The Cornwall Local and The News of the Highlands continues its monthly series on food and beverage establishments in the area.
Name of establishment:
Canterbury Brook Inn
Date opened:
1995
Owner:
Hans Baumann
Why did you get into the restaurant business?
It was a passion of mine since I was a kid. Since I remember, I always wanted to be a chef. There was really never anything else. My father liked to cook. My mother was a very good cook. Maybe that had something to do with it.
How did you get your start?
I got my start in Switzerland. I did my apprenticeship in Switzerland. I came over here when I was 20/21. I started out in New York City. I got hired in Switzerland by people in New York. They had a Swiss restaurant. I worked in Switzerland at different places. I applied for different jobs all over the world and New York City was one of the first to call.
Do you own any other restaurants?
No, but I used to have one in Dobbs Ferry. I sold that and moved up to the Hudson Valley. I had that for seven years. It was called the Swiss Cavern Restaurant.
How did the restaurant get its name?
It was actually called Canterbury Inn and I just added “Brook” because it was beside a brook. It goes back to 1800s.
What type of food do you serve?
European continental with a flair of Swiss. There’s no real Swiss cuisine because we have so many different ethnic areas. We have German, Italian, and French. It’s mixed together.
What are popular items on your menu?
The wienerschnitzel, pork tenderloin zurichoise, the Swiss cheese fondue, the Canterbury filet mignon, and the linguine “Fruit de Mer.”
What is your signature?
There’s really no one preference. There are so many of them.
Why should visitors to the Hudson Valley stop at your restaurant?
You get great food and a nice atmosphere. Cornwall is a nice town. We are seasonal. We have a fireplace in the winter and outdoor [dining] in the summer. We have different rooms – the bar room, a room which overlooks the brook, and the main room. Consistency. I’m still the chef. If people ate something and they come back it’s still the same.
Location:
331 Main Street, Cornwall.
Hours:
5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
Phone number:
845-534-9658