F & B : TABLETOP
Beacon Public House at the Commons Hotel
Minneapolis uses woodtop tables sans tablecloths , 100 % cotton dishtowels in lieu of polyblend napkins and simple candleholders to convey a home-like feel .
Neutral color schemes and natural , rustic materials characterize the tabletops at Darby ’ s Bar at The Lodge at Doonbeg in County Clare , Ireland .
KEEPING IT
Tavern , the new gastropub at The Sky Lodge in Park City , Utah , knows what
SIMPLE it is — and what it is not . Director of Food and Beverage Lawrence Acedo explains Tavern ’ s focus is on offering a high-quality menu to the après ski crowd , and the absence of elaborate centerpieces and table linens allows room for bulky ski gear and keeps diners ’ attention where it belongs . “ Our idea was a minimalist approach , so the focus is more on the experience than an overdone dining environment ,” Acedo says .
Darby ’ s Bar at The Lodge at Doonbeg in County Clare , Ireland , also strives to convey a casual atmosphere through a similar tabletop approach . “ Our tabletop items are made up of neutral color schemes with natural , rustic materials ,” says Edward O ’ Dwyer , food and beverage operations manager at The Lodge at Doonbeg . “ They were chosen to reflect the overall relaxed , calm atmosphere . We feel that what stands out is the quality of ware and cutlery used , which are simple and neutral , yet robust .”
Tabletops at Beacon Public House at the Commons Hotel Minneapolis follow the gastropub ’ s rustic overall theme . Elements include wood-top tables sans tablecloths , 100 % cotton dishtowels in lieu of polyblend napkins , old-fashioned glass water bottles and simple candleholders . The broader approach , however , hearkens back to the origins of the hotel industry , according to Thomas Haas , vice president of F & B for Seattle-based Noble House Hotels & Resorts , which manages the hotel . “ The idea was to be informal , approachable and familiar ,” Haas says . “ The whole gastropub theme is really a throwback to the origins of the hospitality business , where the innkeeper and his wife had a roadside inn to welcome travelers and locals .”
Tavern , the new gastropub at The Sky Lodge in Park City , Utah , employs a minimalist tabletop approach to appeal to the après ski crowd .
42 HOTELS March 2013 www . hotelsmag . com