An Eastern Shore Oasis: Liscombe Lodge
Liscombe Lodge holds a very special place in my heart. Four years ago, after scouring the province for the perfect location to say “I do” to my love, we decided to tie the knot at the Lodge, on the grass by a set of roaring rapids, no less.
Over the years since, we’ve found ourselves back there several times – once for our one-year anniversary, where we dined extravagantly and got to enjoy all of the activities available at the Lodge that we weren’t able to take part in during the inevitable chaos surrounding our matrimony.
We had the good fortune of being able to return this summer to enjoy a chat with Karen Wenaus, General Manager of Liscombe Lodge, who wears every hat imaginable in her role, from wedding planner to local produce procurer.
Myself, my husband Dylan (same husband! Way to go us!), and my daughter Ada ordered our lunch and I tried to maintain eye contact with Karen as she talked enthusiastically about the Lodge, despite the fact that the view of the Liscomb River meandering past the dining room windows begged my attention.
Liscombe Lodge is a fixture on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. The red signs counting down the kilometers until your arrival at the quiet, wooded resort have been building the expectations of visitors driving down the shore for years. There is an undeniable sense of history here, the staid confidence that emanates from a facility that has loyally employed the same baker for twenty years, and has been buying lobster from the pier down the road since before eating local was a part of every foodie’s colloquial.
When my food arrives and I tuck into a generous portion of Caesar salad paired with one of Liscombe’s popular build-it-yourself gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches (I chose turkey, apple and goat cheese stuffed between two thick slabs of house-baked bread), I am transported back to the days when my now-hubby and I would drive out to the Lodge to sample buffet choices and imagine ourselves and our family gathered together on a warm August day to exchange rings and make forever-promises.
I now know that I’m not the only bride who has felt this way about the Lodge: with a wedding every weekend throughout the better part of their May to November season, it’s safe to say that Liscombe is a hotspot for local “destination” weddings in the province.
My friends and relatives are still raving about the food from our wedding, and as I talk to Karen, I find out exactly why: steeped in tradition and made using as many local ingredients as possible, the food at Liscombe is – walking trails, canoeing, recreation facilities, green spaces, and shuffleboard aside – the big attraction for many guests.
Their famous planked salmon is cooked in Mi’kmaq tradition, maple-marinated and slow-baked over an open fire in their outdoor oven before being finished with maple butter sauce and pineapple salsa.
They source honey from Cosman and Whidden, smoked salmon from J. Willy Krauch Smokehouse and St. Mary’s River Smokehouses, seafood from local fishers, coffee from JavaBlend and beer from Garrison Brewery.
They even grow their own herbs, “other than when the bunnies eat the basil,” Karen reports. Nova Scotia wines have gone into heavy rotation in recent years on the Liscombe Lodge wine list, which includes selections from Jost, Luckett Vineyards and Grand Pre Winery.
Though the idea of visiting a resort might seem geared towards vacationers from far and wide, Liscombe has plenty of appeal with local folks, who come from as far as Antigonish to take part in their incredibly popular Sunday night prime-rib buffet (complete with live entertainment), their weekly wing nights, and their annual Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Thanksgiving buffets.
Of course, the salmon is always on the menu, and the view from the dining room ever-beguiling: Liscombe Lodge is a sure bet, whether you’re saying your vows or just looking for a great plate of food.
My husband is too caught up in the romance of our return to the place of our wedding (and the attempts by our toddler to escape her high chair) to notice me taking heaping spoonfuls of his hearty chowder and a quick forkful of his delicious salad. I’ll be sad to see our delicious meal here end, and sad to leave this little Eastern Shore oasis, but nostalgia and many August 22nd’s to come will most surely bring me back.