Hospitality at Home
"Here comes the sun, and I say, it's all right." —The Beatles
Enhance your culinary skills with Chauncey recipes at home created by our
Executive Chef Brian Wagner and our local beverage partner, Sourland Mountain Distillery in Hopewell, New Jersey.

1 ¼ lb. Carrots peeled and diced small
1 ¼ lb. Parsnips peeled and diced small
¾ cup Whole Roasted Almonds chopped *
½ cup Cranberries chopped
2 Tbsp. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbsp. Freshly Minced Parsley
1 Tbsp. Fig Balsamic Vinegar (or other fruity balsamic)
1 tsp.  Baharat **
1 tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Black Pepper

For the couscous:
1 cup dry Israeli Couscous
1 and 1/2 cups Water
2 tsp. Olive Oil
½ tsp. Salt

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Chop all of the vegetables into a small dice and place into a 5qt bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Place on 2 sheet pans. When roasting, never crowd the pan as the vegetables will steam instead of roast. Place in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes checking on them after 10 minutes and toss them around.

While the vegetables are roasting prepare the couscous: In a small pot, bring 1 ½ cups of water to a boil with ½ teaspoon salt. While waiting for the water to boil, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-low heat in a 3 quart saucepan. Add the dry couscous and stir around to coat in the olive oil. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes to lightly toast the couscous. Add the boiling water to the couscous very slowly and cover the pot. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the water is absorbed, and the pearls are tender.

While everything is roasting and boiling: Chop the almonds and set aside. Chop the cranberries and set aside. Mince the parsley and set aside.

When the vegetables are ready it’s time to assemble everything. Into a large bowl, add the couscous and vegetables (use a spatula and try to get some of the roasting oil as well), parsley, cranberries, almonds, Baharat, balsamic and toss. Taste for seasoning and adjust to your liking.

* Toasting almonds (or any nut) is very easy. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Put the almonds on a sheet pan and place in the center of the oven for about 5 to 10 minutes. Once you start to smell them, they are done.
** Baharat  is an aromatic, savory blend of spices, commonly used in Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine. Mix in a bowl, 1 Tbsp. Paprika, 1 tsp. Ground Cardamom, 1 Tbsp. Ground Coriander, 1/2 tsp. Ground Cloves, and 1/2 tsp. Ground Nutmeg.
Mountain Punch

1½ oz Sourland Mountain Spirits Vodka
4oz. Cranberry Juice
1oz. Pineapple Juice 
½ oz. Lime Juice
3 Jalapeno Slices

In a shaker combine all ingredients. Add ice and shake.
Pour into a highball glass. Garnish with a lime.
Blueberry Basil Gin Fizz

10 Blueberries
2 Basil Leaves
2 ½ oz Sourland Mountain Gin
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Club Soda

Combine lime juice, simple syrup, blueberries and basil in a shaker. Muddle. Add gin and ice. Shake and strain into a glass with ice. Top with club soda.
We are so proud of our local partner, Sourland Mountain Distillery, located in Hopewell, New Jersey. They have switched over from making spirits to now making hand sanitizer for our hospitals, first responders, and now our community. Their team has made over 500,000 bottles since April 1. They are now able to take orders for curbside pickup by the case. They currently have 9.5oz liquid pump tops for $6.99/bottle, available in cases of 6. To order, please call 609-333-8575 or email [email protected].
Every bit counts, and as their Founder  Ray Disch says, “Jersey never taps out!”
Do you miss Chauncey as much as we do? Check out our 360 Tour of our beautiful grounds. WE WILL BE BACK!
Virtual NYC Date Night

Start off with a H elicopter Tour with FlyNY. Enjoy the incredible sites of New York City, high above the skyscrapers.

Visit one of the most iconic tourist attractions in NYC, the Statue of Liberty. Enjoy the 360 tour and check out Ellis Island while you are there.

Now on to Broadway! Every Friday night at 7pm, enjoy a different Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway Show in the comfort of your own home. Visit , YouTube Broadway Direct. The new YouTube channel called,  The Shows Must Go On,  began offering the opportunity to watch a different Andrew Lloyd Webber favorite every week. Enjoy!
The Princeton University Art Museum is partnering with the Arts Council of Princeton to provide free online art-making experiences. Weekly classes are taught by artist-instructor Barbara DiLorenzo over Zoom, so participants can join live from their home computers; techniques emphasize drawing with pen or pencil on paper. Each week’s lesson features works from the Museum’s collections and relates to the Museum’s weekly online curatorial lecture. This week’s lesson is inspired by their conversation between Sir David Adjaye, the architect designing a new home for the Princeton University Art Museum, and Museum Director James Steward. Join, Thursday April 30th at 8 p.m.. Visit their website for details and the live link.

Celebrate May 4th , "Star Wars Day" when Disney Plus debuts the Rise of Skywalker. The company announced,bringing the final Star Wars film to the streaming service. The move means that, soon, fans will be able to stream the entire nine-film Skywalker Saga (along with spinoff films Solo and Rogue One) all in one place

Corning Museum of Glass , Coloring is a great form of escapism and with their "Color Our Collections" set, you'll engage with with glass objects in a fun new way. Just hit print and grab some colored pencils. 

At the Art Institute Chicago, pick from a variety of fun -filled themes and thousands of artworks to build a custom art adventure with your family. Visit the Journey Maker.

National Gallery of Art The NGAkids Art Zone app contains eight interactive activities inspired by works in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, plus a sketchbook for freehand drawing and a personal exhibition space where users can save and display art created with the program. The child-friendly interface, easy-to-use tools, and the overarching emphasis on discovery, careful looking, and artistic self-expression make the NGAkids app educational and fun for the whole family.
Virtual Vacation to the Beach

No matter which beach is on your bucket list, you can probably sneak a virtual peek to help satisfy your temporarily hampered wanderlust.

Start with a virtual beach trip down to Brazil to enjoy the sand and surf at


Tulum, Mexico View over the beach of Riviera Maya in Quintana Roo.


Special Deals During Covid-19

Buffalo Wild Wings : Get BOGO traditional wings on Tuesdays, and BOGO boneless wings on Thursdays. All orders placed online and through the app are eligible for free delivery.

Burger King : Orders $10 and up are eligible for free delivery, depending on location.

The Cheesecake Factory : From now through May 10, get a bonus $10 e-gift card with every $50 gift card purchase.

Chipotle : All orders over $10 are eligible for free delivery. Now through May 31, purchase a  Healthcare Heroes egift card  to support healthcare workers on the frontlines, and they'll match and donate 10% to  Direct Relief .

Olive Garden : Get two meals for the price of one — $12.99 — with their "Buy One, Take One" promotion. Free, no-contact delivery is available on orders with a $40 minimum.

Panera Bread : Feed the whole family starting at $29 with Family Feast, which comes with two half sandwiches, two kid sandwiches, one salad, one family-size mac and cheese, and one whole French baguette.
This week's Trivia Question

What was the most popular date in 2019 for a wedding in the United States?
A: February 14 th
B: May 18 th
C: June 15 th
D: October 19 th