Bayberry Manor Guest Comments

"Fun, Fun, and more Fun was had by all 8 of us girls on our resent stay at Cooking At Kates. We are all midwestern girls celebrating some of our 60th birthdays and were looking for a house we could all stay in and be somewhat contained. Moving 8 girls out for 3 meals a day is never fun so this fit our dream.

We all flew into Boston for a fun night there and then drove to Kates the next day. We arrived to find dinner all set for us which included a large charcuterie tray, fish stew, a big salad and some nice bread. Did I forget to say they left us plenty of wine too? The weather was unseasonably warm so we all sat out on the beautiful deck and enjoyed our wine, appetizers and the beautiful view before heading in to the dining room for dinner.

The following morning we woke up to juices, fruit, pastries and bagels and again we were able to sit out on the deck with our coffee and continental breakfast.
We decided to head out to Chatham for the afternoon which turned out to be a lovely day trip for lunch and some shopping.

Saturday evening Kevin, his assistant and Val arrived about 4:00 ready to start our cooking class and wine tasting. It was definitely low key which was just what we wanted. Most of us stayed in the kitchen to learn and help Kevin as others sat out on the deck and just enjoyed the sunset. The great thing was that Kevin made it fun. It was not an over-the-top menu but something most people could make and it was delicious. Val was great in educating us on the wines she was serving and just delightful to chat with. Just a little tip, do not eat much lunch because it is a multi course filling dinner.

Sunday morning Kevin and an assistant came back and served us a great breakfast/brunch including roasted potatoes, frittata, etc. It was a wonderful way to end our weekend and fill us up before our drive and flights home.

Everyone was very accommodating to the point that they arranged a birthday cake for us and Kevin even drove one of the girls to her ferry after breakfast Sunday morning.

The house was more than big enough for all of us. We all had our own bedrooms and plenty of bathrooms to share. The view from the deck is gorgeous and if it had been cold enough a fire in the fireplace would have been lovely. I will say the house is a little dated but that didn’t bother us in the least. Everything worked, was clean and well equipped.
I would go back again for sure.

Thank you Kate, Kevin, Dave (filled in for Lauren) Val and the assistants for making our girls weekend the best!"

Beyond our expectations!!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"There were eight of us who had not seen each other for awhile and we chose Kate's as a "destination" event worth travelling for! One woman came from Montreal but the rest from the Boston area. Upon arrival the smell of vegetable soup simmering on the stove was a "warm" welcome! Everyone arrived at different times so the cheese platter/meats/grapes/fresh breads/nuts were perfect! Everyone gravitated to the deck overlooking the bay and sipped wine until the sun set. Dinner was superb!! The salad that accompanied the soup was exquisite! The evening cooled off so lighting a fire in both dining room and living room finished off our evening.
Saturday was started with fresh fruit/coffee cake/juice/coffee and assorted cereals and yogurt, just perfect. It was a gorgeous day and we all enjoyed long walks and relaxation on the deck/beach which both had ample Adirondack chairs.
Saturday evening was one of the most entertaining and hands on enjoyable nights that many of us needed! Laughter was abundant and the food was as expected over the top!! We helped prepare two appetizers consisting of baby clams/broccoli rabe crostini, crab arugula with avocado both mixed with amazing melon/garlic/ricotta blended mixtures. Dinner involved mushroom risotto with pancetta, shrimp scampi, fresh carrots with tarragon and garlic with the main dish being beef tenderloin all just scrumptious!
Val was expert in her wine pairing and vast knowledge of the wines being served!
We finished the weekend with a delicious brunch which included quiche/fresh fruit bowl/bagels/bacon and home fries. Nobody left hungry that is for certain!
The home itself was very welcoming and comfortable. All bedrooms had an ocean view. I enjoyed waking to the ocean waves and the sound of seagulls!!
This most assuredly should be a planned destination for any group of good friends or co-workers!!!"

"The perfect spot for so many occasions!!! Myself and 9 friends just had my 40th birthday weekend here and it was perfect. The location, the food and the staff was AMAZING!!! We are already trying to plan when we can go back!!!"

"After traveling all day the stress immediately left when I arrived here and was greeted with a nice glass of Chardonnay and cheese and it just went on from there. On Saturday we had a bunch of friends and we cooked and we all got to wear our aprons and get our hands dirty and sip wine. The chef was there to tell us what to do and how to do it. And the sommelier was there and told us what wine to pair. It was just decadent"