The Kitty Knight House by Apryl Parcher

After half a century, the Kitty Knight House is back in the Hall family. On March 20th of this year, 62 years to the day when Ralph and Helene Hall fi rst bought the property, the historic survivor of the War of 1812 was purchased by Ralph and Helene’s descendents, Ford (son) and Ralph (grandson) Hall.

Ken and I had the pleasure of dining with Ralph and his wife Mary, and found we had a lot in common, since Ken grew up on the river, too, and it was fun to see how enthusiastic the couple is about coming full circle with The Kitty Knight House.

Chef Bruce Wetterau and his wife Jerren now manage The Kitty, and the couple uses their successful experience with The Granary to streamline the Kitty’s operation. You can defi nitely taste the difference in the food!

As Ken and I shared a delicious “Chilled Mix” appetizer of lump backfi n crab, oysters on the half-shell and steamed shrimp, Ralph spoke about the property’s “Hall history.”

After purchasing the Kitty Knight property in 1946, Ralph’s grandfather subdivided the property and built Georgetown Yacht Basin down on the harbor, then sold the Kitty Knight section in 1955. His son Ford (and wife June) ran the Yacht Basin for many years before passing the mantle to young Ralph. Ford and June also bought the Granary Restaurant in the mid 80s, and the family still owns it today.

“We had a lot of fun growing up on the Sassafras,” said Ralph, and he and Ken laughed about their favorite spots on the river. For “old timers” like us, visiting The Kitty was almost like coming home, and for those who love local history, the atmosphere is a real treat.

Although Catherine Knight’s 18th Century home was later joined with its neighbor, and porches added to form the building as it looks today, you can still feel the history of the place—from the original wooden floors to the handblown cylinder glass and leaded panes that still grace some of the doors and windows. Ralph and Mary are enthusiastic about keeping that historic ambience alive, and promised a tour after dinner.

When our meals came, they were as delicious as they were beautiful—I could really see and taste the effects of Bruce’s recent visit to New Orleans in Miss Catherine’s Seafood Jambalaya, a spicy medley of steamed mussels, little neck clams, scallops, shrimp and sausage nestled in a bed of saffron rice.

Ken described his Devilled Crab dish as clean and fresh with a firm texture and “buttery” taste, and he loved the added crunch of tangy cheese on top and crispy asparagus.

Each entrée sported a sprig of fresh thyme, and Mary told me that soon an herb garden on the property will add more local flavor to The Kitty’s food. Bruce already uses locally-grown organic produce when possible, and prefers to buy local, grass-fed beef as well.

“All the breads are also baked here fresh every morning, and desserts and other dishes are made here, not shipped in,” said Mary. When bread was mentioned, Ralph’s eyes lit up. He makes sure he is at The Kitty first thing every morning for a warm sample.

But only guests at The Kitty Knight Inn get Bruce’s gourmet breakfast—and he pulls out all the stops to make sure the food is unique. The dining room closest to the Tavern is set up as the “breakfast room,” where guests in any of the Inn’s 11 rooms enjoy Bruce’s breakfast creations.

The Wetteraus are working at developing customerfriendly touches, such as the new “Lemonade Porch” Jerren designed on the wrap-around deck just outside the main dining room, where patrons can sit in comfortable chairs under ceiling fans any time of day to sip cool lemonade and watch the harbor below.

To the right of this area, the deck ends in a “Fine Dining Porch.” Quiet and secluded from other guests, it’s the only place you can experience outside dining with the “inside” menu (the “bar deck” has its own menu).

Inside, next to the kitchen, between the old parlor and the main dining room, the Halls installed a beautiful new bar (convenient for guests enjoying a wedding or banquet) and the old Tavern has also been updated with better lighting and flooring.

So come on down to the Kitty Knight House and make some discoveries of your own. Ken and I promise you’ll love the new food, the new look, and the grand old view…we sure did!

Be sure to check out the updated Kitty Knight House website at www.kittyknight.com, and take a look at their new “Progressive Dinner” opportunities…themed dinners where guests move back and forth between The Kitty and The Granary by boat between courses. —CSM