bartender.  The staff do rotate between the venues so you may see the same people.  The Twiggs kitchen is where they have their cooking classes and my husband said they were nicely done.  The large room has a vaulted ceiling and a couple areas with couch seating, if you want to have cocktails there rather than on a bar seat or at your table.  We chose to have ours at our table.  There is a large fireplace at the end of the room but it has a gas log fire, due to some draw issues.  It lends the ambiance without the smoke.  Large marble tables are in various shapes with wood perimeters.  The lighting was lowered and music was in the background.  The menu is different than at the other venue and they have more grilled options.   They were wiling to split items for us in the kitchen and would course it out to simulate our own tasting menu.  I liked the room and the food over here as well.  If you want to compare to our Twiggs dinner in 2024 click here. Continue reading →

Twin Farms dinnner a la carte menu (update), Barnard, VT., 10/21/25

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main house – 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 05031

We first visited Twin Farms in Nov. of 2024, right before Thanksgiving.  It was pretty empty and so we wanted to try it again when it was busier, which we did.  We stayed in a huge room in the main house so it was a quick walk to dinner.  Over the 3 nights we tried the a la carte and tasting menus in the main house dining room and had one meal at Twiggs which is a separate dining venue across a short bridge, but also on the property.  It’s an all-inclusive Relais & Chateaux and we also wanted to compare it to The Point a similar resort that we just visited which you can read about by clicking here.  If you want to read last year’s write up of the a la carte dinner you can click here.    Twin Farms is a bigger place with room for more guests,  It’s bars are staffed with bartenders rather than self serve and tables are all individual rather than any communal settings.  They both have snacks with cocktail hour but I found that even with more people the folks didn’t interact as much.  Our room at Twin Farms was much bigger with 2 fireplaces and lots of service but you do get a key, where you did not at The Point.  The dinner menu has much more flexibility at Twin Farms because you have a menu and not a set meal.  Is this a positive, I don’t know.  During the day they offer some classes that are of no additional charge as well as have hiking trails, axe throwing, croquet and archery.  Stave jigsaw puzzles are everywhere.  We enjoyed our stay and took advantage of having a bartender to order some ‘fancy’ cocktails.  The food varies, but it’s all good and the Executive Chef Nathan Rich came out to visit numerous times. Continue reading →

The Point (part 2), Saranac Lake, NY., 10/7/25

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main house – 222 Beaverwood Rd, Saranac Lake, NY 12983-3029

We stayed at The Point for 3 days and so this is part 2 of the chronicle of the food we had. (If you missed part 1, click here). I didn’t photograph the passed snacks that were part of the cocktail hour proceeding dinner each night and snacks/foods were available to be sent to your room if you had a craving for something.  Various guests attend the dinners in the Great Hall, all of which require coat and tie for men, while some arrange to have dinner in alternate locations.  All of the staff couldn’t have been nicer and more accommodating.  They wanted you to have a good time and we did.  The question is, is it worth the price?  I can’t answer that but I will say that a number of the people we met there had been multiple times.  It’s hard to get to – we flew into Albany and it was a 2.5 hours drive from there.  They are happy for you to check in in time for lunch which one of the other guests told me they always spend the night somewhere nearby and then drive in early so they can enjoy a full day of activities and eating. In the winter they have ice fishing, skating and cross country skiing.  In summer they have fishing, boating, water skiing and tube rides.  There are plenty of nooks where they’ll set up a picnic lunch and dining in your room is always an option.  The selection of liquors was good and the wines adequate with a separate list available if you want to buy an upgraded option.   It’s a beautiful property that is well maintained with amenities galore so if an all inclusive place if for you, you should check this one out. Continue reading →

The Point (part 1), Saranac Lake, NY., 10/5/25

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Entrance – 222 Beaverwood Rd, Saranac Lake, NY 12983-3029

The Point was the first named Relais & Châteaux in North America, some 39 years ago.   It was built by William A. Rockefeller II (John D’s grandnephew) in 1929 as a retreat in the Adirondacks.  It is 75 acres of waterfront property on the Saranac Lake.  There are 11 guest rooms, 4 in the main lodge and several log houses including one over the large boat house.  All the rooms have stone wood-burning fireplaces and include 3 meals a day, cocktail hour, morning coffee and pastries, snacks and unlimited beverages including wines, spirits, beers, espresso and on and on.  Wed and Sat are black tie dinners whereas other dinners in the Great Hall require coat and tie for men with similar fancy dress for women.  It’s a beautiful property that is well maintained with a staff ready to make your stay the best it can be.  In the large modern kitchen was Executive Chef D’Anthony who was on site every day to prepare the meals.  He is from Texas so he got points for that too.   The pastry chef  (sorry I forgot her name) was also in the kitchen and she did a fabulous job on the morning pastries that come to your room with coffee.  We enjoyed the set menus for meals but also appreciate their flexibility if you want something different.  The food was all nicely done and beautifully presented.  Part of the experience was getting to chat with other like minded people over dinner and cocktails which was very well done.  I decided to break my write up into 2 parts as there were a number of meals to report on.  Bottom line is that if it works in your budget you should go.  It’s a fabulous property and a lovely experience. Continue reading →

Twin Farms (dinner a la carte menu), Barnard, VT., 11/22/24

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part of the main house – 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 05031

The dining room is divided into 2 rooms.  One has a dramatic coved ceiling, some booth seating along one wall, and a lot of lights.   The adjacent room was where we were always served and it is a reclaimed porch.  Windows to the grounds make up one wall and it is ended by windows to some of the wine cellar on one end  and the other by a large stone fireplace.  The lighting is much lower here and the room more cozy.  Both have music in the background, wood floors, lovely linens, and fresh flowers on the good sized marble topped tables.  One thing I wondered about was would the wine and spirit options be from the “low shelf” since they were included in your stay.  They were not.  The alcohol options for cocktails were many and varied as was the wine that was mostly by the glass.  We did have a bottle at the Twigs dinner but otherwise we let the sommelier pick based on what we were having and it was all good.  If you didn’t like something they were happy to pour you a glass of something else.  A premium list is available at an extra charge but I encourage you to put your selection into their hands. Continue reading →

Twin Farms (lunch), Barnard, VT., 11/21 + 22/24

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part of main house- 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 05031

Twin Farms lunch can be had in the main dining room or ordered as a picnic brought to many places throughout the 300-acre grounds.  Some of the sites are set up with campfires.  You can also have the food delivered to the place you’re staying in.  The facility provides a number of indoor and outdoor activities including hikes, yoga, puzzles and games, cooking classes, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, some downhill skiing, ice skating, fishing, and biking.  They gave us information on flora and fauna of the area but as it was rainy and cold we didn’t get out on the grounds much and instead enjoyed some downtime in front of the fire, in our room and in the main buildings.  We did enjoy a guided art tour of some of the pieces in the main building.  The staff were all super friendly and helpful and really seemed to want to make your stay what you wanted it to be.  The food varied but it was all easily edible, some being quite good. Continue reading →

Twin Farms (breakfast), Barnard, VT., 11/21 + 23/24

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Frankie looked out at the patio – 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 05031

Breakfast at Twin Farms was in the main house’s dining area.  The porch addition was used the 2 days we went to breakfast.  It had been re-done last year whereas the barn-looking dining room was re-done in 1993.  This porch room had windows on 2 sides that looked out on the patio and grounds.  A fireplace was at one end and the stone tables were set with heavy stuffed chairs.  Fresh flowers were always on the tables.  After you select your order the staff brought a pastry of the day for you to snack on while you await your food.  Coffee, juice and alcoholic drinks were available in this lowered ceiling room with art on the walls. Continue reading →

Twin Farms (dinner tasting menu), Barnard, VT., 11/20/24

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main house –452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 05031

Twin Farms was originally owned by author Sinclair Lewis who bought it for journalist Dorothy Thompson.  She promised to marry him if he bought her a farm in Vermont, so he found this wonderful 1795-era farmhouse on 300 acres and purchased it for $10,000 in 1928.  Their parties were legendary but after Dorothy passed away in 1961 the property changed hands several times.  Thurston Twigg-Smith brought the property as a second home for his family in 1974.  By the late 1980s he was limited in how often he could visit the place so decided to re-create it as a resort and hired interior designer Jed Johnson and landscape architect Dan Kiley to transform it into “the number one small hotel in North America.”  With their talents and access to Twigg’s outstanding art collection, they created the Twin Farms of today.  Nine rooms opened in fall 1993 and the number of accommodations grew to 20 over the next 12 years.  Here you can stay in large suites in the main house or various cottages and tree houses.  The current owners have added a second dining venue, Twiggs and expanded outdoor dining options and added 8 more options to stay in. The place is a fixed price that includes 3 meals a day, snacks, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and offers a variety of included activities.  We were fortunate to enjoy the facility and the next several posts will cover our dining experiences while there.  It is on the pricy side but it is all inclusive.  The staff were fabulous and if you have the chance I know you’d enjoy a trip there. Continue reading →

The Swag, Waynesville, NC., 11/6/24

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building – 2300 Swag Rd, Waynesville, NC 28785

The Swag has several areas to eat dinner.  The first night we were on the covered open air porch.  The lighting was low and the breeze was quite nippy.  We asked to eat inside the next night as a number of the guests did and so we sat in the great room.  There is also dining in a smaller windowed room adjacent to the porch which is enclosed and we had breakfast in there both days.  The main room has a large fireplace with a bear skin over it and a stuffed bear climbing on one of the rafters.  A large chandelier made of antlers as well as small table lights make it much easier for photos in there.  Some deer mounts are also in the room which has a jigsaw puzzle set up during the day and feeds into the bar area.  My understanding is that you can reserve a dinner here and not be staying in one of the 18 rooms, suites and villas.  However, be warned that it’s not a driveway you want to navigate in the dark.  Most of the rooms have their own fireplace and they stock the room with wood.  I know you would enjoy a trip here. Continue reading →

The Swag (breakfast, lunch), Waynesville, NC., 11/6-7/24

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side view of main lodge – 2300 Swag Rd, Waynesville, NC 28785

At Swag you pick your dinner and lunch selections at the beginning of the day.  Breakfast is ordered when you go.  There are also snacks during the cocktail hour before dinner, which is at 7:00, snacks in your room, cookies in the afternoon and ice cream in the freezer outside all day.  You won’t go hungry.  They have changing Experts in Residence and these folks are there to visit or dine with you and bring expertise in everything from nature, wildlife, plants, photography, to painting.  Some lead hikes and others on the staff offer classes in wine, cooking, cocktails, etc. – all included in your stay. When you arrive you stop at the welcome house where they greet you with a beverage, for us champagne, and give you details about your upcoming stay.  They park your car and take your bags to your room while you are driven to your cabin.  Everyone is super friendly and willing to help.  The Chef hosts a picnic lunch twice a week and other days lunches can be packed as a picnic.  The food is not cutting edge but made with good ingredients and care for a nice finished product. Continue reading →

The Swag, Waynesville, NC., 11/5/24

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main Swag house – 2300 Swag Rd, Waynesville, NC 28785

The Swag Resort is almost a mile above sea level at the summit of the Great Smoky Mountains.  They offer a variety of private cabins or rooms in the main lodge to stay in with all meals included in your stay.  Built in the 1970s by Dan and Deener Matthews, it was a potato farm when they bought the spot at the top of the bald mountain.  No road accessed the property as the farmers had hiked to harvest the potatoes that were rolled down the hill.  They fell in love with the view of all the mountains from the hilltop and simply hiked up and camped there when they first bought the property.  They began to buy old log buildings and after building a road began to use these reclaimed logs to craft the buildings on their property.  It was a private residence until the 1982 World’s Fair came to Knoxville and the organizers asked if they could use the place as a hotel.  Guests liked it so much that they wanted to come back and thus the inn was created.  It’s called the Swag as that’s the name of the dip between the mountain ranges.  In 2018 the Matthews sold the property to Annie and David Colquitt, who spent their honeymoon on the property.  It joined Relais & Châteaux in 2020.  We were able to stay a couple nights and the next 3 posts will cover our meals there.  It’s a beautiful place and the staff are superb so visit if you can. Continue reading →

The Lodge at Glendorn, Bradford, PA., 10/18/24

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Big House – 1000 Glendorn Drive, Bradford, PA., 16701

The Big House was built of redwood as the property Dorn bought had been previously clear-cut and redwood would cut the risk of fire.   The logs were from California and shipped via the Panama Canal to the building where they were left rounded on the outside and planed smooth for the interior.   Meals and the bar are located the Big House, along with several rooms/suites.   Also on the property is a spa, workout room, and play room that had a self serve ice cream bar and fresh popcorn to go with games and such.  The property has numerous fishing lakes for fly fishing only and they have gear for you to use.  There is also skeet shooting, biking and golf carts to supplement the numerous hiking trails.  We got fish food from the staff that we could toss to the growing fish and boy did the fish go crazy for it.  On Friday and Saturday nights they have live music at dinner.  On Fridays it’s a guitar/singer and on Saturday it’s a pianist.  It was a lovely accompaniment to dinner.  They also had a buffet set up outside the cocktail room with boiled shrimp and cheese in the foyer.  Each night the menu changes some of the selections and the quality of all varies but is overall quite nice, however many of the service staff are fairly young and inexperienced. Continue reading →

The Lodge at Glendorn, Bradford, PA., 10/17/24

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lodge – 1000 Glendorn Drive, Bradford, PA., 16701

The Lodge at Glendorn dates back to 1927 when C.G. Bondieu purchased 1,250 acres as a retreat for his growing family.  He built a “Big House” and some cottages in the American Arts and Crafts style.  They continued to add buildings to the property over the next 80 years, opening it to the public in 1995.  One of the families that frequented it, fell in love with it and bought it when it was auctioned off in 2009, after most of the family no longer resided in the area.  Cliff Forrest and family then made Glendorn their home and set about preserving the history and natural surroundings while doing restorations, improvements and expanding to 1,500 acres.  Today, many of the furnishings and artworks were original to the home when the Dorn’s owned it.  We were lucky to snag a room at this Relais & Châteaux for 2 nights during Fall leaves.   Breakfast is included with your stay and I’ll cover that and lunch in a separate post.  Dinner is in a 4-course tasting format where you choose between multiple options.  You can also choose to have just 3 courses, pick more than one from each category, or add additional at a la carte prices.  They will customize it however you want.  Prior to dinner, they served snacks in another room with a bar, pool table and roaring fire.  I’ll talk more about the place in the upcoming posts but it is a beautiful spot and the staff could not be more welcoming or helpful.  The food is locally based and good but marvelously enhanced by the stunning yet cozy 2 story dining room.  If you can get there I know you will enjoy your visit. Continue reading →