Strawberries in Devonshire Cream
Ingredients
- 3 c. sour cream
- ¼ c. brown sugar, firmly packed
- 3-4 Tbsp. Grand Marnier
- Fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Mix sour cream, brown sugar, and Grand Mariner together in a bowl. Let sit for several minutes so sugar fully dissolves.
- Wash, hull, and cut strawberries in half lengthwise.
- Serve cream over fresh strawberries.
About Kavanaugh’s Resort and Restaurant
Location:
Brainerd, Minnesota
Status:
Open
Dates active:
1970-present
Kavanaugh’s Resort has been a staple on the shore of Sylvan Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota, for over 55 years. When Sherman and Mae Kavanaugh acquired the property in 1969, they saw enormous potential in the nine housekeeping cabins and 1,000 feet of shoreline. Their commitment was evident as they moved into the owner’s residence during the off-season and tirelessly upgraded the property.
By the following summer, Kavanaugh’s Resort and Restaurant opened for business. The couple had spent the off-season upgrading the cabins with running water and bathrooms, adding heating for chilly nights, updating the decor, and each cabin was winterized for year-round fun. A restaurant was added to the basement of the owner’s residence with a full kitchen and dining room that could seat 45 people.
From that point on, the resort would continually evolve and adapt to the changing tastes of its guests. New cabins were constructed that offered breathtaking views of the lake. A new conference center was added to the property, catering to groups and ensuring the resort’s sustainability during the traditionally quiet shoulder seasons. But the highlight of all of the improvements was a stand-alone building for their restaurant that was completed in 1982.
By then, the resort’s restaurant had already gained a reputation for excellent food and spectacular views. Mae received so many requests for recipes from guests that the resort published cookbooks filled with favorites for guests to take home. Under her guidance, the kitchen served up everything from egg scrambles and tuna loaf to frog legs and baked crab. She also trained two sons in the kitchen, and they went on to become accomplished chefs in their own right.
The next major renovation took place in the early 2000s as visitor preferences in the Braidnerd area changed. The restaurant had seen a steady decrease in guests, so the building was demolished. Hungry guests could visit one of the nearby restaurants, cook or barbecue at their cabin, or hire a personal chef to do it for them.
Additionally, four of the original lakeside cabins and a few other buildings were torn down to make way for new luxury cabins, expansive outdoor recreation areas, and landscape improvements. The resort’s name was changed to Kavanaugh’s Sylvan Lake Resort.
Mae and Sherm retired from the resort in the late 1990s, leaving operation of the resort to their children. They both passed away within a year of each other, just a decade later.
Kavanaugh’s Sylvan Lake Resort continues to be a family-run resort with Mae and Sherm’s children and grandchildren now operating and working at the resort.
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