A little South Jersey hospitality can be found in Finger Lakes

The Jon Bon Jovi song, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home…?” celebrates the notion of going back to your roots and appreciating the area where you grew up.

This sentiment certainly rings true for Bill and Donna Hutches, a Haddon Township couple who recently opened a restaurant and inn in New York’s picturesque Finger Lakes region.

Although the couple has been together since 1990 and lived in South Jersey for nearly 20 years, Bill is originally from Hammondsport, New York, and moved to Collingswood in 1984 to attend the Art Institute of Philadelphia. He has enjoyed a career in graphics since graduating (including a few years working at the Courier-Post).

He owns Works Design Group, a Pennsauken branding and design agency with a number of major clients, including Campbell Soup company.

Fun family business

After years of vacationing in the Finger Lakes with their four children to visit relatives and enjoy lakeside living, the couple decided to purchase a farm in Hammondsport in 2012 so the entire family could be together.

Situated about 300 miles north of South Jersey (about a 4½-hour drive), this area is known for the natural beauty of several lakes such as Seneca, Canandaigua and others. During this time, they also renovated a barn on their property, which became a wedding venue for their daughter, Brittan, who married Philadelphia-based chef Steve Linneman the following year.  

Their daughter’s marriage inspired the Hutches to buy a local landmark restaurant, the Pleasant Valley Inn. Over the years, it had been their favorite place to dine and Bill had worked there as a teenager so he knew the restaurant well. The family agreed it was the ideal place for the newlyweds to embark on their new life and run the establishment. 

“We wanted to buy the restaurant to give our son-in-law and daughter a start in the Finger Lakes region,'' Bill says. "Steve is an amazing chef and Brittan was becoming a new mother, so the plan was to give them a great place to build a thriving business, in a beautiful little town of Hammondsport, that would be great for raising a family.”

Featuring Victorian architecture and light pink hue, the inn was built in 1848 with the original cabin constructed in the early 1800s, which includes the original hand-carved stone well that continues to be operational. Both the cabin and the restaurant remain true to the architecture with a commercial kitchen and inn rooms that were later added.

The inn’s $250,000-plus refurbishments included renovating four guestrooms and five bathrooms, as well as the innkeepers’ apartment. In addition, they refinished the 160-year-old wooden floors, updated the electric and gas systems, enhanced the exterior landscaping and created a wine cellar.

After renovating the property, the inn opened in 2016 to an overwhelmingly positive response. However, due to an unexpected career opportunity, Brittan and Steve recently relocated back to the Philadelphia area. Although Steve remains the executive chef, Bill and Donna currently run the property with the help of their general manager Blaine Mayes and a 20-person team.

As with most small ventures, the owners are required to wear many hats. The couple agrees the project’s biggest challenge was traveling back and forth from New Jersey while ramping up the business, as Donna was employed as a professional legal assistant and Bill had to learn to balance two businesses. Bill and Donna have taken on additional roles, as they not only operate and manage the establishment, but also ensure they provide customers with the highest quality of food.

Farm-to-fork sensibility

Today, the Pleasant Valley Inn’s restaurant features cozy-elegant décor, with 45 seats in the main dining area, and a small adjacent pub with 21 seats and more casual offerings.

With a focus on seasonal fare, Bill and Donna make everything from scratch and work with local farmers and purveyors to ensure that they offer the utmost quality. 

“Oak and Osage farms is close to us and is our first choice,'' says Bill. "We even have taken guests to the farm for them to choose their own ingredients for dinner. The farmer has a great approach to farming and even burns our used cooking oils in his truck and tractor.”

The restaurant’s highlights include items such as the rib-eye, veal chop, crab cakes, New Zealand rack of lamb, wild caught swordfish and Faroe Island salmon. Specials each week are created around fresh whole fish and seafood, house-made pastas and prime steaks and chops. The menu also features a homage to the Philly area with their cheesesteak spring roll and La Colombe coffee.

With a passion for baking since she was a young child, Donna has taken her culinary skills to the next level, and is pastry chef for the inn, where she makes all breads and desserts from scratch.

She whips up daily specialties, including carrot cake, cheese cake and house-made ice creams in a variety of flavors. Overnight guests are treated to homemade Continental breakfast that includes fresh pastries and bagels, which have made a big splash.

“We’ve been getting inquiries about purchasing our bagels, but I only have the time and resources to make enough for our guests at breakfast, so they are a regular part of our morning routine,” Donna noted.

“In addition to offering beautiful overnight accommodations, Pleasant Valley Inn is adding layers to the already exciting culinary scene,'' says Dave DeGolyer, the communications manager for Corning and the Southern Finger Lakes region. "Their work with local farmers is inspiring. The quality of the meals they create and the atmosphere of the restaurant and pub provide visitors and locals with food and experiences they long remember.” 

“Pleasant Valley Inn is the perfect blend of big city wow and small town charm,'' he continues. "You have a chef-owner from the Philadelphia area who knows how to dazzle taste buds, a local-owner dedicated to bringing something special to his hometown, and an accomplished staff all wrapped up in an historic setting that oozes nostalgia and a hip vibe at the same time.” 

When asked about his favorite aspect of the Finger Lakes, Bill says, “The incredibly relaxed atmosphere, the friendly people and the overall beauty of the lake and the little towns. It is something out of a movie. We just take a deep breath when we get here and our blood pressure drops, it almost seems like it is a well-protected secret.”

Adds Donna, “We get such joy when our guests tell us how welcome they feel when walk in the door and how much they love the restaurant. Those are the things that lights us up inside. It’s nice when people appreciate us.

“We spend a lot of time together now and it’s been good for us. We are enjoying it and we definitely laugh a lot. It’s ironic now that the place that was our vacation spot is now our work location — and when we are back to Haddon Township, it feels like we are on vacation.”

For more information

Pleasant Valley Inn: www.pleasantvalleyinn.com

Finger Lakes: www.visitfingerlakes.com

Bill and Donna’s favorite Finger Lakes activities 

Watkins Glen – A popular hiking spot featuring stunning waterfalls.

Boating - There are plenty of boat tours on the lakes and many places that rent pontoons, kayaks and more.

Exploring the wine and beer trails - There are over 100 wineries, breweries and distilleries in the region.