SUGAR PLUM PERFECT

“Twas in the weeks before Christmas, when all through the Inn, drinks were a stirring as families poured in. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care … in hopes that new holiday memories would soon be made there. And while there may not be actual sugar plums being served at The English Room or the White Hart Pub, there is no better place to celebrate the season than the Deer Path Inn, which celebrated its 95th anniversary this year. “It’s magical,” says Fahd Alaoui, a native of Casablanca, Morocco, who joined the staff at Deer Path Inn more than 20 years ago. “In a fast moving, electronic world, when you step inside the Inn you are greeted the old-fashioned way with a warm smile, a roaring fireplace, and vintage decorations with a nod to a rich past.” From his early days as a breakfast server to his current position as food & beverage manager, he has helped generations of North Shore families make Deer Path Christmas memories. “I love everything about the holiday season at the Inn. From the outside of the building with the festive decorations, to the beautiful trees inside, the gingerbread house, and cocktails to put the spirits in the holiday spirit, we celebrate at every turn,” says Alaoui. “But if I had to pick one favorite thing, it would be seeing families together enjoying time off. From a cozy dinner in The Bar to Christmas brunch with Santa, we are the backdrop for family traditions and that is never lost on me.” Featuring half-timber and stucco details inspired by traditional manor houses in Chiddingstone, Kent, England, the Deer Path Inn opened in 1929, ushering in a new era of elegance in Lake Forest. “We have updated the building and added some new faces over the years but remain service focused, and this one thing will never change,” says Alaoui. “It’s something we live and breathe in a tradition we have honored since the beginning.” Today, the award-winning boutique property is on the National Register of Historic Places—a distinction that has as much to do with the people who’ve passed through its doors as the place itself. All you need to do is walk through its historic halls to watch those stories come to life. “We see some of the same families year after year. Starts with two, then as the years pass, we add more and more chairs as families grow,” explains Alaoui. “I have watched babies become adults who now make their own reservations! We are a part of living history with 95 years of holiday seasons under our belt. Doesn’t get more special than that.”