Hovey Manor | What if Hillary Clinton was at the spa…

For generations, Manoir Hovey has been a popular retreat for clients seeking tranquility. We go there – and we come back – for its peaceful environment, its warm lifestyle, its local cuisine and the quality of the service. The addition of a spa is the promise of complete relaxation that remained to be perfected, and where famous names could well have found refuge between an ice bath and a hammam…

It is in the foothills of the Appalachians that we are invited to visit the new facilities of the Spa Manoir Hovey. This August morning is pretty; the landscape, bucolic: a setting which highlights the elegant and cozy je ne sais quoi of the hotel, lulled by the honeyed notes of yesterday’s jazz.

Since 1899, the smells of wood fires have permeated the woodwork. The residence, modeled on that of George Washington at Mount Vernon, has a scent of tradition which adds to its presence. It is an undeniable link with the American east coast, an observation all the stronger today, while notorious regulars – the Clintons – are present on the scene.

This announcement imposes an unexpected turn on our agenda for the day which will now be topped with a brand new objective: meeting (and questioning) the former Secretary of State and First Lady of the United States.

Hillary Mission

We put on our bathrobe, “perfect camouflage for approaching the subject in a relaxed way,” we congratulate ourselves, mentally preparing our questions. The large hot tub, with panoramic views of the now sparkling Lake Massawippi, is an ideal vantage point from which to observe the surroundings and locate the target. The place is not very busy, unlike other crowded spas where privacy is difficult to find: a clear advantage.

After an hour of hot-cold-warm-hot sauces, the subject is desired. We are informed that the couple copes with the presence of a journalist on the scene, but that they have gone on a getaway with their entourage. That’s annoying… We’ll have to be extra vigilant, we say to ourselves while frantically munching on the fruit ice cream offered to us in the jacuzzi.

Daydreams in the hammam

Will she return to the Manor by the paths or the pontoon? By boat or golf cart? So many avenues to explore after going through the hammam. In the citrus vapors that perfume our daydreams, we could have made a first contact there. She would have spoken of her attachment to this corner of Quebec, would have praised the writer and friend Louise Penny whom she met during her stays in the Eastern Townships…

While exfoliating with pink Saskatchewan salt, she would have launched into well-felt reflections on the pitfalls of running for president and the difficulty of shattering glass ceilings in politics. Between two confidences, we would have been surprised by the effectiveness of this treatment and the velvetiness of our skin. Then, faced with the context of this comical exchange, we would have laughed with polite and just enough restrained laughter.

We will save these questions for later, we reflect in the relaxation zone, while noting that a hot-cold circuit whets the appetite.

Outdoor dining

On the outdoor terrace of the Le Tap Room bistro, there are no known faces, not even a customer who bears a family resemblance to those whose names are whispered at the next table. Fortunately, there is the seafood roll to distract you…

Manoir Hovey is renowned for its refined dishes anchored in the terroir.

At a time when we were raving about frogs’ legs and other classics of French cuisine, executive chef Roland Ménard, ahead of his time, sought to enhance the quality of his offering with Estrian products. The new guard continues in the same vein with Alexandre Vachon (Maison Boulud), chef of the restaurant Le Hatley.

“Do you feel any pressure at the idea of ​​famous personalities sitting at your table? “, we ask Roland Ménard, setting the table for a more focused discussion. ” Not really. We treat all our guests with the same attention. After 42 years of service, it is no longer surprising to see well-known personalities. »

The delicacy of the service and the family spirit that reign at Manoir Hovey are among the characteristics appreciated by customers, underlines Diana Zgodic. The general housekeeper does not hide her pride in being an employee of this hotel, listed among the Relais et Châteaux. “We are doing everything we can to satisfy our customers. It goes through all sorts of little attentions. »

We grab the pole: “Do certain clients have special requests or do they receive special treatment, say… the Clintons? » The discretion of the staff is another criterion that makes us come back to Manoir Hovey…

A sauce

It is around the swimming pool that we are going to digest a copious meal… and our defeat until then. We will have to be doubly alert, we say to ourselves as we reactivate our “investigation” radar, oriented in “panoramic” mode over the 30 acres of forest on the property. Our thoughts circle around a mantra… uh, mandate: Hillary and her retirement life. Seeing thick black clouds appear on the horizon, the conversation would certainly have turned to climate change.

Our alarm extracts us from these thoughts to remind us that a facial Hovey Honey Glow, the Spa’s signature treatment, awaits us. Between a moon water tonic and a mask with boreal plants, our mission is becoming more and more vague. Smoother skin, softer body, we will end this circuit with a sauna which will get the better of our last ammunition.

Our enthusiasm melted under the effect of the heat and the diffusions of lavender. The Hillary goal is a miss and now looks naïve from a casual angle. We’re not going to complain: we spent the day being pampered in the charming setting of the Spa Manoir Hovey… and in fascinating, albeit fictional, company!