Exceeding Expectations at Langdon Hall
Tucked away in a lush sea of trees, you’ll find Langdon Hall at the end of a winding driveway that’s framed by sprawling green lawns. This Cambridge, Ontario Country House Hotel & Spa is truly in a league of its own when it comes to luxury hospitality. Director of Food and Beverage, Virgilio Vea, has been at the helm for 17 years, ensuring that guest expectations are exceeded from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave.
“Here at Langdon Hall, we don't strive for excellence. We strive for perfection. But we know we can't be perfect. So, you know where we fall? In excellence. Excellence is in everything we do, our personalized hospitality, and the quality of service and the products we offer.”
Honoured as the only restaurant in Ontario to be awarded the AAA/CAA Five-Diamond rating, the dining room at Langdon Hall is led by Executive Chef Jason Bangerter—an influential leader in the Canadian culinary scene. His exceptional creativity and dedication to sustainability make for an incredible, ever-changing menu with a focus on fresh, seasonal produce that is either grown in the gardens on the premises or provided by local suppliers who share the same values and penchant for quality. “The philosophy of our partners has to be the same as that of Langdon Hall, especially when it comes to sustainability, sourcing, recycling and composting”, says Vea. This stands as one of many reasons why Langdon Hall selected Nespresso as a partner—with Nespresso sharing the same values and making the same efforts through its own programs and initiatives.
Part of what makes Langdon Hall truly exceptional is that the quality of the partnerships is just as strong at the quality of their offering. With staff regarding each other as family, Langdon Hall welcomes guests into an exquisite home-away-from-home by putting thoughtful, personalized touches on everything along the way.
Interestingly, the role of coffee on the Langdon Hall menu is quite different. While it can be paired with decadent desserts and their own signature chocolate, coffee is also regarded as a quality moment that should be savoured on its own. “We don’t always use coffee as a pairing. We use coffee as an actual course. It's your last course of your meal.”
Virgilio Vea,
"If you're going to serve Nespresso, give it its own course."
Director of food and beverage, Langdon Hall
With standout quality being the most important factor, only coffee of the highest calibre could ever be considered for its own course. “We need partners that share the same level of quality as everything we provide, and that have the same philosophy. And for us, that’s Nespresso. Nespresso enables us to give that really consistent, high-quality experience” he says proudly. “If you're going to serve Nespresso, give it its own course” says Vea.
What makes this partnership even more unique is that Nespresso Professional provides Langdon Hall with a selection of rare coffees. In fact, only a few other upscale restaurants across Canada have the same privilege of serving this exclusive selection. It’s another way the partnership aligns with how Langdon Hall is able to keep themselves in the upper echelon and above everyone else.
For Vea, having this kind of exclusive offering is everything. “In terms of consistency, Nespresso helps us achieve the highest level of satisfaction and quality, and obviously our partnership with Nespresso also gives us access to exclusive coffees that truly stand out in terms of creating an experience for our guests.”
Langdon Hall ensures that exceptional coffee is always part of an exceptional experience, no matter where or when their guests like to enjoy it. “Nespresso isn’t just focused on in the restaurant. It's actually available all over the property, which makes it quite unique. Nespresso is offered in our conference rooms and guest rooms” Vea explains.
As for the most memorable place to enjoy a cup of Nespresso, it may be on a bench, tucked away in a secret spot amongst the trees – the perfect place for guests to savour the moment, and every sip.
