Country Mischief gets new chef
Store starts off the year with a new lookEryn Dion
News Staff Writer
TEMPLETON — Country Mischief employee Tammy LaChance balanced precariously on a ladder Tuesday morning as she removed the last bits of yellow floral wallpaper from the store’s upper hallway — leaving the walls bare and ready for a coat of white paint inside the more than 200-year-old building.
“We do this about twice a year,” said owner Gail Whittle. “I just like to direct.”
The renovation was just one of several changes to the store, which is a town landmark. A new chef for the restaurant, Mischievous Chef Shannon Fournier, a Montachusett Vocational Technical School graduate from Winchendon, started in late December. He was discovered through an ad on Craigslist and had been receiving rave reviews.
“He’s great,” Ms. Whittle said. “It’s amazing what he can do.”
Mr. Fournier served 110 customers last Sunday with ease out of the restaurant’s tiny kitchen, and while weekends tend to be busier, Ms. Whittle is confident he will rise to the challenge.
The restaurant will be doing a special Valentine’s Day dinner, opening up both the main room of the restaurant and back porch area for guests. There will be only one seating that night, so space will be limited.
“We’re very excited,” said Ms. Whittle. “Chef Shannon was nice enough to jump in with us.”
The dining room was also recently given a makeover, with the walls being done in chalkboard paint so guests can leave their mark. The outhouse room will also be open for Valentine’s.
Renovations to the interior will be completed in the next couple of days. The building has served several purposes over the years, including housing abused boys in the 1800s. Ms. Whittle and her husband Glenn have owned the building for 24 years and been in business for over 30 years.
Gail is a very good business person. She has managed to maintain a top quality business even through some pretty poor economic times. Gail and her husband live their business, and I have to say I know how difficult that can be. You have to love what you do to make it work. We need more small businesses to give our town a lift. Support these people so they can be successful, because it does benefit everyone in the end, even if it is just in our image of a small New England town. Bev..
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