A Night in Virginia Hunt Country -The historic Ashby Inn & Restaurant

The-Ashby-Inn-Old-Schoolhouse

The old School House at The Ashby Inn & Restaurant
Photo credit: Rebecca Penovich

For my birthday, my lovely husband took me for a winter sojourn in nearby Virginia hunt country – one of my favorite things to do.

We had heard many good things about the historic Ashby Inn in Paris, Virginia and booked a night in one of its School House suites and dinner in the restaurant.

Paris, Virginia is a tiny village (population 70) located an hour outside of Washington, DC with a view of Ashby Gap and the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The village (really just one street) is charming with several old residences and a charming old church.

The Inn was built in 1829 by Manley Pierce as a private residence. The original house had four rooms with additions over the years.

Generals Joseph E. Johnston and Stonewall Jackson rested on the house porch on their way to the First Battle of Manassas the night of June 17, 1861. The house also served as a Methodist parsonage for many years.

A view of the Inn and the church from the air.

A view of the Inn and the church from the air.  Photo credit:  The Ashby Inn & Restaurant

Ashby-Inn-Old-Church

Trinity United Methodist Church on Federal Street in Paris, Virginia, built in 1892.
Photo credit: John Penovich

 

Paris-church

The old church is now closed due to a dwindling congregation. Might there be a renovation or second life as an event venue in its future?
Photo credit: John Penovich

We stayed in the Lafayette Room in the School House which was lovely and large.

Photo credit: The Ashby Inn & Restaurant

Photo credit: The Ashby Inn & Restaurant

 

Photo credit:  The Ashby Inn & Restaurant

Photo credit: The Ashby Inn & Restaurant

There are four private rooms in the School House and each has a king bed, wood-burning fireplace, mini-fridge, large bathroom en suite, and a private balcony with Adirondack chairs to enjoy the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Old-Church-Sunrise

Beautiful sunrise over the little village.  Photo credit: John Penovich

The polar vortex (read, wind chill and snow) prevented us from sitting out on the balcony but we had a lovely view at sunrise out of our bedroom window.

Staring into a wood-burning fire is mesmerizing, no?

Staring into a wood-burning fire is mesmerizing, no?

Upon arrival, John immediately built a fire.  The innkeepers had laid the first fire for us so it was ready to go and there was plenty of firewood, starters, and matches.

They also provided a sample of Virginia port in a lovely decanter on the dresser. We loved all of the antique furniture and we remarked that we had some similar inherited pieces at home (the cherry wood dresser, the one-drawer turned leg bedside table.)

The evening was going swimmingly!

We had a couple of hours before our restaurant reservation and were feeling quite peckish so we asked for a little nibble to be sent to our room. Chef David Dunlap sent an abundant charcuterie and cheese plate, including some of the house-made rabbit rillettes he was serving as a first course that night.

Incredible food from Chef---left to right, cheese & charcuterie plate, ribeye, lamb loin

Incredible food from Chef Dunlap—left,  cheese & charcuterie plate; top right, ribeye; lower right, lamb loin
Photo credit: Rebecca Penovich

Dinner was wonderful:  John had the grilled ribeye, parmesan espuma, herb pesto, and roasted marble potatoes; I enjoyed the loin of lamb with mustard, boudin noir, peas, carrots and potatoes.

For starters we had the house-made snacks:  chicharrónes (freshly fried pork rinds) and comté gougères with some craft cocktails (John:  Hendricks gin martini, dirty, with 3 olives; Rebecca: Copper Fox Distillery gin (made in Purcellville, Virginia) with Fever Tree tonic and ginger simple syrup.)

We shared dessert: fuji apple-almond cake, honeycrisp sorbet, apple brandy foam.

I love me some foam!

Do book a special occasion or simple getaway at The Ashby Inn & Restaurant if you have the opportunity.  Winter or summer, it is delightful (especially if you like old places, antiques, gracious service, fabulous wine, wonderful food and who doesn’t!)

NOTE: to ‘type A’ types:  don’t expect your cell phone devices to work all the time and don’t expect room service or ice at 10 pm or any of that.  Just relax and be mesmerized by the fire and the quiet and your partner’s good company.  Beds are comfy, too!

On the way back home, we enjoyed touring the countryside and looking at some old churches.

Old churches from the 19th century?

Top left, Trinity United Methodist Church in Paris, VA.  Top right, Guilfield Baptist Church, Millwood, VA.  Middle right, Boyce Town Hall, Boyce, VA.  Bottom, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Delaplane, VA.
Photo credits: John and Rebecca Penovich

We enjoyed our brief winter exploration into Virginia hunt country (as we have many times before).  More to come about what we saw and ate in a future post!

Cheers!

Rebecca

The Ashby Inn & Restaurant

692 Federal Street

Paris, Virginia  20130

540.592.3900

www.ashbyinn.com

2 thoughts on “A Night in Virginia Hunt Country -The historic Ashby Inn & Restaurant

    • I had never had ‘blood sausage’ or boudin noir before, but in this lamb preparation it was subtle –I think it was crumbled in a layer under a bread crumb topping on top of the lamb loin. So hidden, I guess! The dish was delicious! I’m all for trusting the chef when taking a risk on an ingredient you’ve never tried or never thought you’d like. That said, if I went to the south of France or New Orleans, would I order just boudin noir for lunch? Probably not.

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