In October we had another one of those days that (as cheesy as it sounds) filled us with excitement to be part of an insanely talented, fun and creative community here in Essex County. You may have heard about the Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast in Comber but what you may not know is that, in addition to running an award winning B&B, they create first-class dining experiences such as their yearly Harvest Dinner in their family’s century-old barn Stoney Point barn.
Photos by Karitas Photography – Karitas Photography
Owners, Benjamin Leblanc-Beaudoin and Ginette Tremblay, met in Ottawa during college where Ginette was studying to be a teacher and Ben was in culinary school. After sparks flew they moved around, had a stint in Europe, started their family and then ultimately ended up back in Essex-County to pursue their dream of owning a B&B and events company.
Their brick and mortar business has been in the limelight continuously since they opened in 2014. This year they won a total of 7 awards including TWEPI’s Tourism Business of the Year for the region, the Trip Advisor Excellence Award, Best Bed and Breakfast, Best Hidden Tourism Secret and Best Kept Dining Secret. All of these accolades have brought some serious attention to Comber but also goes to show the drive and talent that the couple have to create and execute all of their top-notch events – wherever they happen to be working.
The Harvest Dinner is just one example of an exclusive experience that’s been conjured up by the creative duo with the help of friends, local chefs and culinary experts. The dinner is a gathering for fun and to celebrate the end of the busy tourism year and the harvest season. It doesn’t get more farm to table than this venue! Every ingredient is something their family has grown or has been grown by their staff or someone they know on a personal basis – even the flowers that adorned the tables were grown on the property and the furniture is all handmade.
Every course was cooked solely on the open fire, that we stood by to keep warm as the afternoon crept into a chilly evening. Oysters, lamb, root veggies with fresh herbs, marrow and brussel sprouts cooked and served on the stalk were accompanied by expertly paired local wine and spirits. What stood out for us is the feeling that this event wasn’t just an interactive showcase for the 30 or so guests but something for them to also enjoy.
Their vision is sought after not only for weddings, corporate parties and celebrations in Essex County, but the couple and their staff have a full mobile set-up that makes it possible to set up just about anywhere they can drive to. Want to throw a part in the middle of a field with no power? No problem! They even rent out their handmade furniture and decor including their collection of over 1000 antique plates.
Everything Iron Kettle Events is custom and all about the details. If you have an idea or dream of creating something inspiring, we encourage you to sit down with Ben & Ginette to talk about menus, decor, locations and logistics. Their business is breaking barriers and we can’t wait to collaborate more in the future. Watch their social media pages below for tickets to any of their upcoming events – we may see you there!
Contact Information:
7005 Essex County Rd 46, Comber, ON N0P 1J0
The Iron Kettle Bed and Breakfast / Iron Kettle Events
Ironkettlebb / Ironkettle.events
Ironkettlebb.com
