The Woodlawn Inn recognized by HKPR's Eat Smart Program

We have won the eat smart award again this year! Eat Smart! is Ontario’s Healthy Restaurant Program www.eatsmart.web.net which recognizes smoke-free restaurants for achievement of high standards in safe food handling and nutrition. Restaurants in Northumberland County have been invited to participate annually since the year 2001 and the program has grown consistently since that time. Winners are announced in May, and a promotional campaign follows. Activities include advertisements in local papers, radio and phone books, visibility at community events, and distribution of posters and dining guides throughout the county.

Proudly Northumberland featuring Hoskin Farm

Our new menu is ready! This week we are featuring beef from the Hoskin farm. Gaye Hoskin, his son Chris and their families have been producing free run, hormone injection free beef from their Grafton farm for years. The beef has a clean, sweet flavour and many guests have mentioned that it some of the finest beef that they have ever tried. If you can not make it over to the Woodlawn Inn for this weeks dinner you can always check out Hoskins booth at the Cobourg Farmer's Market.

MENU

Cream of Yukon gold potato and roasted onion soup
Laver’s Farm, Warkworth

Grilled ribeye of beef, topped with peppercorn brandy sauce,
served with red potato rodelles and sautéed spinach
Hoskin Farm, Grafton

Golden honey fritters with vanilla ice cream
River Valley Honey, Stirling

Three-course menu $45.00

The Cowboy Junkies Show at the Park Playhouse

Cowboy Junkies Play Cobourg

What a great show! Last night I had a chance to see The Cowboy Junkies, something that I had wanted to since hearing the Trinity Sessions album back in the 80's. It was for the most part a packed hall, and it was great to walk 7-8 minutes from the Woodlawn to catch the concert. We are very fortunate to have the Park Playhouse in our community and I have been strong supporter of their club ever since they opened last year!

A New Map For Our Guests

Google maps, I recently discovered, offers the ability to create and share custom made maps. Realizing this, I created a map for our Woodlawn Inn guests. On the map I have included some of our favorite shops, day spas and entertainment venues, all of which are within easy walking distance from the inn. I hope you find it useful. 

Cobourg Visitor's Map

View Cobourg Visitors Map in a larger map 

Proudly Northumberland

Our executive chef John O'Leary is hard at work meeting new farmers and sourcing out the best products in the county. Tonight's new local menu features a delicious slow braised lamb curry. I would recommend a glass of the Malivoire Gamay Beamsville Bench VQA. I hope you enjoy it.

Cream of Yukon gold potato and roasted onion soup
Laver’s Farm, Warkwarth

Braised lamb in a light tomato curry with jasmine rice.
Topped with creamy cucumber mint sauce
Mitchell’s Sheep Farm, Campbellcroft

Golden honey fritters with vanilla ice cream
River Valley Honey, Stirling

Three-course menu 35.00

Ontario's Finest Inns and Spas Annual General Meeting

Over the last couple of days I was in Toronto at The Old Mill Inn with the membership of Ontario’s Finest Inns and Spas at their annual general meeting. It was fun to reconnect with fellow innkeepers, trade funny stories and learn about the direction of where the hospitality industry in Ontario is going. The Woodlawn Inn was a founding member of this group in 1990 when it was called the Independent Innkeeper’s Association and there were twelve members. Currently the membership has grown to forty members and the group is now known as Ontario’s Finest Inns and Spas. I served on its board from 1992 to 1999. Earlier this year I was asked to consider serving on the board of directors and at this meeting I was elected to director representing the 13 to 40 room inn category. 

Proudly Northumberland

We have changed the name of our local foods feature to Proudly Northumberland. This is the same slogan that local farmers use to indicate their Northumberland grown produce. The menu has been well received and guests are always looking forward to chef John O'Leary's new creations.

Our current three-course menu is priced at $39.00.

Proudly Northumberland menu

Maple-butternut squash soup with toasted pumpernickel croutons
Sandy Flat Sugar Bush, Warkwarth

Ragout of free run boar and mushroom with our homemade fettuccine pasta
Century Game Park, Warkwarth

Crème brulee with fresh fruit garnish
Laver’s Egg Farm, Warkwarth