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Bright Spots in the Berkshires Candlelight Inn closed in 2004 Not to far off of Route 7, perched on the corner of Church and Walker Streets, near the intersection of Kemble and Walker Streets, among a cluster of inns and fine dining establishments sits one of the best restaurants that Lenox has to offer. As you get into Lenox and become overwhelmed by the Inns and restaurants that jump out at you from every street corner, make a beeline to the Candlelight Inn. The Candlelight Inn has been reputed to be one of the most gracious as well as delectable restaurants for many years. Built in 1885, originally as a single family residence, the history and charm of the Inn are reflected in the gentle and gracious manner of its owner, Rebecca Hedgecock, who greets her guests with warmth and enthusiasm, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and attentiveness from days gone by. In the short term history, since Rebecca and her family acquired the inn 11 years ago, its long standing reputation for impeccable food and service rival many of the lavish and luxurious resorts that Lenox is well known for. When you finally tear yourself away from the food and comfort of the restaurant, you will find yourself within walking distance of some of the best shopping the Berkshires has to offer, not to mention the fact that you are within minutes of many of the cultural attractions that drew you to the Berkshires in the first place. I had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful evening and a scrumptious dinner with two of my best friends. The three of us were ushered to our table by the fireplace in a dining room with candles at every table, (hence the name). The crisp linens and highly polished silver added to the atmosphere, with polished glasses shining in the firelight. We began our feast with a wonderful complimentary appetizer. It was a smoked trout spread served with slices of lightly seasoned, warm & delicious pita bread. The dish came with an accompaniment of red onion and cucumbers. What flavor! Of course, one appetizer was not enough…it just wet our appetites and we had to order a few more. Barbie tried the sautéed Portabella mushroom on a bed of gently steamed spinach, topped with warm Cheve, yum. Wendy had to have the homemade ravioli with a butternut squash filling, served with a lemon-ginger cream sauce. This blending of flavors was not only aromatic, but truly sensual. This looked so appetizing that Barbie and I just had to try it, it was truly excellent. I ordered a bowl of soup to get my appetite going. On one side of the bowl was tomato basil soup and poured very neatly next to it was roasted garlic soup. The two soups complimented each other as I took turns tasting one and then the other. While sipping our wine and laughing over some great conversation, we were brought a lovely assortment of fresh hot dinner rolls and an incredible salad. This was not your ordinary salad…the lovely romaine lettuce was scantily dressed to perfection and shared the plate with poached pears, macadamia nuts and blue cheese. For the main course Wendy chose the Duck Confeit drizzled with a dried Bing cherry demi glaze served with wild rice and a flavorful combination of broccoli and carrots. I was a little more adventurous and chose the pork tenderloin in a southwestern flavor with a kick! A wonderful fruit chutney was served on the side with the wild rice, broccoli and baby carrots. Barbie stayed with the main staple…beef tenderloin with a cabernet sauce, scalloped potato and the broccoli and baby carrots. After dinner we were so stuffed we weren't sure if we would be able to cram dessert in…Rebecca came over and twisted our arms, (not really!), and we ended up ordering a sinful crème brulee and a piece of lemon tart for dessert. At that point, literally bursting at the seams, we sat back and relaxed in front of the fire until we recovered enough to stagger to our car. The chef responsible for the menu and who runs the kitchen is a woman named Aggie Ziemek. Aggie has been with the Candlelight Inn working her magic in various aspects of the preparations of the food for nine years. After a series of chefs came and left Aggie took over full operation of the kitchen and has taken the dining experience at the Candlelight Inn to a new level. So, take my advise, whether you live in the Berkshires and have not tried the Candlelight, or you are planning a visit in the future, dining at the Candlelight Inn is a must!
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