People travel from all over to dine at The Wentworth Inn and enjoy Chef Brian Gazda’s culinary creations. Ellie added, “Brian has been steadfast in his commitment to producing exceptional food and making The Wentworth the hotel that it is today.” And what she shared next, I think is just phenomenal. “Staffing continues to be our biggest challenge and annually I bring in young culinary interns from around the world to spend a year doing a culinary internship in our kitchen. I see them as they arrive, some with barely basic knife skills, and watch them develop through the year under Brian’s patient tutelage to become accomplished young chefs with bright futures ahead of them.”
I had to ask her what was the most popular item was on the menu, and I was a pleasantly surprised at Ellie’s response. “The vegetarian dish, Crispy Italian Herb Eggplant which is served with a creole sauce, garlic spinach, on a bed of soft ricotta coulis and garnished with pine nuts, basil pesto and aged parmesan. I have guests that order two, one to enjoy that evening and one to take back home for lunch the following day.”
The Inn at Crystal Lake
Photo: Tim Shellmer
Another terrific restaurant and accommodation is Max’s Restaurant and Pub at Snow Village Inn, in Eaton. Speaking to events coordinator Carrie Steeves I discovered that people come from miles away to enjoy Chef Josh Burkett’s rack of lamb, pork dumplings, daily fresh fish, and short ribs. I congratulated her on their breathtaking setting. “We truly have a spectacular location. Guests are mesmerized as they walk into the Main Inn. Our view of Mount Washington and the entire Presidential Mountain Range is unrivaled.”
Only a few of the Grand Resorts still exist and one of them is the Eagle Mountain House and Golf Club with a 9-hole course located in Jackson. Built in 1879, Eagle Mountain House has continuously welcomed generations of vacationers year-round for over a hundred years.
The following day, I asked Tom if there were any gay bars in the White Mountain Valley area and he said, “All of the local pubs and taverns are very gay friendly, staffed by gay people usually. So, it’s not just a neighborhood where you’ll find a gay bar. It’s too mainstream to need a gay bar.” On that note, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that 3 successful Inns: Notchland Inn, Cranmore Inn, and Inn at Crystal Lake, are all gay owned and operated.
The owners of the Notchland Inn are Ed Butler and Les Schoof. I asked them what it was about the White Mountain Region that they were drawn to. Ed replied, “In our explorations of the Mount Washington Valley, before becoming residents, we felt comfortable and welcomed.” When searching for the right Inn, the men said, “Notchland ‘sang to us’ as we drove up the drive!” Ed continued, “We wanted a structure with land around it. Notchland, when we bought it, had over 300 acres! It is in the smallest town in New Hampshire, Hart’s Location, with current census of 46 residents. And we are in the middle of Crawford Notch State Park and the National Forest. So, the goal of having space around us was achieved! And Les has used some of that space to create wonderful gardens.”
Eagle Mountain House and Golf Course
Photo: Tom Caughey
Eddie Bennett and Christopher Bellis are the innkeepers of the Cranmore Inn in North Conway. Along with their children, David and Sherie, they have a passion for travel, food, and people. I asked them where their travels have taken them. “We do love to travel and often mix up our travel destinations from visiting family in Napa, CA, Seattle, WA, South Florida and Austria to exploring new and familiar areas. In Europe; London, Paris, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Barcelona, and also relaxing in the sun at Caribbean locations including Grand Cayman, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, Mexico, plus others.”
I mentioned to Christopher that I was surprised at how gay friendly the White Mountain area is. “Yes, it is and I am President of the local Pride group, White Mountains Pride, and continue to work to promote the area as an inclusive place to live, work, and play not only for LGBTQIA+ people, but all people.”
When I stayed at the Inn at Crystal Lake in Eaton, it was challenging to fall asleep the first night because it was so quiet. Bobby Barker and Tim Ostendorf have been owners of the 11-room Inn since 2001. Bobby is the chef for the main dining room and their Palmer Pub, and Tim is bartender and sous chef. As Tim says, “We’re very hands on.”
Tim is a classically trained singer and on designated nights they offer Opera/Musical dinners. Concert style shows are accompanied by four course dinners tailored to the show that evening. When talking to the couple they shared a rather moving story about their gay pride flag. “When we first moved in we promptly put out our rainbow flag, but after a few years it got quite tattered and worn, so we took it down and didn’t replace it right away. A wonderful older Eaton resident called up to ask where the rainbow flag went; she was concerned that perhaps we weren’t feeling welcomed. We assured her that we didn’t take it down as any sort of statement, it simply got worn out. Unfortunately, during the pandemic when things were heightened, and emotions running high, a local man started flying the Confederate Flag. Another local man tried to off-set that by handing out as many rainbow flags as he could and he subsequently confronted the man flying the Confederate Flag explaining the offensiveness of that flag. His response was he wasn’t taking down the flag until all the “fag flags” came down. So, we went even further by hanging a 12’x18′ rainbow flag from the front balcony. It almost touched the ground!! I don’t want to give a bad impression of Eaton, though. Overall people have been extremely supportive, but maybe it’s a good reminder that the fight against discrimination is far from over.”
Whether it’s an exhilarating winter day of downhill skiing, a gorgeous spring morning of birdwatching, a warm summer day of hiking, a stunning afternoon of fall leaf peeping, or maybe an evening of fine dining and live entertainment, the White Mountains of New Hampshire has it all.
