| With bed and breakfast owners the demarcation of | | | | extensive travels he has gained international |
| private living space and public guest space is always a | | | | hospitality experience and often told his staff |
| delicate issue. Particularly in Canada, the concept of | | | | members that "there are not a lot of perks in |
| bed and breakfasts usually involves the property | | | | cooking. But people need to eat everywhere, so why |
| owner living on site. Nance and Kevin have found a | | | | not take advantage of that and cook in all sorts of |
| creative solution to this dilemma and now live in | | | | interesting places?" Kevin's longest international chef |
| another house on the same street, just steps away. | | | | experiences include the six-month stint he did with |
| This gives them the necessary privacy for their own | | | | Nance in France. He has also worked as a chef in |
| family, which today includes two small children, yet | | | | Venezuela and various places throughout Europe. For |
| they are still close enough to the property when a | | | | a long time he was the executive chef at a |
| guest needs something. I can personally attest to | | | | restaurant in Burlington, Ontario, and currently he still |
| that since I had problems with my keys on Friday | | | | is the executive chef at a popular resort in Niagara |
| night. When I gave Kevin a call he arrived within less | | | | Falls, although he is presently on parental leave. His |
| than a minute to help me and show me how to | | | | adventure in France provided Kevin with a humorous |
| properly lock the door. In order to spend quality time | | | | anecdote: during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt |
| with their children, Nance and Kevin Kilpatrick have | | | | Lake City, the hockey game was being broadcast, |
| also found a creative way to distribute their work | | | | and Kevin, while out at a pub, asked if the owners |
| responsibilities. Kevin is usually on site in the morning, | | | | could turn the television to the hockey game. The |
| handles breakfast and leaves around noon. Nance | | | | French pub owners responded "What is hockey?" So |
| then comes in to take care of the cleaning and look | | | | Kevin explained that ice hockey is Canada's national |
| after check-in until about 6:30 pm. Nance smiles and | | | | sport and that the Canadian team was just about to |
| says that they are a great tag team. Next year they | | | | play the American team for the Olympic gold medal. |
| plan to hire cleaning help which will allow them to | | | | Shortly after, the TV station was turned to show |
| spend more time working together on site again. | | | | the hockey game and the French audience promptly |
| Nance in particular misses the interaction with the | | | | started to cheer for the Canadian team. Kevin will |
| guests that she would normally be enjoying over | | | | forever remember this special hockey game. A small |
| breakfast. Entrepreneurs with a young family often | | | | sampling of the breakfast choices at the Kilpatrick |
| have to find creative solutions for arranging their | | | | Manor include a standard "full-on fry" (a typical |
| working life and their family time. Many of the | | | | breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes and |
| couple's regular guests have actually met the children | | | | toast), breakfast ravioli (a delicacy I was to sample |
| and often inquire about them. Nance added that over | | | | myself), sautéed-apple-stuffed French toast |
| time many of their repeat visitors have become | | | | with Frangelico syrop and candied cashews with |
| friends and Nance is looking forward to having more | | | | cinnamon whipped cream. All main breakfast dishes |
| of a chance in the future to socialize with the guests | | | | are accompanied by fresh fruit and freshly baked |
| again. Guests at the Kilpatrick Manor B&B are usually | | | | goods. Being a consummate chef, Kevin now also |
| also quite young, between 25 and 45 years of age, | | | | offers catering services and his kitchen is now fully |
| slightly different from the traditionally older bed and | | | | licensed to handle catering. He also provides in-home |
| breakfast traveling crowd. Many of the guests arrive | | | | catering, offering the convenience of |
| for a special weekend escape or to celebrate a | | | | gourmet-cooked meals at the client's site. In addition |
| special occasion such as engagements, birthdays or | | | | to catering, more plans are in store for Kilpatrick |
| anniversaries. Most of the clients come from within a | | | | Manor: Kevin is planning to redo the Victorian living |
| three hour radius, which includes Ohio, New York | | | | room which is big enough to hold 12 to 14 people. |
| State, New Jersey and Ontario, and on average they | | | | This will allow him to host a variety of special events |
| stay two nights. Nance added that the Ontario | | | | in his property, from weddings and engagements to |
| tourism industry was hit quite hard by 911 and the | | | | anniversary dinners and other celebrations. My own |
| after-effects of the SARS epidemic of 2003. Recent | | | | first-hand experience at Kilpatrick Manor was |
| changes to US government regulations require US | | | | characterized by great hospitality. From Nance's warm |
| travelers to hold passports to cross into Canada, and | | | | greeting upon my arrival and a tour of the premises |
| the higher Canadian dollar has increased cross-border | | | | to two scrumptious breakfasts prepared by chef |
| shopping and wait times at the Canada-US border. | | | | Kevin himself I felt welcome and pampered all along. I |
| Despite these factors, Kilpatrick Manor has been very | | | | loved the light yet tasty breakfast ravioli - incidentally |
| successful in establishing itself as a choice destination | | | | the first time I had pasta for breakfast. The |
| for bed and breakfast travel in Niagara Falls. One of | | | | breakfast on my second day was even more |
| the main reasons for this is that hospitality is a | | | | scrumptious: strawberry crepes with a Grand Marnier |
| passion for both Nance and Kevin Kilpatrick. Guests | | | | sauce - simply to die for. Despite my very hectic |
| enjoy the broad selection of activities on offer in the | | | | schedule in Niagara Falls I had a bit of a chance to |
| Niagara Falls area. Travellers can explore the local | | | | relax in my beautiful room and enjoy the |
| history, partake of the many entertainment offerings | | | | high-definition television, the fireplace and the |
| in the city or explore the nearby countryside, do | | | | full-body Neptune shower, a real treat on cold winter |
| some golfing or visit one of the numerous wineries in | | | | days. Kilpatrick Manor turned out to be the perfect |
| the area. Nance added that many guests also like to | | | | place to do a bit of luxurious "nesting" away from |
| go on ghost tours as Niagara Falls is one of the most | | | | home. I just hope next time I'll have a bit more time |
| haunted areas in Canada. The choice of recreational | | | | to relax and maybe even indulge in the in-room spa |
| activities in this region is virtually endless. In addition | | | | service. |
| to meeting my hostess Nance I also had a chance to | | | | Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called |
| meet Kevin, the other half of the Kilpatrick Manor | | | | Travel and Transitions. Travel and Transitions deals |
| hospitality team. On Saturday morning over breakfast | | | | with travel to foreign countries and is chock full of |
| I snagged Kevin to find out a bit about his personal | | | | advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews |
| background, his experience and his passion for the | | | | with travelers and travel experts, insights and |
| hospitality business. In his gregarious and friendly | | | | reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many |
| manner, Kevin started to explain that he has been a | | | | other features. |
| professional chef for many years. During his | | | | |