Word of Mouth Means More Than A Recommendation For Inn Above Onion Creek

Word of mouth advertising is a double entendre for locavore-oriented Inn Above Onion Creek.  Dedicated to pasture-to-plate cuisine, this luxury inn, poised on the edge of Texas Hill Country in Kyle and just 25 miles from Austin, goes to great lengths to keep its cuisine fresh, local and eco-friendly.   Taking sustainable cuisine beyond green, the Inn Above Onion Creek, has partnered with some of Texas’s most renowned farms to bring guests a farmer’s market experience right in their own backyard.

Just like everything in Texas, the culinary experience at the Inn Above Onion Creek is big. With an eye toward personalized cuisine, Chef Marcos Galvan and his team of sous chefs design the meal menus a week or so in advance with the dietary considerations of guests coming to stay in mind. Fresh, local ingredients are used whenever possible, including produce and herbs from the inn’s own garden and Millberg Farm, in Kyle. The neighboring Michaelis Ranch, a leader in Texas farming history, provides “Mom’s Beef”, also served at the inn. 

M. G. Michaelis Sr. founded the Michaelis Ranch in the 1890’s and in the ensuing years became known as the largest jack and jennet (a female donkey) breeder in Texas, contributing to Kyle’s dubious honor of being “jackass capital of the world”. In 1934, Michaelis brought the first Charolais bulls to the ranch making him the first breeder of Charolais cattle in the United States. As an aside, his daughter-in-law, Helen Hall Michaelis, later lived on the ranch and was one of the founders of the American Quarter Horse Association. Today, while the mules may have been replaced by cars and more modern forms of transport, the age-old dedication to the finest quality foods is shared by the Michaelis Farm and its neighbor, the Inn Above Onion Creek.

How important is the food at the Inn Above Onion Creek?  The inn maintains a blog dedicated entirely to sharing the recipes for favorite comfort foods served at the inn.  To the best of my knowledge, the Inn Above Onion Creek is the only inn I know of with a blog dedicated entirely to their food and recipes. 

Stay at the Inn Above Onion Creek and you’re in for a tasty getaway.  All room rates include a full breakfast and three course dinner.  When I stayed, I also enjoyed the delicious cookies and lemonade served in the afternoon.  Yet, just as the cuisine makes a Texas sized impression, so do the guest rooms and cottages here.  Spacious accommodations and some of the nicest baths I’ve ever experienced are among the treats here.  Add an inviting pool and the balconies with rockers to the roster of amenities, and it’s no wonder that the Inn Above Onion Creek was selected among the Top Ten Inns Overall in the Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards. 

For culinary travelers, locavores and those who love foods with a Texas sized impression, the Inn Above Onion Creek offers a sanctuary for the senses.

When You Go:

Inn Above Onion Creek,4444 W FM 150, Kyle, TX 78640, 800-579-7686

The Inn Above Onion Creek is located on 88 acres of scenic Texas Hill Country, just 25 miles from Austin. The rooms are large, luxurious and comfortable, and the views are spectacular. You will be amazed that such peace, relaxation, and tranquility can be found so close to the metropolitan areas of Austin and San Antonio. This is the perfect getaway for both pleasure travelers and small corporate retreats.

Recently, more than 500 innkeepers gathered at the Professional Association of Innkeepers International 2010 Conference in Austin, TX.  I had the opportunity to attend the conference and meet with a number of BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection member innkeepers and owners. One of the highlights of my trip was a visit the Mansion at Judges’ Hill, perfectly poised between the University of Texas and the State Capital buildings.  As much a historic inn as a boutique hotel, one thing is certain - the Mansion at Judges Hill has captured the essence of yesteryear in luxurious accommodations characteristic of the BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection members.

The mansion’s legacy has been varied, with many incarnations.  Originally, the home of Goodall Wooten, a respected surgeon, and his family in 1895, the mansion morphed into student housing for the University of Texas in 1944 after Wooten’s death.  A need for expanded student housing precipitated the addition of the North Wing in 1980. In 1983, the building shifted owners and the mansion became home for the Chemical Dependency Treatment Center of Austin, until 2000, when the center outgrew its headquarters and moved to a new location. In 2001, the mansion was purchased by Bill Gurasich with the intention of restoring the Goodall Wooten House into a luxury inn and hotel.  Renamed the Mansion at Judges’ Hill, the doors opened in 2003.  Today the Mansion at Judges’ Hill is a 2009 Conde Nast Johansen’s Recommended Hotel, a Fodors Choice Hotel, a Top Ten Hotel choice by American Historic Inns and Hotels, a Texas Bed and Breakfast Association, BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection member,  and recipient of many “Best of Austin” awards. 

Accommodations are varied, including the beautifully restored original bedrooms at the mansion, larger suites, lofts and even a cute hideaway room built into the eaves. While still considered one of Austin’s best kept secrets, the restaurant at the Mansion at Judges’ Hill offers innovative American cuisine blending lighter bar food options and fine dining fare. Savory favorites such as the signature Braised Short Ribs offer the chance to experience true Texas local flavors. Indoor and outdoor seating, as well as the welcoming bar option means plenty of choices for dining settings here.

When Austin’s awesome attractions, nightlife and music inspire your next getaway, add a stay at the Mansion at Judge’s Hill to the scorecard for the perfect Texas getaway.

 For More Information:

The Mansion at Judges’ Hill, 1900 Rio Grande, Austin, TX  78705, 800-871-8908.

 Uncompromised comfort coupled with legendary Texas hospitality trqnslate into a beyond boutique experience at the Mansion at Judges’ Hill. From the moment you step foot on our property, you know you’re in store for something extraordinary. Each of the 48 guest rooms features custom-made bedding with 310-thread count Egyptian cotton linens, deluxe bathrobes and L’Occitane and Gilchrist & Soames bath products. Complimentary high-speed internet access and on-site parking are also provided.

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you’ve missed the chance for the perfect romantic proposal.  You’ll both always remember the place you popped the question, so to ensure that one of life’s most wonderful moments is perfect, present the diamond at a diamond. The BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection, an exclusive group of nearly a hundred professionally inspected and guest-reviewed luxury inns, offers the luxury, quality, and distinctive sophistication worthy of a lifelong memory. Diamond Collection member innkeepers love to help set the stage for nervous beaus, from creating chocolate boxes or spun sugar roses to hold the ring to a custom-built beach bonfire complete with s’mores and a the perfect “pop the question” setting. Here is a sampling of Diamond Collection inns from coast to coast offering the ideal location to pop the question. This is the first in a series of stories about Diamond Collection inns. Properties are listed in alphabetical order by state.

Canyon Villa B&B of Sedona, Sedona, AZ:  Take a private tour by Jeep or horseback or hike to Boynton Canyon and pop the question while exploring the beauty of Sedona’s red rocks.  Then return to the inn and take photos to celebrate wedding bells with scenic Bell Rock in the background.

Old Monterey Inn, Monterey, CA:  They’ve thought of everything with the Carmel Beach Bonfire proposal.  Simply arrive at the designated place and find a completely built bonfire with extra wood and matches, the fixings for s’mores, a dozen roses,ice and sparkling water, plus a message to write and place in a bottle, perfect to proclaim your love and marriage proposal. 

Holualoa Inn, Holualoa, HI:  Spectacular Pacific Ocean views framed by 30 lush acres of well tended tropical fruit and flower gardens and thousands of Kona coffee trees provide a spectacular setting for proposals.  Located 1400 feet above sea level on the slopes of Hualalai, in the heart of the Kona Coffee Belt on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Holualoa offers a Polynesian retreat and the perfect place to combine an engagement and pre-honeymoon all in one. 

Castle In The Country, Allegan, MI:  Treat her like a queen with the Royal Treatment Package, and she’s sure to say “yes!”  This package includes everything you need to pour on the romance – side-by-side couples massage, dinner for two, breakfast in bed, a quiet picnic, and a gift bag – the perfect hiding place for the ring! 

Garth Woodside Mansion, Hannibal, MO:  Stroll beside the inn to view mama llamas and stop on the painted white bridge to ask for her hand in marriage.  Return to the inn to celebrate with a champagne toast and dinner at the Woodside Restaurant, included in the room rate.  Return here to celebrate your wedding, offering the ideal location for larger outdoor or smaller  indoor events.

Mast Farm Inn, Valle Crucis, NC: Whether you choose to pop the question, have your wedding, or celebrate the honeymoon here (or perhaps all three!), the inn and cottages offer fabulous opportunities for romance and privacy in historically preserved 19^th century farm buildings. Choose the “Most Special Person” package and hide the ring in the bouquet of flowers waiting in your cottage or room.

Glasbern, Fogelsville, PA: Propose to her in pastoral country setting, surrounded by beautifully restored barns – some saved from ruin and restored to luxury suites – on this working farm raising heritage livestock. Stroll through private fields and trails or pick a wildflower bouquet to go with the ring. 

Inn Above Onion Creek, Kyle, TX:  Texas Hill Country provides the ideal setting for a memorable proposal.  Present the ring while watching the sunset from your private porch or beside the beautiful pool.  Follow it up with a couples massage and you can be sure she’ll say yes! 

 L’Auberge Provencale, White Post, VA: If you’re looking for a clever way to pop the question, ask about L’Auberge Provencale’s signature pulled sugar flower in a bottle. It is presented to the bride-to-be, and when the flower is pulled out of the bottle, a ribbon reveals the engagement ring. Another option is to have the waiter deliver a small gourmet chocolate heart-shaped dessert, adorned with pulled sugar fashioned into flowers.  The kitchen staff will hide the ring in the center, just ask!

 Hillbrook Inn, Charles Town, WV:  If you and your betrothed-to-be enjoy fine food, start with the two-course breakfast, then move on to a high tea consisting of five courses of savories and sweets, and finish the night off with a proposal at dinner.  A love seat or an intimate table for two both offer privacy in an old world setting amidst contemporary art and amenities. 

Going green…or in this case brown…doesn’t mean giving up luxury.  At Holualoa Inn, spectacular Pacific Ocean views blend with 30 lush acres of well tended tropical fruit and flower gardens and 4300 Kona Coffee trees.  Located 1400 feet above sea level on the slopes of Hualalai, and in the heart of the Kona Coffee Belt, Holualoa Inn offers a Polynesian retreat and the chance to explore a working coffee plantation on the big island of Hawaii.

An expert on processing, roasting and all-things-coffee, Holualoa’s coffee farm manager, Brian Axelrod, is happy to personally escort guests through the plantation offering an up-close- and-personal view into Hawaii’s coffee production and the coffee produced there. While many B&Bs offer signature or custom roasted coffee, Holualoa Inn is among a handful where the beans were grown and processed right out the back door. 

 After a tour of the coffee plantation, take some time to discover Holualoa, a small town rich in Hawaiian history and culture. You can stroll a palm-fringed path through the celebrated artist’s village and explore the galleries, shops and small eateries. You’ll discover local artist studios, ukulele makers and boutiques featuring handcrafted Island gifts. Located along the Kona Coffee Belt, this Old Hawaii town boasts a bounty of Hawaii’s original coffee farms.

After a day of exploring the coffee culture of Kona country (how’s that for alliteration?), return to Holualoa Inn to relax in the tiled mosaic pool. The traditional plantation-style architecture creates an environment that elicits relaxation upon entering, effortlessly blending with the natural surroundings. Open air lanais capture fragrant garden aromas and soft tropical breezes and guest rooms with private decks open onto spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. 

For armchair travelers unable to make it to Holualoa, the Holualoa Inn makes their unique blend of coffee available for purchase online through their coffee company, Brazen Hazen.  Only one percent of the coffee grown in the entire world is Kona, making it a true treasure for coffee connoisseurs. Brazen Hazen custom roasts to order, ensuring peak flavor for those ordering. Purchase a pound of Holualoa Inn medium roast coffee, make some at home, and you’ll be instantly transported to this tropical paradise no matter where you are sipping. 

For More Information: 

Holualoa Inn, 76-5932 Mamalahoa Hwy., PO Box 222, Holualoa, HI 96725-0222, 800-392-1812

Brazen Hazen Coffee, 100% Kona Coffee, phone: 808-937-3400, email: brew@brazenhazen.com

Holualoa Inn Big Island Bed and Breakfast is an inspired Polynesian retreat, that combines the tranquility of a private estate and coffee plantation with the convenience of its proximity to the many shops, galleries and eateries of historic Holualoa Village. This Kona country B&B is minutes from beaches, restaurants, shopping, golf, hiking, and water sports, yet offers a private oasis with spectacular views for romance and relaxation. 

You probably thought that Maine was famous for its lobsters.  Indeed, it is, yet at one Maine inn, pie outweighs lobster in popularity.   Rockland Maine’s Berry Manor Inn, one of BedandBreakfast.com’s newer Diamond Collection members, serves home made pie 24-7-365.  Every day, Berry Manor Inn guests are treated to a wide variety of fruit pies, often complimented with their signature savory pies at breakfast.

There’s no doubt that the Berry Manor pies are an attraction for guests.  In fact, Cheryl Michaelsen, innkeeper and co-owner, often regales listeners with stories about how guests have been known to hide pies, auction off pieces of pie, and invite friends from other inns over for pie. Served up with vanilla ice cream, always available in the guest freezers, who wouldn’t want to top off the night with a warm piece of pie a la mode!

The Berry Manor pies are a family affair.  While the inn is owned by Cheryl Michaelsen and her husband Mike LaPosta, the operation is actually a family affair. Cheryl’s Mom and Mike’s parents are both involved in helping at the inn, and both Moms are the official pie makers.  Yet, heaven forbid that they’re in the kitchen at once!  There’s not a single aspect of pie making the Mom’s agree upon!  One uses butter, the other uses shortening; one uses sugar the other prefers none.  Put them together on pie making duty, and its curtains.  The only time they’ve ever made a pie in unison is when Bobby Flay challenged them to a Throwdown and together they went rolling pin to rolling pin with the king of the Food Network.  In keeping with their incongruity, they succumbed to the vote of the judges for Bobby’s Peach Pie. Click here to watch the Pie Mom's show Bobby Flay how to make a pie!

The Berry Manor Pie Moms are ready for another showdown with Bobby Flay, and are ready and waiting for guests to come try their fabulous pies throughout the year.  Once at year, in celebration of National Pie Day (celebrated on January 23 each year), the Historic Inns of Rockland, a group of four premier Rockland inns including the Berry Manor Inn, host Pies on Parade, when Rockland turns into Pie Town, and restaurant and businesses join the inns to serve up pie samples.  Mark the calendar for next year’s tour, celebrated on National Pie Day, January 23, 2011.

Berry Manor Inn, 81 Talbot Avenue, Rockland, ME  04841, 800-774-5692.

Experience historic grandeur at this Midcoast B&B, named among the top ten inns by TripAdvisor in 2008 and the only AAA four-diamond historic B&B in Maine’s Midcoast.  Located in Rockland’s historic district, walking distance to Rockland's renowned museums, world class restaurants and harbor, eco-travelers will appreciate the certified green approach to sustainable tourism here.  Guest rooms feature fine linens and antiques complimented with modern conveniences including whirlpool tubs, private fireplaces, free wi-fi and flat screen TVs.