The back porch of the Inn at Isle au Haut
Every person that steps on the island–be they hiker, camper, sightseer, worker, repairman, photographer, news reporter, houseguest or whatever–becomes a member of this small community the instant their foot touches the town dock. When you visit an island as small as ours, you don’t really have the luxury of being a casual observer. If there is a fire, we may ask you to haul buckets. If someone goes missing, we may sign you onto a search party. If there is a parade, we may invite you to construct a float, or bang a drum, or honk a horn. We will encourage you to participate in our annual talent show, or make a cameo in the island contra dance band, or just come to one of our parties.
In return, for the time that you are here, we give you our home. We invite you to take the memory of it with you and make it, in your own way, yours.
It is in this spirit that my friend Diana came to me a few years ago and asked if I’d be willing to open up my home and business to her inn guests for a day of chocolate making lessons.
Diana owns and operates the Inn at Isle au Haut, a beautiful retreat on the east side of the island. Though I could wax poetic for several paragraphs about this place, I’ll encourage you, instead, to check it out yourself by clicking on the link. I will say, however, that while Diana is a gracious hostess and a talented decorator, it is clear (to me, anyway) that the very soul of her inn manifests itself in her cooking.
Diana is offering two sets of dates for the unique opportunity to pull on an apron, roll up your sleeves and work side-by-side with three of the island’s many noteworthy cooks.
The first night, Diana will treat you to one of her five-course meals at the inn. On the second day, Diana will instruct guests in the art of making bread and a delicious side dish, which they will then pack up and trek on over to the home of bestselling author Linda Greenlaw, where she will give a lesson in seafood preparation. Guests will then enjoy the fruits of their labors over dinner with the world-renowned swordboat captain. And on the third day of their stay, guests will come on over to the Black Dinah Cafe for a hands-on lesson in chocolate making.
For more information about the Getaway click here. Or give Diana a call over at the inn: 207.335.5141
