ARTISAN WEST HARTFORD RESTAURANT
Executive Chef Frederic Kieffer
This sublime dining spot located in the Delamar West Hartford hotel captures you visually, even before you have a bite to eat from its menu, with its distinctly rich atmosphere---both easy on the eyes and over the top loaded with history. ARTISAN West Hartford pays tribute to Hartford, expressed through thoughtfully curated decor such as the hallway leading to its dining space, lined with authentic red planks reminiscent of the region’s tobacco farms of yesterday. Add to this a larger than life mural of flowering tobacco fields with not a detail missed, along with a charming countrychic vibe featuring a colorful and fragrant garden/outdoor dining space. Enter the garden and take in the whimsical décor such as Mason jar pendant lights and natural willow branch hanging lanterns strung from the trees, making for a truly enchanting feel of a secluded sanctuary. Breathe in the fresh scent of the restaurant’s herb garden as it mingles with the aroma of tasty dishes served; take in the sound of relaxed conversation, along with strains of soft music playing. Enter the main dining room and view the striking hand painted fig mural along the back wall, along with a dark wooden bookcase holding a collection of eighteenth-century Swedish books, brass and glassware. Notice the two-story ceilings, light wide-plank pine flooring and Gustavian furniture, all lending an inviting feel. The pewter Parisian bar top surrounded by 9,000 hand-laid bricks in a herringbone design tie everything together with finesse. Sofas and chairs grouped for casual conversation around the handcrafted traditional Swedish farmhouse tile fireplace create great appeal.
.... AND OH, THE CUISINE...
The New England-inspired menu is continuously changing and influenced by the four seasons in capturing New England together with the French heritage of its own Chef Kieffer. For example, the signature Artisan Seafood Chowder is loaded with tasty oysters, clams and shrimp served with freshly baked fennel crackers as opposed to the typical clams and potatoes standard versions. Those little touches here and there give beloved traditional dishes a nip and tuck via unique interpretation, maintaining that which we as diners have come to expect, but taking it notches above the ordinary. Another popular choice on the menu is their signature prime hangar steak served with watercress, shallot sauce and a generous pile of crispy pommes frites in classic bistro mode, but again with a signature twist. Desserts such as their lemon olive oil cake with Maine blueberry compote or perhaps a collection of local artisanal cheese with a perfectly paired glass of wine conclude the meal beautifully.
CHIC AND UNIQUE:
For those looking for a more intimate space, the Private Dining Room at Artisan (often referred to as the “Copper Room”), features custom copper string chandeliers suspended from a gold-leaf patina barreled ceiling. Keeping with the 18th century theme throughout Artisan, a Gustavian dining table, grand armoire and roomy chairs with farmhouse upholstery enhance the vibe. An intricate plastering technique that dates back to Roman times adorns the walls. What a memorable dinner party could be had here.
EXECUTIVE CHEF, FREDERIC KIEFFER
When you chat with Chef Frederic, you get an immediate sense of his passion and drive, that drives him way beyond his love for food, farming, creating and cooking. Kieffer shares his life history with me, meaningful and impressive from a very young age to the present; and we linger deliberately when we touch upon something of significance and passion. Kieffer grew up in France and attended culinary school there in the late 1980s; first visiting America when he participated in a culinary exchange program with Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Following this, Kieffer began working in Greenwich, ultimately spending over a decade in restaurants both there and in New York City. He humbly mentions that he was one of three chefs involved in the 1996 reopening of Windows on the World after the first bombing of the World Trade Center. (The restaurant would ultimately be taken down during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001). Chef describes getting” there” Windows of the World) each morning, looking out of those famous windows and spending his mornings “peeking out above the clouds”. This is who he is in essence—the passion and the great losses that followed.
As a distinguished chef, he gets to express this through cooking, dining and teaching his staff. “Passion is expressed through making things your own” he explains. He offers the example of his Yankee Pot Roast, steeped in New England tradition as well it should be but instead of using typical cuts of beef, he uses tender beef cheeks. “I remain true to the idea of the classics but with my own approach. As a chef, your dishes need to have a story behind them or they’re just standard versions of the same thing.” Kieffer sources fresh, sustainably grown local ingredients, and is dedicated to highlighting Connecticut-grown produce in his menu. For him Farm-to-Fork isn’t a trend or a business model; it’s a lifestyle for him and his family.
ABOUT THE DELAMAR WEST HARTFORD:
Situated in the heart of the Blue Back Square neighborhood, DELAMAR West Hartford is the area’s newest boutique luxury hotel.
Styled with a contemporary take on traditional elegance, this six-floor mid-rise with 114 rooms and suites, features an open plan lobby resplendent with marble, big windows overlooking the lawn, professional displayed artwork, a beautiful piano in the lobby accompanied by a spiraling seat made with 2,500 quarter coins which lends great character. All guests visiting here toast with a complimentary welcome glass of champagne at check in enjoy a lovely breakfast buffet spread; can take advantage of a courtesy vehicle within a 5-mile radius as well as valet parking. With high-speed internet access, access to their fitness center with Peloton bikes, a class at The Yoga Shop and complimentary admission to the New Britain Museum of American Art.
The spa invites all to relax and rejuvenate. Not a trick missed.