Staying At Mirbeau Inn And Spa

We were recently invited to Mirbeau Inn And Spa At Pine Hills in Plymouth for a relaxing weekend getaway.  The Inn is designed to evoke the setting of a French Chateau with surrounding gardens and paths completing the feeling of a faraway country retreat.

Strolling the grounds it's actually quite easy to believe one is in the French countryside.  We arrived on a Saturday morning and after a brief walk about headed straight for the Spa to enjoy the Signature Massage.

The facilities are, of course, top notch with sparkling clean locker rooms. 

There are more amenities than one would likely ever use in the grooming area of the men's locker room.  There are also classes in Pilates and Yoga which are open to all guests of the Inn and a full gym with additional instruction.

After that we took advantage of the Eucalyptus Steam Room to relax and sweat out all those toxins.  Between this and the hour long massage it really did make for some much-needed rest.  All of the treatment rooms at Mirbeau have a small fireplace which is the first time I've even seen this.  Additionally, there is a large relaxation room with softly padded loungers, a warm water foot bath, fireplace and meditative music.  It would, in fact, be quite easy to fall asleep here.

After our Spa visit we were off to tour a winery (more on that later) then returned and officially checked in.  The rooms are quite comfy and spacious indeed.  Our room had a balcony which overlooked the adjacent golf course and Jacuzzi area.

I was naturally drawn to the writing desk, as always, good for writing those three morning pages that I complete every day.

All of the rooms at Mirbeau (there are fifty in all) also have a cozy sitting area with a fireplace.  It really could not have been more inviting.

The bathrooms are large, as well, with a pedestal soaking tub in every room, another reminder of French luxury, as well as a walk-in shower with a huge rainforest showerhead that you will never want to leave. 

Shortly after check-in we freshened up and headed out to our Dinner In A Bog, also arranged by Mirbeau, as covered in the previous post.  By the time we arrived back there was a full moon filling the night sky.

The night had grown cold so we relaxed a bit in front of the roaring fire in the lobby.  The onsite Bistro And Wine Bar was filled with locals and visitors enjoying an elegant meal.  The atmosphere is not overly formal here but we did notice many of the people leaving the bistro were beautifully dressed adding to the French mystique and culture.

After this we headed off to the room, exhausted after a long day of touring, yet relaxed, calling it an early night with a full eight hours of sleep, a luxury we had not seen in many weeks.

The next morning there was a nice stroll around the property and through the Monet Garden as the sun rose.  It was so quiet and peaceful.

After a sumptuous breakfast at the bistro featuring delicious croissants made in the kitchen and certainly on par with any we've had in France and a delicious quiche along with endless cups of coffee we called it a wrap and, as much as we wanted to stay for another day of complete rest, headed back home. 

The property is clearly beautiful and in a quiet, wooded area off the beaten patch.  Both the service and facilities were superb in every way.  Early risers like myself can fix a fresh morning coffee at the breakfast station on the first floor.  There is no need to call room service for it unless, of course, one wants to.  You are also free to grab a morning newspaper.  On this day it was a full Sunday paper, yet another reason to relax with your feet up.

All of the little details are attended to which really makes the difference between a good hotel stay and an excellent one.  We also loved the fact that the property really does have a French countryside feel to it, not the Disneyesque euro-faux one  might experience at other properties.  Just beautiful and certainly one we would recommend for a weekend splurge to just get away from it all.

Mirbeau Inn And Spa At Pine Hills
35 Landmark Drive
Plymouth, MA  02360
Telephone:  508.209.2626

In Medias Res

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Dinner at Bokx 109

Nestled inside the Hotel Indigo in Newton, Bokx 109 American Prime is an overlooked treasure  that too many people consider beyond their realm.  If you travel I-95 at all it's literally one minute off Exit 22.  If you're the more urban type, it's immediately across from the Green Line Riverside stop.  So, it's really not that far off.  We were invited to dine there last week with Executive Chef Stephen Coe, who returned to the restaurant just last summer.  And a triumphant return it is.

We began with the Smoke Show, served under this dramatic, smoke-filled goblet.  Lifting the glass gives one a waft of smoke reminiscent of burning oak leaves in Fall.  Perfect delight for this time of year.

Beneath the cloud is a Pear and Mascarpone Sacchetti, sack-shaped pasta stuffed with pear and mascarpone cheese and topped with cream sauce, arugula, pickled red onion and lemon for an excellent balance of smoky sweetness.  

A taste of the sea was next with this Grilled Oyster:  local oyster grilled and topped with fennel pollen, tomato, panko bread crumbs, pancetta and chive fondue.  Fennel pollen is a sweeter, more intense flavor we'd never tried before.  It was incredible.  Although these toppings may seem to overpower the true taste of the oyster, it did not and it worked very well.  In fact, we could have had a few more.  The first two dishes were paired with a Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc, a nice match.

Next up was this Octopus Carpaccio:  Carpaccio and grilled tentacles served with arugula and pickled red onions finished with lemon juice, olive oil, chives and a drizzle of balsamic.  Again, an unusual mix but the crispy tentacles offset the smoother texture and flavor of the carpaccio.        

An Autumnal favorite, tomatoes, showed up in this Heirloom Tomato Soup and Salad:  a very creamy soup with garlic, onions and basil and a small tomato salad with both fresh mozzarella cheese and a breaded, lightly fried version.        

The soup was finished with a fluffy Parmesan foam and paper thin Parmesan slices.  Again, so good we wanted more.  The last two dishes were paired with a Deep Sea Chardonnay.

Our next course was back to seafood with this Lobster Cavatelli:   cavatelli pasta, lobster meat, shitake mushrooms, and edamame finished with a chive cream sauce.  A slight Asian twist, a mouthful of umami, and the delicate lobster and pasta.      
  

Chef Coe stopped by the table several times to answer questions, explain ingredients, sources, preparation and technique.

Next was Decon Rabbit:  rabbit meat wrapped in , bacon served on a base of mashed, stewed butter beans.  There are three schools of rabbit in this country:  like it, don't like it or too unadventurous to try.  I am of the first ilk and loved this dish.  Others at the table found it too gamy (an oft-mentioned comment) or were in the first-try club and yet undecided.  Rabbit, very popular in Italian cuisine but typically shunned by Americans, does have a gamier taste with strong similarity to chicken that I would encourage everyone to stretch the palate and at least try.  These two dishes were served with a wonderful King Estate Pinot Gris.
                         

Next up was another rich dish of Sous Vide Veal Cheeks:  veal cheeks, tarragon pappardelle and parsnip puree.  A Hogue Reserve Cabernet was paired to nicely match the dark, rich flavors.      

The Dessert Plate included a suite of  Strawberry and White Balsamic Jelly (a standout), a Petite Tiramisu and Chocolate Cyclone.  The cyclone was topped with caramel popcorn for a nice, crunchy texture.

A Blueberry Prosecco Shooter was served with the Dessert Plate, a thick, foamy few sips of strong, sweet, liquefied blueberry taste.

As always the fireworks are saved for last.  These Lemon Soufflé Pop Ups With Pop Rocks delighted everyone.  A colorful, fun, inventive way to end our feast.  Most of us could not stop at just one despite the fact that we were all well-sated.

Welcome back Stephen Coe!  This mix of classic tastes, New England traditions and new twists is a hit with us and we hope that everyone will take the time to stop in and enjoy the comfortable space and excellent service.


Bokx 109 American Prime
399 Grove Street
Hotel Indigo
Newton, MA 02462
Telephone: 617.454.3399