DigInVT.com partner the Vermont Fresh Network shares news of a new executive chef at member restaurant Inn at Weathersfield. Details on the new hire and special dinners being offered for the occasion are in the press release below. You can read profiles of Vermont Fresh Network member restaurants and farms at their website www.vermontfresh.net and by signing up for the Fresh Feed.
The Inn at Weathersfield, noted as one of the top 10 culinary inns by Bon Appetit magazine, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean-Luc Matécat as executive chef. Chef Jean-Luc's responsibilities include creating and overseeing the culinary experience for both inn and dinner guests, teaching classes at the inn's non-professional classroom studio, The Hidden Kitchen, and managing the inn's organic vegetable and herb garden.
As a native Vermonter and son of a French chef, Jean-Luc learned early to respect food and seek out the freshest ingredients from local farms. After culinary school in California and studying under some of the finest chefs in New England, Jean-Luc's career took him from Nantucket to northern Vermont and over to France. His style is clean, rustic, yet classically rooted. His dishes change weekly and will continue to feature ingredients from local farms, as well as seafood from New England waters.
To introduce the community to Jean-Luc and his cuisine, the Inn is running “Meet & Three” Thursdays, every Thursday through March 23, when the Inn closes for mud season. A three-course dinner (with a choice of two starters and two main courses plus dessert) featuring dishes on his Friday through Sunday tasting menu, is being offered for $25 per person in the dining room.
“I'm truly excited to be a part of the next chapter unfolding here at the Inn at Weathersfield”, said Executive Chef Jean-Luc Matécat. “It’s a privilege to work in a place with such a rich culinary history. The Inn’s deep connection to the local agriculture and farms is a natural fit for me, because it is such an important part of how I choose to live my life and run my kitchen.”
“The 'Meet & Three’ Thursday dinners will give inn and dinner guests the opportunity to meet and experience Jean-Luc's cuisine,” said co-owner Marilee Spanjian. “Last fall, we reviewed over 90 applicants. Of those, we brought in five to cook for our search committee in The Hidden Kitchen, our classroom studio. It was a unanimous decision. Jean-Luc's respect for local farm fresh food is a way of life for him. His style is clean and creative, with dishes like Heirloom Carrot Soup with pork belly hidden in the bowl, Braised Lamb and Handmade Cavatelli, and his Smoked New England Bluefish Paté paired with pickled onions. His calm, focused style inside and out of the kitchen and among the guests brings a level of professionalism that Richard and I appreciate.”
The Inn at Weathersfield is one of Southern Vermont's hidden farm-to-table jewels and a premier New England culinary inn destination. Tucked on 21 wooded acres, the 12-guest room year-round inn is open for dining, weddings and events. It is conveniently located just minutes from Woodstock, Ludlow (Okemo Mountain) and Chester, yet far enough away to be a true retreat. Built in 1792 and having served as a stagecoach stop, the charming two-story aged gently as a private residence for over 150 years before becoming an inn. Old world charm found in the original wood floors, fireplaces, and exposed timber frame beams blends with modern spa baths and showers, flat screen TVs and WiFi throughout.
The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30-8:30 pm and the inn is open seven days a week. For more information call 802-263-9217, email [email protected] and visit www.weathersfieldinn.com.
Do you have a favorite Vermont culinary destination during the winter months? Let us know! We're always interested in hearing about favorite VT food experiences and are particularly interested in personal stories for our guest blog posts. E-mail helen.labun.jordan @ gmail.com for more details.
