NH ToDO - Inn At Danbury
Posted by: cas on Aug 31, 2005 - 01:36 PM
Business Profile
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The Oompahmusic was playing, the Weiss beer was flowing, the Geschiteles was served by a woman in a Drindle. Was this Oktoberfest? Was i in Munich, Germany? Impossible, I had not left new Hampshire so....of course I was eating dinner in the the Inn ad Danbury - country inn with a German/Austrian flair!
Read this review about The Inn At Danbury (PDF 3.4 MB file) a story I wrote for the NH ToDO Magazine, September 2005, or continue here to read the text version.
The original farmhouse was built in 1850 and over the years has evolved into a 14-room inn, including an indoor heated pool, hot tub, and restaurant.
The restaurant, Alphorn Bistro, has a Bavarian theme and is staffed by Drindl-wearing servers. A Drindl is a traditional German dress with big puffy sleeves, an apron, and a full skirt. Alexandra Graf, co-owner with her husband Bob, leads the staff of women dressed in Drindls and men wearing Lederhosen.
Some might think German food is boring but that was not my experience. I ordered the Huhn Schnitzel, a pounded chicken breast, breaded and sautéed until golden brown. My Schnitzel was crispy outside, mouth watering tender inside, and was served with red cabbage and spaetzle, (tiny noodles or dumplings), a variety of homemade breads, and a refreshing carrot and beet salad.
I also tried the Sauerbraten, Bob’s grandmother’s recipe. This beef is marinated for at least four days before it is braised in the oven. The sweet and sour combination of beef and gingersnap gravy was very satisfying. The accompanying potato pancakes, or Rosti, were crispy on the outside and reminded me of the potato dishes I ate when I lived in Munich. In fact, my entire dining experience reminded me of Germany – something apparently commonplace for visitors here. Diners who may not enjoy European style dining can order traditional cuisine like fettuccine Alfredo, other pasta dishes, or a fish entrée.
Bob and Alexandra did not start life as innkeepers. He was a general contractor and Alexandra, a flight attendant. The Graf’s were looking for a “family project” when they purchased the inn three years ago and moved from Utah with their four children and two dogs. Even though workdays can last 20 hours, they have no regrets. Says Bob, “Life needs to be an adventure and this is our current adventure.” After the first year, Bob took over as chef. “I always loved to eat well but was too “cheap” to eat out a lot, so I learned how to cook.”
Alexandra, was born and raised in The Haque, The Netherlands and although she has lived in the U.S. since 1979, her Dutch accent sometimes shows! Alex is fluent in four languages, including German, which comes in handy on their trips to Germany and Austria where they sample wines and discover new recipes. Bob cooks new recipes for his family first. If it passes the “family test,” it becomes a menu item. This was the case with one of their newest Austrian discoveries, Ratsherren Pfanne, which is pork medallions, spaetzle and lots of fontina cheese, mixed with a creamy mushroom sauce that is baked in the oven. Ratsherren Pfanne is on the menu to stay after being offered as a special for several weeks. The public voted it in!
I ordered one of their newly discovered Austria wines, Gruner Veltliner or Grueve (pronounced groovy) which was delicate and dry and perfectly complimented my Schnitzel. My partner ordered Weiss beer that, as it was poured, was “rolled” by Alex so that the last drops of wheat made it from the bottle to the glass. This technique worked perfectly because it tasted light and refreshing.
After dinner I tried the rich chocolate Black Forest cake topped with a glass of Eiswein from Hopler vineyards. Eiswein is a very sweet, rare wine that is made from frozen grapes. If you like sweets, this is a perfect desert wine.
After a night of indulging we headed to our room, glad not to drive home. The inn offers a variety of stay and dine packages which we took advantage of. Our room included a sitting area, king-sized bed and private bath with a shower to die for. And most importantly – six pillows! Hooray! I buried myself in the pillows and slept blissfully well.
Our room had a gas stove, though it was too warm to fire up. I could just imagine a crisp fall evening sitting next to the fire reading and sipping champagne.
Many of the rooms have “themes” and our room had a nautical theme. Some rooms had bunk beds for families that sleep up to seven. There is also a cottage that sleeps up to 10 people. Our room did not have a TV, which I did not miss at all. I must admit, I did miss my Internet access but they are in the process of installing wireless.
The next morning for breakfast we had coffee cake made with whole wheat flour and chocolate chips! Yes, chocolate for breakfast! This was followed by potato pancakes, custom-ordered eggs, bacon and toast, and of course, great tasting European coffee. Mmm, mmm, good.
here is lots to do in the Danbury area including fall foliage leaf peeping, winter skiing at Ragged Mountain Ski Resort (five minutes away), and summer golfing at the Ragged Mountain golf course. In the summer, visitors to Lake Winnipesaukee and fans attending the races at the NH International Speedway in Loudon stay at the inn. Other nearby attractions include Mount Kearsage, Mount Cardigan in Canaan, Sculptured Rocks in the Groton and Hebron area, Newfound Lake, Polar Caves in Plymouth, and Ruggles Mine in Grafton.
And then there is always Oktoberfest – this year held on September 24 and 25. The inn’s two-day Oktoberfest celebration takes place under three tents. One that is filled with Bavarian food, one for the beer, and one to sit or dance to original Oompha music. This year the Alpiner Oompah band, Civiello Accordion, Kearsage Community Band, and other musicians will perform. The inn will also hold a German potato salad contest, a sauerkraut contest, a Trachten contest (traditional outfits are judged), and a yodeling contest.
The inn has recently received several awards, including The North American Restaurant Association Award of Excellence and the “Best Kept Secret” by *Arrington’s Inn Traveler*. It has also received a 2005 magazine award for the “Best Wurst.” So indulge yourself with a Bavarian style dinner followed by a stay in one of the inn’s 14 rooms. You’ll come away well fed, well cared for, and well rested!
Need to Know ToDo
Name: Inn at Danbury
Address: 67 NH Route 104, Danbury
Phone: (603) 768-3318
Website: www.innatdanbury.com
Rates: Weekday - $90 to $195; Weekends, seasonal, holiday - $140 to $250
Dining: At their Bavarian-style Alphorn Bistro! Where else?
Area Highlights: Tons of leaves to peep, skiing at Ragged Mountain Ski Resort; golfing at the Ragged Mountain Golf Club. Other nearby attractions include Mount Kearsage, Mount Cardigan, Sculptured Rocks in the Groton and Hebron area, Newfound Lake, Polar Caves in Plymouth, and Ruggles Mine in Grafton.
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