Guild House: Good food, good cause
Guild House: Good food, good cause
By: Dining Divas
History and a new look
Whitney: I haven’t been to Guild House in quite some time so when we got the call to visit them, I was pretty excited! Guild House is celebrating its 100-year anniversary with a beautiful restoration project. They have done an absolutely fabulous job. The soft colors on the walls add such an elegant feel to the old Barlow home. The woodwork has been completely refurbished, which warms the room and makes you feel like you are back in time. There are historic Tiffany etched chandeliers and a beautiful fireplace that still has the original blue tiles designed by Gump’s of San Francisco.
Wendy: As I walked into the house the first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful switchback staircase that leads to the upstairs private dining area. I wondered who lived in this home and were there any children. Just as had this thought I saw the family album on a table at the top of the stairs. There were several pages of very old photos of the Barlow family. Guild House is enchanting. I’m sure that if the walls could talk they would say “it smells good in here!”
A good cause
Aimee: I have lived in Bakersfield all of my life, but have never eaten lunch there before. Wow, was I in for a treat! The food, atmosphere and fellowship were great, but there is a better reason for enjoying lunch at Guild House … the kids of Bakersfield! All of the proceeds from the restaurant benefit the Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic. The clinic is a nonprofit mental health agency that serves the children and families of Bakersfield. I can tell you firsthand the fantastic things this group does with children. My school (North Beardsley) uses their services for counseling, and they do a remarkable job every day! All this could not happen without the wonderful things that happen daily at Guild House.
Set menu
Wendy: The menu is carefully planned out serving something different every day. And if you didn’t feel like you were at home when you walked in, you will when you are served your lunch. As my husband always says to our children, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit,” only no fits over here. The food is fabulous.
Aimee: What a treat this was, we didn’t have to fight over what to order! We had the opportunity to have the butternut squash soup, pork with plum sauce, mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas with tomatoes.
Lori: Everything is made right in the house every morning starting at 7 a.m. The three-course lunches include fresh-baked rolls or muffins, specialty soup, a scrumptious entree and a fantastic dessert. The waitress always informs the guests “all food prepared for a good cause contains no calories!” Our lunch actually had four courses — everyone wanted to try the entree salad.
A friend indeed
Whitney: We sat down for lunch and we gave Bridget, our volunteer server, a special bottle of wine that a friend gave me for our visit. The restaurant does offer wine in house but they also have a small corkage fee if you wish to bring your own. We knew we were having pork, so we brought a Kosta Browne pinot. Aimee liked it so much she stole my wine when I wasn’t looking.
Aimee: I have to say Whitney is good for one thing … wine! Do not get me wrong, she is no connoisseur — she just has a good friend who knows a lot about wine. Thank goodness for Lisa Davis! Lisa is a wine expert and really knows how to pick them.
Soup and fresh rolls
Wendy: We started off with a butternut squash soup that is served hot. It was amazing. I used the homemade rolls as a dipping tool. I wanted to be sure to get every drop! Whitney immediately started wearing her meal! We can’t take her anywhere.
Whitney: Our first course was a butternut squash soup served with the best homemade rolls in town. The bakers at Guild House arrive very early to start their daily bread making and we were able to see where the magic begins back in the kitchen. After four rolls, I got an ugly look from Wendy. Whatever.
Salad
Whitney: Against the other girls’ better judgment, I asked Bridget if we might be able to get a small serving of the valley chicken salad they were serving as their other option for an entree. The girls were a little embarrassed but they quickly got over it when they tasted the salad. The salad consisted of chicken, pomegranate seeds, slivered almonds, apricot slices with a poppy seed dressing all on a bed of lettuce. No one had a single bit of salad was left on their plates, it was that good.
Main course
Lori: This pork was absolutely amazing, so tender you could cut it with a fork! The pork was served with snap peas and mashed potatoes. The amazing cook is Mary Fahsbender; she has been cooking there for 39 years.
Aimee: I think this was the quietest the table has ever been. No talking, just eating. You can truly taste the time and effort the chef puts into every part of the meal.
Wendy: Now, being a beef girl, I was a little hesitant. I just never order pork when dining out. It was so tender there was no need for a knife. The plum sauce was a nice sweet touch. It was served with warm vegetables that were cooked perfectly. I ate every bite. It was fabulous.
Dessert
Whitney: Here comes dessert! I say I’m stuffed but, for the good of Guild House and Bakersfield Life magazine, I forge on! On the menu, the dessert was apple German cake with a whiskey sauce. I asked for extra whiskey with my sauce, and it was a dessert that made me think autumn. It was somewhat of a spice cake, sliced apples with a yummy sauce that tied it all together. We were also offered a second dessert so we took it for the team and had both. The dedication just pours through us. The other dessert was a cappuccino torte. Think something like an ice cream pie and ladyfingers crust but it was more than that.
Wendy: My favorite was the cappuccino torte. It was coffee ice cream with Heath bar crumbles.
Aimee: They were both to die for! The cake was moist with a whiskey sauce and candied pecans, so good! Then I tasted the cappuccino torte. I had to ask Bridget to take it away from me because I was going to eat the whole thing!
Lunch and a show
Lori: Every Thursday they have a lunchtime fashion show from a local merchant in town. I had the best time and it was very entertaining and I loved all the history.
Aimee: We were lucky to be at Guild House on a day that they were having the lunchtime fashion show. The lovely models were showing clothes from Victoria’s. It was a fun addition to our lunch. In case my husband is reading this, there were a few very cute items you could purchase for me!
Dedicated volunteers
Lori: I personally am so amazed at the support and the effort of all the volunteers that work at the Guild House; they are amazing people. They devote a lot of their own free time to help others. Our server Bridget had so much enthusiasm it made our lunch experience unforgettable. We absolutely loved, loved it. Their food is exceptional and you will not be disappointed and remember every dollar is donated to the Henrietta Weill.
Aimee: The ladies of Guild House put in many hours of service to cooking, serving and cleaning! The best part is they do it because they love it … and it shows. This was truly one of the most fun trips the Divas have taken!
Ladies only? No way!
Whitney: Lunch at Guild House can be for a special occasion or just because they serve a great meal. My husband frequents the Guild regularly since it’s so close to the Police Department. You men out there need to realize Guild House isn’t just for the ladies. He and his staff thoroughly enjoy the ever-changing menu and the price is excellent for a three-course meal at just $13. Not only do you get a super lunch but you are also donating to a very worthwhile cause. You are getting a lunch and helping others while dining? This needs to a restaurant that you frequent once a month at least.
Wendy: The Guild House is like going to Grandma’s for dinner. It has that comfortable, safe feeling, like being at home. The Guild House is a restaurant everyone should experience. Not just for the history but for the incredible food and delightful service.
Guild House
1905 18 St. 325-5478 or bakersfieldguildhouse.com
Open 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday