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On October 17Rick Butts answered the question:
Who is the chef at Fossett’s Restaurant and what is his background?
Southern-born and raised in the mountains of western North Carolina and East Tennessee, great food has always been close to chef Aaron Cross’s heart. His devotion to the demanding work and the way of life in a kitchen budded at an early age, along with his passion for fine food.
Aaron is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. His culinary adventures have taken him from Knoxville, Tenn., all the way to The Metropolitan Club in Chicago. In 2009, Aaron moved to Virginia to join the culinary team at Lemaire in Richmond’s iconic The Jefferson Hotel, a sister property to Keswick Hall at Monticello. The restaurant was named a Best New Restaurant by Esquire magazine that year after a full renovation featuring a menu celebrating local Virginia agriculture and Chesapeake Bay aquaculture, inspired by Richmond native and executive chef Walter Bundy.
When he is not in the kitchen, Aaron enjoys the outdoors and getting his hands dirty in the garden. His talents in the garden reflect his passion for the ingredients with which he cooks. Aaron is also always on the hunt for delicious craft brews and small batch bourbons, perfect for complementing dishes from his kitchen.
In his role as executive chef of Fossett’s Restaurant and Fossett’s Bar at Keswick Hall at Monticello, these experiences and interests, along with a strong commitment to time-honored southern culinary tradition, are reflected in the dishes prepared and expertly presented by Aaron. -
On October 17Rick Butts answered the question:
What are the best things to do in Charlottesville?
“Virginia Is for Lovers,” and Charlottesville and Central Virginia are certainly no exception to that iconic slogan. Whether you love history, food and wine, the outdoors, the arts or shopping, the region offers it all.
History. Three presidential homes are in the Charlottesville area, including Jefferson’s Monticello (just five minutes from Keswick Hall at Monticello), Madison’s Montpelier and Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland. History buffs will also enjoy a visit to the University of Virginia campus for a tour of Jefferson’s Academic Village and a glimpse of Edgar Allan Poe’s room on the Lawn.
Food and wine. Central Virginia is known for its abundance of wineries and the exceptional wines being produced. With more than 20 vineyards, enjoyable afternoons may be spent sampling at favorites such as Keswick, Barboursville, Jefferson, Veritas and King Family wineries. The region is also home to several breweries, including Star Hill, Blue Mountain, Devils Backbone, Wild Wolf and South Street, each putting their own unique spin on beer. The countryside is dotted with orchards for picking your own fruit and farmers’ markets filled with fresh produce, cheeses, homemade preserves and crafts from local farmers and artisans. And, a thriving restaurant scene offers everything from Southern casual to fine dining and includes Keswick Hall’s own Fossett’s Restaurant, featuring regional ingredients for a uniquely Charlottesville dining experience.
The outdoors. Whether you prefer a peaceful walk, jog or bike ride on Keswick Hall at Monticello’s miles of nature trails; an afternoon of fly-fishing in the resort’s creek; hot air ballooning from the resort’s on-site launch site; an afternoon of golf on our Arnold Palmer–designed course; a tennis match; a swim in one of the three outdoor pools; an archery lesson; or a game of croquet, the options within the resort are vast. A short drive outside the resort allows you to enjoy more adventurous trails for hiking or biking, beautiful rivers for fly-fishing, horseback riding and a variety of seasonal festivals and sporting events.
The arts. A vivacious arts community in Charlottesville provides year-round opportunities. The museums at University of Virginia offer ever-changing exhibitions across a variety of mediums. The performing arts, ranging from opera to national recording artists, can be enjoyed at any number of venues within the area. Festivals, such as the fall Virginia Film Festival and the spring Virginia Festival of the Book, draw visitors from around the world.
Shopping. No visit to the area is complete without a visit to the Downtown Mall, a pedestrian-only area lined with shops and restaurants that are each unique to Charlottesville. -
On October 17Rick Butts answered the question:
What are the best things to do in Charlottesville?
“Virginia Is for Lovers,” and Charlottesville and Central Virginia are certainly no exception to that iconic slogan. Whether you love history, food and wine, the outdoors, the arts or shopping, the region offers it all.
History. Three presidential homes are in the Charlottesville area, including Jefferson’s Monticello (just five minutes from Keswick Hall at Monticello), Madison’s Montpelier and Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland. History buffs will also enjoy a visit to the University of Virginia campus for a tour of Jefferson’s Academic Village and a glimpse of Edgar Allan Poe’s room on the Lawn.
Food and wine. Central Virginia is known for its abundance of wineries and the exceptional wines being produced. With more than 20 vineyards, enjoyable afternoons may be spent sampling at favorites such as Keswick, Barboursville, Jefferson, Veritas and King Family wineries. The region is also home to several breweries, including Star Hill, Blue Mountain, Devils Backbone, Wild Wolf and South Street, each putting their own unique spin on beer. The countryside is dotted with orchards for picking your own fruit and farmers’ markets filled with fresh produce, cheeses, homemade preserves and crafts from local farmers and artisans. And, a thriving restaurant scene offers everything from Southern casual to fine dining and includes Keswick Hall’s own Fossett’s Restaurant, featuring regional ingredients for a uniquely Charlottesville dining experience.
The outdoors. Whether you prefer a peaceful walk, jog or bike ride on Keswick Hall at Monticello’s miles of nature trails; an afternoon of fly-fishing in the resort’s creek; hot air ballooning from the resort’s on-site launch site; an afternoon of golf on our Arnold Palmer–designed course; a tennis match; a swim in one of the three outdoor pools; an archery lesson; or a game of croquet, the options within the resort are vast. A short drive outside the resort allows you to enjoy more adventurous trails for hiking or biking, beautiful rivers for fly-fishing, horseback riding and a variety of seasonal festivals and sporting events.
The arts. A vivacious arts community in Charlottesville provides year-round opportunities. The museums at University of Virginia offer ever-changing exhibitions across a variety of mediums. The performing arts, ranging from opera to national recording artists, can be enjoyed at any number of venues within the area. Festivals, such as the fall Virginia Film Festival and the spring Virginia Festival of the Book, draw visitors from around the world.
Shopping. No visit to the area is complete without a visit to the Downtown Mall, a pedestrian-only area lined with shops and restaurants that are each unique to Charlottesville. -
On October 17Rick Butts answered the question:
What are the best things to do in Charlottesville?
“Virginia Is for Lovers,” and Charlottesville and Central Virginia are certainly no exception to that iconic slogan. Whether you love history, food and wine, the outdoors, the arts or shopping, the region offers it all.
History. Three presidential homes are in the Charlottesville area, including Jefferson’s Monticello (just five minutes from Keswick Hall at Monticello), Madison’s Montpelier and Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland. History buffs will also enjoy a visit to the University of Virginia campus for a tour of Jefferson’s Academic Village and a glimpse of Edgar Allan Poe’s room on the Lawn.
Food and wine. Central Virginia is known for its abundance of wineries and the exceptional wines being produced. With more than 20 vineyards, enjoyable afternoons may be spent sampling at favorites such as Keswick, Barboursville, Jefferson, Veritas and King Family wineries. The region is also home to several breweries, including Star Hill, Blue Mountain, Devils Backbone, Wild Wolf and South Street, each putting their own unique spin on beer. The countryside is dotted with orchards for picking your own fruit and farmers’ markets filled with fresh produce, cheeses, homemade preserves and crafts from local farmers and artisans. And, a thriving restaurant scene offers everything from Southern casual to fine dining and includes Keswick Hall’s own Fossett’s Restaurant, featuring regional ingredients for a uniquely Charlottesville dining experience.
The outdoors. Whether you prefer a peaceful walk, jog or bike ride on Keswick at Monticello’s miles of nature trails, an afternoon of fly-fishing in the resort’s creek, hot air ballooning from the resort’s on-site launch site, an afternoon of golf on our Arnold Palmer–designed course, a tennis match, a swim in the one of the three outdoor pools, an archery lesson or a game of croquet, the options within the resort are vast. A short drive outside the resort allows you to enjoy more adventurous trails for hiking or biking, beautiful rivers for fly-fishing, horseback riding and a variety of seasonal festivals and sporting events.
The arts. A vivacious arts community in Charlottesville provides year-round opportunities. The museums at University of Virginia offer ever-changing exhibitions across a variety of mediums. The performing arts, ranging from opera to national recording artists, can be enjoyed at any number of venues within the area. Festivals, such as the fall Virginia Film Festiva1 and the spring Virginia Festival of the Book, draw visitors from around the world.
Shopping. No visit to the area is complete without a visit to the Downtown Mall, a pedestrian-only area lined with shops and restaurants that are each unique to Charlottesville. -
On October 17Rick Butts answered the question:
Does Keswick Hall at Monticello hold any holiday events for its guests?
Each of the major holidays is celebrated in grand detail at Keswick Hall at Monticello. The year’s calendar of events kicks off with Valentine’s Day, followed by Easter. The summer starts with a Memorial Day picnic, continues with a Fourth of July celebration and ends with a Labor Day cookout. Fall is welcomed with the annual Fall Festival followed by a traditional Virginian Thanksgiving. The Christmas season, however, is perhaps the most magical. The festivities start with the lighting of the resort’s breathtaking Christmas tree and continue through until the New Year has arrived. We invite guests to visit our calendar of activities on our website for a full description of all these special events and other non-holiday-related wine dinners, workshops, tours and activities throughout the year. -
On October 17Rick Butts answered the question:
What Christmas events does Keswick Hall at Monticello host?
The holiday season at Keswick Hall at Monticello officially arrives on Friday, November 30, with the annual lighting of the Keswick Hall Christmas Tree, complete with caroling, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa. The Hall is fully dressed in its holiday finery by this time with a charming collection of antique toys, fresh cuttings gathered from around the estate and more trees than we can count.
Each Friday and Saturday afternoon in December, guests can gather around the roaring fire in the Great Hall for s’mores. Saturday afternoon is also the time when our holiday afternoon teas are served in either Villa Crawford or Fossett’s restaurants. Guests visiting on Wednesdays can enjoy holiday story time by the fire. While the stories are intended to enchant our junior guests, we find that our more mature guests enjoy them just as much!
There are also holiday home décor and gingerbread house workshops and a breakfast with Santa available during the season; guests can find those dates and details on our website.
Perhaps the most anticipated events of the season, however, are our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners in Fossett’s, where our guests can enjoy the breathtaking views of the estate and Virginia-inspired traditional holiday menus. Reservations do fill quickly so guests are encouraged to make those arrangements early. -
On October 12Rick Butts answered the question:
What is the best thing to bring home from Charlottesville?
It’s difficult to narrow down this list to just one item! The best things to bring home from Charlottesville are:
1. Wine. With more than 20 wineries in the area, the choices are outstanding and half the fun is the tasting required to select your favorite bottle.
2. Anything from The Virginia Shop at Barracks Road Shopping Center.
3. The History of Keswick Hall. This book details the resort’s history and was written by our Hotel Historian, Patricia Castelli, who provides complimentary tours of the resort.
4. Anything from Monticello’s gift shop, but a favorite is always the seeds from Thomas Jefferson’s garden.
5. Wrought iron from Stokes of England. Practically next door to Keswick Hall, this custom metalsmith shop creates incredible pieces of architectural ironwork. -
On October 12Rick Butts answered the question:
What is the best thing to bring home from Charlottesville?
It’s difficult to narrow down this list to just one item! The best things to bring home from Charlottesville are:
1. Wine. With more than 20 wineries in the area, the choices are outstanding and half the fun is the tasting required to select your favorite bottle.
2. Anything from The Virginia Shop at Barracks Road Shopping Center.
3. The History of Keswick Hall. This book details the resort’s history and was written by our Hotel Historian, Patricia Castelli, who provides complimentary tours of the resort.
4. Anything from Monticello’s gift shop, but a favorite is always the seeds from Thomas Jefferson’s garden.
5. Wrought iron from Stokes of England. Practically next door to Keswick Hall, this custom metalsmith shop creates incredible pieces of architectural ironwork.
General Manager
Keswick Hall at Monticello
Charlottesville, VA, USA
Rick Butts has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, beginning in food and beverage and then arriving at The Jefferson Hotel, Keswick Hall’s sister property in Richmond, Va. His commitment to superior guest service and operational excellence made him the choice as Keswick’s general manager. Butts is a scratch golfer, an avid sports fan and a welcoming host at Keswick Hall.
