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Wheatleigh’s Chef Jeffrey Thompson Announces

Epicurean Experiences to Pair with Summer in the Berkshires

Lenox, MA (March 23, 2022): The luxurious Wheatleigh Hotel, designed as an Italianate-style country home is enough to make you forget you’re only three hours from New York City and two hours from Boston. Set in the Berkshires, Wheatleigh is conveniently located in the cultural hub of Lenox, Massachusetts, an archetypal Rockwellian town that’s the site of the famed music venue, Tanglewood, and summer home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Long known as an escape for city dwellers, summers in the Berkshires are packed with an incredible lineup of musical and artistic performances, dance and theater festivals, as well as opportunities, to enjoy the great outdoors on 50+ miles of trails or 18-hole golf courses. In anticipation of their summer guests, Wheatleigh’s Executive Chef, Jeffrey Thompson is excited to present its Summer Culinary Offerings which includes a new menu from its award-wining The Portico by Jeffrey Thompson and a 3-course theater menu to pair with Tanglewood performances. 

Wheatleigh offers an experience rooted in the palatial charm of the Gilded Age paired with contemporary accommodations, extraordinary cuisine, and exceptional service. Its 19 guest rooms and suites set the standard for style and sophistication where clean lines and soothing honey-hued fabrics are complemented by antique embellishments, like vaulted ceilings, Venetian mirrors, museum-quality art, and oversize claw-foot tubs, reclaimed from an old English spa. With its Tiffany stained glass windows, sweeping staircase, and 24-karat gold encrusted china, Wheatleigh sits gracefully on 22 manicured acres of lush parkland—landscaped by the great Frederick Law Olmsted, of Central Park fame. 
 

For the last 16 years, Chef Jeffrey Thompson has led the culinary experience at Wheatleigh, delivering innovative cuisine combined with distinctive service which has earned the restaurant the honor of being a Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond restaurant. In 2018, the restaurant was reimagined as The Portico by Jeffrey Thompson where he continues to create and execute modern French-influenced gastronomic cuisine and receive praise from locals and guests alike. 

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Summer Culinary Experiences

New Theater Menu

Thanks to Wheatleigh’s short distance from Tanglewood, The Portico is a go-to dinner spot for tourists visiting the region on show nights or for long weekends. The award-winning fine dining restaurant offers a pre-theater menu for guests to enjoy before Tanglewood’s weekly programming. Reservations for their four-course pre-fixe menu will be offered at 5:00 and 5:30 PM Thursday through Sunday starting June 1st, and are available for $105 pp plus tax and gratuity. Alan Champney, Wheatleigh’s Head Sommelier and Wine Director will be pouring wines curated for the theater menu and pulled from the hotel's extensive wine cellar hosting 5,500 premium bottles, which has been awarded Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence consecutively since 1989. For reservations call  (833) 774-6752. 

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Summer Menu Debut

Now accepting summer reservations, The Portico will feature Chef Jeffrey Thompson’s six-course tasting menu, affectionately named “Jeffrey’s Menu” which offers a carefully crafted collection of light dishes inspired by the finest ingredients of the summer season. A curated culinary experience in flavors, textures, and tastes, Chef Thompson highlights the freshest Hudson Valley harvest and Boston’s finest seafood to indulge the senses and delight the palate. Jeffrey’s Menu is available for the entire table only at $185pp. Alternatively, guests can choose from a four-course menu offered at $135pp.  

A sophisticated and alternative eatery, The S/T, offers a bistro-inspired fare of elevated comfort foods showcasing the freshest ingredients prepared to be simple and tasty. The creative menu allows you to choose your own starters and entrees or craft a family-style meal to create a uniquely memorable experience. 

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On property, guests can relax at Wheatligh’s heated outdoor pool, indulge in world-class massage treatments, wander throughout the sculpture garden and nature trails, and play a round of tennis. When and if guests choose to leave the property the Berkshires has a plethora of activities and programming to offer.

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Summer Programming & Activities

Cultural Indulgence

Wheatleigh is minutes from Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Shakespeare & Company, and Berkshire Theater Festival. Their summer roster includes performances by such artists as Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, and many more. Plus, a special performance by the Boston Pops as they present the film, The Empire Strikes Back, with a live orchestral accompaniment. 

 

Neighboring towns host Jacob’s Pillow, one of the world’s premier dance festivals, Williamstown Theater Festival, and Barrington Stage Company. Visitors can take in the classic collections at the Clark Art Institute, pay homage to one of the most iconic American artists at the Norman Rockwell Museum, and experience the evocative works at MASS MoCA, one of the world’s largest facilities for contemporary art. Other local favorites include Arrowhead, the home where literary icon Herman Melville wrote "Moby Dick,” and The Mount, author Edith Wharton's turn-of-the-century estate. 

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Golf Courses

Wheatleigh guests enjoy access to two courses within 5 miles of the property. The concierge can book tee times at Stockbridge Golf Club, a historical 1895 private 18-hole course and club. Also nearby is the 18-hole par 70 Wyndhurst Manor at Miraval Golf Course, Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play." 

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Hiking and Nature Walks

There are 50+ miles of family-friendly hiking trails throughout the Berkshires and 90 miles of the famed Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts. At the Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, there's world-class hiking on over 40 trails and travelers can visit America's oldest botanical gardens, Berkshire Botanical Garden, open daily year-round. The nearby Wahconah Falls on 104 acres is popular for picnicking and hiking and Bash Bish Falls - a 45-minute drive from Wheatleigh is the highest waterfall in Massachusetts and has 2 access trails to choose from.

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Local Adventures

Wheatleigh’s concierge will arrange everything for you making your stay as seamless as possible. Fly fishing, hot air ballooning, private yoga sessions, cooking classes, falconry, horseback riding, rock climbing, road and mountain biking are just a few of the ways you can spend your day. Other nearby experiences include swimming, rafting, and kayaking in the region's rivers and lakes.

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Lenox Apple Squeeze

Plan ahead for one of the highly anticipated annual traditions, Lenox Apple Squeeze, held every last weekend in September in Lenox, MA. As the fall foliage begins to peak there’s no better time to explore the Berkshires and enjoy local food and artisan vendors in addition to great live music.

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Suites at the Wheatleigh start at $1200 and Guest Rooms at $800. 


About Wheatleigh: A peaceful, secluded, and private sanctuary in The Berkshires, Wheatleigh is one of the smallest Leading Hotels of the World, with 19 guest rooms in an elegant Gilded Age mansion just two hours from Boston and three hours from New York. Its signature fine French restaurant, The Portico by Jeffrey Thompson, awarded the AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star ratings, features just eight coveted tables and an evolving seasonal menu. Lenox and the surrounding villages are home to world-renowned art and entertainment including Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Shakespeare & Company, and Berkshire Theater Festival. For more information visit www.wheatleigh.com.

Media Inquiries

Alexandra Avila

alexandra@reyacommunications.com

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