Antrim Inn

Susan and I left Thursday afternoon (the fifth) to spend a quiet evening at the Antrim 1844 Inn. Susan's last Spring Break was spent jockeying me around from specialist to specialist ; this year I hoped I would be recovered enough for a quiet evening out.

The Inn is well known for it's dining, extensive wine list and cozy accommodations. Susan and I in our B.C. Years (before children) enjoyed fine dining with an occasional overnight stay but it had been many years since we have done so, it was about time.

Our adventure was sprung on Sue as a complete surprise, I had thought I would tell her to pack a bag the morning of our reservation but Beverly suggested it would be better to give more notice, which I did. Mum was the word and poor Sue spent a day trying to figure out where we might be going. She had no clue, until, upon questioning about our departure time I blurted out that we would not need to stop by the Grotto to light candles for Mom and Dad, I had already done that. That comment gave her “direction” and from her ability to associate disparate pieces of information she had a pretty good idea of where we were heading.

Driving to the Inn we bantered back and forth, “Just give me the first letter of the Town we're going too”, she asked. “No, just tell me if you think you know where we're going”, I replied. Back and forth we went until finally she guessed and I confirmed we were heading to the Antrim Inn.

In our room, next to the four post feather bed sat the five red roses I had ordered, each rose representing a member of  our family. It was a nice touch to an already beautiful room as was the chilled bottle of sparkling wine awaiting us. The uncorking of sparkling wine, along with conversation overshadowed afternoon tea, yet a late afternoon stroll, including a tour of the wine cellar filled out the remainder of the afternoon.

The wine list at the Inn is a wine lovers delight and an intimidating adventure for a beer drinker as myself. Planning therefore was an essential component in the selection of a proper wine. Perhaps I could have taken some courses, performed in-depth research or just dump the wine list into the lap of someone who knows about wines, like my friend Joe.

Armed with a “Cheat Sheet” of suggested wines Joe recommended, Sue and I confidently headed to dinner, knowing I could order the perfect wine for dinner. Walking to the Inn, I pulled the list out of my pocket multiple times looking, refolding and pondering which wine would be the best for the dinner we would select from a six course adventure.

It worked out perfectly, with “Cheat Sheet” memorized I calmly ordered a Joseph Phelps, Cabernet Sauvignon, bottle number 9222, vintage year 2000. Susan chided me as the wine steward left the table, “Well I certainly hope you didn't transpose any numbers”. With bottles priced up to sixty five hundred dollars a simple error could be a costly mistake. I can assure you, the reading glasses were on for a close inspection of the label as the bottle was presented.

As the wine steward decanted the wine, a couple at the next table took note, assuming their “neighbors” extensive knowledge of wines.

The wine knowledge myth was dispelled the following morning at breakfast, as the same couple, once again seated near us commented about our abilities with wine. “Well, you must not have seen my cheat sheet”, I replied as I explained my process. I imagine it's good that I did and still ascribe to the Boy Scott motto of “Be Prepared”.

It was a wonderful evening, we had made it through the entire dinner with no issues. Nothing would remain on my plate, rich sauces would be soaked up with bread, every ounce of wine consumed and deserts handled with abandon. Boldness prevailed and perhaps with judgment clouded by wine and sauce a highly spiked coffee drink rounded out our dining experience.

A perfect script would have ended our outing with romance, however my script was a sort of Greek Satyr, a tragic comedy, as upon returning to our room I spent the better part of the next four hours in the loo. Still, it was every bit worth the cost.

Enjoy the moment ..... Mike