Breakfast at Hidden Lake

At Hidden Lake, we take great pride in our breakfast! On the weekends (Fri-Mon),a three-course, gourmet breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the sunroom overlooking the majority of our 12 acres and a host of birds visiting the backyard feeders. Year-round, as you sit down to eat, you'll be able to enjoy cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmouse, red bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, bluebirds, blue jays and, in season, hummingbirds! A guaranteed way to help you relax!

Before planning our menus, you'll find that we first ask for your preferences. Do you have special dietary considerations? Are you sticking to a low-carb or low-fat menu? Maybe Weight Watchers? Are you a vegetarian? A diabetic? Is there anything to which you are allergic? Perhaps you prefer a coke for breakfast versus coffee. Or perhaps there are breakfast foods that you simply don't enjoy. Just let us know and we'll take it all into account!

Breakfast service begins with a choice of five juices in addition to coffee and a variety of teas. Our 1st course? A fresh fruit dish which some say is like starting with dessert: orange parfaits, poached pears in a vanilla cream sauce, fresh melon topped with lime mousse and cold strawberry soup are just a few examples. Next up, a fresh baked item. We're trying new things all the time. Some favorites? Blueberry kuechen topped with whip cream, pumpkin bread with cinnamon butter, apple crumb cake, warm and gooey raspberry morning muffins, golden raisin buns (my personal favorite!), banana sour cream coffee cake (with a hint of chocolate!) and orange raisin scones with orange marmalade butter. And as a last course, you'll be served a hot entrée and breakfast meat. Souffled leek and feta frittatas, savory Italian egg cups, yeast raised blueberry pancakes and maple syrup, baked French pancake topped with a blueberry coulis, stuffed French toast, eggs in herbed pastry, and an apple-cinnamon Dutch pannekuchen are just a very few of Hidden Lake's scrumptious main courses.

Not a breakfast lover or prefer not to get out of bed before noon? Opt for our European Plan ($20 discount/night) or our in-suite "Breakfast-in-Bed" package ($20 additional/morning)! And if you're in the area to visit family or friends, be certain to invite them for breakfast. Extra breakfast guests are always welcome ($11/person).

During the week (Tue-Thu), you have two options for breakfast: 1.) Our "I'd Prefer to Skip Breakfast" European Plan ... Take $20 off our mid-week daily rate for a no breakfast option. (Room rate will be adjusted upon confirmation of your reservation request.); or 2.) Our complimentary mid-week "Breakfast in Bed" option ... the same "Breakfast in Bed" package we offer on weekends but at no additional charge! Breakfast is placed in your suite the night before ... wake up early or sleep late ... either way you enjoy breakfast at your leisure and in the privacy of your suite! Please make your selection when submitting your reservation request.

Other Hidden Lake Meals

While we don't boast a full service restaurant at Hidden Lake, we do offer some alternatives to dining out for every meal.

• An arrival tray and a choice of salads offers a great alternative, particularly on the day of your arrival. Our arrival tray ($30) is overflowing with a variety of cheeses, fresh fruit, chocolate dipped strawberries, mixed nuts, olives, fresh bread and a variety of crackers. Salad choices include a fresh green salad with lots of veggies, a Caesar salad (without the anchovy topping unless you ask!) or a yummy chef salad. You can order a full salad to share ($15) and intended to serve 2 or a salad for one ($9). Both can be awaiting your arrival upon prior request. And don't forget to order a bottle of wine as a great accompaniment.
  
• A Hidden Lake picnic or backpack lunch ($40) provides a great dinner and/or lunch alternative whether you're intending to go out and explore Southernmost Illinois or enjoy the scenic grounds at Hidden Lake B&B. Our hearty picnic begins with a variety of cheeses and fresh fruit as well as a green salad with all of the trimmings. We then incorporate a roasted chicken and a loaf of fresh bread. And to finish it off we add a yummy dessert - key lime pie, apple cake, or perhaps a couple of pieces of chocolate fudge cake. All of this as well as bottled water and other essentials are all wrapped up with ice packs in a pretty picnic basket. Enjoy one out by Hidden Lake, at one of the area wineries, or even in your suite. perhaps on your private balcony. Our backpack lunch, originally intended for the hikers and birders but now enjoyed by all, puts a different twist on our traditional picnic. Everything in the backpack lunch is carefully planned to be eaten on the go. At the core are a couple of hearty sandwiches made to order. A few of the more popular choices? Mesquite turkey on ciabatta with provolone, roasted portabella mushroom with red pepper and mozzarella on Kaiser rolls, traditional ham and Swiss piled high on seeded rye. But let us know your favorite! To this we add fresh fruit, potato chips, trail mix, granola bars, homemade cookies, bottled water and, of course, all of the essentials packed up in a light weight thermal bag lined with ice packs! Our picnic and our backpack lunch are both truly yummy alternatives!

In-Suite Amenities

At Hidden Lake, you'll find that all of our suites are designed to provide our guests with the amenities and privacy of a small condo without losing the ambiance of a luxury bed and breakfast. Amenities in our suites include:

• All non-smoking suites
• Private entrances and, most importantly, private baths with showers separate from Jacuzzis
• Private balconies for the Romance, Tuscan and Loft Suites
• Fireplaces for the Romance and Tuscan Suites
• In-suite wireless internet access
• In-suite refrigerators stocked with complimentary soft drinks and bottled water
• In-suite coffee service together including a variety of teas, hot chocolate and apple cider
• Microwave oven and assorted dining accessories
• Expanded cable television, a DVD/ VCR, and access to a complimentary video library of 100 + movies
• Central heat and air with individual temperature control
• Warm monogrammed robes, fluffy towels, and complimentary slippers
• Steam pressed, triple-sheeted king-size beds for added luxury
• Luxury bath amenities including signature glycerin soaps, conditioning shampoo and body lotion in addition to toothbrushes, toothpaste, vanity packs, and a sewing kit. Guests will also find a variety of after-bath sprays for their use, hair spray, and a hair dryer.
• In-suite iron and ironing board
• Daily housekeeping service

We are also happy to pick-up any additional items you might need (particularly if you are trying to plan a surprise get-away!) for simply the cost of the item and a $7 service charge.

Property Amenities

At Hidden Lake Bed & Breakfast, you'll find 12 acres of woods, gardens and water to explore and enjoy. As with our guest accommodations, all 12 acres is off limits to smoking for the joint pleasure of all guests staying at Hidden Lake.

Hidden Lake is approximately two acres and stocked with bass, red ear, bluegill and catfish as well as grass carp for pond management and a large population of turtles. The lake is available to all guests for fishing and paddle boating, but no swimming, please. As you fish, please practice CPR - catch, photograph, and release - unless prior approval is obtained to keep some of the fish. And if you forget you're fishing pole, just ask! We always have extra poles available for guest use. Prefer paddle boating to fishing? Use of the paddle boat is complimentary - in fact, we love to see our guests enjoying it - and available during the warmer seasons. A canopy on the paddleboat comes in handy to keep the sun off and please remember to take the safety floatation cushions with as you head out!

Not into fishing or paddle boating? You'll still find ample reason to visit the lake. A bridge at the far end provides access so that guests may enjoy a leisurely stroll around the water. As you do so, you'll find a scattering of benches at which to stop, rest and simply enjoy the beauty. Wandering guests will also find a beautiful pergola complete with climbing wisteria and a lovely swing for kicking back and relaxing. I highly recommend it for 'veg-ing out'! If you're looking for a lazy day, be sure to order a Hidden Lake picnic to enjoy out by the lake. We'll even include the blanket!

In the evenings, enjoy a romantic campfire under the stars perhaps with a bottle of wine you picked up at one of the nearby wineries or order one, and we'll have it delivered. A small campfire area is always at the ready with extra wood nearby. Just ask John or I for newspaper, matches and 'boy scout' juice to get it started! And don't forget the marshmallows!

A woodland walkway and several gardens are also available at Hidden Lake for your enjoyment. Approximately 1/4 mile long, the woodland trail leads you from the MainHouse to the grove of pines at the top of the hill. Listen as the wind blows through the pines and inhale their wonderful fragrance (can you tell where I spend my free time!). In the spring, you'll find the woodlands alive with hundreds of colorful daffodils, red bud trees and white dogwoods. And as you stroll through the woods, look for the statuary garden begun two years ago and ever evolving. I particularly enjoy the woods in the hot summer months.

Flower gardens, an herb garden, and an ornamental grass garden also grace the 12 acres of Hidden Lake Bed & Breakfast. Guests are welcome to explore them all! The flower gardens are always showing off something in bloom — roses, daffodils, tulips, gladiolas, peonies, hibiscus, and so much more — while the herb garden, in addition to providing herbs used in our breakfasts, always has extra for our guests. Let me know and I'll bundle up a few herbs for you to take home as a remembrance of your stay. Fresh herbs are wonderful addition to any meal! The ornamental grass garden is probably my favorite beginning it with just few grasses six years ago. Today it boasts 50+ plants and is growing every year. Bamboo grass forms the backdrop for this garden with maiden grasses, zebra grasses, blue fescue, Japanese blood grass and more vying for attention.

Other Services

John and I are waiting to exceed your expectations so let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. A short list of other services we provide includes:

• In-suite spa services
• Complimentary trip planning
• Train pick-up in Carbondale
• Car rental arrangements
• Southern Illinois wine -- your choice -- available on arrival with complimentary delivery
• Drop-off service for the serious bikers (nominal fee)
• Birthday cakes
• Business Services: Fax, copy, supplies, Internet access

Hidden Lake Bed & Breakfast
Mary Jo and John Smith
Owners/Innkeepers