The roses are in full bloom and it is a banner year. They are incredibly prolific and fragrant. Aside from bringing them inside to enjoy their wonderful perfume, here is one of our perennial favorites on our menu. The rose petal ice cream is easy to make and so French country! You might want to try it with just some fresh raspberries or here at the inn we like to serve it with Lavender Pound Cake. The lavender is just about to burst as well in our gardens here at our Shenandoah bed and breakfast.

If you have an ice cream machine, this too, can become a favorite of your family. A little touch of Provence in the Shenandoah Valley, for Mother’s day this weekend will feature this delicious and fragrant dessert.

Rose Petal Ice Cream

Ingredients: Makes about 1 1/2 quarts

• 16 egg yolks
• 14 oz. sugar
• 4 oz. rose water
• 1 qt. heavy cream
• 1 cup of fragrant rose petals, chopped (not too fine)

Directions:

• Whip egg yolks on medium speed until it forms a ribbon
• Simmer milk and rose water (do not boil)
• Add milk mixture to yolk mixture until well blended
• Pour into a stainless steel pot and stir over low heat until slightly thick and coats the back of a wooden spoon
• Remove from stove and strain
• Add cream and completely cool (you can do this in an ice bath)
• Freeze according to your ice cream machine (let it remain slightly soft)
• After the ice cream is removed from the machine, gently fold in rose petals and put in the freezer until serving

Brunch will be served from 11:30-2:30; Dinner 2:30-8:00 pm. The Mother’s Day Menu will feature local produce, local procured meats and seasonal ingredients. What a time of year to feast on Fresh foraged greens, Morels, Asparagus, Rhubarb, French radishes, and great greens and herbs from our own gardens and farms of the Shenandoah Valley. And don’t forget our secret house-made Bloody Mary Mix served with Peppered Vodka or perhaps a Provence Royal…Rose Petal Champagne.  For Dad, we have a great selection of microbrewery beers and 98 Scotches and Bourbons.

You may want to stop by Blandy Farm, the State Arboretum, for the Mother’s Day Plant Sale and Garden Fair. The weather is supposed to be beautiful on Sunday and a stroll through the Arboretum and perhaps purchasing an indigenous plant from our great state of Virginia makes the day complete.

Give us a call and we will be happy to secure your reservation! We will have Al Fresco dining available that day, weather permitting. Experience a day in France just minutes away. If the kids aren’t in town we still have a few rooms left. Why not rekindle the romance and enjoy at getaway with the love of your family life at our Virginia Wine Country inn!

Art at the Mill Open Now Until May 13th

The first week in May, is a busy one in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It is the Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, the Gold Cup Races at Great Meadows in the Plains Virginia and the beginning of the Art at the Mill Show in Millwood, Virginia. All of these events are just minutes from our Shenandoah Valley bed and breakfast. So come out this weekend; there is plenty to see and do, or just kick off your shoes in the backyard of the inn and enjoy the summer-like weather.

The firemen’s parade is this Friday to kick off the Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester! If you haven’t attended this parade it has the most fire trucks of any Firemen’s parade in the country.

Our celebrities that will be out and about this year are Mario Lopez, of MTV’s America’s Dance Crew and author of Mario Lopez’s Knockout Fitness and the beautiful Jazz Dorset, daughter of legendary sports figure with the University of Pittsburgh and the Dallas Cowboys.

The circus is in town and the Grand Feature Parade on Saturday will be a “Salute to Our Troops” with our local Virginia Girl, “Wounded Warrior” Capt. Leslie Smith, as the Grand Marshall. There are parties, sports breakfasts, dances, dinners, 10K race, the carnival, circus and much more. It is a local event the whole family can enjoy! A small town event at it’s finest.

It is the 87th running of the Virginia Gold Cup and there are still some tickets for spaces left if you go to their website. This is a fun-filled day of steeplechase racing and tailgate picnics! The festive atmosphere and the thrill of the chase make this a must for any city folks. Bring a beautiful hat and let us pack you a picnic to take.

Every Spring and Fall, the Burwell Morgan Mill in the quaint village of Millwood, Virginia becomes an extraordinary art gallery. Over 300 judges artist display their pottery, sculpture, fine woodwork and all types of paintings. There is truly something for every taste and budget. This show runs through May 13 and is a must see for the art lover in this 18th century working mill. When the art show closes the mill resumes grinding of fresh flour for the year. You can stop in this summer and pick up fresh whole wheat, corn, blue corn, and general all purpose flours, just to name a few. Buying local comes to new heights.

So grab your gal and come out to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and enjoy all the countryside has to offer. And don’t forget Mother on the 13th of May, the plant sale at the Virginia State Arboretum, Bland Farm and brunch here at L’Auberge Provencale from 11:30-2:30 and Mother’s Day Dinner 2:30-7:00. Treat your mom to the best that is offered in the Valley at our Shenandoah bed and breakfast!

Art at the Mill

Our perennial garden at the inn

Whew…lists of things to do.  This is Virginia Garden week and we here at our bed and breakfast inn are getting ready for 900 people to descend upon us this Saturday, April 21, as L’Auberge Provencale is number 1 on the tour of houses in Clarke County.  Our maintenance staff and I have been busy (with a little help from Winey and Cheesey) getting the grounds in tip top shape.

1. Mulch Around All Trees
2. Prune the fruit trees
3. Plant the spring vegetable garden plants
4. Plant the beautiful Provencale pots and hanging baskets for our terrace and porch
5. Cut down the tulips which bloomed too early and tie up all the daffodils
6. Go on a crazy plant buying spree

Fluff all the pillows, and hope it doesn’t rain!  Of course, you know they are predicting thunderstorms for Saturday in our beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.  Our chef are happily cooking with local ramps, asparagus, morels, sorrel, lovage and fresh herbs from our gardens and edible flowers as well.  It is a great time to visit Virginia, and the beauty is busting out all over.

There is the usual mess to clean up after a day of planting..but what a beautiful reward we get from all the pots planted and on the southern Virginia style porch.  Come out and enjoy the terrace for dinner at our bed and breakfast, the next time you are visiting the countryside of the Shenandoah Valley.

Due to popular demand, our Cooking Classes have now been extended until June 14th 2012, including a one night stay in any available room or suite #1 thru #8 at our romantic Virginia wine country bed and breakfast. The classes start at noon; followed by a wine and cheese social; ending with a gourmet breakfast for two the following morning. Dinner can be arranged but is not included with this special.

A $650.00 VALUE

This Special only $399.00

Call for Available Dates

540-837-1375

Plan to attend our next wine dinner & tasting Sunday May 6th, 1PM – 5PM!

After a very successful Bordeaux Wine Dinner this past Sunday March 4th.We are offering the next event onSunday May 6th featuring Rhone’s.

CELEBRATE WITH your friends at the Rhone Wine Dinner and Tasting, Sunday May 6th 2012 1PM until 5PM. Enjoy a lovely 5 course dinner with wine pairings. A Blind tasting to win special door prize. Enjoy dinner at our world renowned French Restaurant in Northern Virginia!

We are currently featuring a great list of new desserts at L’Auberge Provencale. We’ve introduced some sweet-tooth and taste-bud-pleasing winners on the Dessert Menu at our French Restaurant in Northern Virginia!

Filo Cinnamon Apple Crisp Appletini Sorbet

Dried Apple Chips, Chateau Hallet Sauterne Sauce, Maple Cream

Flight of Sorbets

Strawberry, Pineapple, Kiwi, Cornucopia Tuile

Warm Clementine Maltaise

Spanish Clementines Grand Marnier Sabayon

Chocolate French Connection

Hazelnut Mousse, Chocolate Bête Noir, Mocha Sorbet,

Chambord Pot au Crème, Grand Marnier Ganache

Trio of Banana

Banana Bread Pudding with Armagnac Anglaise,

Banana Foster on Vanilla Cheese-cake,

Banana Cream Tart

We hope to see you soon at our Romantic Virginia B&B!

The first Living Social Cooking Class at our Shenandoah Valley Bed and Breakfast was held Wednesday Dec 21.

The participants’ summary of the hands-on experience was “Perfect”, “Fabulous”, “What Fun”…

They enjoyed working hard at preparing:

-Roasted Squab

-Coffee Scented Macomber Turnips

-Glazed Chestnuts

-Brussel Sprouts

To the left you can see Chef Jacob Jananski tasting the fare prepared by guests at our Shenandoah Valley Restaurant.

The menu is changing with the season to reflect the bounty of the harvest from squash to mushrooms from the woods, to the smokiness of the fire.  A perfect time to start enjoying those Virginia Wines during the Virginia Wine Month.  We have been featuring some of our favorites from Linden Vinyards, Pearmund Vineyards, Delaplane Manor, Fox Meadow, Three Fox, Veramar, and one of our newest discoveries LDV vineyards.

Looks like the swallows are heading back south for the winter!  You can hear them in the air whooshing in a beautiful dance.  Our guests are cozy together in the Valley evenings by the fire pit at L’Auberge Provencale’s backyard,and enjoying the show while indulging in our harvest special along with the s’mores!

Our harvest special includes any room available Sunday thru Thursday, including dinner off our three or five course gourmet menu, a charcuterie platter and a bottle of Virginia Wine on arrival and s’mores by the fire.  All for only 395.   Not including other wine, alcohol, beverages or gratuities.

Fall is the perfect time to visit us here at our bed and breakfast inn.  We have just ordered the wild turkeys and are planning our fabulous Thanksgiving dinner.  More on that from Winey and Cheesey soon.