It's such a privilege to be able to provide top-notch service to our guests. As we approach the 7th anniversary since we received the keys to The National Hotel later this month, we are so grateful for the opportunities that have come our way. Those keys did not only open the shuttered doors of The National Hotel; they unlocked a hidden gem within one of the best kept secrets in New Jersey.
Through our involvement with so many patrons who choose to make The National Hotel a daily part of their lives, we have witnessed friendships blossom, and relationships deepen. This little historic building has its "finger" on the pulse of our quaint and unique Delaware River town. From being nominated as Frenchtown School's "favorite historic spot in town" by its students with a celebratory evening at Frenchtown's beautiful and thoughtful bookstore, The Book Garden--which is an HONOR in and of itself!!!--to receiving the warmth and support of our vibrant community from day one seven years ago that has never wavered, we are in awe of our neighbors and the surrounding communities.
It's going to be such a joy being able to share in the festivities on the 16th! Pete and I hope that you'll carve out time to enjoy the annual Bastille Day family-friendly celebrations on Saturday. From the River Union Stage Puppet Show behind The Book Garden to live music and entertainment on the streets of town, it's sure to be an unforgettable day.
"Local Pogo-Stick Extreme athletes Nik Taylor and Henry Cebalus, students at New Hope Solebury High School, have performed for the Pope in Vatican City, on the Great Wall of China and at the Eiffel Tower in Paris! And now they will be bringing their show to Frenchtown thanks to Village Toy Shoppe!" [frenchtownnj.org] There'll be a "fashion show highlighting its je-ne-sais-quoi couture," a stilt walker, a mime, and so much more. Considering the news recently, it feels so good to be able to celebrate France, to lift spirits, to share life, and to scream loudly, Vive la France!!
At The National Hotel, we're ready to roll out the carpet for you, with weekend Additions to the Menu already posted, where you can catch the "action" while sitting on our front porch and cool off with "THE SUMMER BREEZE" (Stoli Raspberry, Chambord, Fresh Lemon Juice, Splash of Sprite and Club Soda, Lemon Wheel Garnish) and take a respite from the day's activities. The fun will continue through the night. John Sontag will perform live from 9-11 pm in The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a. The Rat), where the conversation is always lively, and everyone is welcome. And mark your calendars for Sunday's live music performance featuring the return of David Falcone (5-7 pm).
That's the beauty of Frenchtown. It's the human capital--it's the residents who share their lives with each other, who say "hello" to each other on the street, who care for neighbors and who are warm to visitors. now this is a town that has integrity! Join us!!!
Please continue to send me your comments via email or on this blog. I look forward to seeing you soon at The National Hotel. Thank you for your continued patronage.
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.
These days just couldn’t get any hotter…and yet, when I
stand on the front porch of The National Hotel and see children running to the
river or coming up from Nishisakawick Creek next to the Frenchtown Borough Park, where
they’ve been enjoying a hot summer afternoon, I have to agree that we’re lucky
to be right on the Delaware River, where we can cool off with a quick dip, a
kayaking trip, or even enjoy a lazy summer day tubing down the river.
Even our patrons often choose to sit and enjoy a cool summer drink on the porch rather than be indoors with the air conditioner. There’s something about that porch. People just love being able to sit there, enjoy a great meal and drink, while they look at the people walking by, the vintage cars, the sports cars, the motorcycles, and of course, the cyclists that pass by Race Street.
July is a really BIG month for us, and Pete and I have to
thank those of you who have encouraged us for so long to take the plunge and
create a monthly wine club featuring a distinctive and exclusive selection of
quality wines that are affordable and varied, from around the world.Truly, you were our inspiration.Through these last few years that we've gotten to know each other, you have given us your feedback on what you like the
best, what you’d like us to try, and what complements the intricate and
delicate flavors of our dishes best.Well, we've done it.We've created our very own National Wine Club.
Each month, our National Wine Club members will be able to
pick up one bottle of the featured wine as well as receive:
10% off their ENTIRE
lunch, dinner, or overnight bill on the Wednesday of the month that they come
to The National Hotel to pick up their purchase;
discounted prices on additional purchases of additional bottles of wine or spirits at discounted prices;
exclusive members-only wine tastings;
free tasting notes and information
on the specific featured wine;
and more.
All
this, for $10 per month.We’re so
excited about this and we’re sure that those who join will be proud to serve
these selections at home and share them with their closest friends and
family.If you’re interested in joining,
please call Pete at 908.996.3200 or email us for more information.
This month Frenchtown will honestly be able to provide
visitors and residents alike, with numerous opportunities to enjoy the
area. There’s the 3rd annual Gay
Pride Flotilla tomorrow, that will surely be a fun way to spend the day,
and you can follow this with an afternoon of shopping or strolling down our lovely
Frenchtown streets, and to finish off your night, why not celebrate summer
while staying cool by going downstairs to The National Hotel’s cellar pub, The
Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a. The Rat), where you’ll be in for a treat, because we’ll
be welcoming back Mike
Pfeiffer.
Mike has put together quite a menu of songs that are sure to
be recognizable, part of our monthly Music Themed Nights series. Donna
Jane Sampler will be pouring our newest beers on tap that were installed just about a week ago in The Rat starting at 4 p.m., but also mixing her own special libations in sync with Mike’s
special program, starting at 8 p.m., and Mike will perform from 9:30 p.m.
onward.
Last night was a really great night
downstairs in The Rat, where we met new musicians who made it up to Frenchtown, NJ
to participate. It’s always exciting to
welcome our local artists who come week after week, and even more so when we
have the opportunity to showcase our beautiful and historic establishment to
new artists who come from outside our area.
Our weekly Thursday
Open Mic Night has become an absolute “must attend” night for many of our
local artists, and it’s a favorite of many who love to support them, and also
enjoy a great night out.
On Sunday, we’ll feature John Sonntag who will entertain our
Restaurant and Bar guests on the main floor, 5 – 7 p.m. Even if they’re announcing storms on Sunday,
we’ll be nice and dry inside while we close out the weekend together. I can already taste some of the special
dishes that our Executive Chef, Lisa Frederick, has
created for our weekend Additions to the Menu.
This special menu always adds something exciting to our already
extraordinary (if you don’t mind my boasting a bit) roster of distinctive
dishes that range from the traditional to the exotic with flavors from around
the world. So if you’re in the mood for
a fabulous meal to accompany the musical entertainment, why not enjoy a dish
from our weekend Additions to the Menu, like:
Thai Watermelon Salad (watermelon, feta, arugula leaves, mint, cilantro, radish, red onion in a finger lime vinaigrette)
Pan-seared Halibut & Jumbo Shrimp over a coconut basmati rice with a spicy pineapple sauce and grilled scallions
Tofu and Eggplant marinated in a spicy Thai basic sauce, over vermicelli noodles and braised bok choy, drunken noodle style
And more!
Don’t forget to join in the fun on Tuesday by visiting The
Rat, from 8 – 10 p.m., as we host another night of Tuesday Trivia,
every other week. This night was created
by our very own Frenchtown resident, Russ Coen, who creates the questions and
tallies results with the help of our General Manager, Marlon Aranha. Whether you come by
yourself and join a team, or come with friends and create your own team, make
sure you put your thinking cap on! And
with Donna Jane Sampler behind the bar, even if you don’t wear your thinking
cap, she’ll come up with one of her specialty drinks that will help your
inhibitions disappear.
Courtesy of the FBPA & Icon Magazine
Well, we’re not done though…Frenchtown is putting on its
best summer face on Saturday, July 14th, celebrating Bastille Day
from 12 – 6 p.m, with a "Let Them Eat Cake" theme. It also coincides with
the town’s Second Saturdays music program ( 4 - 8 p.m.), which means there will be musicians
around the town performing and entertaining our local residents and visitors
alike, including Tony Kovatch and Kim Sorenson, BLISS featuring Sara Dalen and Morgan Fisher, Volcanic Eruption, Amy Rivituso, and Skye Van Saun.
Stop by The National Hotel for an evening meal and then head on over to the Frenchtown Borough Park to catch an outdoor showing of the movie "Marie Antoinette" starring Kirsten Dunst. Bring your own chair, blanket, etc., and enjoy some snacks and refreshments that will be sold by Girl Scout Troop 1308 there...and when it's over, head on over to The Rat, for some adult refreshments to close out the night. You might even make it to the tail end of our Saturday evening's performance that will run through 11 p.m. downstairs in The Rat.
Add to this Frenchtown’s own Green Team Bring Your Own Cup
film series, featuring "Bag It" on Friday, July 20th, at 7 p.m., the 3rd Friday of every month through September. Americans use 60,000 plastic bags every five minutes, disposable bags that are thrown away carelessly. Where do these bags end up? What's the human and environmental cost? Tara Shepard, Executive Director of Sustainable Hunterdon, will lead a discussion following the film. This is a free event that welcomes you to bring your own cup, bring treats to share, or even donations to contribute. Sustainable Huterdon is also sponsoring a great event, www.bikehunterdon.org, that will highlight all kinds of year-round opportunities for cyclists to enjoy relaxing as well as challenging bicycle rides in our area. Truly, only in Frenchtown, can these programs grow out of pure inspiration and determination. Pete and I stand in awe of what our neighbors create day in and day out.
We started the month of July with a fabulous performance by RainbowFresh who helped us celebrate July 4th a night early
with a pre-Independence Day musical night.
And what a night it was! People
were dancing, moving, talking, sharing stories, and just having a great night
in The Rat. I'm editing the webclips now, so check our YouTube page to see some great future next week. And, make sure you stay on top of
all of our upcoming programs and special events by visiting our music page.
As always, please continue to email us with your feedback, leave a comment on this blog, and stay up-to-date with everything being planned, by checking our website, calling us at 908.996.3200 or:
Thank you again for your continued support and patronage.
What a wonderful town! We just celebrated Bastille Day, and our little corner of the world was JUMPING! Local residents and tourists alike meandered through the town, shopped, strolled, enjoyed the outdoor music and entertainers, as well as shared conversations and enjoyed some wonderful food and drinks offered at some of the Frenchtown establishments.
For us, at The National Hotel, it was a day to have our "peacock feathers" fully on display, proud to have the opportunity to share our love affair with this historic building and the warmth our patrons bring to all the guests who set foot for the first time in this building. And it was wonderful to have new visitors to Frenchtown experience the fantastic culinary choices our executive chef, Lisa Frederick, has created. From our wonderful classic dishes, such as Black Angus Strip Steak and The National Burger, to our more exotic and ethnic-inspired dishes, such as the Chicken Seekh Wrap (with Indian paratha bread) and Black Bean & Shrimp Empanadas (with lime-poached shrimp), our patrons continue to come back to The National Hotel because of the quality and the care that the kitchen staff puts into every plate--not to mention the creativity they express by incorporating international ingredients into the dishes on the menu, adding a twist to traditional fare, while introducing new favorites to our area clientele.
Sea food stew with clams, mussels, shrimp, lobster, and chunks of sea bass all stewed to perfection with tomato, white wine and fennel with grilled bread
Photo courtesy of Kimmy Schmidt
Chicken and Raita salad. Chicken seekh kabab (with Indian spices) over a mixed salad with a Indian yogurt dressing
Photo courtesy of Kimmy Schmidt
Homemade pizza with fresh mozzarella, asiago cheese, roasted garlic and fresh spring onions
Photo courtesy of Kimmy Schmidt
House made ravioli, filled with bacon, sweet peas and goat cheese, topped with three U-10 scallops, seared in bacon jus
Photo courtesy of Kimmy Schmidt
And those who visit Frenchtown, NJ this summer are treated to additional activities from the Frenchtown Business Association's (FBPA) Second Saturdays--a huge success and so much fun!! Musicians entertain visitors and residents alike, performing throughout the town, outdoors.
You'll find more videos of Rainbow Fresh and other artists who have performed at The National Hotel on our youtube channel. This flows so smoothly from The National Hotel's own arts and music programming:
Monthly People's Poetry on the 3rd Sunday of the month (poetry open mic), 2 - 4 p.m.
There's something happening almost every night of the week--and every single program was started by one of our patrons. They plan it, they initiate it, and they organize and execute the plan. Just take a look at our brand new bi-weekly WEDNESDAY SCRABBLE NIGHT program, 7 - 9 p.m. that kicked off last Wednesday and will be on again on August 3rd--organized, sponsored, and launched by Frenchtown's own Paddle Creek--immediately following our Wednesday Ladies' Night with 1/2 off drinks (5 - 7 p.m. every week). Only one word comes to mind: blessed. Yes, Pete and I are blessed. The success of The National Hotel is owed to our patrons, and the help of our friends, family, and not least, our talented and wonderful staff. If you've stopped by to have a drink and have had a chance to chat with Kasey Goyette, our lead bartender, or Donna Jane Sampler, our Rathskeller libation maven, you know exactly what I mean!
August will surely be another great month. Frenchtown, NJ is just an absolutely delightful place to spend an afternoon, an evening, or for a few days. You'll find friendly people, welcoming merchants, scenic vistas, and lots of activities to suit you, whether you're looking to relax or to have an active stay enjoying the outdoors. Please feel free to contact our knowledgeable staff with any questions, at 908.996.3200, and do continue to email us 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:
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.
