Rainy Day Dessert

Although temperatures are on the rise this weekend the rain has kept us inside for a few days. After much deliberation my daughter and I decided to set out on a quest for something sweet, warm and delicious.  What better way to start our first blog than a visit to The Mount Vernon Inn. The Mount Vernon Inn is set footsteps away from George Washington's beautiful home.  The Inn boasts that it's serves "elegant candlelit dinners" with "colonial charm". As a Mount Vernon season pass holder I've dined here a few times. Each experience has been consistent and each time I've gone in hoping for something more than I received. The Inn COULD be a very charming destination but its badly in need of repair and class. On arrival the decor is definitely colonial and the dining rooms are quaint but upon closer inspection I see it needs a lot of help. We were seated in a small room with a blazing fire (very inviting on a cool rainy day). Unfortunately the tables were covered with brown vinyl table cloths complete with paper place mats.  There was badly chipped paint throughout and water stained ceiling tiles.  Service was fine but ill fitting costumes didn't really add to the ambiance.  We asked for dessert suggestions and were informed of the famous bread pudding.  It was Martha Washington's recipe and is apparently well received. So of course I order it and a coffee and my daughter orders the chocolate cake and tea.  A short time later our drinks and desserts were brought out and let's say they weren't exactly photo worthy. Sloppily thrown onto plates and we had to ask for sugar as there was none at the tables. It was obvious there was no care taken in presentation.  Somehow I wasn't shocked by this.  The bread pudding was bland but at least it was hot.  The chocolate cake on the other hand was cold and tough and it tasted as though it had been sitting in the refrigerator for days.  It wasn't edible even for an 8 year old. It's obvious that this place is geared to pump out quick meals to hungry tourists and nothing more.  A very disappointing trip overall. As someone who loves this area and the rich history of mount Vernon I have naively expected the Inn to improve and be worthy of the ground it rests on.   Yes, I know this was only dessert but I have found the same dissatisfaction in main courses I have ordered. Their "early American" flavors are lacking.  The dishes are okay but nothing more. It will be a long time before I consider trying The Mount Vernon in again. I hate to end on a sour note so I will add that the highlight of our dessert quest was the gift shop connected directly to the Inn.  Somehow we always leave Mount Vernon with a little treasure or two!