Orchards Gala: April 19 Open House

By Susan Bush - April 19, 2007

The Gala restaurant and lounge at the Orchards Hotel are named for "gala" apples.[Photo by Sue Bush] View Slide Show

Williamstown - Things are changing at the Orchards Hotel and a three-hour open house set to begin tomorrow [April 19] at 5 p.m. is the management's way of rolling out the proverbial welcome mat to the community.

"We want the community to come here and we want to welcome them," said Chris Schaefer, director of sales and marketing. "That's why we're having the open house."

Hors de'oeuvres and beverages will be served during the event. Meals will not be served. The restaurant will begin serving from its menu on April 20.

Gala restaurant Executive Chef Peter Belmonte is a North Adams native. [Photo by Sue Bush]

Orchards owner Norman MacLeod, who is the president of the Connecticut-based Hay Creek Hospitality Inc., spent about $600,000 on upgrades and changes within the 49 guest rooms, the restaurant, and the bar. The focus was creating a unique cozy environment that blended classic styling with contemporary details, Schaefer said.

"It was a lot of paint, a lot of wallpaper, and lot of televisions," she said.

Invitations to the event were sent to numerous community members.

How Do You Like Them Apples?

The bar and restaurant have been named "Gala," which is a type of apple and fits well with the "Orchards" moniker. To that end, baskets, bowls, and small plates have been filled with apples and placed on tables, desktops, and other sections of the hotel and the dining arena.

Large, framed color and black-and-white prints that feature apples and apple trees adorn the walls, and the restaurant's Executive Chef Peter Belmonte plans to use apples in many of the restaurant menu items.

"There are so many people from the area who've never been here before, or have been here only once," Schaefer said. "Please come see what we're doing, see how we've changed."

The interior of the Gala lounge has shed wallpaper printed with horses and eliminated a plaid carpet. The walls are now painted in deep, warm tones and new lighting was to be installed today. New carpet has been installed.

Furniture was selected with comfort and ambiance in mind; one likely focal point is an "S"-shaped sofa. The mood created is about friendly social interchange in a welcoming environment, Schaefer said.

"Greg The Bartender"

"When people walk into the bar, we want them to feel as though they've come into another world," she said. "We want the attraction to be the warm, comfortable atmosphere. We'll have the TVs on, so that people can watch the news if they want, or the Red Sox...or is it the Yankees...you know, I think [the fan base] is really split around here."

If the ambiance isn't enough to captivate, "Greg the Bartender" will almost surely charm guests, Schaefer said.

"We do have a pretty fabulous bartender," she said. "The guests love him. He will experiment behind the bar for you. We hear that the food and service in here are great, but that Greg is better."

Gala server Abby is ready for the open house. [Photo by Sue Bush]

During winter months the fireplace will be a-blaze and during the warmer months, outdoor dining by a pond will be offered. Shaefer said members of the community have mentioned a dart league that met at the hotel bar years ago; there is interest in reviving the league, she said.

The Apples Of Belmonte's Eye

The dining room has been treated to new paint on the walls, new carpet on the floor, and a mural was removed and replaced with mirrors. There will be new furniture in the dining area in time for the open house.

Schaefer said the hotel is very lucky to have hired Belmonte. Prior to joining the Orchards, Belmonte was employed at the Cranwell Resort as a sous chef. Belmonte is a North Adams native, she said.

"We're very excited to have him and his ideas," she said.

A pledge to work Gala apples into the foods is evident in several menu choices. A breakfast "Gala Benedict" is created with duck trap river smoked salmon with creamed spinach and poached eggs topped with hollandaise sauce and grilled gala apple, served with home fries [$9.50], and a "Sunrise Special" features two eggs any style with a choice of apple cider cured bacon or Vermont maple link sausage served with toast and home fries[$6.50].

A "Gala Apple Salad" made with the apples and julienne carrots, golden raisins and toasted walnuts dressed with a "lightly spiced creme fraiche " on a bed of baby field greens [$6}is offered, and a dinner menu includes an apples and cheddar stuffed pork chop served over sauteed baby spinach with a fava bean, sweet corn succotash, and apple brandy pork reduction [$19].

The restaurant's signature vanilla cheesecake dessert. [Photo by Sue Bush]

The apples are featured on a dessert menu as well; Gala Apple Gateau is "an assortment of cake, ice cream and mousse all made with Gala apples and accented with Port wine marinated Gala apples.

Creature Comforts

The hotel rooms have all been outfitted with pillow-top beds and flat-screen televisions. Rooms have access to complimentary high-speed Internet connections and there are amenities such as portable phones and CD players.

There are decadent personal comfort touches as well, Schaefer said.

"We have a turn-down service that includes warm chocolate chip cookies," she said. "People love to find [the cookies] in their room."

Another nicety is the return of mid-afternoon tea. Tea is served from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m..

Hotel and restaurant/lounge staff are excited about the lavish services offered.

"Today, travelers have lots of options," Schaefer said. "We want to offer the creature comforts to our guests. We want to offer the charm of New England and the convenience of modern America."

A meeting room is equipped to handle multi-media presentations in an elegant setting and a hotel living room hosts a Steinway piano that will be providing music during the open house, Schaefer said. An octagon-shaped "library" was refreshed with new wallpaper and new lighting and will be receiving new carpet. The room has been used for numerous gatherings, including small weddings, Schaefer said.
There is a fitness center and an outdoor pool on the premises as well.

Surprise And Delight

"Part of our mission is to surprise and delight," Schaefer said. "Our guests will be surprised, and hopefully delighted, in the winter because when it snows, they will find their cars have been brushed off."

A guest recently arranged a surprise party for a spouse and the weekend event was termed a great success by those who attended, Schaefer said. The guest of honor was offered a tour of the restaurant's vast wine cellar; when he began the tour, a contingent of friends greeted him.

A Gala organic sirloin burger, cooked to order and topped with Swiss cheese. [Photo by Sue Bush]

"This is the kind of event we love to have here," Schaefer said. "The group had a great time. Except for [the guest of honor] none of them had been here before and I am sure that they will all come back."

"We are developing wonderful relationships with our overnight guests and we are creating relationships with the community," Schaefer said. "We want the community to know that we want them to come here. The community is welcome here."

The Orchards Hotel is located at 222 Adams Road, Williamstown, 01267.
Reservations may be made by calling 413-458-9611. Schaefer may be reached via e-mail at chris@orchardshotel.com. Additional information is available at a www.orchardshotel.com Internet web site.

Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 413-663-3384 ext. 29.