Remember how CJ of foodnetwork.ca and I hit Vancouver and the West Coast? Well, we did the same for the East Coast. We organized a whirlwind peruse of mostly New Brunswick and PEI (I had a day and a half in Nova Scotia and boy do I have tales), to find incredible destinations that would capture your fancy for either their food and/or their design accolades.
Throughout the next several months we'll be bringing you some of those finds, annotated and in splendid colour (I think we took at least a thousand photos between the two of us.) Today we kick off with a Relais & Châteaux Inn, Kingsbrae Arms, located in New Brunswick's southern jewel: St. Andrews By-the-Sea.
Just above Maine, in Canada, is a quaint, seaside little town where property is cheaper. St. Andrews By-the-Sea had its ups and downs, but location is everything, and eventually Canadians and Americans alike began snapping up the lovely shingled houses that dotted the gentle green slopes above the town's harbour.
Kingsbrae Arms, view from back garden.
One such American was Harry Chancey, an ex-PBS Executive who fell in love with the stately property that was to become his inn, Kingsbrae Arms. "Hand me my credit card" said Harry, when he found out how utterly affordable the place was, some 15 years ago. His unrelenting commitment to the lifestyle of a consummate inn owner earned the inn membership in the prestigious French club, Relais & Châteaux.
For those who don't know -- and I will argue that it may be for the best to remain ignorant -- Relais & Châteaux is a worldwide organization of inns and restaurants, begun in Paris, France, in 1954. Its raison d'etre is to pursue unmatched excellence in hospitality, including accommodations, food, service, and quite literally, a certain uniqueness of experience only the French can properly articulate. As of now, there are 12 Canada-wide members -- all members are independently owned establishments -- in the organization, and only two in the East Coast.
Kingsbrae Library
What can I say about the place? It's basically Harry's baby... Exuberant and effervescent, Harry snapped his fingers and immersed CJ and I in luxury.
We didn't spend nearly enough time there -- who ever does, when it comes to luxury? -- but from our abridged experience, I was able to glean that Harry -- a present and highly entertaining host -- runs a plushly decorated ship for discerning tastes. Our "English Spa Suites" were nothing short of regal -- I mean, 700 sq feet, and a steam shower? -- the grounds were the picture of grace from a bygone era, and the food...well, I'll let CJ tell you about the food... Sadly didn't get to: Kingsbrae Garden, an amazing horticultural experience and one of Canada's Top 10 Public Gardens, right next door to the Inn.
Enjoy my mammoth annotated gallery, and do tell me if you've been to New Brunswick's St. Andrews By-the-Sea...(SUCH a cute town, btw.)
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Check out CJ's account of what we delighted in for the night's several-course dinner, at the hands of Chef Scott Johnson!
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