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By Buzzy Gordon
The Chalet that Suzanne’s Mom Built
Central Florida is Disney country, to be sure; but there is a lot more to this part of the Sunshine State than theme parks, a greater variety of accommodations to choose from than hotel chains – plus one resort where the fairy-tale architecture is meant for the adults, and the food is the polar opposite of the fast fare that is gobbled down while waiting in long lines.
Chalet Suzanne (www.chaletsuzanne.com), in Lake Wales, Florida, may be a bit past its prime, but its tradition of non-uniformity in the guest rooms and award-winning cuisine is timeless. Its heyday was in the 1950’s, when the flamboyant Moorish Party Boat plied the lake, and the 1960’s, when its gourmet soups were featured at the World’s Fairs in Seattle and New York; but the private airstrip still welcomes loyal visitors, and the unique soups are still served in the restaurant and produced in the modern cannery – which is well worth a visit, especially on weekend mornings, when tastings are proffered.
The most famous names in American food are associated with Chalet Suzanne. Its origins were in a planned real estate development in which J. L. Kraft was a partner; the food industry mogul was compelled to withdraw from the project when the Great Depression hit. The resort was propelled to fame when it was praised in the pages of Adventures in Good Eating, the pioneering leisure travel book by Duncan Hines.
From that day forward, the kitchen never relinquished its standing among the great restaurants of the United States. For most of the 20th century, Chalet Suzanne, which is listed in the Register of Historic Places, has been honored by a Who’s Who of culinary awards: Florida's Top 10 Restaurants (for 34 consecutive years), Uncle Ben’s Top 10 Inns of America, Travel/Holiday Fine Dining Award, 3 stars from Mobil, 3 diamonds from AAA, and more.
Distinctive touches are in evidence from the minute a guest checks into one of the 26 tasteful but not-quite-luxurious rooms, each quirkily different in design and decor, and named accordingly. A small decanter of sherry is one of those elegant gestures that make up the hallmark of Chalet Suzanne hospitality.
Nonetheless, drinks are meant to be enjoyed elsewhere as well. Perhaps the preferred postprandial venue is the quaint and cozy Little Swedish Bar, flanked by an inviting, old-fashioned sitting room.
Before dinner is another matter. Between 5 and 7 p.m. every afternoon, guests are invited into the Wine Dungeon, a sunken hideaway beneath the Chardonnay Room. There, over a complimentary snack of cheese, fruit and wine, visitors can examine the venerable collection of hundreds of bottles of wine that is, alas, aged past the point of consumption.
Dinner itself is surely one of the main reasons for staying at Chalet Suzanne; and a highlight of that meal is the famous Moon Soup, chosen by Astronaut James Irwin to be served on Apollo voyages into space. This is the soup that keeps on giving: cans to take home are on sale in the gift shop, where you can pick up free copies of recipes as well.
An overnight stay at Chalet Suzanne includes a mouthwatering breakfast, featuring the signature grilled grapefruit and light, buttery pancakes with lingonberries.
© December 2008 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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