Spruce Point Inn Resort and Spa has been freshening up all the digs ahead of the 2021 season. New restaurant Whiteclover in particular will be a draw for guests and locals said General Manager Gil Hartman. The restaurant follows in the footsteps of its predecessor “88 Restaurant” with genuine Maine cuisine and a plush setting, but relaxed rules around attire, said Hartman.

“While we're relaxing the coat and tie requirement … Whiteclover leans even further into authentic Maine cuisine to celebrate the simple, honest, and authentic Maine eating.”

Hartman said the menu is sourced largely from local and Maine-based farms and food producers including Morning Dew Farm, Bowden Egg Farm, Glidden Point Oysters, Pemaquid Mussel Farms, North Spore Mushrooms, Hootenanny Bread, Tarbox Farm, Ebenecook Oysters, Backyard Farms, Olivia’s Garden, Bradbury Mountain Berry Farm, Coastal Root Bitters, Pineland Farms, Maine Craft Distilling, Coffee By Design, Boothbay Craft Brewery, Cellardoor Winery and Split Rock Distilling.

The quality sources are significant in maintaining authenticity, Hartman said. “We have a team of excellent chefs in our kitchen and are supported directly by Benchmark's own Chef Olivier Gaupin. Chef Olivier has an incredible background and reputation in the culinary world.”

Gaupin will also be one of six featured artists in the resort’s new “Artists in Residence” series, workshops designed around subjects like poetry, culinary, photography and more. The series is only one of several new programs, said Hartman.

“I'm most excited about our ‘Lighthouse Picnics on Burnt Island’ where we send you off on our boat with a picnic basket to enjoy across the water on the island, and next to the second oldest surviving lighthouse in Maine. It's so scenic and relaxing over there – the feedback so far from guests has been tremendous.”

Resort staff could not be more excited to take on this season, said Hartman. The quality time family and friends have missed over the last year-and-a-half has dealt everyone a significant blow and Spruce Point Inn 2021 is about bringing everyone back together to put the pandemic as much behind them as possible and enjoy new memories. “I couldn't be more excited to welcome back both travelers and locals to the Inn … We have a great team here that's very passionate about hospitality, and we're looking forward to safely serving our guests – both familiar faces and new ones.”