June came and went--not a minute to put pen to paper. Even now, as I look back at the incredible pace of last month, I am in awe of our General Manager, Marlon Aranha. He is so loved by our friends in the community; they see his integrity, his honesty, and his immense capacity to make everyone feel welcome at The National Hotel. Whether it's busy at our Restaurant and Bar, or multiple guests arrive to check-in for their overnight stay--all at the same time--Marlon always manages to make sure everyone is well attended. His warm smile and graciousness know no end. As we approach our 6th anniversary of being a part of this historic establishment, we feel blessed beyond words to have been able to enlist Marlon's help from day one and to continue to rely on him to ensure our patrons return time and again.
Photo courtesy of frenchtownnj.org
With Bastille Day (a.k.a. Paris a la Frenchtown) taking place today, Marlon will surely be busy--but it's what he likes. That's when you know you're in the right profession, when you are truly passionate about what you do. When I spoke to Marlon last night, we talked about how lucky we are that the weather reports are saying that it'll be a beautiful day for our visitors and Frenchtown residents alike to walk around town and soak in the town's festivities. Those who stay late will be able to enjoy a "movie under the stars" or can come to The National Hotel to listen to Jeremy, who will perform live in The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a. The Rat) from 9 - 11 pm tonight. Truly, today is going to be a magnificent day!
We'll be ready to welcome our overnight guests who will be checking in this afternoon too, as well as our Restaurant and Bar patrons, who will be treated to our weekend Additions to the Menu, specially created using the freshest seasonal ingredients:
DRINK
STRAWBERRY BASIL MOJITO
Casa Brava Rum, Muddled Basil & Strawberries, Agave Nectar $9
GREENS
HEIRLOOM TOMATO
Mixed Varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes, Spring Mix, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Burrata Cheese, Basil Sorbet $13
SMALL PLATES
OYSTERS
Malpeque Oysters, Prince Edward Island, Canada – Medium Brine, Light Bodied, Clean finish
Day Boat Blue Point, Long Island – 2” -3” cup, High Salinity, Classic finish
$2.5 each, 6/$13, 12/$25
FRENCH DIP
Slow Roasted Top Round, Thinly Sliced, Horseradish Crème, Served on long roll & Side of Au Jus, Signature House Cut Fries $13
PLATES
FISH
Pan Seared Monk Fish, Served over a Beluga Lentil & Roasted Vegetable Salad (served Cold), Hoison Glaze $20
Spaghetti with Grilled Chicken, Roasted Wild Mushrooms, Sweet Green Peas, Wild Mushroom Crème Sauce $18
DESSERTS
Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
ASK YOUR SERVER FOR ADDITIONAL DESSERT OPTIONS
Not only will you enjoy these dishes, but if you return to Frenchtown tomorrow, you'll be treated to a return live music performance by Waterfront:Blue, 5 - 7 pm in our main Restaurant and Bar.
And of course, thank you to so many of you who continue to join us every week for our weekly activities, including:
Open Mic Night every Thursday
Karaoke every Wednesday
Trivia Night every other Tuesday
Saturday Night Live Music in The Rat
We're incredibly grateful also to those of you who have stopped by on Monday nights now that The Rat is open from 5 pm - midnight (drinks only). It's great to have a little time to catch up with friends in a low-stress atmosphere that allows everyone to decompress after the 1st day of the work week has begun: Monday Madness at its best! (And Happy Hour from 5 - 7 pm doesn't hurt either!!)
Please continue to send us your comments via email or on this blog. We look forward to seeing you soon at The National Hotel. Thank you for your continued patronage.
Fall is finally here, and in Frenchtown, NJ, we're getting ready for a wonderful season. This weekend the town will be hosting its first Green Fair, where we'll have an old-fashioned pie baking contest and lots of activities for all ages. There is a schedule of events and a list of vendors posted on the Frenchtown Group's facebook page. It all starts tomorrow, Saturday, September 29, from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. (rain or shine):
The weather report says it will clear up by tomorrow, even with all the rain our area is getting today. How about downloading the new "Tour Guide for Cyclists" booklet from bikehunterdon.org, which is a great way to see our lovely and scenic Delaware River area--and be "green" at the same time in honor of Frenchtown's Green Fair.
At The National Hotel, we'll welcome you with open arms after a long day of visiting the many vendors that will participate in the Green Fair, or after a long bike ride on the D&R Canal Towpath. This weekend, we're featuring an array of dishes that are sure to add excitement to our regular menu, in our Additions to the Menu, including:
PEAR & APPLE SALAD (Bartlett Pears, Granny Smith Apples, smoked blue
cheese, sliced red onions, arugula leave & pine nuts with a maple
vinaigrette, topped with bacon candied pecans);
TUNA STEAK
KADAI (Pan seared Sashimi grade Tuna with a classic coconut
curry sauce over black forbidden rice & ginger braised bok choy);
FLANK STEAK (Flank Steak marinated & grilled to your liking,
with an arugula & pumpkin seed pesto, over a sweet potato gratin);
and more.
We hope you'll stay in town and enjoy our Restaurant and Bar, or come downstairs to The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a., The Rat) for great signature drinks and beers on tap. So, even if the rain does pour or the temperatures dip, you know you'll have a great place to spend your Saturday night with old friends by your side--or new ones still to be made. That's what has made The Rat such a favorite of our area; it welcomes you, it's inclusive, and people have made lasting friendships these last few years that have gone well beyond the walls of The National Hotel.
This very sensibility--the ability of our Frenchtown residents and business owners who welcome new faces to the town and their establishments--has actually been recognized now by the State of New Jersey. Frenchtown is now considered one of the eight great places in the state, as was reported by the Hunterdon County Democrat this past Monday. It definitely feels like a validation of what we constantly hear from our hotel, restaurant, and bar guests. Congratulations to all who made this possible!
October will be a month filled with activities and changes--including the launch of our next seasonal menu, and finally, yes, finally, the launch of our monthly National Wine Club. We wanted to get this right, to make sure we truly took in the feedback we received from so many of you who were interested in learning about it over these last couple of months, and now, it will be a reality. We're very pleased with the choices we have lined up for the upcoming months, and we hope you too will agree. Click here if you'd like to sign up to receive more information, or to sign up for the National Wine Club, which, for just $10/month, gets you a bottle of wine, discounts on dinner and overnight stays, exclusive invitations to wine tastings and events, as well as additional discounts.
Surely events such as this year's Frenchtown Business and Professional Association's (FBPA) Riverfest, which was such a huge success the first Sunday in September, with live music throughout the town, merchants offering special events and activities, and even the dog contest, have added to all the reasons why Frenchtown is truly a great place. And the FBPA is adding more things to the calendar, including a month-long celebration of activities, "Frenchtown in October", where every weekend there will be activities planned. The streets are already showcasing fall decorations, thanks to the many volunteers who are members of the FBPA.
We'll also be hosting our monthly Music Themed Night downstairs in The Rat, starting at 9:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of October, featuring Mike Pfeiffer. Get ready for a great 60s-themed night! Mark your calendars for this night, because it never disappoints. And, if you're planning ahead, make sure that you get ready for our annual Halloween party that will feature live music from one of our favorite bands, Rainbow Fresh, on Saturday, October 27th. Prizes will be given for best costumes, and if last year is any indication of what is to be expected this year, we're all in for an absolutely fun time.
Do stay on top of all that's happening in town and in the area, by liking our facebook page, following us on twitter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, and of course, visiting our website. If you have feedback that you'd like to share, please do post it here, or email it to me directly. Thank you to all our friends and patrons who continue to support us, and who have become such an important part of our family.
I'm happy to share that we now have an easier way for you to find us on facebook!! We've created an easy username: www.facebook.com/thenationalhotelnj. And voila! That's it. You can stay up-to-date on everything we do!!
As we near the end of the first month of the new year, Pete and I have had numerous conversations about how grateful we are to have such tremendous support from our patrons. Last month I wrote on this blog about so much that happened in 2011, locally and around the world. As we start 2012, I'm confident that our little establishment, The National Hotel, will continue to show our old friends and the new friends we'll make this year, that Frenchtown, NJ is a wonderful and quaint Delaware River town. Wonderful, because it is the perfect little hidden gem, offering unique shops, many with attention to every detail and offering hand-made items. Quaint, because you'd be hard pressed to find another small town that honors tradition, embraces change, and elevates everyone associated with it, while keeping its finger on the pulse of residents, businesses, and visitors alike. But don't take my word for it, read about it yourself in an article that appeared in the Hunterdon Democrat earlier this month.
At The National Hotel, we have a lot planned already for 2012. Let's start with our upcoming monthly music theme night, where on Saturday, February 4th, Mike Pfeiffer will help us get into a dy-no-mite mood filled with 70s music. Prizes will be given all night, including one for the best 70s-inspired threads. Special drinks will be mixed by our talented bartender, Donna Jane Sampler starting at 8 p.m. in The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a., The Rat), followed by live music, 9:30 p.m. onward.
And that's just the beginning. We have a month of February filled with special programs--some that you've asked for, and others that we just couldn't wait to bring back:
February 14th -- VALENTINE'S DAY, featuring the Wallace Brothers Band in the Rat (7 - 11 p.m.)
February 23rd -- Cajun Food Weekend (in honor of Fat Tuesday, February 21st)
Our regular weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly programs are still on the calendar for 2012, including our Tuesday Bi-Weekly Trivia night, our weekly Thursday Open Mic Night, our weekly Saturday Live Music series, and our weekly Sunday Musical Afternoon series.
If you've had our burgers, you know how good they are. Help us spread the word by voting for The National Hotel that is participating in "the Big Cheese" search for NJ's Best Burger contest. It's been extended until the end of the month, but don't wait, please...we thank you in advance!
We're also well on our way with planning our weekly Additions to the Menu. This weekend we have so many wonderful dishes that there's something for everyone. From the Pheasant Stew (Beer-braised Pheasant, winter vegetables in a stew with a butter pastry dough), to our Grilled Steak & Crab Fritters (10 oz. Skirt Steak grilled to your liking with 2 crab fritters over a sweet potato hash), to Panner & Lotus Root Fritters (Paneer Cheese, crunchy lotus root with Indian spices over a creamy cashew saffron sauce), to so much more. Keep checking every Thursday night to see the weekend Additions to the Menu.
We've received some wonderful compliments from our hotel guests (as well as our frequent--and even our new--Restaurant and Bar dining guests). One recent review from a New York resident who stayed with us was so candid and filled with high praise, that I wanted to share it with you:
"I took my husband here for his birthday and we had a great time. We took the Loft suite and I told the General Manager Marlon the room looked better in person than on the website. What I love about our room [is that] we had a separate entrance so it seems more personal...We ate in the dining area and the bar and the food was delicious. If you need a place to stay where the area is quiet this is the place."
Pete and I have thoroughly enjoyed our wonderful new friends that we've made at The National Hotel, as well as the old friendships we've been fortunate enough to reinforce, in great part because of the easy and elegant--yet inviting--atmosphere at The National Hotel (not to mention the casual atmosphere of The Rat with our woodburning fireplace to keep the winter blues outside & the fun inside). Having these friends join us at The National Hotel lends itself to enjoy in-depth conversations, feeling free to share opinions, dreams, aspirations, and even the challenges being faced at any particular time. It's a wonderful little Delaware River town, filled with some of the most creative people we've had the pleasure to meet, and The National Hotel itself is a wonderful old historic establishment that welcomes all who step through its doors. Our patrons are incredibly supportive and wonderfully active in our music and arts programs.
But as 2012 establishes its pace in all our lives, I feel compelled to once again share how absolutely wonderfully blessed we are to have such wonderful and talented people working at The National Hotel. Each one brings his or her own flair to add to the chemistry of the establishment, and it is thanks to each and every one of them, from the wait staff to our kitchen staff, to our talented executive chef, Lisa Frederick, and to our wonderful "unofficial mayor" of Frenchtown, our very own general manager, Marlon Aranha, that we are able to bring to the table the fabulous dishes, serve delectable cocktails and wine and liquor choices, as well as provide exceptional service on the hotel side, with guest suites that have our overnight guests leaving beautiful hand-written notes to us as to the fantastic service, and restful night's sleep. I truly walk into this historic building each and every time feeling like I'm home. I know Pete echoes this sentiment, and with the hours he keeps there, it really is his home away from home. Thank you for all you've done to help us get to this point. Here's to an even better 2012!
Please continue to email me with your comments, or post a comment below. Stay up-to-date with everything being planned, by checking our website, calling us at 908.996.3200 or:
Is it possible that 2011 is actually coming to an end? Is it possible that in just 13 days, we'll be saying "good-bye" to a tumultuous year? It's been a year where locally we shared so many good moments, warm toasty nights in our cellar pub, The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a., The Rat), listening to night after night of great music, where we were entertained by wonderful musicians who perform during our weekly Sunday musical afternoon series, including our most recent performer, Carol Thompson, who played the harp and wowed everyone present, and absolutely got us all into the holiday spirit early in December. What a treat to know that when she has time, she has even made a surprise appearance during our weekly Thursday Open Mic Night, packing in the local residents as well as as our hotel overnight guests.
And there's so much more in store. Today there was People's Poetry in The Rat, where local poets and those who like to listen to poetry, came out to support each other and enjoy an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping or weekend catch-up agendas. Next Friday we'll feature Mike Pfeiffer's monthly theme music nights, where he'll kick off the night after 9 p.m. performing Christmas songs that will help us all unwind and get us in the right frame of mind to welcome in the holidays. And this will follow (and coincide with) the celebration of Hanukkah, where we'll light the candles and rejoice during these 8 days and Festival of Lights beginning on the even of the 20th. Our Frenchtown community is always so supportive of our programs and always help us come up with new ideas. We even started a bi-weekly Friday night dance series, where our wonderful Rathskeller bartender, Donna Jane Sampler, has created terrific dance tracks for all to enjoy. And don't forget about our bi-weekly Tuesday Trivia too. That night never disappoints, thanks to Russ Coen and our General Manager, Marlon Aranha's continued dedication to coming up with incredible questions that truly challenge and entertain us.
We hope you'll make the time to enjoy these days with us. We've even come up with a special Christmas Eve menu for the weekend, where we'll have items such as Seven Fish dinner for two, Lobster Risotto, and more. Check our menu page for the Additions to the Menu later this week to see the full menu.
2011 has been a year where worldwide events brought us closer to neighbors thousands of miles away; where we learned of the passing of icons such as Steve Jobs, who helped make music more accessible and instantaneously attainable for millions; where we witnessed the attempted assassination of
Photo by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' office via Getty Images
Congresswoman Giffords; where we learned about the last day of Osama Bin Laden's life; where we witnessed in real time the protests in the Middle East and the awakening of the Arab Spring; where we learned that our troops would soon come home (and in fact, early this Sunday morning we saw that the last American convoy left Iraq) and made its way down the highway in what the Army called its last "tactical road march" according to CNN;
Courtesy of CNN
Photo courtesy bbc.co.uk
where we mourned the death of hundreds that quickly rose to the thousands with so many missing, in Japan after the March tsunami and 8.9-magnitude earthquake; where we saw the suffering through piercing images in the media after the earthquake in Turkey; where our hearts poured out for all of our neighbors in the Southern states that suffered through the devastating tornadoes;
Photo courtesy of abcnews.go.com
where we celebrated the fairytale marriage of a Prince and a commoner--and couldn't stop watching the ceremony that went off without one hiccup...even the rain held off for the open horse carriage to deliver the newlywed royal couple to Buckingham Palace; and let's not forget, it's the year where thousands of fans of reality TV watched glued to the television the marriage that was to outdo the royal wedding: Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries marriage that lasted only 72 days. Will we ever recover?
But as close as we felt to these moments of suffering, of sadness, of joy, of pure comic relief, we also experienced similar moments right here in our own backyard. Let's not forget that Hunterdon County, NJ and Bucks County, PA suffered through the flooding and loss of power following Hurricane Irene's short visit to the US. And, in recent memory is the snow and ice storm of October 29th, that in one night forced residents to stay home, make alternate Halloween plans (or cancel them altogether), try to stay warm with the loss of electricity, and forced neighbors out of their homes to take refuge with friends and family. Many were without power for more than a week. But from this tragedy, and from that from across the globe, we've seen proof of our capacity to help those around us, we've seen true humanity coming out without asking.
Non-profits from around the world have done what they could to help those most affected. Those on the ground already in place, have been the most effective, but there are those "random acts of kindness" that I have personally seen that have impressed me more than any other year. I've seen strangers helping others--I've even seen a New York City parking officer NOT give out a ticket to a taxi driver who had gotten out of his cab to get a street cup of coffee. He explained what happened & the officer put away the pad and walked on. Amazing! Pete and I also saw the creation of a fantastic new park that preserves land forever, right here in our own backyard. 300+ acres were officially preserved this year, abutting 200 acres of preserved open space to the south and 300+ acres of preserved farmland and open space to the north, ensuring green space for generations to come, with some of the best vistas of the Delaware River, nature, and wildlife. It took years to create, but boy, is it worth it! Thank you to the people involved with the Hunterdon Land Trust Association for all their hard work. I've also seen community get together and plan on the best way to create a dog park in Frenchtown, rallying support, raising funds, and motivating neighbors to get involved.
How appropriate to continue to learn of stories like these during this holiday time. As we approach the holidays, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, or other holidays, we wish you much happiness, health, and prosperity, along with much joy during the approaching start of 2012. As you plan ahead for the month of December, please remember that although the hotel is open for overnight accommodations, the Restaurant & Bar and the Rat are closed on Christmas Day. Do continue to emailus your comments and feedback...they are truly helpful...or just leave a comment on this page. Stay up-to-date with everything being planned, by:
You've made such a tremendous difference in our lives, and from all of us at The National Hotel, Pete and I want to extend to you our most sincere wishes for many days of happiness and wonderful experiences that will create many memories for years to come.
Today it actually feels like a spring day--it's about time! Our flowers outside of The National Hotel don't know whether to come up or not, because the temperatures dipped so low recently. The low temperatures, the horrible news from Japan on March 11th, and the aftermath of the tsunami, compounded our own local situation, where neighbors suffered damages to their properties after the Delaware River rose and flooded homes, closed river roads, and left many wondering, "Why?" The local churches and non-profit groups have been busy collecting food items and donations to help those in need, and outside of our area, the international community has been rallying to provide aid to Japan, help with the rescue effort, and support them through the work of many international organizations. I found a very good summation of the different organizations who are on the ground helping today, and bringing the necessary aid that Japan will need for a very, very long time: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/21/how-to-help-japan-earthquake-relief_n_834484.html. It lists organizations that cross all lines, religious, humanitarian, health & human services, etc.
Even in the midst of all the news that surround us every minute of the day, from Japan's situation to the Middle East and elsewhere, our patrons really help us to "live in the moment," to live in the present. We are grateful for what the community has helped us build and create with The National Hotel, a beautiful and historic building that is truly a part of our family now, and that envelops us in all the tales we've heard, the milestones that many families have shared once inside its doors.
It's this spirit and enthusiasm that draws such talent to The National Hotel. We see this every single week, when our Restaurant & Bar patrons let us know how much they love the musicians or the dish or drink they had. The comfortable ambiance is something we strive to create, while still providing excellent and attentive service. We heard such wonderful feedback these last few days, that even though the temperature was cold outside, it heated up inside The National Hotel's Restaurant this past weekend. We had our second installment of "Indian Nights," where our dining guests were treated to an All-Indian Additions to the Menu. And our executive chef, Lisa Frederick, did not disappoint. Pete was very pleased that he was able to bring these authentic Indian dishes of his childhood as well as well-known Indian traditional dishes from around the Indian sub-continent, to Frenchtown.
From Chicken Biryani (classic north Indian royalty rice dish with chicken, saffron, and turmeric), to Kashmiri Lamb (traditional sweet and spicy lamb with yogurt curry, over basmati rice, garnished with fresh cilantro and almonds), to Vada (ground lentil patties, Indian spices, served with cilantro chutney), the kitchen was kept on its toes, bustling with activity...and we LOVE THAT! And, when you topped that off with one of Kasey Goyette's Additions to the Menu specialty drinks, Mango Indian Cocktail (Rum, Triple Sec, Mango Pulp, Sour mix and Rose's Lime) or one of her distinct wine or beer choices to complement the dish ordered, you just couldn't find a better way to make all the stress and worries of our daily lives just float away this weekend.
And speaking about drinks and libations, they all require the establishment to possess a liquor license. Well, just imagine how thrilled I was when Pete brought home the original liquor license--almost crumbling at the touch! It's a liquor license from August 1, 1892, owned by William Apgar, one of the original families to own The National Hotel. Can you believe the license cost $25 back then...a pretty penny for sure even in 1892. I just couldn't wait to share!
And he also surprised me with this other wonderful historic photos of Frenchtown, which I promptly framed and took back to The National Hotel:
Even with the temperatures dipping into the 20s, they did rise enough for us to be able highlight Clan Suibhne, an authentic Irish trio, as they performed on our porch on Saturday, March 19th, helping us extend the St. Patrick's Day celebration well into the weekend. They were a huge hit, with their extraordinary personalities, their musical talent, and ability to reach deep into their family vault of music, "pulling out" just what our patrons wanted to hear--and all with an explanation of the instruments, their history, and how certain songs came to be. I'm uploading some of what I recorded onto our youtube channel and should have everything done by the end of the week. They were really extraordinary, connecting even with passersby on the sidewalk, often stopping them in their tracks as they played and encouraged them (many with children in tow) to sway to music that touched all of us.
Lucky for us that although the temperatures started to drop as they started to put their instruments away, the day was warm enough for everyone to enjoy some St. Patty's Day fun all weekend long. And the fun continued inside, because we had more music downstairs in the Rat, where Christy Jefferson entertained our Rathskeller Pub & Lounge patrons until 11 p.m., part of our Live Saturday Night Music series.
And not to be outdone, our local poets filled our Rathskeller Pub & Lounge space in our cellar, to the point where we had to add chairs to accommodate everyone. It was a wonderful People's Poetry (our poetry open mic, third Sunday of every month) session that easily filled the two hours dedicated to poetry. Some of the webclips are just about finished and will be posted on our youtube channel soon, but you can find many of these same poets' prior reading already live on our channel.
Looking forward into what's left of March and further into April, we have a lot in store, including our Vietnamese Additions to the Menu weekend. Check our facebook page and become our "friend" so you can stay abreast of all the different programs we'll be featuring, the musicians who'll entertain you, or just simple news about what we're doing on any particular day, or if you use twitter, follow our tweets. And if you'd like to receive news, special discounts or information about upcoming events, sign up to receive our e-news and we'll add you to our distribution list.
We hope to see you soon at The National Hotel, and continue to thank you, thank you, thank you, for your support and patronage. Because of you, winter is just a distant memory. Here's to spring!...oh wait, I just heard an announcement on the news that it might snow soon...really?!!! No matter, we'll be nice and warm inside, and Kasey, Donna, Tobi and the rest of The National Hotel staff will be on hand to bring you a memorable drink of your liking to help you unwind while you wait for your favorite dish from our menu. See you soon!
Frenchtown is in full swing, celebrating it's annual Riverfest weekend. We put our heads together, and Ron Rittenhouse, our executive chef, came up with a wonderful Mardi Gras inspired menu that is sure to please. From crabfritter salad (boston and romaine lettuce with creole mustard vinaigrette topped with fried crab fritters), to shrimp, andouille and gritts (sauteed andouille sausage, jumbo shrimp served over creamy grits with a hot pepper cream sauce)...or how about trout meuniere (fresh trout filet, dredged in flour, panfried and served with a New Orleans classic meuneire sauce), or even, pecan chicken (chicken breast breaded in pecans and bread crumbs, topped with bourbon green onion sauce accompanied with red beans and rice)...and so many other dishes. But let's not forget the beignets. After all, it wouldn't be Mardi Gras without beignets!
We hope you'll make some time to come out to The National Hotel to sample some of Ron's creations. His team in our kitchen is just stellar. Pete and I feel so fortunate to have such a dedicated and committed staff, from Lisa, to Teresa, and Mikey. They truly make it such a smooth process for everyone involved. And when Ron and Kasey Goyette, our lead bartender, get together to plan out menus and discuss specialty drinks that will enhance each other, you know it's a winning combination.
Do join us for this special weekend in Frenchtown, when all the shops will feature special events, activities, and a fun time for the family. We're looking forward to a terrific holiday weekend in Frenchtown, and everyone who works at The National Hotel is looking forward to getting a sampling of this special Mardi Gras fare. Those of us who have been to New Orleans before know what a special place that is, and how central truly great food is to their way of life. I do hope you'll share this with us, and that you'll post a comment or email me directly with your feedback at marie@thenationalhotelnj.com.
The National Hotel is located in the scenic and historic town of Frenchtown, NJ. It has a colorful past and offers 10 rooms, each with its own private bath and many with jacuzzi tubs. The National Hotel also boasts a restaurant, a bar, and a tavern (the Rathskellar) bar.
