Would you rather have dinner...or a feast? Sit in a sticky booth...or sit by a massive, roaring fire? Fight for parking at your local chain restaurant...or settle into a sleigh ride around an ancient farmhouse? Yeah, me too.
The Salem Cross Inn is a restored 1700s-era farmhouse in West Brookfield. The inn has been passed down through the generations, and today they offer a whole host of incredible historically-themed events and celebrations. However, if you want to experience authentic colonial cooking in a setting that is utterly unique, your best bet would be to attend one of their unforgettable Fireplace Feasts.
Your evening will start with a storybook-perfect sleigh ride around the inn's grounds. If there's no snow, the horses will pull you on a wagon instead. Blankets are provided, so you'll get to experience the scenery without getting the shivers.
Inside the inn, guests will have the chance to work up an appetite while watching the staff prepare the evening's fare. Grab a cup of hot wine or delicious spiced cider to keep you warm, and munch on the provided snacks.
The centerpeice of the feast is the delicious prime rib that is cooked right in front of you on the only known authentic and operational Roasting Jack still in existence. The meat is cooked over crackling cherry logs in a great fieldstone fireplace and fills the whole hall with its mouthwatering, savory aroma.
Dessert is also prepped as you watch. One gigantic apple pie is assembled by a master baker and whisked off to the kitchen to bake before dinner.
Don't forget the authentic clam chowder! This chowder is prepared in a cast-iron cauldron and made from the freshest traditional ingredients. Guests can help stir the pot (careful: it's very hot) and even add the seasonings.
After everything is ready, you'll be led into the beautiful lamp-lit dining room. Getting to taste this traditional colonial food is made even better when you know that everything was freshly crafted just an hour or two ago. And that apple pie? It's served with all the fresh, homemade whipped cream you can handle.
The Salem Cross Inn also offers a Mothers Day event, a special "Drovers Roast" where attendees celebrate the summer season with an outdoor feast, and periodic murder mystery dinners. Check out their website for a full list of offerings.
Is historical dining for you? Or would you rather an ultra-sleek modern dining experience? Either way, you can't argue with a delicious cauldron of good, old-fashioned clam chowder.
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