This Dinner Party Turned into a Sleepover at a Cozy Boutique Hotel

TVR Exclusives

by Alyssa Brown

Event planning and design tastemaker, Jove Meyer proves over and over again that the best way to show event planners a venue is to do so in a way that allows them to have the full guest experience. Not only does a venue leave a lasting impression this way, but it becomes a place a planner can pitch to their clients in an authentic way since they’ve had a firsthand experience. So, it only makes sense that in the most recent of his Planners Dining Club events series, Jove opted for an overnight trip to Troutbeck. The countryside estate sits on rolling acres of land in Amenia, New York and includes beautifully curated guest rooms with fireplaces, an 18th-century cottage, a farm-to-table café, a stone chapel, extensive gardens, an old manor home, and a river running through it all.

For Jove’s latest collaboration with New York vendors, he brought a team of established wedding planners to the Troutbeck property to enjoy an indulgent farm centric meal followed by an overnight stay in the cozy guestrooms and morning yoga. Below he fills us in on all the details, including the Delftware inspiration for the dinner table and how its blue and white patterns were a design indicator of the overall design.

This was your first overnight Planners Club! How did it come about? How did it compare?

It sure was and it was so fun! Troutbeck was interested in hosting the planners dining club, and being that it is a hotel and outside the city, it only made sense to offer guests an overnight stay to fully experience the property! It was so lovely to see all of the planners for dinner, then hang out by the fire, and wake up the next morning and do yoga together! It was nice to be able to spend more quality time with all of the planners, rather than everyone heading home, we all continued to hang out and connect through the evening and next day! It was also great to really be able to experience every aspect of the property that our guests would: from check in, to dining, to relaxing by the fire, to sleeping in the rooms and finally, enjoying breakfast. We now all really know what it would be like for our clients and their guests to stay there, and we can share those details with smiles on our face in memory of the great times we had.

What was your design inspiration for this dinner/weekend?

I wanted to embrace the beauty that exists at Troutbeck, but also have fun with pattern and color! La Maison Fete, our table top partner, has amazing options and once I selected the blue and white pieces the rest was designed around them. They are so bold and beautiful and at the same time they felt like they have a history, much like the property, so we played with that story and brought joy to it. I love to collaborate with the other vendors and allow them to create what they want, and what is fun for them. I sent the florist, stationer and cake maker photos of the table top rentals and dining room and then let them do their thing, which really worked out so well. When you give an artist some guidelines, but also freedom to create you get the best product!

What did the food and drink menu look like?

Troutbeck prepared local and delicious meals for us, the dinner was a plated two course meal and cake and dessert were provided by Lael Cakes - all organic, vegan and gluten free. Aside from the lovely wine served with dinner, we were welcomed with two signature cocktails, a hot toddy, made with local moonshine, and an aeprol spritz. The menu was perfect for a winter day, it was hardy and delicious!

Celery Soup, Black Truffles and Hazelnut Oil
Or
Bibb Lettuce, Mustard Seed Dressing, Salsify and Pickled Radishes

Magret of Duck and Cherries
Or
Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto, Brussel Sprouts and Cippolini Onion Confit

Earl Grey Olive Oil Cake
earl grey cake | olive oil icing | fresh berries

Chocolate Hibiscus Sugar Tarts
salted chocolate ganache tart | hibiscus icing

What was your favorite part of working and staying at Troutbeck?

My favorite part about working at Troutbeck was the abundance of inspiration throughout the property and region to pull from. My favorite part about staying at Troubeck was my room with a fireplace, a very comfortable bed and the best bathtub ever atop a heated bathroom floor!

Are more overnighters on the horizon? More hotel visits?