Travel to Faraway Lands

Want to travel, but you are still in staycation mode? Look no further than Gulliver’s World Café & Guest Suites. Want to come by boat? No problem, just sidle up to Gulliver’s private 150-foot dock. Chef Thane Mallory and his lovely wife, Nancy, welcome you ashore via water, or by land to their lovingly renovated 1860’s historic farmhouse. Set your GPS to 17 River Run Lane, in Gagetown New Brunswick. Settle in, and relax as you travel to faraway lands on a plate. Treat yourself, as my husband Eric and I did, and stay overnight to fully experience the history of this poetically serene village.

You Can’t Beat the View

“You can’t beat the view,” Chef Thane beamed, as Eric and I sat down for lunch on Gulliver’s deck and gazed out in awe, marvelling at the property’s massive waterfront view. There is nothing like it, we agreed. Gulliver’s deck takes full advantage of this unobstructed view. It is something really special, there is no doubt about that.“This is one of the best water systems in the world,” Chef Thane continued, “we just kinda take it for granted. It’s a beautiful river to be out on, and Gagetown is an amazing location to boat from. It is very centralized, and we have a wonderful river system. You can go to Belleisle Bay, Washademoak Lake, or Grand Lake from here. If you were on another river system, like the Kennebeccasis, or in Shediac, or Caraquet, or above the dam at Mactaquac, there is a boat launch in the village, at the end of Front Street in Rotary Park. You can drop your boat in at the landing, and park your trailer at the top of the hill. Part of the deal when you rent a guest suite here, is that you get accommodations for your boat as well. This makes us unique, in that we can attract boaters from other parts of the province, so we can share the Saint John River with them.”

Lunch with Share Plates

Ready for lunch, Eric & I made all our selections from the Starters portion of the menu. I suggest you lunch with share plates and try as many different appetizers as you can. We enjoyed the Bite Sized Caprese Salad, the Potato & Cheddar Perogies and the Smoked Squash Hummus with Naan Bread paired with a very nice Cabernet Sauvignon recommended by Nancy. She asked us later, which app was our favourite, but there was no choosing as it was all delicious. Since opening in November 2015, Gulliver’s has received Tripadvisor’s Award of Excellence every single year. They also have caught the attention of CBC, CNN and Hospitality Magazine for their “Reservation Only Goose Fat French Fries. Chef Thane is proud to say they have had reservations coming from as far north as Nunavut and as far south as Hawaii. Reserve ahead, if you are looking to try the “Most Expensive French Fries in NB.” They are well worth the call ahead, and the labour-intense process of making them requires it. I am giving you fair warning, you just might become addicted. They ruin you for settling on any other kind of fries. The Merlot ketchup is very tasty too.

Gulliver’s World Café

The ever-evolving menu reflects Chef Thane & Nancy’s world travels. Nature is also the guide to offering the freshest quality food seasonally. It is a new experience, every time you dine at Gulliver’s World Café. Chef Thane offered us a smoked sturgeon appetizer test plate he was recently considering. If you are a fish lover, it is a winner and you can now find it on the brand new summer menu. I should mention that Sous-Chef Julien Vautour, aka the “Kitchen Commando” is a vital part of Gulliver’s as Chef Thane states,“he can do anything. It’s amazing to have him with us.”

A Taste From Home & Away

Gulliver’s has room for both traditional and adventurous diners. Eric was very happy with his ‘Meat & Taters’ dinner but I tried the ‘Po-Boy’. It is a deep-fried NB oysters & shrimp sandwich with special mayo, tomato, lettuce and Chow-Chow and a side of potato salad. I was so glad I gave this classic Louisiana sandwich a chance. It was really good. “The original concept,” Chef Thane shared, “was a taste from home and away. At Gulliver’s,” he explained, “we try to find the balance.” There is certainly something for everyone. Gulliver’s also caters to special dietary needs, just call ahead.

Rum Runner’s Cake

Our last course was dessert and Eric had the Rum Runner’s cake - an ode to the NB prohibition spirit transformed into a cake. I read a Yelp.ca review on it which summed it up perfectly: “Do not leave without trying Gulliver’s Rum Runner Cake. So much rum, so much cake, so much deliciousness.” My dessert, the Semifreddo, was one that Chef Thane learned to make in Italy. Need I say more? Chef Thane was also trained at the prestigious Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France, where only ten people from around the world are accepted each year. Is Nancy one of the luckiest girls in the world, or what?

Gulliver’s Guest Suites

Gulliver's Guest Suites welcomes you with two great choices: the Captain’s Cottage & the Osprey’s Nest. A ‘No Contact’ Check-In gives guests peace of mind that each suite is safely sanitized. Free docking for boaters is a great perk too. So, boat, drive, bike or walk, rest assured you are well taken care of. Enjoy a slice of heaven and wake up on the river.

Captain’s Cottage

We stayed in the Captain’s Cottage, a chic, spacious suite with a king-size bed, two seating areas, and a full bath. The reclaimed wood ceiling, recycled from the original wood shed, adds extra warmth and charm to the room. Flowering plants and mature trees dot the property and there is a lovely shaded sitting area with two Adirondack chairs beside the cottage with a great view of the river. A fishing rod lured Eric down to the dock for some relaxing fishing in the evening. Morning coffee, thanks to the room’s coffee maker, along with a convenient fridge, toaster and microwave had us wanting for nothing.

Osprey’s Nest

The Osprey’s Nest, at the top of the exterior stairs, is a tucked away romantic retreat. A private deck with great views of the river and village gives this suite a little something extra special. A comfy queen-size bed, and cozy seating areas complete this hideaway. The private entrance, full separate bath and a handy kitchenette, make this suite ideal for longer stays. Feel at home preparing your own light meals with the use of an induction burner, microwave, fridge, and coffee maker.

Gagetown is a Great Place to Hang Out & Unwind

Chef Thane encourages all who stay to enjoy the village. “Gagetown is a great place to hang out and unwind. It is very relaxing,” he knowingly shares. It is a small place with an over-abundance of talented artists & artisans too. Stroll down Front Street and meander the canopied country roads. Pop into the shops, meet a potter or painter, go antiquing, or check out the village craft brewery and other eating establishments. Then head back to curl up in an Adirondack chair at Gulliver’s to read or relax as you take in the view. You also have options to fish, kayak, canoe or boat the river to explore one of the best water systems in the world.

Come visit Gagetown, and get out on the Saint John River. Dine at Gulliver’s World Cafe & stay at Gulliver’s Guest Suites. Tell them the Maritimes Maven sent you.

This post was sponsored by Gulliver’s World Café & Guest Suites; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn & Threads. Subscribe to be the first to receive my latest articles. Share articles you love with your social media community so they, too, will discover, There’s No Place Like Home!