Lori's favorite thing Posted on March 1, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Family heirlooms are wonderful, even for a Vanderbilt. For Lori Garst, Curatorial Assistant in Museum Services, her favorite thing in Biltmore House originally came from George Vanderbilt’s father. During her 20 years at Biltmore, Lori has handled and cataloged more than 75 percent of the items in the collection. While she’s discovered many wonderful things over the years, one item holds particular allure. In the Third Floor Living Hall is a carved library table that George Vanderbilt inherited from his father, William H. Vanderbilt. “I love the richness of the table with its subtle but elaborate carvings, and the fact that it came from William Vanderbilt’s Fifth Avenue home,” she said. She is equally impressed with its history; the table and several elaborately carved display cabinets in the room were made by Herter Brothers. In the late 1800s, the New York company was one of the country’s leading cabinetmaking and decorating firms. The table and cabinets originally graced the palatial Fifth Avenue mansion William Vanderbilt constructed that spanned the entire block between 51st and 52nd streets in New York City. In addition to his furnishings, George’s father passed on his love of art and his philanthropic interests to his youngest son. Before William Vanderbilt’s death in 1885, his collection of some 200 works by Old Masters was termed the finest private collection of paintings and sculpture in the world. He provided extensive funding to the YMCA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vanderbilt University, and Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. Check back next week for another inside look at our favorite things!
George Vanderbilt: Book Lover Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Currently on display, now through May, in the exhibit case in the lobby of the Inn on Biltmore Estate is a collection of books from George Vanderbilt’s time and a look at his reading habits. George collected many fine things, including a personal library of 22,784 books that he selected with care, and treasured throughout his life. From the age of 12 until his untimely death at 51, George was an ardent reader and appreciator of literature. We know so much about his reading habits today because he kept meticulous records of all the books he read in a series of journals called “Books I Have Read.” In addition, he kept an index in a separate journal, with an alphabetical listing of titles by author and the dates that he read them. We can’t answer who George’s favorite author was, but his journals give us a few clues. George seems to have enjoyed Charles Dickens’ work. Included in the 30 listed titles by Dickens are two mentions of “The Pickwick Papers,” which George read at age 13, and again when he was 25. We also know that he must have been a fan of Sir Walter Scott, given the 273 books by Scott in his collection. George read many of these books two or three times. For example, he read “Waverly,” a groundbreaking historical novel, in 1875, 1897 and again in 1910. One feature in George’s record-keeping that we find particularly touching is that, tucked in among the list of authors and titles, are mentions of precious life events. In 1900, for example, he noted the birth of his daughter, Cornelia, within a list of French and English novels he had been reading. George was also very interested in France. There are 4,326 French titles in his book collection, and the “Books I Have Read” journals show that he read many of them. Honoré de Balzac must have been another favorite author, because he noted having read more than 80 Balzac titles, the majority of which were in French. There are a total of 218 books by Balzac in George’s collection. When George was a young man of 14, he read James Fenimore Cooper’s novel “The Last of the Mohicans.” Interestingly, much of the 1992 film version of that novel was shot on location here at Biltmore. The year before his death, George read “The Life of Samuel Johnson” by James Boswell. Samuel Johnson was an English poet, essayist and literary critic, and many scholars have claimed that Boswell’s work is the greatest biography ever written in English. George’s interest in quality literature was a lifelong pursuit, and we are very thankful to have such a detailed guide to his reading life. About the photos Top: Portrait of George Vanderbilt by painter John Singer Sargent, 1890. Inset: George’s “Books I Have Read” journal opened to the 1,817th entry: “Richard Carvel” by Winston Churchill. Right above it is George’s note about daughter Cornelia’s birth on Aug. 22, 1900.
Pat's favorite thing Posted on February 22, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Today we share another “insider’s” favorite object that you may have never even noticed. Why not make time for a visit this winter to look at the details in America’s largest home, and check back for the next installment of our favorite things! After 30 years caring for Biltmore House, there are few details that have escaped Pat Ray’s notice. Pat, Biltmore’s Housekeeping Manager, started in Museum Services before moving to Housekeeping many years ago. One of the major tasks for her department happens every winter: cleaning the magnificent woodwork in the house. It’s painstaking work when you consider the rich paneling of the Billiard Room and Oak Sitting Room, fanciful carvings and moldings in Mrs. Vanderbilt’s Bedroom, and heavily carved walnut overmantel in the Library just for starters! But it gives Pat time to appreciate the details in every room—particularly one unusual item in the Salon. “I’ve just always loved this one table in the Salon; it can be used as a table or as a decorative accent because the top tilts for display. It’s made of papier-mâché with an inlay of mother-of-pearl and it’s so beautiful,” she said. According to our curators, this table is English and dates to the late 19th century. While papier-mâché had been around for more than a thousand years, the material was mass produced in the late 1800s. Papier-mâché pieces gained popularity when it was found that the lightweight material could easily be ebonized or “japanned” to resemble the lacquer finishes popular in Asian furniture and decorative accessories of the time. While you may think of papier-mâché being a product made of layers of paper, the material used in this table and similar pieces was a mixture of wood pulp (mashed paper) and a thickener such as sand and glue; the mixture was then pressed into molds rather than carved. These pieces were often adorned with gilding and inlayed with mother-of-pearl, just as the Salon table is. We don’t know what the scene inlaid on the top of the table depicts, but it appears to be some type of ruins surrounded by a variety of different flowers, all created with mother-of-pearl.
Revitalize Your Health Posted on February 21, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Stacie King No Time Like the Present Don’t let those resolutions you made in January get you down—there’s no time like the present to make a brand-new commitment to revitalizing your health and well-being this spring! Healthier Habits Here are some easy ways to get started with those healthier habits: • Unplug: turn off the television, computer, and cell phones for at least an hour before going to bed—you may be surprised by how easily you fall asleep without last-minute distractions and much stimulation, like loud noises and lights that simulate daytime. • Unwind: stand under a warm (not hot) shower for a few minutes before bedtime. Ease the water temperature to cool (not cold) for the last minute or so. The warm water is soothing and the cooler water signals your body that it’s time to sleep. • Uncork: enjoy a glass of Biltmore Wine—our reds pair well with a wide range of good-for-you foods including tuna, salmon, and dark chocolate—and some studies suggest red wines may have health benefits. Resolve to try this If your resolutions seemed right on track for New Year’s but got derailed soon after, you might benefit from a “try this, not that” strategy that helps you substitute one better choice at a time rather than taking on your whole list at once. Here are some examples: • Vowed to give up chocolate? Try substituting high quality dark chocolate (cocoa content should be 70% or more) for your cravings instead of going cold turkey. For an extra treat, pair dark chocolates with Biltmore Zinfandel. • Vowed to run a mile each day? You can still work toward that goal, but for starters, try taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walk your dog an extra 20 minutes (you’ll both benefit!) each day. You’re more likely to reach a goal that you work toward gradually. • Vowed to be less carnivorous? Instead of serving a big steak and a small salad, shake things up by serving a smaller portion of steak in the salad. Toss a few ounces of thinly-sliced prime rib and a splash of low-calorie vinaigrette with your favorite greens, and pair the tasty treat with Biltmore Century Red. Red Wines + Healthy Eating Although red wines are often associated with cooler weather, spring is also a great time to pair them with fresh, healthy food options like these: • Sip a glass of Biltmore Pinot Noir with a portion of heart-healthy salmon. • Our Biltmore Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 North Carolina just received a rating of 90 points from The Beverage Testing Institute. Try pairing it with leg of lamb with rosemary—and be sure to choose lean lamb and trim it well to keep the calories much lower! Shop our online store or click here to find Biltmore Wines in your area.
Nancy's Favorite Things Posted on February 15, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux As you admire the architecture, art, and sculpture that makes Biltmore House so amazing, consider for a moment all the work that goes into restoring, conserving, and preserving this special place. We checked with one employee who’s deeply involved in maintaining the beauty of Biltmore’s collection for her favorite thing—please check back next week for another insider’s favorite! Nancy Rosebrock, Chief Conservator, is trained in the conservation of furniture and gilded objects. She came to Biltmore 14 years ago and is the manager of the Conservation and Collections Management staff. Her teams are integral parts of the ongoing restoration and preservation work that keeps Biltmore looking like it did when the Vanderbilts called it home. You’ve seen the results of their incredible work in every part of Biltmore House, from the Louis XV Room with its gilded mirror and sconces to the exhibition in the Second Floor Living Hall focusing on our preservation efforts. With Nancy’s attention to detail, it’s not surprising that her favorite objects are a pair of bronze candelabra in the Oak Sitting Room that tell a story—if you stop to look at them with a careful eye. “They are a study of the precariousness of life,” she said. Created by sculptor Auguste Nicholas Cain, the bronze pieces skillfully portray animals; the base is formed from snails, complete with tiny bronze antennae. On one candelabrum, a mother bird is feeding her babies. On the other, a rat balances on a limb above a nest, about to take the baby birds for its next meal. The candelabra are part of Biltmore’s collection of bronzes created by les Animaliers, a 19th-century French school of art named for the artists’ naturalistic portrayals of animals. George Vanderbilt acquired about 20 works from les Animaliers, including the striking Hippogriff in the Entrance Hall by Antoine-Louise Barye.
Bubbles and Truffles for Valentine's Day Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux The Black Swan. Romeo and Juliet. Giselle. Some of the greatest love stories told through dance include iconic pairings of dancers, or “pas de deux,” a French ballet term meaning “steps of two,” in which two dancers perform together. In the same romantic tradition, we think Biltmore’s lively Pas de Deux sparkling wine sets the stage as a perfect go-to wine for Valentine’s Day entertaining. Almost as sweet as your Valentine, Pas de Deux sparkling wine is perfect as an aperitif cocktail before dinner, or with desserts such as fresh fruit, cheesecake, or chocolate truffles. This wine could also serve as the perfect start to a night out with friends. What to expect from this wine….Crafted in the classic Methode Champenoise, the lively bubbles offer a celebratory note, while its delicate sweet flavors and crisp finish are the perfect foil for the rich, creamy texture of chocolate confections and decadent Valentine’s Day fare. Try one of these cocktail recipes along with the following easy chocolate truffle recipe this Valentine’s Day. Pomegranate Pas de Deux Punch Serves One Ingredients: • 1 ¼ ounces orange vodka • 3/4 ounce triple sec • 1 ounce pomegranate juice • 1/2 ounce fresh-squeezed orange juice • 2 ounces Biltmore Pas de Deux Method: Combine vodka, triple sec, pomegranate juice, and orange juice in a mixing glass over ice. Shake well and strain over ice in a tall glass. Top with Pas de Deux. Garnish with an orange wheel. Sparkling Blackberry Punch Serves One Ingredients: • 1 ounce light rum • ¾ ounce blackberry brandy • 2 ounces cranberry juice • 1 ounce simple syrup • 1 ounce blackberry puree • 3 ounces Biltmore Pas de Deux Method: Combine rum, brandy, cranberry juice, simple syrup and blackberry puree over ice in a mixing glass. Shake well and strain mixture over ice in a tall glass. Fill with Pas de Deux. Garnish with fresh blackberries and a mint sprig. Decadent Biltmore Chocolate Truffles Makes about 20 truffles. Ingredients: • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate • 1 cup heavy cream • Cocoa powder or semi-sweet chocolate, as needed for the finish • Optional additions: 2-3 tablespoons liqueur, roasted chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit, toasted coconut, fruit jam, peanut butter, sweet potato, caramel topping, chopped toffee or cookie pieces, extracts or flavorings. Method: To make the ganache, place chocolate into a bowl. Bring the cream to a boil and pour over the chocolate. Stir together until all is combined and chocolate is melted. Mix in any additions (see above for suggestions) to the ganache you desire. Let the ganache set and scoop into portions and place onto parchment or wax paper. Refrigerate for 10–15 minutes then take out and round into balls. Roll into cocoa powder or coat in semi-sweet chocolate and serve. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;}
A sweetie for sweeties Posted on February 9, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Alicia Barger, the Inn’s pastry chef, had our mouths watering as she whipped up this guest favorite: Chocolate Cheesecake starring OREO® cookies! We talked her into sharing her recipe with us, which is a perfectly simple and absolutely delectable dessert for Valentine’s Day. The recipe calls for a food processor to make the OREO crust. If you don’t have a food processor, Alicia has a trick: Place the OREO cookies in a large sealable plastic bag. Press bag to remove excess air, then seal it. Use a rolling pin to crush cookies to form fine crumbs. Add the melted butter and squeeze the bag to evenly moisten the crumbs. Inn on Biltmore Estate Chocolate Cheesecake For Crust 3 tablespoons butter, melted 36 OREO cookies Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place cookies in food processor until finely ground. Add butter and mix until moistened. Press crumb mixture onto bottom of 9” x 13” pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool before filling. For Filling 1 1/8 cups sugar ¼ tsp salt 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 pound, 14 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature (just under four 8-ounce packages from your grocer’s dairy case) 1 cup sour cream 1 cup chocolate syrup 4 large eggs ¾ cups whipping cream Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Cream sugar, salt, and butter until light and fluffy. Add cream cheese, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Add sour cream and chocolate syrup. Scrape bowl well. Add eggs and cream in increments, scraping well between additions. Pour into cooled OREO crust-lined pan and bake for 1 hour. Test by lightly tapping on the top of the cake. It should be firm but slightly jiggly.
Laura's favorite things Posted on February 8, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Sometimes it’s the smallest detail that makes an object stand out in your mind. That’s the case with this week’s favorite thing for a member of Biltmore’s Museum Services staff. We invite you to visit soon to admire the details in Biltmore House and discover your own personal favorites! Laura Cope Overbey, Collections Manager in Museum Services, joined Biltmore 14 years ago as the Associate Collections Manager and has been in her current position since 2008. Her job gives her a close look at items in the collection. Among the thousands of objects she has seen, two prints stand out for a special reason—even if most guests never even notice them. “Mr. Vanderbilt collected more than 1,300 prints that are in our collection today,” Laura said. “My favorites are two prints of Charles II hanging on the west wall in Mr. Vanderbilt’s Bedroom.” According to Laura, the prints appear to be identical and are by the same artists, 17th-century Dutch painter Pieter Nason and Dutch printmaker Cornelis van Dalen II. Both date from the early 1660s and depict Charles II in the same stance, outfit, and background. Yet, there is a slight difference between the two prints; one has the addition of three small objects in the bottom left corner—a crown, orb, and scepter. And those objects tell a fascinating story about the life of the English king. “If you look carefully, you can see clues to the historical significance of the two prints,” Laura said. “At the beginning of his reign, Charles II was a king without a country. During his youth, he had witnessed the English Civil War, the end of the English monarchy, and the execution of his father, Charles I. Since his father’s death, Charles II was a king in exile. “In 1660, the political tide changed and the English wanted to reinstate the monarchy. These prints illustrate this transition: the first shows a king without a country, and the second shows a king fully restored with the crown and country,” she said. Left photo: Charles II without a country. Right photo: Charles II with his crown, orb, and scepter.
Chocolate-Dipped Meringue Bites Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Add some sparkle to any occasion Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or simply want to add a touch of special sweetness to any occasion, our Chocolate-Dipped Meringue Bites are sure to please. Pair them with our Biltmore Pas de Deux Sparkling Wine, and the compliments will continue to bubble up! Preparing meringue cookies at home may sound challenging, but it’s actually a simple recipe from our new cookbook entitled Biltmore Traditions, A Collection of Menus, Recipes, and Stories. The cookies are rich but not too sweet and the semisweet Chocolate Dipping Sauce adds another layer of flavor to each bite. Sparkling wine is a natural choice to complement the taste and texture of the Chocolate-Dipped Meringue Bites, and we think serving them with our Pas de Deux makes a good thing even better. Made with Muscat Canelli grapes, this semi-sweet sparkling wine tastes of wild strawberry and lemon. It is also handcrafted in the traditional méthode champenoise style which results in fine bubbles that make any occasion more festive. Chocolate-Dipped Meringue Bites Makes 20–24 cookies Meringue Bites • 2 egg whites • ¼ tsp cream of tartar • 1 1/3 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar Method: Let the egg whites stand at room temperature in a mixing bowl for 30 minutes. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites. Beat at medium speed until soft peaks form. Add the confectioner’s sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Beat 6–7 minutes on high until stiff peaks form. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Spoon the meringue into a sealable plastic bag. Snip off 1 corner. Pipe 20 – 24 cookies 1½–2 inches long and 1½ inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in a standard oven for 20 minutes or in a convection oven for 10 minutes. Turn off the oven. Leave the cookies in the oven with the door closed for 30 minutes. Remove the cookies from the sheet and cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Chocolate Dipping Sauce • ½ cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate pieces • ½ teaspoon shortening Combine the chocolate and shortening in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until the chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Dip one side or the tip of each cookie into the Chocolate Dipping Sauce. Let dry on a rack until the chocolate is set. Purchase Pas de Deux Sparkling online here. Check out all the delicious recipes in our new cookbook, available through our online store.
Rick's favorite thing Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux As we continue our focus on the details that make Biltmore so amazing, we invite you to visit this winter to admire the combination of architecture, art, and sculpture that makes Biltmore House uniquely beautiful. Today, we hear from a long-time employee who has a different take on his favorite thing: the beauty of mechanical ingenuity. Check back next week for another insider’s favorite. Rick Conard, Vice President of Attraction Operations Support, joined Biltmore more than 20 years ago as an electrician. Since then, he’s been involved in just about every project around the estate, and knows Biltmore House inside and out. Soon after he started at Biltmore, one of his first tasks involved spending more than three weeks working around the service elevator in Biltmore House. Less prominent (and significantly less decorative) than the passenger elevator in the main entry, the service elevator is located by the stairs in the Bachelors’ Wing. This elevator was designed to carry workers as well as equipment and luggage, and traveled 80 feet from the Sub-Basement to the Fourth Floor. While it could lift 2,000 pounds, it was not the speediest mode of transport, taking nearly a minute to go six floors. Of course, the alternative of manually hauling a ton of luggage up several flights of winding stairs wouldn’t be all that fast either! Rick was very involved in bringing the service elevator back to good working order, and he was working on the elevator when he got a call from his wife that she was headed to the hospital to have their first child—which explains why this ranks as his personal favorite. If you’re interested in seeing the service elevator plus some of the other innovative mechanical systems in Biltmore House, take the guided Behind-the-Scenes Butler’s Tour that spends time in areas of the house not included in the regular visit. These days you may see Rick around the estate with Cedric, a St. Bernard named in honor of George Vanderbilt’s favorite dog. They are often in Antler Hill Village, so keep an eye out for them during your next visit.