My wife and I just spent our first anniversary basking in the luxury and hospitality of White Cliff Manor, an unobtrusive gem of a bed and breakfast. Brian Helms, the innkeeper, has done a brilliant job of bringing this nineteenth century home back to vitality, imbuing it with stunning furnishings. While I was impressed by the pictures on the inn’s website, I was not prepared to have my expectations so thoroughly exceeded!
We arrived on Friday evening. Brian welcomed us with an admonition to take full advantage of the entire building, telling us, “You’re home now. Relax and enjoy yourselves.” How true his statement was! Throughout our visit, my wife and I felt very much like we were visiting our own summer home, and Brian made sure that our every need was met.
We stayed in the Harriet Schaff room, in which Brian had (per my prior request) set out fresh roses for my wife as well as a nice, chilled bottle of champagne. The room is, in a word, splendid. Far more spacious than most hotel rooms, our accommodations fairly sparkled in the early-evening light. The two concessions that the lovely space made to modernity were a small flat-screen TV and a small refrigerator. The bed was beautiful and very, very comfortable. As you will see from the pictures, the bedroom is extremely well-lit, which is precisely what my wife enjoys.
While we were thrilled with the bedroom, I was amazed by the elegance and attention to detail that was evidenced in the common spaces. The library is a revelation, filled with stately, yet comfortable furniture, as well as a treasure trove of beautifully bound classic books. The parlor is also the very definition of refined understatement. And the formal dining room! It is filled with spectacular antique china and silver, all of which amplifies the aura of period luxury while you enjoy your meals.
Of course, the meals are the proverbial icing on the cake. Brian’s background includes training in culinary school, and it shows. We were lucky enough to schedule four meals at the inn, every one of which was spectacular. The first evening brought a scrumptious blueberry salad and shrimp pasta with a Tuscan sauce — light, yet flavorful. Saturday morning we enjoyed the full champagne breakfast, with bacon-wrapped fillet mignon, English muffins, fresh fruit, eggs, and potatoes, a meal that far exceeded our already-high expectations. Saturday evening we were graced with the deluxe three-course dinner, consisting of a tangerine and red bean salad with homemade Caesar dressing, expertly prepared rosemary chicken accompanied by roasted carrots and an incredible potato dish as sides, and finished off with lemon Charlotte, a delectable dessert with which I was not previously acquainted. Sunday morning, Brian prepared hot homemade biscuits, fresh fruit, and the house specialty: chicken and cheese omelets. Every meal was plentiful and excellent.
As an added bonus, Brian shared with us the history of the house, which in many ways is also the history of St. Mary. He has painstakingly researched the Schaff family, who built the house, and the restoration of the house itself is the fruit of that research, as Brian went so far as to discover and replicate the original colors of the walls within the structure.
In short, our stay at White Cliff Manor was the most satisfying, relaxing experience we have ever had. We enjoyed it so much that we have already made reservations for next year’s anniversary celebration. I could not offer a higher recommendation for anyone desiring to visit southeastern Missouri. If you give Brian the opportunity to impress you, he will not disappoint.
Categories:
Powered by FireStats