So as some of you know, we have a big honeymoon trip coming up (full details soon) but to tide us over and recoup from the frenzy of wedding planning, a mini-moon was in order. Dreaming of a quick jaunt to Malibu, the Keys, or somewhere sunny, I was bit bummed when a family obligation left us with the ever-familar Pennsylvania as our best option. Visions of the Poconos’ 1970s champagne coup bathtubs and vibrating heart-shape beds were haunting me so I googled “Relais & Châteaux, PA” in hopes that this global boutique hotel network would freakishly have a location in the Keystone state. Lucky us, I found out they have two properties in the region and Milford’s Hotel Fauchère happens to be one of them.
The recently renovated 16-room hotel was founded in 1852 by the master chef of New York City’s first and most famous restaurant, Delmonico’s, and takes its legendary reputation of fine food and hospitality very seriously. The service was beyond impeccable–it was unbelievably thoughtful and wrought with the most charming details.
The wow-service began before we even arrived. We called to let them know we wouldn’t get in until 10pm and asked if they could recommend any places open for a bite. They called around, came up with nothing, but said they would stay open because they wanted the newlyweds to have a gourmet meal upon arrival. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves, enjoying a Delmonico steak and truffle fries, only to be greeted by the owners with a personal welcome and congrats. Wow is right.
After dinner, we went up to our minimalist but luxe room to find milk, cookies, and a bedtime story waiting for us on our nightstand. Beside it was a card with the next day’s weather a hand-drawn with the sun, clouds, and temperature. The cute-factor was off the charts! And the bathroom with radiant floors and claw-foot tub, bedroom with Frette sheets, and Belgian linens weren’t bad either.
The next day we woke up and had breakfast delivered to our bedside. Continental breakfast usually means Cherrios and a fruit cup…oh no, not at the Hotel Fauchère. Homemade vanilla bean yogurt, fresh granola, warm croissants, and grapefruit with sugar blow-torched on top are the complimentary option.
Freakishly, March 18th was a 73-degree day so we asked them about taking a hike to the nearby Raymondskill Falls. They handed us a Picnic at Ascot backpack complete with Christofle hotel silver, plates, and champagne glasses and sent us to Fretta’s Italian food specialty shop (also adorable!) where we picked up olives and prosciutto to go with our bubbly.
Our last night wrapped up with total decadence: a five-course meal with the most delicious dishes like garden potatoes with roasted figs and local sour cherries , duck with herbs and nasturtiums and the perfect wines to match. To explain how attentive the wait staff was, when we asked our South African server a few questions about Cape Town, she gave us her email in case we ever needed any recommendations on a future trip.
Now if you are looking for a honeymoon spot, I wouldn’t try to sell you on Pennsylvania as the most romantic pick on the planet, but for a weekend getaway with full-service charm and pampering, you have to try Hotel Fauchére.
Whenever I return to a place I once lived–Hollywood, Amish country, or Andalusia–I know exactly where I’m going to eat. Visiting an old haunt and ordering a favorite dish–nothing fuels nostalgia more.
Last weekend Mike asked me to join him in Pittsburgh for his college reunion but from the sound of it our meal at Primanti Brothers Restaurant was just as important as visiting the campus. Located in the Strip District, it’s a true Iron City establishment. What brought it to such fame? Massive sandwiches with vinegar coleslaw and French fries slapped between white bread. After eating there, I too love Pittsburgh that much more–but it wasn’t the heart-attack-of-a-sandwich that won me over, it was the world of food at the Strip District that already has me nostalgic.
