23 Jul, 2012

J House: The Real Deal

Posted by Stacy

The J House in Greenwich Connecticut isn’t only a super sleek and modern hotel – it’s also home to the red-hot eleven14 Kitchen and The Chocolate Lab. Chef Francois Kwaku-Dongo is the brains behind this fabulous culinary experience, which can be enjoyed either inside or outside the doors of the hotel. I highly recommend taking a trip over to J House before the end of the summer… it’s definitely the place to be right now.

It’s hard to believe that J House, an 86-room contemporary haven, used to be a broken down Howard Johnson. Even so, you’d never know that this restaurant was anything less than stunning, thanks to interior designer David Ashen.

What’s on the menu?

Chef Kwaku-Dongo worked with Wolfgang Puck in West Hollywood and Chicago, after years of living on his grandmother’s cocoa farm. Needless to say, he knows good food. He uses local ingredients in his original dishes that have been inspired from his globe-wide ventures and culinary experiences.

Many of the dishes are prepared with wood-fire cooking, classic American fare, and an ever-changing menu. Some of the best dishes are seafood carpaccio, spicy prime beef tartare, roasted local beet and artisan burrata, roasted sockeye salmon and baby artichoke, homemade duck sausage pizza, organic farmed roasted chicken, and house-made smoked lamb sausage. Can you say “de-lish”?!

Your Surroundings

Make sure to really take in the space around you when dining at J House. The room sequence starts in the clean and white lobby, and stems out into The Chocolate Lab where homemade truffles, gelato, coffee, and other bakery-esque treats are served. The Chocolate Lab is not to be missed!

Beautifully displayed vegetables, oils & vinegars, and decorated jars are placed on the wall near an open pantry kitchen, looking something like an upscale deli museum. In the kitchen you are likely to see the pastry chef at work, preparing your favorite desserts. Walk in a little further and you’ll find the eleven14 Kitchen bar and dining room; a warm, inviting room complete with an open wood-burning hearth and cable-nit chair cozies for the chairs. You can check out the outdoor bar any time of year, and enjoy the seasonal settings inside and out.

The Service

I doubt that J House would have so many repeat customers if the service was sluggish or disappointing. The hotel’s General Manager John Sheedy knows his stuff – he’s a long time hospitality pro and trains his team to follow his footsteps. Not only has he worked here in the U.S., but he has experience in Ireland and Germany as well. Not a bad resume, if I must say!

You’ll find what you need at this hotel, whether you’re just dining there or looking for a place to stay. For overnight guests, there’s an iPad in every room and various spaces that can be used for corporate meetings or business events. You can have a guest list of up to and more than 100 people for these kinds of events. Totally useful, and extremely convenient!

This relatively new establishment still has time before they set their reputation in stone, but their future looks promising from where I stand. You’ll catch me over there every so often indulging in their amazing cuisine, and – of course, keeping you up to date on all the vital J House updates.