Breakfastchef's Blog

Breakfast on the Patio

breakfastchef — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:15:24 +0000

At Cathedral Hill, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to make our guests comfortable. Delicious food and clean, comfortable rooms are a given. We try to go above and beyond the basics. We put the patio in the “above and beyond” category – assuming the weather permits (and it usually does in the summer!) we would love to serve your breakfast on the patio.

This is the whimsical fountain, framed by lots and lots of annuals in baskets and in planters:

This is a view from the west end of the backyard looking east. The patio and the tables are at the far end of the picture:

We can’t wait to see you and share our beautiful backyard with you. Give us a call and we’ll schedule your stay!

Another Neighborhood Gem

breakfastchef — Fri, 21 May 2010 23:10:43 +0000

What a beautiful week it was here in St. Paul, Minnesota! Warm and sunny most of the week, then a little rain today – all the better to water our lawn and gorgeous patio flowers.

Here at Cathedral Hill we love recommending local businesses, especially for dining! The Cheeky Monkey Deli is a warm, welcoming casual spot for a great lunch or dinner bite (don’t forget – you’re having breakfast with us!). We hear the meatloaf sandwich is divine.

Give us a call and check our availability. We would love to welcome you to St. Paul and help you find your way around the city. We’ll set you up with a great breakfast and a wonderful place to stay, then set you loose in historic Cathedral Hill! We’ll say it again – we can’t wait to see you!

May We Recommend…

breakfastchef — Fri, 14 May 2010 01:04:03 +0000

Cathedral Hill Bed and Breakfast is within walking distance of some wonderful restaurants. This is the first in a series of posts describing where you can stroll to find a delightful bite to eat the next time you stay with us.

Start big, is our motto, and so this review starts with a great restaurant that we recommend all the time to our guests. W.A. Frost and Company has it all – wonderful food, great ambience, an outstanding wine list, and the best patio dining, hands down, in the area. W.A. Frost is five blocks from Cathedral Hill, so come stay with us, and don’t forget to make your patio reservation for a memorable dinner.

We’ll say it again – we can’t wait to see you!

Things You Might See at Cathedral Hill

breakfastchef — Tue, 04 May 2010 01:57:43 +0000

Cathedral Hill Bed and Breakfast is located in a beautiful 1896 Victorian home with a lovely formal living room (where you might see a statute of a basset hound, one of our favorite dog breeds) and a back deck with a breakfast table boasting seasonal flowers. The hanging basket of gerbera daisies adorns the back door. We are looking forward to greeting you this fine May. Maybe it is because we are located in Minnesota – we just relish springtime.

Come and see us – we can’t wait to meet you!

Spring in St. Paul

breakfastchef — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:48:23 +0000

Here at Cathedral Hill we are excited to welcome spring. We have flowers on the deck and a beautiful patio for you to enjoy while you eat your breakfast.

This weekend will be an exciting one in St. Paul. The Como Zoo Japanese Garden and Cafesjian’s Carousel open on Saturday. Como Zoo is a short drive from Cathedral Hill; the Japanese Garden is beautiful and the Carousel is fun for kids and adults alike.

We can’t wait to see you!

Snow on the way and we are all decorated for the Holidays

breakfastchef — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:02:38 +0000

The national weather forecast says we are about to get a blizzard. That is not the best news for business, but it surely goes well with holiday decorations. We have our enormous wreath decorating the front of the house. We have our Christmas tree, our holiday village, our creche and all manner of lights. Come see us!

Hush Puppies or Corn Fritters

breakfastchef — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:54:03 +0000

This may bring a comment! Our current guest who used to live in the south let me know that what we call corn fritters up here are known as hush puppies in the south. Hush puppies are about an inch thick, deep fried and rolled in powdered sugar. Corn fritters are shaped like pancakes and are abouit 1/2 inch thick. We serve our fritters with honey.

Any comments?

Adding a comment

breakfastchef — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:22:04 +0000

Since we only received one comment ( a nice cup of hot chocolate would be nice) so far, I am thinking my kind readers do not know how to leave a comment. Here is how. Scroll down to the break between posts and then you will notice in tiny writing, between the two lines a place where it says “Leave a comment”. Try it! We value your ideas for hospitality on a cold winter night. Just click on the area between the two lines and you will be brought to a comment box where you can type in your response. Thanks!

What makes you happy? And ideas for the first Mondays of the month.

breakfastchef — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:06:33 +0000

We are looking for ideas. When you first arrive at our B&B in the winter, assuming it is during regular check in times of 4-6 pm, which of the following would make you feel happy.

A fire in the fireplace?
A small cup of light warm soup such as a wonton soup in chicken broth?
A glass of wine?
Music playing in the entry area?
If none of these appeal to you, do you have any ideas that would be comforting or appealing to you?

1st Mondays at the Commodore, 79 Western Ave, 4-8pm. Cash bar, music, and conversation in the historic Art Deco Bar with unique, exotic treasures from world travelers, artists, designers, collectors and antique aficionados.

Historic Preservation District

breakfastchef — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:14:38 +0000

Did you know that the Cathedral Hill district, where Cathedral Hill Bed and Breakfast is located, is a designated historic preservation area? This is important because you know that the neighborhood is protected from people changing the buildings to architecturally inappropriate styles. The Cathedral hill district has more examples of Victorian architecture than any other place in the twin cities. It would be ashamed to insert buildings of modern design into an area that was originally styles such as Queen Anne, Neo-Georgian and others of that ilk.

Next year we hope to remodel our carriage house and, in the process, we will have to get permission from the preservation commission for everything we do to the exterior of the building. Although this is an arduous process, it is well worth it so that future generations will see a carriage house as it was when the horses lived there.

If you are not from St. Paul, do you have an Historic Preservaton Commission and/or district in your city?