The
abundance of beautiful, luxuriant wood, the airiness of the
large rooms with their high ceilings and exposed beams, the
sunniness and breathtaking vistas afforded by the many windows
looking out on all sides of the building, the luxurious appointments
throughout every guest room and common area, combine to create
a feeling of luxury and sophisticated elegance the instant
one sets foot inside.
Your host, Alan Connor The Olde Lantern Inn & Vineyard has been, in many ways,
a labor of love for innkeeper and chef Alan Connor. He opted
to move to the scenic Annapolis Valley, bringing with him
many years of experience as a successful and popular Québec restauranteur to the region. Alan saw a need in the
Wolfville-Grand Pré area for not just a place for fine
food, but a welcoming and elegant place for guests to stay,
as well.
This
would be no ordinary feat, either. With the help of his partner
and spa services director, Jerusha Young, along with a few
friends and family members, Alan began building the Inn in
1996 mostly by hand, meticulously crafting the beautiful
structure, using some of the finest materials available and
painstakingly insuring that no details were overlooked. Every
effort was made to re-create the charming heritage look and
feel of the two-storey structure, down to the hand-made nails
and mouldings.
Alan's
professional and masterful culinary expertise is readily
apparent in his breakfast fare, be it eggs Benedict,
French toast, or a shrimp, ham, and cheese omelet, and
all as delectable as they are visually appealing. As
well, he works his chef's magic on more conventional
breakfasts like bacon and eggs, pancakes, and other
traditional morning items. Breakfast is served on a
flexible basis between 7:30 to 9 a.m., with careful
consideration given to special dietary needs (e.g. organic
foods) and restrictions (e.g. dairy and gluten intolerances,
etc.) if notice is made in advance, ideally at reservation
time.
Recipe for Success In
addition to his winning performances in the kitchen, Alan
is a charming and gracious host. Well-mannered and worldly,
his experience in the demanding and diplomatic world of the
hospitality industry shines through. His sophisticated approach
and accessibility make him a natural in this environment,
especially one so finely tuned to his high standards. Guests'
needs are anticipated, met, and invariably exceeded, just
as an integral part of his professional passion, and easily
done in both English and French.
It
becomes quite apparent that Alan has a formula for success,
as The Olde Lantern Inn & Vineyard boasts the highest
occupancy rating among the 17 other B&B's in the area.
As Alan says, his aim is to "make people comfortable
and provide a home away from home where guests can be pampered
and enjoy the surroundings." A decade's worth of returning
guests would agree: his aim is true...
