CMAC Schedule of Events  Well, by now you have all heard of Canandaigua's fantastic concert venue, called CMAC.  It stands for something I can't quite recall exactly, but that's unimportant.  The important thing to know is this is where the action will be starting very soon.  June 1 to be precise.  And people will come in groves, from all over the country, following their favorite music group or artist.  The line-up this year is particularly good, and true to form there are a lot of great country artists scheduled.  Anyone who loves country music knows these concerts are always a huge draw here in Canandaigua whether you want to be under the shell and protected from the elements, or sitting on the hillside looking up at the stars dancing your little hearts out.  Out of the gates to start the year off right is Steve Winwood on June 1, followed closely by Lady A (Lady Antebellum) on June 3.  Lady A was announced last Fall, so you know the anticipation will be high.  Soon after will be Crosby, Stills and Nash; Tim McGraw, Journey, Kelly Clarkson, and so much more, right up until Sept. 2.  So, if you haven't planned your summer getaway for a concert under the Finger Lake stars in beautiful Canandaigua, New York, you should.  Time waits for no man and it's best to think ahead -- especially if you plan to make it a true getaway and need accommodations.  We at Bella Rose B&B are ready and waiting for your call.  It will be so worth the trip!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, CMAC, Concert, Finger Lakes, getaway, vacation

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, Finger Lakes, NYS, romantic getaway, Sonnenberg, vacation

I know what you're thinking -- all B&Bs in the Finger Lakes are for adults, or at least most are.  But, that's where you might be mistaken....  A lot of area B&Bs mostly cater to adults in style, amenities offered and type of breakfast served, but if you look at their policies closely you will find they accept children.   Children over six, eight, or twelve years old, but they do accept children.  There are very few B&B's that are ADULTS ONLY.  At Bella Rose B&B in Canandaigua, NY, that is exactly what we are.  No offense, but no kids please....

That's not to say that we dislike children.  On the contrary, we do like kids.....just not as guests in our small, yet intimate, B&B.  With only having three guest rooms, we feel as if children of any age could negatively affect the B&B experience others are trying to achieve, especially one that's meant to be a romantic time away from their own children.

55+ magazine did a piece in this month's issue on just this topic -- a getaway for just the two of you.  (Free publication at your neighborhood store.)  They found there weren't many options in the Finger Lakes where B&B's specified "adults only", which the author found quite interesting.....almost surprising.   Yet, that is the case.  So, if you are insistent that you don't want to share a breakfast table with a 12-year old, or hear any child-like chatter or behavior from the next guest room, be sure to look at policies closely before booking.  It doesn't matter if you're 55 or 25, if you want a B&B for adults only (or contrastingly, if you want a B&B that does accept kids), be sure to know what you are signing up for.....before you arrive.

Happy travels to all.....

Labels: Adults, Bed and Breakfast, Finger Lakes, No kids, romantic getaway

Well, a few days ago I posted a picture, much like the one you see here, of a pastry dish we served at Bella Rose B&B over the weekend.  As a result of so many positive comments (thank you, thank you, thank you!), I offered to post the recipe.  So, here it is......from our house to yours......Bon Appetit!  Oh, I have done this with just apples or a combo of pears and apples, as noted in the recipe.  Both work great!



Apple and Pear Strudel Cups, as adapted from the New York Wine & Culinary Center, Canandaigua, NY

Pastry:  4 sheets phyllo dough, thawed; melted butter
Ingredients: 
1 apple and 1 pear, both peeled, cored and diced into 1/2" pieces (local is best, of course)
1 T butter
1 T brown sugar
1 T honey
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. lemon juice
1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/4 cup raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Liberally spray 6 muffin tins with pan spray.  Carefully unroll the phyllo dough on a clean work surface.  Place one sheet of phyllo on surface and brush with butter.  Top that sheet with another layer, rust with butter and repeat two more times. Work quickly! Cut the dough into six squares that will fit into muffin tins.  Bake until golden 8-10 minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside.

Heat a large saute pan over high heat until warm.  Add butter and saute apples and pears until they start to turn golden.  Add the remaining ingredients and let cook for a minute or two until the flavors meld.  Scoop the mixture into each phyllo cup and serve with icing, yogurt or my favorite, honey-vanilla creme fraiche.

Yum!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, local produce, new recipe

It is January.  Dark, dreary, dead of winter January.  This is the time of year when I think about snuggling up with a cup of hot cocoa to watch a new movie or read a book that's been calling me or experiment with a new recipe, or just do nothing.  All from the inside of my own home (unless it's vacation time....well, then from the inside of SOMEONE else's home)!  Skiing, snowboarding or even walking in the white stuff called snow does absolutely nothing for me -- I'm just not a "let's have fun in the snow" kind of gal.  So, I get it when people say they just want to hunker down in front of their hot fire and watch it all happen from the inside of their cozy room.  I get it.  That's exactly what my idea of a weekend getaway in winter would be too!

You must be asking what's all this nonsense about.  Because I get that being out in the snow is not exactly your idea of winter fun, then driving in it probably isn't either.  White knuckling it with grips on the steering wheel so tight you think the blood will never get to your finger tips is not our idea of a good time, right?  Right!

So, if you want to get away to hunker down, the weather shouldn't scare you from planning such a weekend.  Go ahead and make those plans.   We have books, movies, hot cocoa and the fire.  Or we have snow if you are so inclined to play in it -- I don't judge. (lol) You just have to make those plans.  And, if the weather decides to reek havoc on those plans and you just don't feel comfortable driving in it just to keep a reservation, we have the relief you need too.

If you feel you can't make your reservation due to mother nature's mood (aka snowstorm*), we won't hold you to it.   We will waive our cancellation policy and happily reschedule your visit or issue you a gift certificate for a future stay.  No penalty, no problem.  We don't want you risking your safety just to keep a reservation.  That is crazy!  So, if you plan your visit with us and the weather is an issue, just call.  We'll find a solution that works for us both.  After all, "stress" and "getaway" aren't words that belong in the same sentence!

Come, relax in the Finger Lakes however you choose to do it, and no matter what that means, we have the perfect winter getaway spot for you!  A hot fire and cup of cocoa will be waiting....

*forecast includes storm watch/warnings for your area or ours during time of visit

Labels: Bella Rose, Canandaigua, Finger Lakes, getaway, vacation, Winter

December 26, 2006.  That was our official first day as Bella Rose Bed and Breakfast.  Finally our seven-year renovation was complete, the house was fully furnished, the sign was up and illuminated for the world to see, and even the beds were made with fresh, crisp sheets from Italy.  We were done.  We were ready.  We built it and the now we needed the guests to come.  How proud we were and how happy we were to finally realize our dream.

That was five years ago and it seems like yesterday.  How could it be that it has been five years ALREADY? That's, like, half a decade!  Amazing.  Now, granted, even though we were done and ready to host, truth be told we didn't enjoy our first guest until the following April...April 10, 2007, to be exact.  But, that's okay.  We used the winter to enjoy our completed home before we no longer had the chance.  We got the website up and running so people could actually find us.  Little did we know that marketing takes time....  Uh, duh...right? Oh well.  It didn't matter.  We knew winter would end and business would start.  In the meantime, we were done, we were open, and we were ready when spring woke people up.  And, sure enough, it happened and there's been no looking back since.  We're grateful we had a couple of months to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  In hindsight, I wouldn't change a thing -- not even the fact that it took us seven years! 

So, I guess we really have two anniversaries to celebrate, but this is the one that officially counts.

Happy Anniversary to us with many, many more to come.  As long as you'll have us, we'll be here.

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, breakfast, Canandaigua, Finger Lakes, getaway, guests

Wow!  It's so hard to believe that we are closing in on the end of another great season of "B&Bing" at Bella Rose B&B!  Where does the time go?  2011 flew by so fast I'm pretty sure I missed August.  If it wasn't for a national holiday in July, I'd say the same thing about that month too!  But, this is a good thing.  We were busy and as busy as we think we can be (and where Chris can still call himself "retired" -- yeah, right!).  In our short five-year tenure in this wonderful business, we are continually amazed that people flock to the Finger Lakes, Canandaigua and to our B&B.  For something people don't have to do in life, we feel blessed to be enjoying the success we do.  Add in the challenges of the economy and we feel extra-extra fortunate.

Of course, we have no one but our great guests to thank. We'd be nothing without you!  Whether you are new to us or one of our many return guests, we are grateful you came into our lives.  It is an honor to have you in our home; an honor that you chose to celebrate that special anniversary, birthday, or even that ever important honeymoon with us; an honor that of all the B&B's out there, ours spoke to you to spend that precious vacation time.  From the bottom of our hearts we say "thank you"!

So as we wrap up another great year, we look forward to 2012 and all the magic a new year brings.  We wish some magic for you as well.  Who knows, maybe some of that magic will bring you to us.  We hope it does....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, Finger Lakes, gratitude, Holidays, vacation