Craig Wilson, chef-owner of Tasca Spanish Tapas & Wine Bar and Central Kitchen in NYC, is a Pennsylvania country boy, born and bred amidst the affluent country estates surrounding Philadelphia (or Main Line, as Philadelphians call it). Here he learned and plied his trade for years, in well-to-do towns from Bryn Mawr to Philadelphia proper.
ABOUT US
Snug Harbor offers warm hospitality to many guests who dine here while visiting the heart of New York's wine country. Uncompromised excellence in service and Cuisine are Snug Harbor's trademarks. Our brand new menu for 2007 features an enticing assortment of fine foods expertly prepared by our Executive Chef and Operator Craig Wilson using only the freshest ingredients. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, Snug Harbor's three dining rooms recapture the elegance of earlier times, enhanced by the panorama of Keuka Lake's spectacular scenery. The cocktail lounge and adjacent decks and verandas provide the perfect ambience for outside dining conversation and relaxation, while Snug Harbor's dock offers twenty-four slips for guests who arrive by boat.
Banquet facilities at Snug Harbor can accommodate large parties. Our picturesque setting is perfect for wedding receptions as well as other functions. We will be happy to create special menus, both served and buffet-style, for such private gatherings. The complete privacy afforded by our upstairs dining room makes it ideal for business meetings and professional conferences. With our veranda overlooking the lake, personalized service and scrupulous attention to detail, we can guarantee an entirely conducive environment for successful meeting and planning sessions.
We also offer overnight accommodations in our deluxe six-person suite and gift certificates are available in any denomination.
THE WINE COUNTRY
Keuka Lake, with its unique Y shape, clear waters and impressive bluff point, is the sparkling gem of the New York State Wine Country. The quiet beauty of this deep , spring-fed, freshwater lake is complemented by the hundreds of acres of vineyards that dot the surrounding hillsides. Sailing, skiing and swimming - along with fine dining at the newly remodeled Snug Harbor Restaurant provide warm hospitality to guests in the area.
Nearby points of interest include the Corning/Steuben Glass Works, Letchworth State Park, Hammondsport's historic Village Square, the Watkins Glen race course, the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum of Early Flight History, the Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum and numerous operating wineries which welcome visitors.
Located l.4 miles north of the village of Hammondsport on Route 54A, on the southwest shore of Keuka Lake, Snug Harbor is easy to reach from Route l7/Intersate 86, Intersate 390 or the New York State Thruway (Exit 42, take Route 14 South)
Our Staff
Craig Wilson
While Wilson's craft is firmly rooted in French technique and many years of cooking French in pricey haunts (Central, Bryn Mawr; Peppermill, Ardmore; La Fourchette, Wayne), he expanded his repertoire with stints as executive chef of Serrano in Philly; the opening of his own restaurant, Cafe Paradiso in Ardmore; and a much later stint as executive chef of Asian-Mediterranean Stephen's in Philly.
Yet his heart lies in another country - Spain. To be precise, the country cooking of Spain, its provinces, inns, and taparias. Wilson has spent a great deal of time traveling and picking up his tradecraft in Europe as well as Asia.
HISTORY
A Brief History of Snug Harbor
On November 27,1889, Major John Stocum of Bath, NY purchased a cottage site about one mile north of the village of Hammondsport, (first settled in 1826) on the west shores of Keuka Lake, states the Hammondsport Herald.
On April 26, l890, Major John Stocum commenced work on this neat and comfortable Cottage, later becoming the Ruby Cottage Hotel named in honor of his daughter. Major Stocum owned a beautiful steam yacht upon which he would welcome passengers aboard and ferry them from the Village Landing to his Hotel. He also built a small house next to Ruby Cottage called the Stocum House and was primarily used for Gents Only.
On August 7, 1895, Major Stocum sold the site to a Simeon Rathbone of Elmira. Rathbone was response for changing the name to Snug Harbor, and converting it back into a private residence.
Throughout the years, the property fell through the hands of proprietors and investors. It finally settled with its current owner and landlord in 1989.
In 1989, Tim Tompkins of Rochester, NY purchased a dilapidated and closed Snug Harbor. The property was completely renovated as a restaurant and inn, and he has been taking loving care of it ever since. Snug Harbor offers a unique dining and living atmosphere, as well as a glimpse into the cultural history of Keuka Lake.