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Virginia
Related: About this forumThe Inn at Little Washington, lifeblood of a Virginia hamlet, shutters for the first time in decades
There was a show about the owners on the local PBS station last night. I don't think it was related to this closure.
Food
The Inn at Little Washington, the lifeblood of a Virginia hamlet, shutters for the first time in decades
By Tom Sietsema
March 23, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. EDT
Weve never closed for any disaster or blizzard in 42 years, said Patrick OConnell, chef-owner of the world-renowned Inn at Little Washington, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But there he was on Friday morning, bidding farewell to overnight guests after breakfast service and not knowing when the doors to his fantasy dining destination, the recipient of three Michelin stars, the French guides highest accolade, would welcome back guests.
The night before, his staff had attended to a mere 20 people two seatings of 10 diners, the most the state of Virginia was allowing restaurants or bars to serve as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down almost every facet of life around the country. Departing guests told the chef they wanted to come back the moment the restaurant reopened, to be part of history; staff volunteered to work free, if OConnell needed them.
Its kind of a very sweet funeral, the chef said in a telephone interview from the inn, a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux, an association of independently owned luxury hotels and restaurants in 60 countries most now shuttered, if not by government decree, then by the inability of patrons to reach them, according to OConnell. No one is unaffected by the pandemic.
The inn is to Washington, Va., what cars are to Detroit: the engine that drives everything in the 133-resident hamlet, whose budget is basically the food and lodging taxes paid by the establishment. OConnell has 175 employees on his payroll, only 10 of whom, mostly key managers, werent laid off on Friday, which happened to coincide with the staffs last full, two-week paycheck. A partial paycheck will follow; insurance is covered through April 9. Remaining managers will work for reduced pay. Ahead of sending out the email announcing the layoffs Thursday night, General Manager Bob Fasce said, My finger hovered over the send key.
The entire community is affected, said OConnell, listing the shops, wineries and other businesses that depend on the success of the areas best-known employer. Hes in favor of public projects along the lines of President Franklin D. Roosevelts Works Progress Administration (WPA) to keep people busy, although the need for social distancing puts the notion on the back burner.
{snip}
Tom Sietsema
Tom Sietsema has been The Washington Post's food critic since 2000. He previously worked for the Microsoft Corp., where he launched sidewalk.com; the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; the San Francisco Chronicle; and the Milwaukee Journal. He has also written for Food & Wine. Follow https://twitter.com/tomsietsema
The Inn at Little Washington, the lifeblood of a Virginia hamlet, shutters for the first time in decades
By Tom Sietsema
March 23, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. EDT
Weve never closed for any disaster or blizzard in 42 years, said Patrick OConnell, chef-owner of the world-renowned Inn at Little Washington, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But there he was on Friday morning, bidding farewell to overnight guests after breakfast service and not knowing when the doors to his fantasy dining destination, the recipient of three Michelin stars, the French guides highest accolade, would welcome back guests.
The night before, his staff had attended to a mere 20 people two seatings of 10 diners, the most the state of Virginia was allowing restaurants or bars to serve as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down almost every facet of life around the country. Departing guests told the chef they wanted to come back the moment the restaurant reopened, to be part of history; staff volunteered to work free, if OConnell needed them.
Its kind of a very sweet funeral, the chef said in a telephone interview from the inn, a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux, an association of independently owned luxury hotels and restaurants in 60 countries most now shuttered, if not by government decree, then by the inability of patrons to reach them, according to OConnell. No one is unaffected by the pandemic.
The inn is to Washington, Va., what cars are to Detroit: the engine that drives everything in the 133-resident hamlet, whose budget is basically the food and lodging taxes paid by the establishment. OConnell has 175 employees on his payroll, only 10 of whom, mostly key managers, werent laid off on Friday, which happened to coincide with the staffs last full, two-week paycheck. A partial paycheck will follow; insurance is covered through April 9. Remaining managers will work for reduced pay. Ahead of sending out the email announcing the layoffs Thursday night, General Manager Bob Fasce said, My finger hovered over the send key.
The entire community is affected, said OConnell, listing the shops, wineries and other businesses that depend on the success of the areas best-known employer. Hes in favor of public projects along the lines of President Franklin D. Roosevelts Works Progress Administration (WPA) to keep people busy, although the need for social distancing puts the notion on the back burner.
{snip}
Tom Sietsema
Tom Sietsema has been The Washington Post's food critic since 2000. He previously worked for the Microsoft Corp., where he launched sidewalk.com; the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; the San Francisco Chronicle; and the Milwaukee Journal. He has also written for Food & Wine. Follow https://twitter.com/tomsietsema
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The Inn at Little Washington, lifeblood of a Virginia hamlet, shutters for the first time in decades (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Mar 2020
OP
Recursion
(56,582 posts)1. Still haven't eaten there. Kept meaning to.
Here's hoping they come out OK on the other side
elleng
(135,793 posts)2. I saw that show last night;
learned a lot.
3 Michelin stars!
I've never been there, think too expensive, but interesting.
appalachiablue
(42,822 posts)3. Went for drinks yrs ago, realyl nice place in a lovely area