2008 January | Hartstone Inn Blog

An enchanting bed and breakfast in the heart of Camden village that Fodor’s considers “An elegant and sophisticated retreat and culinary destination,” this Mansard style Victorian built in 1835 offers a unique experience in pampered luxury.

Archive for January, 2008

Cocktail Mixology – Key Lime Martini

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

Key Lime Martini
Graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 limes
3/4 cup keke beach liqueur
3/8 cup vanilla vodka
1 cup crushed ice
2 slices of lime for garnish

Make a thin layer of graham cracker crumbs on a small plate. Juice the limes and reserve. Take one of the squeezed lime halves and coat the rim of two martini glasses with lime juice. Invert the glass and dip the rim in the graham cracker crumbs to coat the rim. Place the glasses in the freezer to frost them. Mix the reserved lime juice, keke beach liqueur and vanilla vodka together in a cocktail shaker. Add the crushed ice, secure the top of the shaker and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain the drink into 2 chilled martini glasses, garnish with a slice of lime and serve immediately.

Join us at the Hartstone Inn for cocktails between 5 and 7 p.m. on your next visit and take advantage of our “Happy Hour Specials”. Signature cocktails are only $5 and include such favorites as: Key Lime Martinis, Peach Martinis and Raspberry Mojitos.

Posted in Cocktails, Recipe | No Comments »

Portland Magazine – Valentine Pick

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

Portland Magazine’s Winterguide 2008 has just published a list of “27 Romantic Getaways for the Ultimate Valentine’s Day!” We are proud to announce that the Hartstone Inn is listed as number 6.

To read the article, click here.

Celebrate Valentines Day everyday in the Month of February!

Your Two Night February Romance Package includes: a half bottle of champagne, chocolate truffles and a rose petal turndown. Memorable Breakfast Each Morning, Afternoon Tea and Cookies and Happy Hour Martini’s each afternoon by the fire. A five-course candle lit dinner for two.

If you would like to pamper yourself with one of our spa treatments (at our new “on property” massage room) we are offering 10% off in the month of February.

Rates: Rooms – $358, Jr. Suites- $388 and Suites – $438

Posted in Holidays, Packages, Press, Things to do in Camden | No Comments »

Mary Jo’s Orchid Corner – Oncidium

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

Mary Jo has been growing orchids for over 14 years, and in this column, she will share some of her wisdom and experiences.

Phalaenopsis (phals), Paphiopedilum (paphs) and Oncidiums (onc) are varieties that Mary Jo finds most easy to grow in the home. These hybrids are usually considered “beginner orchids,” largely because they will re-bloom under the conditions that most windowsill growers can offer. They require less light, about the same as for African violets, and will adapt to the humidity levels that are present in most homes.

Orchids can be grown on a tray of pebbles with water, which prevents the pots from sitting directly in the water while providing needed humidity. Orchids like to be kept warm during the day and a little cooler at night. It’s true that watering orchids does seem to give those unfamiliar with growing orchids the most trouble. Mary Jo waters her orchids once a week. During the summer, they get watered every five days. Basically, the hotter the temperature, the more water they need, and the colder it is, the opposite holds true. It’s all simply a matter of practice.

As your interests grow and you want to acquire more specialized orchids, Mary Jo highly recommends buying from these three fabulous growers: Carmelaorchids.net, Kalapanatropicals.com and Carterandholmes.com.

A great resource for Orchid information is the “American Orchid Society (AOS)”and their website is: orchidweb.org.

For detailed information on Oncidiums (light, fertilizer, water, temperature, humidity) click on the following link to see a PDF file known as a culture sheet. This page will supply you with all of the basic requirements for growing Oncidiums: http://www.orchidweb.org/aos/orchids/documents/cultureintermedoncidium.pdf

Posted in Mary Jo, Orchids | No Comments »

Camden Snow Bowl

Friday, January 18th, 2008

The Camden Snow Bowl is a community owned ski and recreation area and is located four miles from the Hartstone Inn and Hideaway. From the summit of 1300′ Ragged Mountain, home to the Snow Bowl’s trails, skiers and riders have an incredible view of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a view quite unlike any other in the east. The Camden Snow Bowl really is “where the mountains meet the sea”.
In addition to alpine skiing and snowboarding, there are many other winter activities available at the Snow Bowl. A snow tubing slope provides fun for all family members, ice skating on Hosmer pond and a thrilling 400′ toboggan chute. The National Toboggan Championships are held here the first weekend of February. There is also a cross country ski and snowshoeing trail available.
Four lifts serve 850′ of vertical. One chairlift, two T-Bars and a surface lift in the beginner area service the ten trails and a terrain park. All trails lead back to a classic A-frame lodge where you will find all services. The Camden Snow Bowl has a ski and snowboard school, full rental shop, an active youth racing program and a fully qualified ski patrol. Coastal Maine sees its share of big winter storms, but we have a snowmaking system that covers 45% of our area to ensure plenty of skiing and riding. Most trails are groomed daily.

The Camden Snow Bowl is open Tuesday – Saturday until 7 p.m. and Sunday until 4 p.m. Closed on Monday except for holidays and vacation weeks.

For current conditions, prices, a live web cam and further information, visit the Camden Snow Bowl online at: http://www.camdensnowbowl.com/.

Mountain Facts
Trails: 11
Lifts: 4 (1 Chairlift, 2 T-Bars, 1 surface lift)
Terrain: 20% Easiest, 60% Intermediate, 20% Difficult
Evening Skiing on: Clipper, Muscle Ridge, Windjammer, Foxy and the Terrain Park
Longest Run: 1 mile/1.6 km – Spinnaker
Terrain Parks: 1
Glades: 3
Skiable Acres: 80
Snowmaking On: 36 acres/45% of ski area
Vertical Drop: 943 feet
Base Elevation: 150 feet above sea level
Top Elevation: 1093 feet above sea level
Annual Snowfall: 72 inches
Tubing Hill: 2 lanes
Toboggan Chute: 400 feet long
Ice Skating on Hosmer Pond

Posted in Things to do in Camden, Winter Activities | No Comments »

Happy New Year!

Tuesday, January 1st, 2008

New Year’s Eve dinner went off without a hitch. Dinner consisted of 10 courses from an amuse of baked brie to homemade chocolates at the end of the evening. Everyone was in good spirits, as you can imagine with that much Champagne, and the plates came back to the kitchen very clean.

At the stroke of midnight we gathered out in front of the Inn as the church bells chimed in the new year. Mary Jo “cut” the top of a Champagne bottle off with my largest kitchen cleaver and we had a New Year’s toast. Following is the menu from the evening. I hope your evening was as memorable as ours. Happy, Happy New Year!!!!

New Years Eve 2007-2008 – Dinner Menu
Amuse – Baked Brie with Frangelico and Hazelnuts

Whole Grain Oak Leaf with a Foie Gras Mousse and Mushroom Duxelle

Maine Lobster Custard with an Arugula Pesto

House Smoked Salmon and Caviar Parfait with Smoked Sturgeon

Australian Lamb Chop with a Grilled Caponata

Crab Bisque with Prosciutto Crisped Monkfish

Blood Orange Sorbet with Champagne

Seared Veal Medallions with a Morel Cream

Eggnog “Baked Alaska”

Hartstone Chocolates

Posted in Chef Michael Salmon, Holidays, Mary Jo, Things to do in Camden | No Comments »