Zip Away With The New Fatbird Canopy Tour!

Looking for a new and exciting way to spend your next Nemacolin summer vacation? Well the NEW FatBird Canopy Tour at the Adventure Center is just what you thrill seekers are looking for! Situated 40' in the air, this high altitude jungle gym consists of swinging tires, cargo nets, log crossings, zip-lines and much more! Eight obstacles and one zip-line wasn’t enough for the associates and Adventure Center regulars, so we decided to add three new elements and three new zip-lines to the experience. The grand finale being the 1,060' Fatbird Flyer one of the longest zip-lines in Pennsylvania! The sun is out and it’s time to enjoy summer; we hope to see you at the Adventure Center this summer.

Watch our very own Fatbird tackle the NEW Fatbird Canopy Tour. It is such an exciting addition that our Yeti friend left summer hybernation for the experience too!

Nemacolin Banquets Team Unveils New Menu Items

The Nemacolin Food and Beverage Banquets Team is excited to unveil many upgrades this season with new uniforms, tables, place settings and food displays. However, the grandest upgrade is also the tastiest with the incorporation of banquets "themed" tables including Chef Sean Eckman's favorite... "Relaxing Island Style." The table includes vibrant, fresh and flavor intense Caribbean, Southern Florida classics including Honey Vanilla Whipped Sweet Potatoes, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Spiced Marinated Mahi-Mahi and Ginger Coconut Curry Shrimp served in Coconut Shells. Chef Eckman explained of the table, "Just seeing the tablescape you can immediate picture eating this food, poolside, steel drum band playing in background while you relax sipping on a Daiquiri." Now that is paradise!

Check out some images from the tasting and to see some of the new menu items that will be featured on this Summer's Banquets Menu...

Spa Tips From The Insiders...

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort welcomes you to take advantage of the Woodlands Spa during your next getaway with us! Our international acclaimed Spa features forty well appointed treatment rooms, including four couple’s rooms, and offers nearly 100 treatments and services.

Obtain the ultimate relaxation by preparing for your next Spa visit with some Spa tips from our insiders...

• Arrive early and take advantage of the facility. Use Steam or Sauna then take a cold shower and use the whirlpool to relax your body and begin the detoxification process.
  
  



• Make sure to drink a lot of water during your Spa visit to keep well hydrated and to cleanse the toxins from the body quickly.
  
  



• Find the Spa specials so that you can take advantage of multiple services and truly reach your goal. It is easier to escape reality and forget about day to day life in 80 minutes then 25 minutes.





• Do not shave or tan before visiting the spa, it will make your skin sensitive.
  
  



• Book a facial to receive massage movements that will enhance your muscle tone by lifting and firming.
  




• Look for services that will replenish your body of vitamins and minerals lost from daily harmful environmental exposure.
  
  



• Your mom was right, you shouldn’t pick at your face, leave that to the professionals. Your skin care professional will perform extractions which will minimize your pores and make your skin look clear during a 50 or 80 minute Personalized Facial.
  
  



• Don’t be scared of a deep tissue massage. Yes you can be a little sore afterwards but that can be normal. Always communicate with your provider and drink plenty of water. One reason that you can be sore after a good deep tissue or sports massage is that the muscular and skeletal systems have both been manipulated and worked on just like if you had worked out or done some type of difficult activity. That’s why massage has been labeled the “lazy persons workout.”
  




• Do you workout regularly? Swap your workout once a month for a massage. Your mind will be clearer and your body will thank you and perform better.

Do you have spa tips or secrets that maximize your Spa experiences? If so, please share with our readers. And, one additional tip... want to know the best places to find the spa specials at Nemacolin's Woodlands Spa? Each month a Spa Special is featured. You can learn about these specials through Nemacolin's Facebook and Twitter pages.

"Treat Yourself Good, Treat You Body Better!"
Stephanie Hostetler
Director of Spa Operations - The Woodlands Spa
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Tom Leonards of Stew Leonards Shares Insights With Nemacolin

Tom Leonard, President and CEO of Stew Leonard’s stopped by Nemacolin Woodlands Resort to share with our Management Team what makes their company such a success. It didn’t take long for us to see a parallel in our management philosophies: "Take good care of your people and they in turn will take good care of your customers."

The success of this family-owned business and their legion of loyal shoppers is largely due to their passionate approach to customer service and fostering a fun and fulfilling work environment, much like here at Nemacolin.

We’d like to thank Tom for his time and for sharing his story. Below is a clip from his presentation.

It’s Your Culinary Education

With the hospitality industry ever growing, there are many ways to receive a culinary education. The three most common are:

1) Traditional culinary school where students study everything from gastronomy to foods from around the world, product identification, and culinary math.
2) A staggerie which is typical of studying overseas where individuals usually work under a well-respected chef and will learn the ideas and concepts from that chef’s career.
3) A formal culinary apprenticeship either overseas or here in the states. Here in the states most apprentices are young adults (with some exception) that work at a certified apprentice site (mostly resorts and hotels) while attending a local community college culinary program.


The reason I chose to write this article is because I am one of the chefs that lead our apprenticeship program here at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and I take great personal pride in the development of our students. Our students are under the careful eye of our Vice President of Food and Beverage/Executive Chef Brent Wertz, CEC, AAC; along with our chef leadership team including Executive Sous Chef Paul Haines who was just awarded “Chef of the Year” for the Laurel Highlands American Culinary Federation (ACF) chapter.


At Nemacolin our students work a full-time schedule in our kitchens on a rotational basis. Here the students learn the culinary basics to succeed in one of the most demanding career fields. As well, the students attend culinary classes at Westmoreland Community College which is where they receive their formal schooling.


Apprentices go through this program which takes approximately 3 years and in return receive an associate’s degree in culinary arts along with certification through the American Culinary Federation (ACF). In order for the students to finish the program, they are put to the test once they conclude their studies by passing a written exam and culinary cooking practical.


Over the past 2 months I have had the great privilege, along with a few other chefs at our property, to train 3 students to go through this vigorous process to reach their ultimate goal. This is an industry of passion, love, and dedication. Those that join the culinary ranks will quickly understand that they will miss out on important times of the year (holidays, birthdays, weekends off, and much more) but will grow to love the instant satisfaction of pleasing palates on a daily basis.


All options for culinary education have a unique style of training and the choice is yours. If interested in a formal apprenticeship make sure to check us out. You will enjoy years of studying under a variety of chefs with an immense amount of experience and receive certification from a Five Star-Five Diamond luxury property.


Seth Mahler
Chef De Cuisine, Falling Rock Hotel