Welcome!

The Hinshaw family has been making guests welcome for over 70 years, whether you come by car or plane .. for a single meal or several ... for one day or more. This enchanting Inn of 30 rooms, nestled on a 100 acre estate, is a gracious oasis amidst the excitement of Central Florida attractions, catering to discriminating guests of all ages.

Each Chalet guestroom greets you with cordial warmth, delightfully different, with the comforts of private entrance, private bath, air conditioning, telephone and television. The sparkling pool, lake and airstrip are only a few steps from your courtyard or patio.

The essence of the Chalet's reputation is its cuisine, food that Gourmet Magazine calls "glorious" ... served in a unique setting of five quaint rooms on many levels, overlooking the lake. Every corner glows with antiques, stained glass and old lamps from far away places.

Before you leave, seek out these whimsical spots ... The Swiss Room, Wine Dungeon, Gift Boutique, Autograph Garden, Chapel Antiques, Ceramic Salon, Airstrip and last but not least, the Soup Cannery, where those delicious soups, which have even been to the Moon, are processed for gift giving all over the globe.

Chalet Suzanne is a subtle balm ... a lovely memory that stays hidden in your heart.

We hope you will feel it, too.

Award Winning Inn - Uncle Ben's "10 Best Country Inns of the Year" 
30 Guest Rooms - each delightfully different in design and decor, with private bath, telephone, air conditioning, cable TV, other amenities.
Award Winning Restaurant - serving superb food, wine and spirits
Mobil Guide Four Star Award
Travel/Holiday Fine Dining Award
"Florida Trend" Golden Spoon
Voted on of Florida's Top 10 Restaurants for 34 consecutive years
AAA Three Diamond Rating
Cocktail Lounge and Wine Cellar
Courtyard  Spa and Massage
Gift Boutique and Chapel Antiques
Swimming Pool and Private Lake
Soup Canning Plant - group tours on request
History House
Vineyard
2500' Airstrip - Runway 18-36, Unicom 122.8, Lights
 
Close to all major Florida attractions
For Reservations, please write:
3800 Chalet Suzanne Drive, Lake Wales, FL 33859-7060
or phone: 800-433-6011, FAX 863-676-1814

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Soups

After 40 years, our Chalet Suzanne Soups and Sauces are just as popular as ever! Ask for them at your local fine food store or call us. (800-433-6011) or Click here to go to our Chalet Suzanne Foods online store. We look forward to hearing from you!

Chalet Suzanne's Award-Winning Soups: All soups come in 13 oz. tins.

Asparagus-Potato Soup - This latest addition is positively addictive, it's so good! Creamy potato with delicate pieces of asparagus.

Broccoli - The old-fashioned way with an abundance of chopped Broccoli and all natural flavors.

Cajun Gumbo - Unique and habit-forming! Savory combination of "not-overcooked" okra, tomatoes, mushrooms, barley and onions in a delightful broth.

Consommé  Madrilène - Simply divine!  A soft, silky jelled soup with origins in Madrid, Spain.  A beef broth base with just a hint of  tomatoes combined with the warm spices of the Iberian peninsula.

Curry Sauce - A taste of authentic curry flavorings.  A cream based  ready to serve sauce produced in 13 oz. cans.  Curry dates back to early civilization and is a blending of spices and herbs from India.  Add precooked shrimp, chicken, steak or vegetables to the sauce and simmer until hot.

French Onion - A hearty but clear masterpiece to top (if you wish) with a crest of buttered toast and a generous coronet of Parmesan Cheese. Natural flavorings, onions and spices.

Gazpacho - We prepare a creamy rendition of the classic Spanish garden symphony of tomato, watercress, cucumber and green pepper, and puree it to intensify the flavor. Tina Hinshaw Farewell uses this gazpacho as a base for a magnificent meatloaf.

Newburg Sauce - An elegant sherry and seafood based sauce.  Ready to serve in 13 oz cans.  Just add bite-sized chunks of cooked lobster meat and simmer for several minutes.  Serve over buttered toast points or puff pastry.

New England Clam Chowder - Carl created this popular classic in the traditional Cape Cod manner and it is shipped from our cannery to you semi-condensed.

Old Country Mushroom - Flavor reminiscent of the old country style "Swiss Steak" with plenty of mushrooms & onions.  Unique & delicious!  Use as a sauce or gravy right from the can.  A wonderful substitute in any recipe calling for mushroom soup.

Orange Aspic - A new way to enjoy the wonderfully healthy flavor of fully-ripened oranges. Attractive, colorful accompaniment with all meats, poultry, salads, hot or cold entrees. Can be heated and remolded.

Romaine® - Our signature soup, served at Chalet Suzanne for over half a century. A spinach and mushroom base with 18 secret herbs and spices makes this our house favorite soup. Soup 'Romaine' has received international acclaim as one of the outstanding soups of the world. It has been served in all the Governors' Mansions and aboard the Apollo flights to the Moon.

Seafood Mushroom - A heavenly blend of Mushrooms and natural Seafood flavors with a touch of Sherry wine. Different and Delicate.

Seafood Newburg Bisque - A coral-colored creamy luxury of seafood and herbs, enriched with the sweet piquancy of fine Sherry. Delicious icy cold as well as hot. Sherry adds an elegant touch.

Tomato Aspic -Relish the rich flavor of fully-ripened tomatoes. This marvelous Aspic requires no refrigeration to gel. It will hold its firmness, even on a warm plate, or reshape it in your favorite mold. Deliciously different for summer salads or a winter vegetable.

Vichyssoise - Carl's classic combination of pureed potato, onion, chicken broth and spices. An exquisite beginning, hot or cold, for your most elegant dinners or superb for the simplest meal when you feel like pampering yourself.

Watercress - A creamy family treasure. At home, Vita likes to accent the delicate natural bite of fresh watercress with sour cream and freshly ground pepper. Equally marvelous hot or cold.

Moon Soup - Also known as our famous Soup Romaine, this label, requested by Museum Shops, is now available to you. The outstanding Signature Soup created by Carl Hinshaw was taken to the Moon aboard the Apollo 15 and Apollo 16 flights. It was carried also by the Russian Cosmonauts for the Link-up in space of Apollo - Soyuz.

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Wedding

There are Few Moments in Life as Perfect as this...
A favorite choice for Weddings, Receptions, Honeymoons, Rehearsal Dinners, Bridesmaid's Luncheons and Anniversary Celebrations. The Five-Star Chalet Suzanne Restaurant overlooking Lake Suzanne can accommodate up to 150 guests in our five unique dining rooms.

The Chalet Suzanne Restaurant overlooking Lake Suzanne is set on 14 different levels in five connecting dining rooms. It has been selected as "One of Florida's Top Twenty Restaurants" for over thirty years.

Three distinct wedding ceremony sites are available at this historic 100 acre estate.

The Wedding Gazebo overlooks Lake Suzanne and is perfect for sunset weddings.

The Swiss Dining Room - This room is perfect for indoor weddings and receptions. European stained-glass windows and Swiss-style vaulted ceilings highlight this elegant dining area.

The Autograph Garden - A favorite with all, the sunken garden is lush with native plants.  The tile wall that encircles the garden is filled with a multitude of autographed tiles personalized by wedding couples, celebrities and celebrants alike.

Menu Selections for (20) or more guests:

Brunch or Lunch Served from 11:30a.m. to 2:30p.m.

Cream of Romaine® Soup with choice of : Chicken Salad on Puff Pastry or Baked Ham, chilled, sliced on Puff Pastry with Parmesan Dressing or Tuna Salad on Puff Pastry, Your Wedding Cake, Beverage.

Lunch or Dinner Served from 11:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.

Broiled Grapefruit with Chicken Liver Canapé, Cream of Romaine® Soup, Lemon Ice with Choice of: Chicken Suzanne, Baked Sugar-Cured Ham or King Crab Thermidor, two fresh vegetables, Hot Homemade Potato Rolls, Your Wedding Cake, Beverage.

Chalet Suzanne is among Florida's "Top Ten Most Romantic Places in Florida". Our Celebration Guest Rooms are a favorite with honeymooners. Most are larger rooms with king size beds, jet tubs, fresh flowers, fruit and candies.

Wedding Site Rental fee of up to $375 includes Wedding Site, complementary Autograph Tile and placement in the Autograph Garden Wall, taxes and gratuities.

Our unique hand-painted dishes make memorable gifts.

Want to have your wedding at the beautiful Chalet Suzanne?

You can get started right here, in our very own online Wedding Planner.

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Lodging

Each room is unique, with the comforts of private entrance, private bath and air conditioning, telephone and television. Every Chalet guestroom greets you with cordial warmth and each is delightfully unique. Our special Select Request Rooms are larger and have unique amenities such as a king bed or whirlpool tub or a special view. The sparkling pool, lake and airstrip are only a few steps from your courtyard or patio.

Amenities & Accolades:

• Winner - Uncle Ben's 10 Best Country Inns of the Year Award
• 30 Guest Rooms - each delightfully different in design and decor, with private bath, telephone, air conditioning, cable TV, other amenities
• Room Rates $169-$229, includes a full country breakfast in the morning
• Corporate Rates & Group Rates are available Sun-Thur
  Meeting Rooms available for groups of 10 to 30
  Call for current rates: 1-800-433-6011
• Award Winning Restaurant - serving superb food, wine and spirits
• Gift Boutique in Restaurant
• Swimming Pool and Private Lake
• 2500' Airstrip - Runway 18-36, Unicom 122.8, Lights
• Close to all major Florida attractions
• AAA Three Diamond Rating - Call about our Special AAA Rates
• Mobil Guide Three Star Rating

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Dining

We've set the standards in fine dining since 1931.

We invite you to enjoy the harmony of an enchanting setting while you dine on legendary fare. If this is your first visit to the Chalet Suzanne, we believe it will be one of the most delightful experiences you will ever encounter.

Call 1-800-433-6011 or fill out the online form to receive a "$25 off dinner for two certificate" .  Just give us your name and address and we'll send it out immediately. . . (certificate for $25 off one Six-Course Traditional Dinner when a second Six-Course Dinner of equal or greater value is purchased -Valid Sunday-Friday after 6pm - Not valid with other discounts or on holidays)

We are open to the public from 8am to 9pm daily and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. Dress for breakfast and lunch is casual however dinner is a special occasion for many dining here and men usually wear a jacket, though a tie is not required.

A gratuity is not necessary... 20% service charge will be added to your check along with a 7% sales tax.

We can accommodate most restricted diets. Please call ahead and tell us what you require.

We offer one of the finest wine lists in the country (Wine Spectator Award*) and have a full service bar along with our famous Wine Dungeon which is available for wine tasting each night before dinner.

Breakfast

Mornings are a special time  at the Chalet. The sun's soft rays reach to the waters of Lake Suzanne and the turtles,  favorite pets of our guests, begin their search for warmth as the herons and other wildlife prepare for the day.  To help you get started we offer Fresh Half Grapefruit or your choice of juice, followed by our deliciously seasoned Scrambled Eggs  with a touch of chives (prepared like none you've ever had!) accompanied by our delicate Swedish Pancakes served with wild Lingonberries (a Scandinavian treat!) and your choice of Baked Ham or Country Sausage Patties $15.95

-OR-

...Fresh Half Grapefruit or your choice of juice, leading the way to Chalet Suzanne's Delectable Eggs Benedict... Perfectly Poached Eggs and thinly sliced Ham, topped with our wonderful homemade Hollandaise, served on a Puff Pastry. $17.25

Either way you'll enjoy our special blend of Rich Coffee, or a selection of Teas, Hot Cocoa or Milk and, of course,  our most requested Cinnamon Sticky Buns!

Traditional Four Course Luncheons

You'll begin with Broiled Grapefruit... a now historic tradition at Chalet Suzanne, prepared with sugar, cinnamon and butter. Next comes our famous Romaine® Soup, a combination of mushrooms and spinach purée with 18 different herbs and spices. Its flavor is... literally... out of this world! (This is one of our soups that went to the Moon on the Apollo flights in the 1970's).  To refresh your palate and prepare you for one of our delicious entrees listed below a bright Lemon Ice is served next.  After your entree you may select from a luscious selection of desserts.

Luncheon Entree selections include:

• Chicken Salad- accompanied with fruit of the season, orange aspic and cottage cheesecake. $31
  
  
• Shrimp Salad- with delicious shrimp accompanied with fruit of the season, orange aspic and cottage cheesecake. $33
  
  
• Medley Salad- half shrimp salad, half chicken salad served side by side with the usual accompaniments. $34
  
  
• Chicken Suzanne- A quarter chicken baked and basted many times in its own natural juices creating a dark amber glaze - so tender it falls off the bone. Served with fresh vegetables, sweet potatoes  and homemade cranberry sauce. $32
  
  
• Baked Sugar Cured Ham- Ham in a brown sugar glaze garnished with pineapple, accompanied by a grilled tomato, sweet potatoes and green beans almondine. $29
  
  
• King Crab Thermidor- Crab meat in a white wine and cream sauce with whole mushrooms topped with Parmesan Cheese. Served with puff pastry on the side, grilled tomato and green beans almondine. $39
  
  
• Vegetarian- A variety of six freshly cooked vegetables, each prepared in its own way. $31

Traditional Six Course Dinners

Evenings at the Chalet Suzanne tend to create memories that last a lifetime... memories that have even spanned generations, according to our guests.  Because family and tradition are very important to us, we are very slow to adapt our menu to what's new, the "Cuisine de Jour" so to speak.  Come, dine with us tonight and you might be dining at the same table and enjoying the same family recipes as your parents... or even theirs!  Or, perhaps you'll feel the presence of greatness that preceded, from Astronauts to Actors, Politicos to Princes, Kings to Comedians, the Chalet has been a favorite spot for gourmands from around the world. 

Your first course, the broiled grapefruit, is a delicious combination of sweet and sour that originated at the Chalet Suzanne many years ago.  Served next is our famous Soup Romaine® offering a combination of flavors that have begged descriptions such as being "out of this world!"  Maybe that's because it really is, or has been, out of this world!  Served on Apollo Flights and even chosen by the Russian crew of the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission, our Soup Romaine® along with several other family recipes has seen from afar the rare and distant site of that beautiful blue marble, our home, the Earth. 

Next, a refreshing Lemon Ice is served to cleanse the palate and prepare your taste buds for what comes next... our unusual blend of greens and "chokes" in a vinaigrette dressing.  Eventually... and in your own time... you'll enjoy one of Chalet Suzanne's classic entrees (see below), served with fresh vegetables and rich, buttery potato rolls.   Finally, choose one of our alluring desserts, if you dare, and then just relax... enjoying the afterglow of a meal that will be the topic of conversations for years to come. 

After a while you might choose to take a walk through our historic dining rooms searching for hidden treasures.   Linger in the Little Swedish Bar with its hand painted murals and special mystique, or stroll the Chalet Village with its magical lights.  Whatever you choose, you're sure to be entranced by the experience!  

Dinner Entrees: 

A Hint:  Every one of the offerings below is outstanding.  You won't be disappointed with any choice you might make, so relax and go with that first desire, what your body is craving at that instant... and return again to explore another great entree! 

• Chicken Suzanne  - Our signature dish, this half-chicken, baked and basted many times in its own natural juices has been offered to our guests for decades. Served with sweet potatoes, green beans almondine and a grilled tomato. $59
  
  
• Shrimp Curry - We have searched the world to bring you this recipe.  Shrimp served in a casserole with your choice of mild, hot or extra hot curry. Served with grilled tomato and yellow rice on the side.  Don't forget to experiment... condiments that are served to compliment the flavor include mango chutney, orange marmalade, chopped peanuts and coconut. $65
  
  
• Maine Lobster Newburg - A family favorite, we offer lobster served in a butter and sweet cream sauce, topped with Cream Sherry and served with puff pastries on the side.  Simple and... Divine! $75
  
  
• Lump Crab with Herb Butter - Not to be missed!  Large lumps of Blue Crab sautéed in herb butter with tarragon, garlic and other herbs & seasonings. Served in a clamshell. $68
  
  
• Crab Sasse - Blue crab, gently tossed in a delicate white wine and cream sauce, served in a casserole with puff pastries on the side. $68
  
  
• Broiled Shad Roe - In this rare offering the delicate eggs of a Shad fish are broiled in a lemon-butter sauce and served on toast points... topped with bacon. $68
   
• King Crab Thermidor - Crab meat in a white wine and cream sauce with whole mushrooms, boiled egg and topped with Parmesan Cheese. Served in a casserole with puffed pastries on the side. $69
  
  
• Lamb Chop Grill - A 12 oz. loin Chop cooked over a char grill. Very tender. Rubbed with fresh garlic if you wish. Served with Chalet Suzanne's own Mint Sauce. $78
  
  
• Filet Mignon - a nine-ounce filet, cooked over a char grill, topped with a bacon strip melts in your mouth. Rubbed with fresh garlic, if you desire. $79
  
  
• Vegetarian Dinner - A collection of six fresh vegetables cooked to perfection. $59

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Airstrip

Fly in for Dinner, Overnight or Breakfast

You too can have the purple carpet treatment and receive your fly-in ribbon. We welcome all pilots. The Lake Wales Chalet Suzanne Airstrip (X25) is licensed as a Public Use Airport with good green sod, well irrigated, with Low Intensity Runway Lights. We are on the very top edge of the Miami Sectional Chart, 4 miles NNE of Lake Wales Municipal Airport(X07). There is a small, round lake at the north end of our airstrip and a country road at the south end.

Chalet Airport Identifier-  X25
Latitude 27° 57' 13.66"-Longitude 81° 36' 5.12"
Runway 18-36 is 2100 feet in length
The runway itself is 60 feet wide (between the runway lights). The lights are placed at a slight angle to the large (300' wide) field of grass.
Windsock is located midfield, on top of the blue steel building (cannery)
23 NM on the 93° radial from Lakeland
38 NM on the 202° radial from Orlando
310° from the Bok Bell Tower
3 1/2 miles NNE of Lake Wales Airport
Located between US Hwy 27 and Alt. Hwy 27, about 1 mile east of the Eagle Ridge Mall

Our CTAF (for traffic advisory) is Unicom 122.8 Mhz. For parking, taxi all the way to the north end of the strip and park on the east sideYou will be in sight of and within walking distance to the Reception Building and Dining Room.  Please stop into Reception (adjacent pool) to sign your plane in our airstrip log.  We'll be watching for you.

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History of the Chalet Suzanne

In the "Boom Days" of the 1920's, Carl and Bertha Hinshaw Sr. moved to the quiet community of Lake of the Hills, north of Lake Wales, Florida, to be near her aging parents.  A short while later they found themselves partnered with J.L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Cheese Company. Together they planned to develop a lovely community- golfing, tennis and other amenities were planned for their acreage.

                Shortly after construction began, the Great Depression ended the real estate boom in Florida.  Most investors, including Mr. Kraft, withdrew from their expansive plans and returned north. Then, during a harsh winter in 1931, Carl Hinshaw Sr., age 47, developed pneumonia and passed away. Carl's widow, Bertha, was left with their home, one "do-everything" servant, and two young children.

                The Hinshaws had always traveled and entertained a great deal, so Bertha, a determined and gutsy lady, decided to make a living for her family doing what she knew best, making people feel at home.

Thus, in 1931, was born Suzanne's Chalet, named after her only daughter. (Actually, the business was first known as Suzanne's Tavern, which drew inquiries as to the type of venture Bertha might be operating. The name was permanently changed to Chalet Suzanne some while later).

                A week after putting a small sign out on State Highway 8 (now State Road 17) advertising her new enterprise, the first family of travelers stopped by for a visit.  They loved the food, friendship and unique atmosphere the Chalet offered and subsequently returned year after year to relax and be entertained by Bertha and her children.

                Soon after those first visitors departed, Mr. And Mrs. Duncan Hines, who were touring the state at the time, discovered Suzanne's Chalet.

                They were so enthralled that the Hines' included the Chalet in a Christmas card list they had written to send to their friends.  It was a catalogue of wonderful places to stay and dine on the way to and from Florida. Of course, from this list grew Adventures in Good Eating by Duncan Hines, one of the first leisure travel books in the United States, and the Chalet Suzanne was always listed prominently in those pages. We should all know how the rest of the Duncan Hines story evolved. His food products are available throughout the world today.

                With son Carl Junior and daughter Suzanne helping, Chalet Suzanne grew in popularity. Then World War II began and Carl, a pilot, went off to do his patriotic duty. Suzanne grew wings as well when she married a favorite guest, Ernest Otto, and moved with him to New York City.

                Then, with Bertha tending the business alone, tragedy struck. At three in the morning a fire began in the kitchen. Despite the efforts of many of the local residents and the local volunteer fire department, the main house with the dining rooms burned to the ground. For quite some time after the fire, Central Florida citizens felt the loss of the Chalet Suzanne, as it had already become a landmark for the area.

                After the war, Carl returned from the Pacific to help his mother rebuild. Since there was no money and few building materials available, one wing of the stable and several outbuildings were added to the family play room, which still stood over the lake. A chicken house and an old help house were added as well, giving the new dining rooms fourteen different levels. This might help explain the unusual architecture of the Chalet Suzanne restaurant.

                A favorite of celebrities, Chalet Suzanne has a proud heritage and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  On the property are five dining rooms, 30 guest rooms, a landing strip for airplanes, a gift shop, Spa, the Ceramic Salon, a Cannery for our soups and sauces, citrus groves and a small experimental vineyard. 

                The Chalet Suzanne Soup Cannery has a fascinating history of its own. It was begun in 1956 by Carl Hinshaw Jr. in his garage. After nearly fifty years of production, his family recipes have found themselves in many unusual but noteworthy places. They have been served in the Governors' Mansions of all fifty states, at the World's Fair, and aboard Trans World and Eastern Airlines international flights.

                The Hinshaw family has always run Chalet Suzanne. Four generations have lived and worked on the property.  As you walk around and you'll probably see one of us, though all employees are like family here.  We are all dedicated to the tradition of excellence that has been our heritage, as it continues to be passed down through the generations.  Improvements of the grounds, ever mindful of the Chalet Suzanne's historic nature, are always underway. 

Today Chalet Suzanne is a Mobil 3 Star restaurant and has been selected by Uncle Ben's Rice as one of the Top 10 Country Inns in the US.  Chalet Suzanne has also been named to the Florida Trend Magazine's Golden Spoon Award 'Hall of Fame'.  Best of all, though, they were selected by NASA and the crew of Apollo 15, thanks to friend and Astronaut James B. Irwin, to be aboard their trip to the moon in 1973.  The soups also went into space on Apollo 16 and even the Russians chose these fine soups for their joint dinner meeting in space on Apollo-Soyuz.

                Romaine® is our signature soup and is served with every meal at the Chalet Suzanne restaurant.  By request of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, it can also be found with a special label, Moon  Soup®.  Thirteen unique gourmet soups and three sauces were developed by Carl and can be found in the finest stores nationwide, with gift boxes available worldwide, shipped direct from our cannery.

                If what you've read about our history is intriguing…if you agree that the Chalet Suzanne is someplace special…just try spending a little while with us. Let us pamper you for an evening or a week. Soon you'll feel like one of the family. Then you, too, will become a part of our proud heritage!

The Hinshaw Family

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