Departures United Kingdom Summer 2014

Town and country A TASTE

Town and country A TASTE OF AUTUMN The verdant states of New England serve up an appetising pairing of fulsome foliage and epicurean delights. LAURIE KAHLE offers an incomparable itinerary of the highlights Come late September, the New England air grows cool and crisp, the days shorten and the landscape transforms into an impressionistic canvas with streaks of fiery vermilion, vibrant gold, deep purple and earthy russet. New England’s famously intense autumn foliage draws “leaf peepers” from around the world to the quaint colonial towns with white-steeple churches and seaside villages of this unhurried corner of the US. While the scenery feeds the souls of nature lovers, foodies can sate their yearnings on a tasting tour of the region’s most sophisticated culinary hot spots. This loop begins and ends in Boston, the cultural capital of New England, where historic American landmarks sit side by side with top-notch restaurants and museums – not to mention gastro-friendly hotels like the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental. CARLO STANGA 30 departures-international.com

KENNEBUNKPORT Maine With its craggy Atlantic shore and densely forested interior populated with moose, Maine is not only the largest New England state but also the most rugged and remote. Kennebunkport, a former shipbuilding centre, is home to stately residences built by wealthy sea captains as well as The White Barn Inn, where Jonathan Cartwright, Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef and Group Chef de Cuisine of Grace Hotels, which now manages the property, has spent the past two decades finessing locally sourced ingredients – from wild game to the bounty of Maine’s icy waters. whitebarninn.com Rustic decor and raw wood panelling make for a warming atmosphere in the The White Barn Inn’s cosy dining room CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: PHILIPPE SCHAFF/ WHITEBARN INN, EMILY BERL/REDUX/LAIF, © TWIN FARMS, © OMNI MT WASHINGTON RESORT BARNARD Vermont Crossing the border into bucolic Vermont, where 80% of the state is forested, drivers wind through valleys and pass small farms and tiny picturesque villages. Not far from the charming town of Woodstock, Twin Farms is a property of distinction with a diverse range of accommodations – from colonial-style rooms in the 1795 farmhouse, which houses the restaurant, to private residences featuring contemporary art. Chef Nathan Rich capitalises on the region’s abundant artisanal food producers. “I like to keep dishes light and fresh and let the ingredients speak for themselves,” says Rich. “We’re lucky because there are some incredible farms within a 50-mile [80km] radius.” twinfarms.com Mount Washington Resort’s Spanish renaissance architecture is an unexpected sight among the neocolonial structures of New England; right: stuffed pheasant with kale in red grape jus Twin Farms lit up against the manyfold hues of a brilliant Vermont autumn BRETTON WOODS New Hampshire The snowy peaks of the Presidential Range in New Hampshire’s White Mountains crown the vibrant autumn views from Omni Mount Washington Resort. Built in 1902, the 200-room property offers a full range of activities and amenities, including a championship golf course and an expansive, recently added spa on its 768 hectares. A small inn on the property houses the Bretton Arms Dining Room, where chef Laurent Géroli brings an updated seasonal twist to classic American fare with locally procured cheeses, produce and meats. omnimountwashingtonresort.com CONTACT PLATINUM CARD SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS departures-international.com 31