The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Cars are slowing down as they drive by and people are noticing something good has happened at the historic house at 325 Route 22B.  (Click here for our photos) Many Peru residents know that location as the former home of the Phil Green family. The Greens left Peru several years ago and the property gradually fell into a state of disrepair. All this has changed since Eric and Heidi Duquette purchased the property in December 2009.  The Duquette’s completely refurbished the 1810 era home and its grounds with the help of family and friends. On June 18, 2011, Heidi Duquette opened Orchard House Catering as a private dining/catering facility. If you want to schedule a Friday or Saturday evening in December, it’s too late. The Orchard House is booked!

Heidi Duquette is the owner of the business and serves as its manager and chef.  Eric is best known as the owner of Duquette Building and Remodeling, but now he has another responsibility. He is the Orchard House’s maître d’. Needless to say Eric also had a lot to do with the changes both inside and outside the Orchard House. The building maintains its colonial character even though it has undergone a massive amount of work. Duquette says, “Pretty much everything is new.” Part of the back portion of the 200 year-old building had to be removed.  Another back portion was torn down to the beams and reconstructed. All the hardwood floors were refinished; the walls stained or painted; fireplaces repaired and the furnace replaced. The lathe and other ceiling materials removed from the large Gala Room filled seven refuse containers. The resulting exposed original beams made all that work worthwhile.  The adjacent Screen Room with its beautiful fireplace, skylights and view of the impressive grounds is another wonderful place to gather.

Heidi Duquette has been developing her culinary skills and raising her family for most of the past twenty years. She’s a 1988 graduate of Paul Smith College’s Culinary Management Program. Following college she worked as line chef at the Ground Round in Plattsburgh for several years.  Then she learned baking at Alan’s Bake Shop, coordinated catering at two local veterans organizations and recently served in an adjunct position in SUNY Plattsburgh’s Hospitality Department. Now she says, “I waited my turn. There are no more soccer games and other high school activities.” The Duquette’s children Lindsay and Adam are both in college, so the time was right to develop a business incorporating Heidi’s skills.

The Orchard House offers customers several rooms, all with a different character and charm.  What used to be the home’s kitchen is now an attractive pub. The Gala Room can accommodate up to sixty-four for dinner, while smaller groups can gather around the beautiful table Eric Duquette crafted for the Liberty Room.

Over the past five months Heidi Duquette has hosted everything from weddings, to wine tastings, to class reunions and family celebrations. Local corporations are discovering it’s a great place to entertain out-of-town guests and to host corporate celebrations and meetings.  A few people have even booked an evening for two.  The music is subtle, the atmosphere is warm and cheerful and the food offerings are numerous.

Karen and David Gosnell of Peru hosted their daughter Alyssa’s June 18^th wedding shower at the Orchard House. Karen says, “It went off without a hitch. You would have never known it was their first event.” Mrs. Gosnell said that fifty-five people were just too many to entertain at home.  The Orchard House was the perfect setting. She explained, “ You didn’t feel like you were in a banquet setting, you felt like you were at home. It was absolutely wonderful!”

Operating Orchard House Catering is definitely a lot of work, but as Heidi Duquette says, “We’re doing what we want to do. We like working.” She’s already considering offering cooking and canning classes in the future.  These are exciting times at 325 Route 22B in Peru.

For more information on the Orchard House call 643-8528 or 569-1122 or go to the website: www.theorchardhousecatering.com.

An excellent Press Republican article which describes several of Heidi’s food offerings and includes one of her favorite recipes can be found at www.northcountryscene.com/fork-a-spoon/203-fork-and-spoon-orchard-house-a-new-fixture-in-peru