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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 February, 2009
Saturday, February 28th, 2009
 Garden Suite After
 - Garden Suite Before
Then and Now” is a series of photographs and stories we have created in our blog to allow guests to see the progress we have made here at the Inn since we took over in May of 1998.
Our first two installments in this series focused on the French Thyme Suite and our Dining Porch at the Hartstone Inn. This, our third entry in the series shows the Garden Suite, located in the back of the Hartstone Inn with a private entrance. When we purchased the Inn, the Garden Suite was named “Apartment 2″ and actually had a small kitchenette installed with a refrigerator, small stove and kitchen sink. The previous owners used to rent it by the day during the summer and by the month in the off season. One of my first memorable check in’s at the Inn was a couple who had reserved the Garden Suite and upon opening the door (full kitchen in sight) they said “but we don’t need all this.” Of course, they were looking for a comfortable and pretty room for a romantic getaway, and within the first couple of months Mary Jo had me removing appliances, refinishing floors and walls and creating her vision for the space. Now, upon check in, we get a much nicer first response!
 Garden Suite Before
 Garden Suite After
Posted in Then and Now | No Comments »
Friday, February 20th, 2009
 Carrot Soup On December 11, 2008 I blogged about my final vegetable harvest of the season. I had just pulled my last carrots out of my raised beds the day before and went on to promise a recipe for my carrot soup. So here it is:
2 Tablespoons canola oil
2 medium-sized yellow onions, peeled and roughly cut
1 stalk celery, roughly cut
3 pounds carrots, peeled and roughly cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 quarts chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves
kosher salt and white pepper to taste
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 dash freshly grated nutmeg
kosher salt and white pepper to taste
2 teaspoons chopped dill
1/4 cup crisp nutmeg croutons
8 dill sprigs for garnish
1. Heat the oil in a large (4-quart) saucepan. Add the onions and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in carrots, celery, chicken stock, bay leaf and thyme. Bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaf. Blend the soup with either a handheld immersion blender or in a regular household blender until smooth. Season with salt and white pepper.
3. To serve, whip the cream to stiff peaks and season with nutmeg, salt, white pepper and chopped dill. Ladle soup into serving bowls and top with a spoon of whipped cream. Sprinkle with nutmeg croutons and top with a dill sprig. Serve immediately.
Posted in Garden, Recipe | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009
Mary Jo and I snuck away for lunch last week (to Boynton McKay) with Captain Jack and First Mate Barbara from the Schooner Surprise. We had a great lunch, as usual, and enjoyed some great company. Jack and Barbara are enjoying their Winter break but are looking forward to the upcoming sailing season, only 102 days away. If you are planning a trip to Camden between Memorial day weekend and the third week of October, I insist that you get out on the Surprise for one of their outstanding 2 hour adventures. Their local and nautical knowledge paired with the vast beauty of Penobscot Bay (not to mention the thrill of sailing on an old historic schooner) add up to a vacation memory not to be missed. After lunch we wandered down to the waterfront in Camden and I took a snapshot of them with Surprise floating in the background in the icy waters. Check out our Sailing Packages on the Hartstone Inn website.
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Captain Jack and Barbara
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Frozen Surprise
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Camden Harbor Surprise
Posted in Packages, Things to do in Camden | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
 - Boynton-McKay Restaurant, Camden
 Owner -Phil Mary Jo and I make a weekly lunch journey down to our favorite lunch spot in Camden. Boynton-McKay is located in what was, for many decades, the town’s primary drug store, apothecary and soda fountain right on Main Street in downtown Camden. Phil, the owner/operator, also makes a great breakfast, but if you’re our guest at the Inn, you will probably be too full from our 2-course breakfast to partake. Mary Jo often has their breakfast skillet (lo-carb eater) and I play the “menu field” with favorites ranging from a Chicken Fajita Wrap, Spicy Shrimp Wrap or Gyros Wrap, to Grilled Chicken, Artichoke and Pesto Quesadillas, Thai Stir-fry with Chicken and a wide array of homemade pastries and desserts to round out the meal. On your next visit to Camden, plan a lunch trip to Boynton-McKay Restaurant, I may run into you there. P.S. - check out his professionally installed fire alarm system below!
 Redneck Fire Alarm Sign
Posted in Fun for Foodies, Things to do in Camden | No Comments »
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
This past weekend I held a cooking class on “Haute” Chinese Cuisine. First, a quick definition of the French word Haute: adjective 1. high-class or high-toned; fancy. I use this term to describe the type of Chinese cooking I demonstrated in this cooking class, taking a standard “Chinese” dish and elevating it to a “higher” level by using premium ingredients in place of the regular “economical” ingredients. The four dishes on the menu were: Kung Pao Shrimp (using jumbo tiger shrimp), Cashew Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork (using pork tenderloin, strawberries, red grapes and fresh pineapple) and Crispy Whole Black Sea Bass with Spicy Vegetables and Salted Black Beans. The recipes are available in my second cookbook “In the Kitchen with Michael Salmon.”
Sharon, one of the class participants, forwarded me the following pictures that she took during Sunday’s class…thank you Sharon!
Tags: Events, Food, Hobbies, People
Posted in Chef Michael Salmon, Cooking School, Fun for Foodies | No Comments »
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Cooking Class Comment
Friday, February 13th, 2009Every February I run a “Romantic Dinner for Two” cooking class, attempting to inspire students to create a special Valentine’s dinner of their own. George, a repeat attendee, sent the following comment (sorry about your financial loss George) and the above photographs (Honey-Seared Duck Breast with Peppered Squash and a Walnut Dressing and Hartstone “Beef Wellington” with a Smoked Tomato Choron Sauce)…
Thank you for your contribution George and I hope to see you in an upcoming class!
Posted in Chef Michael Salmon, Cooking School, Guest News & Comments | 2 Comments »