>>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A RELAXING, UPSCALE GETAWAY WITH
THE FEEL OF LUXURY AND COMFORT OF THE SOUTH, HEAD NO FURTHER
THAN PITTSBORO.
IT'S HOME TO THE FIVE-STAR AND FIVE-DIAMOND RATED FEARRINGTON
HOUSE INN AND RESTAURANT.
I VISITED RECENTLY TO SHOW YOU HOW CONDE NAST TRAVELERS RATED
IT THE NUMBER TWO TOP HOTEL IN THE SOUTH.
BELTED COWS GRAZE ITS PASTURES, AND A WHIRLIGIG SIGNALS LIGHT
BREEZE.
BOTH ARE CALLS TO SLOW DOWN AND LEAVE YOUR CARES.
YOU'RE AT FEARRINGTON VILLAGE.
>> FEARRINGTON IS A FARM.
IT'S ABOUT 200 YEARS OLD.
IN THE MID-'70s, MY PARENTS BOUGHT THE FARM, AND THEY'VE
BEEN SLOWLY TURNING IT INTO A VILLAGE, CENTER, A DESTINATION,
WITH AN INN AND A RESTAURANT AND A SPA AND SHOPS.
AND, OF COURSE, EVERYONE KNOWS US FOR THE BELTED GALLOWAY COWS
THAT SURROUND THE VILLAGE CENTER.
SO IT'S BECOME A DESTINATION OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY BECOME A AAA FIVE-DIAMOND AND FORBES
FIVE-STAR DESTINATION AND ALSO BEARS INTERNATIONAL DISTINCTION
BY THE FRENCH-BASED RELAIS AND CHATEAU, AN ASSOCIATION OF THE
WORLD'S FINEST SMALL HOTELS.
THERE ARE 32 GUEST ROOMS AT THE INN, EACH UNIQUELY DECORATED.
THIS SECOND TIER DELUXE ROOM HAS A SEPARATE INTERIOR SITTING AREA
WITH FIREPLACE AND A BATH WITH SOAKING TUB.
AND THERE'S AN OUTDOOR PATIO WITH A VIEW OF THE GARDENS.
>> ONE OF THE WONDERFUL FEATURES OF THE INN IS THERE ARE GARDENS
EVERYWHERE MAINTAINED BY A REALLY TALENTED STAFF OF
GARDENERS.
THE GARDENS ALWAYS LOOK IN BLOOM YEAR-ROUND.
AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THE WAYS TO -- WE WANT A GUEST TO SLOW
DOWN AND ENJOY THE MOMENT.
>> AND YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF SPACES TO DO THAT, WHETHER IT'S
IN YOUR GUEST ROOM OR ONE OF THE COMMON AREAS OR A LEISURELY
PEDAL AWAY ON ONE OF THE TOURING BIKES AVAILABLE.
EITHER WAY, YOU WON'T TRAVEL FAR.
>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING.
PEOPLE, OFTENTIMES, THEY'LL COME INTO RECEPTION.
THEY'LL SAY, "WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN THE AREA?"
"CAN YOU GIVE ME A LIST OF ACTIVITIES IN CHAPEL HILL OR
DURHAM?"
BUT THEN WHEN THEY GET SETTLED IN, THEY NEVER LEAVE THE
PROPERTY.
>> NO NEED TO LEAVE WHEN THERE'S A LUXURY SPA RIGHT ON THE
PROPERTY OFFERING A COMPLETE MENU OF FULL BODY SERVICES.
AND FOR EVERY OVERNIGHT GUEST, COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST PLUS
AFTERNOON TEA COMPLETE WITH SWEETS AND SAVORIES FROM THE
KITCHEN OF FEARRINGTON'S INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED CHEF
COLIN BEDFORD.
TO SAMPLE HIS CULINARY TALENTS ALONE, MANY MAKE THE JOURNEY TO
PITTSBORO FOR THE FINE DINING EXPERIENCE AT FEARRINGTON HOUSE
RESTAURANT.
>> I'VE BEEN COOKING FOR A LONG TIME NOW, AND MY FIRST BOSS
ALWAYS SAID TO ME THE FIRST BITE IS WITH YOUR EYES, BUT IT'S THE
TASTE THAT SAVORS THE MEMORY.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE TRY AND DO HERE.
THE CUISINE AT FEARRINGTON IS VERY REGIONAL.
WE SUPPORT LOCAL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, USING A RANGE OF
DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS.
>> TO COMPLEMENT COLIN'S MENU, FEARRINGTON ENTRUSTS THE SENSES
OF GERMAN-RAISED SOMMELIER MAXIMILIAN KAST.
>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE WINERIES IN THE WORLD IS THE CASTELLO DI
VERDUNO.
IT'S IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF BAROLO, BUT THIS IS FROM THEIR
VINEYARDS IN BARBARESCO FROM A SINGLE VINEYARD CALLED RABAYA.
IT'S FROM THE NEBBIOLO GRAPE.
IT'S FULL-BODIED, VERY SILKY, VERY SMOOTH.
THAT WOULD BE PERFECT WITH THE LAMB.
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PAIRINGS.
>> FOR DESSERT, A LUSCIOUS CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE, THE ONE
SIGNATURE ITEM ON THE MENU AS INSISTED BY PROPERTY OWNER JENNY
FITCH, FEATURING VERONA CHOCOLATE.
>> IT'S A VERY FRUITY, ROUNDED CHOCOLATE.
HAS A LOT OF POWER TO IT.
AND THEN WE SERVE IT WITH A WHIPPED CREAM THAT JUST --
JUST OFFSETS IT A LITTLE BIT.
>> FEARRINGTON HOUSE RESTAURANT IS THE FINE DINING OPTION IN THE
VILLAGE, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE GOAT DELI AND COFFEE SHOP AND
GRANARY FOR CASUAL FARE.
BEYOND THE SPA AND EATERIES, GUESTS CAN ALSO ENJOY SHOPPING
AMENITIES.
AT DOVECOTE BOUTIQUE, YOU'LL FIND FASHIONABLE APPAREL FOR
BOTH WOMEN AND MEN, BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES, PLUS
DESIGNER HOME DECOR AND GIFTS, OR STEP INTO McINTYRE'S,
AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE WHERE YOU'LL FIND A VARIETY OF TITLES.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THESE SHOPS AND EATERIES HOST EVENTS FROM
WINE TASTINGS TO LIVE MUSIC, BOOK READINGS AND TRUNK SHOWS.
SO EVEN INTO THE EVENING HOURS, GUESTS OF THE FEARRINGTON HOUSE
INN ALWAYS HAVE WITHIN JUST A FEW STEPS SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO
EXPERIENCE IN THEIR TRAVEL DESTINATION.
FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND," I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.