Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection Announces Cortney Burns As Inspiring Chef
Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection, the exquisite country retreat that defines New England elegance, today announces the appointment of Cortney Burns as inspiring chef, a series in which chef talents from around the world reimagine, personalize, and curate the menus at the inn's dining venues and unique guest experiences.
LITCHFIELD, Conn., May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection, the exquisite country retreat that defines New England elegance, today announces the appointment of Cortney Burns as inspiring chef, a series in which chef talents from around the world reimagine, personalize, and curate the menus at the inn's dining venues and unique guest experiences. At once a student of naturopathy, herbology and anthropology, a professional chef and James Beard award-winning author, Chef Burns' philosophy uses food not only as medicine for the body and soul, but also history as a springboard for creativity. She will oversee the culinary program at The Garden Room, The Tap Room as well as unique on and off-property epicurean experiences. Deeply inspired by the grassroots of New England's culinary traditions, Chef Burns will lean into her global adventures and decades of fine dining experience as she curates the cuisine at Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection with an ethos that explores the aesthetic importance of food as it relates to all cultures and employs conscientious sourcing as critical to the end product.
"We are thrilled to welcome Chef Burns, a decorated chef who brings a wealth of culinary knowledge of the local area to the Mayflower family," said Mohit Girdhar, general manager, Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection. "Her outstanding reputation speaks for itself, having worked with some of the most prestigious chefs in the country and impacted the culinary space with her innovation and culinary talents. Chef Burns will be a powerful force as we embark on this next epicurean phase for Mayflower Inn & Spa."
Chef Burns is Mayflower's third female visiting chef and the first of its Inspiring Chefs program, which delivers transformative dining experiences and world-class cuisine from top-tier talent. Using the destination as her muse, she will allow the bounty of Litchfield farmers to inspire her dishes, intuitively and intentionally positioning peak season ingredients center stage. Her priority is to consciously source from local purveyors with quality of care, good practice and ambitions to heal the land and community—in tune with the Inn's pillars of wellness and critical to her own well-rounded cooking style. With a deep understanding of how New England's farmland plays into the culture of its food, Chef Burns is inspired, not bound, by its historically minimal growing season. Chef Burns will utilize the probiotic-rich fermentation practices for which she is well known, as well as employ a myriad of other preservation techniques to capture seasonal produce for later use.
In addition to launching new menus across all restaurants, Chef Burns will elevate epicurean experiences to immerse guests in the area's deep-rooted history and many cultures that call it home. Mixology classes will showcase the land's fruitful flavors, bonfire experiences will explore New England's cross-cultural culinary history, and onsite picnics will be inspired by the centuries-old tradition of gathering and dining in nature. In collaboration with THE WELL at Mayflower Inn, the property's holistic wellness space, Chef Burns will curate healthful tinctures and tonics from its fresh garden to enhance the wellness experience and connect guests to the local land.
"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Auberge Resorts Collection brand and introduce inspiring dishes for the property that will weave together my adventures around the world and my knowledge of naturopathy and herbology," said Cortney Burns, executive chef, Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection. "The history of New England is my culinary muse and I've spent decades honing what has become my cooking style: using history as a springboard for creativity while drawing on my own culinary knowledge and nutrient-rich approach to lead the way."
Burns will unveil an a la carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a chef-curated, family-style dinner experience in The Garden Room. Her signature breakfast dishes will include Rye-Anise Waffles with rhubarb compote, sweet ricotta and maple, Dutch baby pancake with poached apricots, green almonds & Noyaux cream, Pastured Egg 'Shakshuka' with chickpeas and sprouted lentils, preserved tomatoes, feta, spinach & griddled whole wheat pita bread and a Matcha and Ashwagandha Tusol Smoothie designed to reduce stress, promote gut health and stimulate detoxification. The lunch menu will include Salmon Tartine on caraway sourdough, salmon rillette, dill cream cheese and crispy capers, Grilled Petite Poussin with spring onions, romesco and a fine herb salad, Le Grand 'Garden & Sea,' a seasonal recipe with market vegetables, poached shrimp & tarragon aioli. She will also relaunch The Tap Room's dinner menu in collaboration with the Mayflower culinary team. The speciality dishes will feature a Seared Atlantic Salmon dish with spring onions, lacinato kale &, sauce gribiche, Roasted Hen of the Woods with chickpeas & sprouted lentils, spinach and gremolata, Devils on Horseback with baked dates, bella Bantam cheese and speck, and Saffron Arancini with garlic almond sauce.
A native of the Midwest, Chef Burns developed an interest for food at an early age during childhood outings to the market where she indulged in comfort foods like warm corned beef and Muenster cheese. Burns earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in cultural anthropology and south Asian studies with a focus in Tibetan language. Her studies took her to Nepal and India, where she fell in love with the region's exotic spices and flavors. Upon graduation, Burns moved to Australia and began to cook professionally. When she returned to the United States, she spent many years working with prestigious names in San Francisco's celebrated kitchens, like Quince, Café Rouge and Boulette's Larder, before becoming Nick Balla's co-chef at Bar Tartine and eventually headed east to open Tourists, a 55-acre hotel property in North Adams, Mass. She is the co-author of "Bar Tartine: Techniques and Recipes," which won James Beard Foundation and IACP awards, and sole author of "Nourish Me Home."
About Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection
Only a two-hour drive from New York City, Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection is a luxury country retreat located in the idyllic town of Washington, Connecticut. Set on 58-acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodlands, the property defines New England elegance and is renowned as one of the northeast's most lauded luxury hideaways. Boasting 35 guest rooms, the hotel offers exceptional service and gracious attention to guest's personalized needs. Wellness amenities include THE WELL at Mayflower Inn, a 20,000 square-foot spa sanctuary featuring the Pool House with a greenhouse style all-season pool, traditional hammam and a Biophilic Thermal Pool. The resort also boasts expansive gardens, a tennis court, miles of hiking trails, a standalone two-story private-event space, The Huntress boutique, and two dining venues including The Garden Room for New England-inspired fine dining and the Tap Room, for casual country fare. In honor of the Inn's centennial birthday in fall 2020, acclaimed New York-based interior designer Celerie Kemble oversaw a dramatic redesign encompassing guest rooms and suites, Mayflower's signature restaurant, and the Inn's historic main house, featuring a charming parlor.
For more information: aubergeresorts.com/mayflower
Follow Mayflower Inn & Spa on Facebook and Instagram @MayflowerAuberge
About Auberge Resorts Collection
Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine, innovative spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 22 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world's most desirable destinations.
For more information: aubergeresorts.com
Connect with Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook Twitter and Instagram @AubergeResorts and #AlwaysAuberge
About The Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group is a privately-held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies. These organizations include: Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Resorts Collection, AS Roma, Imperative Entertainment, 30WEST, NEON, Diamond Creek Golf Club, Congaree and Legendary Expeditions. The Friedkin Group is led by Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin. For more information, visit http://www.friedkin.com.
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SOURCE Auberge Resorts
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