|
 The
chef's kitchen is tucked among the rolling green hills and valleys
of southern Pennsylvania, just behind the restored clapboards of
a gracious 19th-century farmhouse. An intimate dining room and eight
elegant overnight guest rooms comprise The Inn at Twin Linden.
Sumptuous
bed linens are the foundation for her guest rooms. Donna chose designer
fabrics for the windows and upholstery to give the rooms that refined
look. This style is also carried through her cooking, as she begins
all dishes with a foundation of high-quality ingredients.
Period
furnishings at the inn recall earlier times. It's no different in
the kitchen where Donna takes an old recipe and gives it a fresh
twist while maintaining the integrity of the dish. Nutmeg Risotto
Cakes with Rum Raisin Sauce, echoes this idea. Donna explains, "I
wanted to serve something with the old-fashioned flavor of a rice
pudding for breakfast, but I did not want to do a pudding. I knew
a risotto would give this dish a more up-to-date taste, yet still
be substantial.
Finally,
all of Donna's dishes spell romance. "It's hard to explain," she
admits, "but perhaps romantic cooking has to do with who makes it
and how sensitive they are to the beautiful things in life." A main
thread that runs through Donna's recipes is her desire to keep flavors
isolated and true. "Cooking up romance also means getting the purest
flavor from ingredients without enhancements," she says. "Start
with your best basic ingredients and build around them." 
When
it comes to breakfast, Donna laughs, "We wrote the book!" And she
did in 1996. Morning Glories is her 184-page breakfast and
brunch book, with a few recipes for dinner. Pineapple with Blackberry
Figs and Lemon and Corn Waffles with Smoked Salmon and Caviar Cream
put a whole new spin on what to eat in the morning. The book contains
these recipes plus beautifully photographed dishes and scenes of
bucolic Pennsylvania-Dutch area where Donna lives and works. The
chef's husband, Bob, a professional photographer, took the photographs
and acts as innkeeper at Twin Linden. The book is inspirational
and ensures the chance for cooking up your own romance at home.
Meanwhile, we have selections from her book for you to try at home.
|
