With 11 hotels in Connecticut and Texas, the Greenwich Hospitality Group is all about the h-word that is its middle name.
WAG readers know it as the parent company of the sophisticated Delamar Greenwich Harbor, the charmingly countrified Delamar Southport and the serene Four Columns in Newfane, Vermont. Now there’s a new Delamar sibling.
The Delamar West Hartford is set to open this summer. (It joins the newly refurbished The Goodwin in neighboring Hartford; Hotel Zero Degrees in Stamford, Danbury and Norwalk; and The Hotel Limpia, The Holland Hotel and The Maverick Inn in Texas as other properties in the Greenwich Hospitality Group portfolio.)
Located in tony Blue Back Square — a community that is also a shopping and dining destination and a hub since the 17th century — the Delamar West Hartford will boast more than 100 rooms and suites; 12 unfurnished extended stay suites; more than 5,000 square feet of banquet and conference space; the largest Delamar Spa; and the third and biggest Artisan Restaurant Tavern and Garden, overseen by Frederic Kieffer, who is also executive chef of the Artisan restaurants at the Delamar Southport and Four Columns and l’escale restaurant bar at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor.
Kieffer — who described his passion for farm-to-table, seasonal fare and sharing that approach with staff and patrons alike in a July 2016 WAG cover story— will have a chef’s garden at the Delamar West Hartford.
“I am looking forward to collaborating with Renee Giroux, an amazing young and passionate organic farmer,” he said recently. “All of her heirloom vegetables and plants will be started at her farm and then transplanted to the Artisan garden. Whatever is not grown at our garden will be sourced from her farm primarily.”
If it’s anything like the fare at l’escale, Artisan West Hartford patrons are in for a treat. Recently at l’escale, we savored a piquant Watermelon Mosaic of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, pickled watermelon and French feta, dressed with a basil Moscatel vinaigrette; a smooth Shrimp and Pappardelle pesto dish laced with ribbons of asparagus; the House Smoked Salmon and Burrata with artichokes, avocado, mache greens and a Muscatel reduction; and an equally luscious Ricotta Gnocchi “Printanier” of Oregon morels, asparagus and English peas flecked with Parmesan. These seemed to murmur “summer” in our ears as we sat on the terrace under brilliant sunshine overlooking Greenwich Harbor and the Delamar’s new 10-seat pontoon, which accompanies its navy-and-white six-seat boat, the Whisper.
“You can order oysters and wine and other fare from l’escale and charter these boats for a cruise,” said Delamar spokeswoman Lisa Johnson. Or Delamar Greenwich Harbor guests can board the town ferry that runs every two hours for an island beach where they can spend the day.
Added Johnson: “It doesn’t get more summer fun than that.”
For more, visit greenwichhospitality.com.
