Curtis Bashaw, the New Jersey hotelier whose properties have turned Cape May into a byword for understated chic, has a new jewel in his crown: the Hamptons. Bashaw, who is gay, has found a perfect fit for his brand’s signature charm and unfussy elegance with Baron’s Cove in Sag Harbor, on the east end of Long Island, about 100 miles outside of Manhattan. Freshly renovated, the 67-room inn, due to open Memorial Day weekend, should reinforce Bashaw’s reputation for understanding and accentuating the appeal of the American beach resort.
Sag Harbor, named for a tuber cultivated by the Alongonquins, and with a rich history as a whaling port, is a ripe spot for Bashaw who made his name by treating his Cape May properties with a deep respect for their history that has elevated the Victorian resort town well above neighboring towns along the Jersey shore.
Like his 106-room hotel, Congress Hall, in Cape May, Bashaw's new venture exemplifies a classic, all-American vibe, complete with a tennis court, pool, and—wait for it—Lobster Thermidor on the menu.
Food has long been a critical component in Bashaw’s success—his restaurants in Cape May, including the Ebbitt Room at the Virginia Hotel, and Congress Hall’s Blue Pig Tavern, are worth the three-hour car ride from New York alone (they source many of their ingredients from Bashaw's Beach Plum Farm, just a few miles away). Now Baron’s Cove (pictured left, as a rendering) looks set to follow suit, thanks to the addition of Matthew Boudreau as Executive Chef. Boudreau didn’t have far to travel—he was overseeing Vine Street Café on Shelter Island when Bashaw came calling—but his resume is global, and includes stints with such acclaimed chefs as Charlie Trotter in Chicago, Tommy DiGiovanni in New Orleans, and Anton Edelmann in London. At Baron’s Cove Boudreau be focusing on surf and turf, dishes that compliment the beach town sensibility.
Although not on the beach itself, Baron’s Cove will offer guests a complimentary shuttle, plus the use of beach chair and umbrellas, as well as a picnic lunch if required. Or you can just lounge poolside, cocktail in one hand, a good book in the other, watching the sun set over the harbor, just as nature intended. Bashaw has long been a fan of what he calls “the un-harvested brand of the Jersey Shore.” In Sag Harbor he may have found the Long Island counterpart.
Rooms start at $299. For more info, go to baronscove.com
