on Caroline Street, has a master’s degree in Every centimeter of the Mouzon House is photography; Rebecca has a master’s degree distinctive – from the expanse of the festive, in food studies from New York University seasonal rooftop dining area, created with and is a food writer; sultry singer-songwriter the extended kitchen wing beneath it in Sarah is admired far and wide beyond the 2005, when the restaurant opened, to the Capital Region as a performer and recording welcoming parlor dining rooms on the first artist; vivacious Kaitlyn works alongside her floor, to the other ground-level outdoor family in the kitchen; and Aaron, who also spaces accessible in the summer. Like a works at Mouzon, is a doctoral student in generous host, who with a gesture, bids media studies. guests to sit where they’re most comfortable, the Mouzon House extends its metaphorical While the 19th-century building is itself a arm and guides patrons in the direction of drinks, dinner, or Sunday brunch. © 2014 stockstudiosphotography.com Sometimes, live music. The restaurant also hosts private special events. When the courtyard and rooftop are in full bloom, dozens and dozens of patrons can be served. The gardens are a local legend. Parking is abundant. We’re going to get to the brilliant food in just a few minutes, hang in there, but it would be a disservice to gloss over the décor and personalities of this building. Anyone in our region paying attention to the arts is aware of the extraordinary Pedinotti family, talented all. David, in addition to being able to build anything beautifully and serve as executive chef, is also an active musician, playing guitar and blues harmonica. Diane, the hub of the wheel, has exquisite taste that shows in every nook, cranny and corner, as well as a high-powered professional past in human resources, which allows her to oversee many business functions of the enterprise. Daughter Elizabeth, now proprietor with her partner of One Caroline, the Pedinotti’s first restaurant-jazz club venture
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piece of art, the work on the walls rivets attention on its own. Featured throughout the dining rooms and up the winding staircase are large, luminous, brightly colored paintings, many reminiscent of Gaugin and Maxfield Parrish. This informal gallery is
made all the more extraordinary by the artists: Pedinotti family members. As the building was being restored, the siblings painted full-body portraits of each other in period clothing. Oh, even if you’re not very hungry, find an excuse to go over to see the lush, stunning paintings! Get an appetizer, get a drink, get a dessert. This, you won’t see anywhere else. I literally couldn’t keep my eyes off the walls once I understood the origin of the collection. The family dynamic is fascinating; the assemblage, truly beautiful. Diane explains that the original horsehair plaster was in bad repair, and using it as a kind of gigantic canvas was the family’s approach to renovating it creatively and delightfully, while enjoying themselves and each other in the process. I can’t quite get off the subject of the setting until I impart one more story – the house itself. The Mouzon House was owned by a family of mixed heritage. Ardelle, the wife in the home, born in 1890, was a full-blooded Cherokee, and the husband was an African-American, French Creole descendent – very unusual for the time. They had a daughter, Mia, who was raised in the house and lived there with her own children. The house held great meaning for the Mouzon family, and though it had become difficult to maintain for Mia in her 80s, it was proving even more difficult to sell, until David and Diane noticed the “for sale” sign, and a deal was brokered. When the Mouzon House was refurbished and established as a restaurant, Mia, who had moved to another home in Saratoga Springs, came to visit. Reports Aaron, “She was so happy, she cried.”
Simply Saratoga | WINTER 2014 | 9