To mix things up, KDH loves to book an overnight at a haute Hamptons hotel. Why travel anywhere in the summer when we already live in the most beautiful destination? I call these little treats a “staycation.”

Last week, Doc and I checked into one of the more beloved and eclectic boutique hotels on the East End~ c/o The Maidstone, in East Hampton. It has a chic, sophisticated edge thanks to Swedish hotelier Jenny Ljungberg, mixing classic and modern, glamour and relaxation, luxury and social responsibility.

The luxe hotel has 19 room, each in one of four categories: Divine, Magnificent, Fabulous, and Cozy~ stylishly crafted to celebrate a renowned Scandinavian personality. Want more privacy? Stay in one of the freestanding quaint cottages in the back! You will find a charming welcome note and cookies on your bed from gorgeous hotel manager Sophie and her handsome husband, Par [below]. This stay, I chose “His Majesty’s Suite.” [‘nuf said, I’ve been in trouble lately…].

Travel Tip: Be sure to check out all of the fab rooms at c/o The Maidstone on line before booking, each has its own personality to suit your mood…Here’s another one of my favorite rooms:

After settling in, I like to slide on the black and turquoise painted Swedish clogs tucked in my closet, and take a clomp around the property to see any new changes in design, landscaping, or art….Mark won’t wear his. What’s his problem??

Here’s a list of cool stuff I love to do at c/o The Maidstone:

• Yoga in the Buddha garden
• Order a Slow Food picnic basket, borrow an iPod fully loaded with all music types, and scoot off on one of the vintage bikes for a ride to Main beach, and then along the back roads to the majestic Maidstone Club golf course.
• Get a massage [Swedish, of course] in my room..
• Check out the amazing photography throughout the hotel curated by Eric Firestone
• Hang out with the dapper dogs that are all welcome guests in the hotel [yes, they even have their own “Woof Menu”, including vegetarian options!]
• Chat with Chef James Carpenter, and see what he’s growing in the back garden!

Okay, time to talk FABULOUS FOOD: The Living Room restaurant in c/o The Maidstone offers a menu committed to the Slow Food philosophy featuring fresh seasonal and organic foods. Superstar Executive Chef James Carpenter [below] uses the Slow Food process to “cook with the seasons,” coming up with mouth-watering menus he calls, “New American with a Scandinavian twist.”

The result? Chef’s cuisine is fresh, delicious, and fancy, with a hint of comfort food by the fire. “I did my culinary training and was a chef at various great restaurants in the States,” shares James, “So I had never experienced this type of Swedish cuisine before. Jenny had one of the Swedish chefs come over to train with our team when we opened, so we could learn about the cuisine in an authentic, traditional Scandinavian style.”

Carpenter is very deliberate in his menu planning at The Living Room. He identifies the freshest and most naturally produced foods and creates selections primarily from items that can be purchased through local, organic purveyors. He tells KDH, “I live in Springs, so I hit the Farmer’s Market behind Nick & Toni’s on Fridays to see what looks best. I also check in with Ian at Balsam farms to see what he has coming in, and I will adapt my menu based on that.” KDH ordered pretty room service for lunch! [below]

Although the fare changes with the seasons, there are a few signature dishes that remain year-round, including: the Swedish Smörgåsbord tasting of homemade gravlax, herring, shrimp skagen and grain mustard sauce; Scandinavian ‘Toast Skagen’ with baby shrimp, lemon-scented crème fraiche, dill from the garden on toasted brioche with Swedish caviar; and “Köttbullar and Klimp” Swedish lamb meatballs with Mecox Bay Dairy ricotta dumplings, tomato broth, Cavolonero kale and Västerbotten cheese.

We love the wild and cultivated mushrooms [in a brandy cream sauce!] over toasted brioche below…

Don’t have such an international palette? Non-Swedish dishes include: roasted heritage chicken (an exceptional breed of poultry rarely found on menus in its purist form) with Satur farm organic root vegetables and rosemary jus; Black Angus Delmonico steak with baby spinach, potato leek gratin and bordelaise sauce; and seared Atlantic salmon with local savoy cabbage, roast beets and mustard dill sauce. Chef persuaded Doc to try the special of the evening: Frogs Legs! [below]. Apparently, they are delicious…I could not muster up the culinary courage to try a taste.

KDH loves to ask a chef what he would order if he came to his own restaurant, here’s what James fancies: “To start, I would have a half order of Swedish meatballs and gnudi…Then the Smorgasbord tasting plate which is like a Scandinavian pupu platter…Followed by the duck. For dessert, I would have the cheese plate.”

Desserts are all homemade by pastry chef Laura Donelly and feature seasonal crisps, homemade ice cream and the sumptuous sticky toffee date cake which is the crowd favorite: “If I take the Sticky Toffee cake off of the menu for one night, the dining room is in an uproar,” shares James.

The Living Room takes pride in its wine program headed by sommelier Kelly Matis. The extensive wine cellar houses more than 400 wine labels and offers over 20 wines by the glass. From local Long Island varietals to organic Oregonian boutique blends and standards from Europe, there is a wine for every mood & food at The Living Room! Oenophiles are encouraged to join the wine club offering private bins in the cellar with exclusive opportunities to new vintages. Doc & I toasted our date night with a delicious dessert wine: “Alcyone” Venedo de los Vientos, from Uruguay [below], described as having a “chocolate covered toasted marshmallow” taste. Yep, it did!

More liquid refreshment and fun is found at the bar, commandeered by lovely Leo [above], the bartending “darling” of the East End, with a smile, charm, and unrivaled talent for whipping up creative cocktails [above] including the signature Stockholmapolitan and Ruby Rita. Hit the brunch scene on Sundays at the Living Room and listen to some great acoustic live music as you indulge in a platter of Swedish pancakes with cloudberry jam, Vermont maples syrup and whipped cream!

By now, you should be thirsty, hungry, and in the mood for a great date night or romantic weekend….so make your reservations now, because the summer season is already filling up fast at this gem of the Hamptons!

*Location: 207 Main Street, East Hampton; 631.324.5006 or go to http://www.careofhotels.com/maidstone/