Special Easter Brunch Planned and Huge Milestones this Year

April is promising to be an exciting month already, following on the heels of March, that has been quite a month in and of itself. Between Frenchtown's FIRST Restaurant Week, to the re-opening of our Monday Madness nights in The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a., The Rat), to working diligently on creating our spring menu that will go live this coming month, to planning for what is sure to be an incredible rest of 2015. Here's are 3 huge milestones for The National Hotel:

• We will celebrate the 165th anniversary of The National Hotel since it broke ground in 1850 to establish the beautiful and gracious edifice we see today.
• We are celebrating the 125th night of Bi-Weekly Tuesday Trivia, thanks to the unstoppable creativity and ingenuity of its founder, Russ Coen, and our General Manager, Marlon Aranha.
• We look forward to the 250th night of Open Mic Night on April 9th! FIVE YEARS!!! And that is thanks to the many wonderful musicians and artists who take the microphone week after week, as well as to this special night's hosts--and in particular, to the night's creator, whose vision to create a legacy of music at The National Hotel has stood the test of time: Mr. Alex Wolfson.

As you can see, this year is a celebratory year, and YOUR voices have also been heard through social media, resonating state-wide and area-wide. From being nominated and making it to the very final cut of best NJ bars, to making it into Edible Philly's travel section along with other Frenchtown establishments, to continuing social media competitions (where we are pleased to report we won in the Food and Drinks category of Hunterdon's The Happening List, as having the area's best signature fresh-cut fries!!). And we know there will be many other opportunities for your opinions to be heard and for your love of this grand old establishment to spread to far-away places. We saw that in several recent TripAdvisor reviews, and the generous words used to describe our staff's attention to detail helped us forget about the frigid temperatures outside from sheer happiness and pride. Why not experience this yourself with an overnight stay with us now that spring is finally here? We have terrific special packages and rates that will make this get-away truly wonderful. Please all our knowledgeable concierge for more information:  908.996.3200.

Last night's re-launch of our Monday Madness after too long of a winter, proved to have been worth the wait. Friends turned up for Happy Hour (5 p.m. - 7 p.m.), and enjoyed the warmth of the area's "late night destination." Being open on a Monday exclusively to serve our bar patrons creates its own vibe, and we are excited to be able to add this to our weekly schedule.

This first weekend in April will also allow us to showcase another FIRST for us:  BRUNCH!! We've created an Easter Brunch menu that is sure to please, filled with favorites and uniquely crafted dishes that will include a glass of champagne, as well as coffee or tea. All for just $20 per person!!!! Please make sure to call us at 908.996.3200, because reservations are filling up quickly. Brunch will be served 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

In addition to our Easter menu, we will also continue to feature our weekend Additions to the Menu (Thursday - Sunday) that takes advantage of the beautiful area where we live, sourcing the freshest ingredients to bring succulent dishes to the table. These special menus will be posted on our website by Thursday evening, April 2nd. Do make plans to join us.

We're also excited about our new wine list, where we'll feature some of the best wines available at prices that are sure to please. You'll notice some terrific new wines in our White Wine section of our menu that will complement the new spring and summer dishes on our menu. We hope you too will agree.

The same goes for our National Wine Club. This just keeps growing and growing and we're so pleased, because we have the ability to create a more robust member night that will surely be in demand in the future. If you're curious about the benefits and/or interested in joining (just $10/month), please take a look at our webpage for information and fill out our inquiry form. Pete and I will be happy to send you information (or create this membership as an exclusive gift certificate for someone special). You can always call us at 908.996.3200 with any questions too.

Moreover, now that April is knocking on our door, it's wonderful to reflect and remember why we do what we do. Not a day passes that Pete and I (together with our incredibly dedicated staff) don't discuss this or that about The National Hotel, our patrons, upcoming opportunities, ideas for future projects, etc. It's also been such a labor of love to continue to meet with local farmers and merchants, who are eager to create that "farm to table" experience through collaboration and cooperation. Our Executive Chef, Geoffrey Thomas, makes this a priority, especially as he crafts new menu ideas alongside Pete, whose vision for each new menu selection is always inspired.

We owe much of the direction we take to you. Your feedback, your patronage, and your support continue to boost our spirits and propel us forward. Thank you for everything you do.

Please remember to check our facebook updates so you can mark your calendars for our weekly and bi-weekly events, including:

• Bi-Weekly Tuesday Trivia (8-10 p.m.);
• Weekly Wednesday Happy Hour (4-7 p.m.): Ladies' 1/2 off drinks;
• Weekly Wednesday Karaoke Night (8 p.m. - midnight);
• Weekly Thursday Open Mic Night (9 p.m. - closing);
• Weekly Saturday Night Live Music series (9 - 11 p.m.);
• Weekly Sunday Musical Afternoon series (5 - 7 p.m.);
• and now, weekly Monday Madness in The Rat (Happy Hour 5 - 7 p.m.; bar closes at midnight)

There's always something special happening at The National Hotel, thanks to your patronage. Please also join us for our weekly Wednesday Forks and Corks dinner, where for $25 pp, you'll savor a 1 lb. 100% grass-fed Porterhouse steak with mashed potatoes and vegetable and/or 50% off a bottle of wine of YOUR choice. Now that's a great way to fight the Wednesday Hump Day blues!!

In addition, we have to recognize and thank the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association (FBPA) that worked diligently to put Frenchtown's Restaurant Week on the map. This was an example of a town coming together and honoring what each restaurant contributes, because as a community, we stand strong together. If you walk along the streets of downtown Frenchtown, you'll see how we're growing, from businesses relocating to other parts of the town bringing new energy to the new location, to new businesses working to open their doors in time for the busier spring and summer seasons. We can't wait!

Please continue to send us your comments via email or on this blog. To all who observe, we wish you a very Happy Easter and Chag Sameach. We look forward to seeing you soon at The National Hotel. Thank you for your continued patronage.

          

FALL IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SEASONS IN FRENCHTOWN, NJ

During this beautiful fall season, make sure to visit Hunterdon County's Frenchtown, NJ.  The town puts on its best fall colors with special decorations lining the streets and Mother Nature contributes to this autumn theme with the beautiful changing colors of the leaves that are ablaze in oranges and reds throughout our scenic winding roads as you make your way into town.

Frenchtown has something special to offer every single visitor, from the child looking for that special toy that Sunbeam Toys offers, or the children's book that can be found thanks to the learned and dedicated staff at the Book Garden, to collectibles, art, unique and individually designed and hand-crafted jewelry and furnishings, and so much more, all within this quaint, small, and easily "strollable/walkable" town.

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I recently had a guest who enjoyed lunch at The National Hotel--YES!!...We launched our new fall menu last week--and it was a joy to get such wonderful feedback from her.  She also let me know that she was in love with architecture of the houses that are "behind" our downtown business district.  The truth is that it is worth the trip here to see that on its own.  The houses are just incredibly beautiful, some even painted pastel and unique colors, highlighting the period architecture, and many boast beautifully designed and maintained front gardens and back yards.  The local residents go out of their way to welcome visitors to the town, and even help them better plan their stay in town or around the area with tips, directions, and suggestions for dining or lodging.  We are so grateful to them!

And front and center of our town's "destination" revitalization, is the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association, made up of business owners who volunteer their time to promote Frenchtown, improve the relationship with our town's residents, local business entities, government officials, and visitors.  They are responsible for creating the highly successful 2nd Saturdays live music series where musicians performed all summer outside to entertain passersby, as well as numerous other initiatives, including events every weekend this month, and many more that will be planned out for the rest of the year and holiday season.  

On our end, we've got big news regarding the upcoming elections.  We'll soon be posting information on our facebook page about a little contest we're designing that might be more indicative of the outcome than some of the polls all the news channels are touting.  Visit our facebook page soon and find out!

Another area that has kept us busy, busy, busy, is selecting wines that we'll feature exclusively at The National Hotel for our monthly National Wine Club members.  Thank you to those of you who have already signed up and those who have asked for more information.  We've started contacting guests who have emailed us or have asked for additional information, so stay tuned if you are one of those individuals.  This is exciting on many levels, but more so because the impetus for creating this monthly club came from our very patrons, who wanted to experience a more intimate approach to enjoying wines, to learning about wines, and having the opportunity to meet others who are interested in wines when we have special wine tastings and exclusive events.  Launching this alongside our new fall menu, has been a labor of love, incorporating the many areas that Pete and I love, alongside our long-time Executive Chef, Lisa Frederick, and the rest of our staff.

In fact, Lisa took center stage recently, when we had the pleasure of having been chosen for a a wedding reception that took over the entire first floor of our building.  She was on top of every detail, from the decor of the food stations, to the wait staff continuing to come out of the kitchen with tray after tray of beautiful appetizers and finger food, to the main course, where she took it upon herself, alongside Pete, to personally serve each dish and plate them according to the guest's needs.  This attention to detail is what sets her apart, and what elevates the level of service at The National Hotel.  It truly was a memorable day for the bride and groom, but an equally memorable day where the staff showed Pete and me, just how capable they are, just how committed they are, and just how dedicated they are to providing exceptional service to our guests.

If you are planning on coming to Frenchtown this weekend, you're in for a treat.  Not only will the town be featuring numerous events (in-store and around the town, from face-painting to fall-themed events), but there will also be a couple of Halloween-themed events, including a Halloween Afternoon at Two Buttons, starting at 3 p.m. filled with "candy, stories, and SPOOKINESS," and follow that up with a great night of fun with our very own Halloween Celebration, downstairs in The National Hotel's cellar pub, The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a. The Rat), where we'll start getting ready for a night of fun in the late afternoon, with music starting at 9 p.m., featuring one of our favorite bands, Rainbow Fresh.  



This is an annual celebration that just keeps getting better and better with patrons donning anything from a simple sheet with two holes cut out, to extraordinarily complex costumes.  Prizes will be given out all night for best costumes, as we all enjoy the music of Rainbow Fresh. 

October has already proven to be a beautiful month, and we've witnessed spectacularly gorgeous autumn days, perfect for sitting on The National Hotel's front porch and watching as the day goes by, to lovely days to stroll through the town and listen to the outdoor music that has been a part of our weekend activities, and now to this concluding weekend that will showcase a multitude of activities preceding Halloween.  

Photo courtesy of Paula Focazio

We even had a fantastic event that spoke volumes about our little gem of a town:  Our Mayor, Warren Cooper, married Bonnie Pariser (aka AmarJyothi), owner of Yoga Loka in town, and instead of limiting their reception to a select group of individuals, they opened up the celebration to THE ENTIRE TOWN!!  Talk about being inclusive, about being accepting, about being community-centered and community-oriented.  Unbelievable--except, totally expected and within the realm of possibility here in Frenchtown.

It's just going to get even better...November promises so much more, including something very close and dear to our heart:  Pete and I opened the doors to The National Hotel on November 3rd, 2009--and it coincides with one of our favorite nights of the month, our Monthly Music Themed Night.  Mike Pfeiffer will perform music that you will surely remember and that will take you back to that oh-so-special-night, starting at 9:30 p.m. with our star bartender, Donna Jane Sampler, mixing special drinks and serving great micro-brews on tap.  Come with your favorite songs to test Mike's knowledge!  In just a little over a week, we'll be celebrating our 3rd anniversary that YOU have made possible.  It has only been through the generosity of our friends, neighbors, and traveling guests, that has shown us day in and day out, that YOU want The National Hotel to be a part of this amazing Delaware River community.  You continue to support us, to stop by just to say "hello," to participate in our events, and to encourage us to try new things.  

All we can say is "thank you."  Truly, truly, thank you for all that you have helped us make possible, and for giving us bragging rights after just a few years.  We are so fortunate to be blessed with a wonderful and supportive staff, terrific friends, and genuinely dedicated patrons who continue to enter through our doors for lunch, dinner, drinks, activities, and even overnight stays.  Whether you know it or not, Pete and I look forward to entering this grand old lady of a building every single day, because we know how important she is to so many of you.

Thank you again.  And as always, 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, or call us at 908.996.3200. We look forward to welcoming you to Frenchtown and to The National Hotel again in the near future.