First name / Hi --
Years ago, I stayed at a litte hotel in Kennebunkport, Maine - The White Barn Inn. It was beyond special and filled with luxury, (and the rates definitely reflected that luxury!) However, what I remember most about that stay had nothing to do with the decor, or the thread counts, or any of the plushness (is that a word?).
The night we arrived a the hotel, we got to our dinner in the hotel restaurant later than expected. The room was elegant yet friendly - white tablecloths, a small white flower on each table, dark and cozy, with candles on the tables and throughout the room. It was almost full of guests, even though most were already enjoying entrees. But the staff did not raise their eyebrows at our tardniness or hurry us along.
That graciousness was not surprising, considering the level of the Inn. But as we were ordering dessert, I realized we were the only guests left in the restaurant. I had no idea how long we had been sitting there by ourselves - and I usually notice these things! We had our dessert, coffee (maybe it was another glass of wine?) and said good night to the staff.
Something about the end of the evening just felt special - magical - but I didn't quite know what it was.
The next morning, I walked in for breakfast. The elegant, romantic atmosphere had been transformed into a charming, energetic, yet calming space - gone were the white tablecloths and the candles. Instead, the huge windows let in the sun, and the room was set for breakfast with bare, beautifully polished wood tables, a sunflower on each.
Over my oatmeal and berries, I figured it out: the night before, not only was the candle at our table left burning until we were 100% out of the restaurant, but every other table was left completely set with tablecloths, crystal and china - and candles still burning - as if more guests might arrive at any moment.
How many times have you been in a restaurant, perhaps overstaying your welcome just a bit, while the staff is taking down the room, getting it ready for the cleaners that night?
When my server came back over, I explained the dinner and said, “last night did the staff leave the entire dining room completely set until we finished our dinner? Wouldn't you normally be turning over the room by then, getting it ready for breakfast?”
And he responded, “yes ma'am. We don't want any of our guests to feel any less welcomed at any time. To have extinguished a candle in another part of the dining room would have taken away a bit of your experience. We believe that the smallest things are what create the magic. So yes, we waited until you were out the door and walking to your room before we began to reset.”
WE WERE THE ONLY ONES LEFT. And we sat down late!
