A bright spot in our winter season is fast approaching.   Saturday is Valentines Day, that special 24 hours in which we  try to demonstrate our love and affection to that one person that means so much.  All lovers, young and old, married or single, it’s time to show that you know how to plan a good time.  Put on your warm coats, get in the car, and drive to nature’s winter wonderland: The Pocono Mountains.   The air is crisp and clean, the newly fallen snow crunches under your feet, and the night sky is full of stars.  Now,  how to cap a beautiful day with the one you love.   It’s easy, come to the Woodfield Manor Chophouse Restaurant for a culinary experience that will say “I Love You”.   Whether it’s a regular menu item or one of our special holiday additions, what says romance more than spectacular food served in an atmoshere of quiet elegance.   Show that Valentine just how much you care….The Chophouse Restaurant at Woodfield Manor, only the best will do!

     Winter evenings at Woodfield have been clear, frosty and filled with starry skies. The fields lay frozen and silent as moonlight illuminates the white pines and the dark firs heavy with snow and ice. Smoke pours from nearby chimneys and scents the air. Away from the main roads, Woodfield is the place to experience the timeless beauty of winter in the country.  So bundle up, brave the chill and take a walk around Horseshoe Drive or better yet take time to sit by our outdoor chimney fireplace and count the stars. At dusk you may be lucky to see whitetail deer making their way across the property to the woods beyond. Are you cold yet? Come inside to our bar and warm up with an Irish coffee, some fine wine or one of Judy’s winter martinis.

     During the day, the crisp air invites you to visit a nearby stable to horseback ride, walk the trails of Tobyhanna State Park, or ski and snowtube at Camelback Mt. This is the place to be outdoors.  As the day winds down, come sit by the fireplace, tell us of your experiences and prepare for tomorrows adventure.

   The Holidays are breaking out all over at Woodfield Manor.   The decorations, the music, the snowy winter weather, a combination just made for good times and fond memories.  The Chophouse Restaurant at Woodfield was alive with guests enjoying fine food and a respite from the hustle and bustle.  The diners were also treated to something very special on Christmas Eve.   One of our hotel guests turned out to be a concert violinist looking for a place to play.  Miss Catherine Boyd and her boyfriend Steve Kuzma were spending the week with us, and once we learned of her musical talents, it wasn’t long before we convinced Christine to play for our guests in the Chophouse on Christmas Eve.  She stolled through the dining room taking requests and played magnificently.  From light hearted Carols to serious Mozart,  smiles and some tears were evoked by this talented musician.  She even was able to get our Manor Bar patrons toe tapping and clapping to a lively set of Irish Jigs.  At the end of the evening it was our pleasure to treat our young couple to some Chophouse specialties.  Sometimes the unexpected turns out to be very, very special.  Only thing, how are we going to top this next year?  We’re working on it, stop by see how we do.

   Yesterday, December 14th., the staff of Woodfield Manor Chophouse Restaurant welcome nearly 200 area guests to our “Holiday House”.  The reason for the visit was the “Country Inns of the Poconos Tour”.  This annual holiday event is sponsored by the Barrett Township Business Association.  Ticketed guests are able to visit nearly a dozen of the areas finest Inns and Restaurants to view the holiday decorations and tour the hosts facilities.  Refreshments were offered by the Inns to make the guests feel at home.  The Chefs’ at Woodfield Chophouse recieved rave reviews as they served up some real cold day comfort food.  Two hot soups, Yankee Bean with Ham and Cream of Turkey were served by our staff in the Manor Bar.  Hotel staff also conducted tours of the Dining Rooms and two of the Manor’s nineteen suites.   Guests, most of whom were area residents, were amazed at the transformation the Manor has undergone in recent times.  Many of the visitors had fond memories of our property from the many years of prior operation, but few were prepared for the new look of Woodfield Manor and it’s Chophouse Restaurant.  We hope to make this an annual holiday event and look forward to making more new Pocono friends.

     You know Christmas has really begun when boxes of ornaments, garlands, trimmings and natural accents come together as decorations for the holidays. This is Woodfield Manor’s first Christmas season and we’re looking forward to celebrating with guests, family and friends. Garlands of greenery, lush red florals, wooden beads,berries and seasonal fruits cloak our two fireplace mantals. Small gilded birds and minature sleigh finish the look of our “Country Christmas Inn”. Other decor. no less beautiful, include sparkling snowflakes in windows and a table-top tree in the guest reception area. The amber glow and warmth of our fireplaces adds a special touch to the long winter evenings and draws our gusts together for great food and drink.

     Last, but not least is our grand tree. Laden with natural accents of pine cones, berries, bright ornaments and white lights it stands floor to ceiling in a corner of our “wee bar” waiting for admirers and lots of presents. All this and more awaits guests as well as those taking part in the “Country Inns of our Mountain Villages” tour sponsored by the Barrett-Paradise Business Association on December 14th starting at 1pm. This tour includes 11 destinations such as inns, lodges,family resorts, restaurants, churches, an historical association and a railroad station decorated for the season and offering refreshments as well. Pre-sale tickets are $10.00/day of event $12.00. We’re very excited to be a part of this event and think it’s a wonderful way to meet and greet old and new friends.

                “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.”   

                                                                            … Ben Franklin

     Mr. Franklin was so right. Wine is meant to be enjoyed, shared, and celebrated and we at Woodfield Chophouse are very happy with the success of our first wine and food pairing event. It was held on Nov. 6th with Tom Rogari as our wine merchant. With both grace and humor he guided our guests through the process. Guests were greeted and seated in our lovely front room which made for a warm intimate setting; a place for quiet conversations and opinions shared. The evening provided our chefs with the opportunity to introduce guests to ingredients of dishes as well as identifying the elements of flavor in the wine which  made for an enjoyable and memorable experience. Our guests enjoyed 5 food coarses, each paired with an appropriate wine selection.  

     Following the evening’s event many of our guests moved to our “wee” bar to continue conversations and ask the question… “when’s the next wine event”? All said and done, it was a great evening!

  As promised the management and staff of Woodfield Manor hosted our first annual halloween party on Oct. 31st.  All Woodfield employees and most of our guests dressed in their finest holiday costumes.  All types of imaginative outfits were to be found, from the beautiful to the truely goolish.   The chefs served up some really tasteful buffet items for all to enjoy.   The Manor’s exterior and interior were decorated to suit the occasion, outside  smoke  and strobe lights greeted the arriving party goers, and inside spider webs and other spookish effects were in abundance, to make the creatures of the night feel at home.   Present too was  a tarot card reader  to advise all, who were brave enough to ask, what their future might hold.   If the positive comments by all involved is any indication,  Halloween night at Woodfield Manor will be an annual tradition to cherish.

                                           Joanne Wolfe

     The early part of October has been a beautiful, radiant time of year in the Poconos. The trees surrounding Woodfield have gone from summer greens to brillant yellows, rich reds, and punpkin orange. Deep blue skies and crisp mild temps made it perfect. Our guests were busy riding the highways and byways capturing every colorful moment. To think, in a week or two, and a few rainy days all the color will be gone. But don’t feel sad for us or our guests because we’ll be soon hosting two “new events” at Woodfield Manor in October and November. The end of October, Friday the 31st., will find us celebrating the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, better known as Halloween in our own version of “The Haunted Manor”. Come for a great complimentary buffet and a chance to win for the “best costume”.

     November 6th you’ll find us hosting our first Food and Wine Tasting event in The Manor and I can say for myself, a long awaited event! I’ve seen some of the menu and it looks fantastic. So join us for “some firsts ” for us at Woodfield and watch us grow! 

     Meeting our guests at Woodfield, I think, is the best part of this job. Each one brings something new and challenging to the experience of inn keeping as well as learning about who they are. But it’s even better when the guest is someone you know. My sister, Anne Marie recently spent 5 days here at Woodfield Manor and I had the honor of  playing host to a kind and wonderful person. My oldest sister, she always played an important role in my life and I was excited to make her stay as special as she is.

     There was shopping at The Crossings, a movie at the Casino Theater in Mt. Pocono, a lovely ride along Rt.191 through quiet villages, “a sweet stop” at the artisan bakery “Our Daily Bread” in Mountainhome, a relaxing afternoon at Sky Top, and stops at the family run Callie’s Pretzel and Candy Factories.

    Arriving at the Pretzel factory one afternoon, we had missed the pretzel making demo that morning. Mark, an employee as well as a family member noticed our disappointment and proceeded to give the two of us a demo and talk about “all things pretzel”. The special attention didn’t end there. At the Candy factory we were offered a video to watch on making candy canes while we sampled too much chocolate.

     I learned alot that day about giving that added touch to service. Hopefully I can take what I learned from Callie”s back to Woodfield to make our guests feel “extra sweet”.

  On the evening of Wednesday September 17th. the owners, management, and staff of WoodfieldManor played host to our on site guests at our first Customer Appreciation Night.   The event, held poolside, was meant to show our appreciation for the incredible positive response we have received from our guests not just that particular week, but for all the weeks since Woodfield Manor opened last Febuary.  Owner Tina Dowd presided over the festivities which featured an incredible buffet, planned and presented by Chef Joe Malloy featuring items from our Chophouse Restaurant menu, live music from our regular Monday Happy Hour entertainer Chuck Paul, and travel and merchandise gifts from Sundance Vacations.  Judy Romanelli, New Client Services Manager from Sundance Vacations, did a great job as the emcee for the evening.  One unexpected highlite for the affair occurred when Woodfield guests, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Maness, took the stage and performed a beautiful duet to the delite of all.  

   We at Woodfield Manor, do indeed, want to express our sincere appreciation to all our guests for making this first year so memorable.  It is our pleasure to have you share this very special place with us.

                           Joanne Wolfe, Mgr., Woodfield manor