Community Corner

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

The latest Hidden Gem is a restaurant that's truly part of its community.

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Chris Dehnel, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Cotton Hollow Kitchen is truly part of its community.
Cotton Hollow Kitchen is truly part of its community. (Cotton Hollow Kitchen)

GLASTONBURY, CT — The latest Hidden Gem in Hartford and Tolland counties arguably qualifies as a gem for circumstances alone.

The owners of Cotton Hollow Kitchen recently experienced the power of community. The husband and wife duo put out a call for help on social media when they realized that their new restaurant venture might fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic and the reaction far exceeded their wildest imagination.

When they opened Cotton Hollow Kitchen in a little nook in historic South Glastonbury, Mark Conley and Joanne Tan were pursuing their dream of owning a restaurant. Locally sourced contemporary cuisine and craft cocktails were a perfect fit.

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Gem
Duck confit, mushrooms and Brussels sprouts highlight Cotton Hollow's house made Parisian gnocchi. (Cotton Hollow Kitchen)

Then, the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc throughout the food industry.

After having tapped into their personal savings, Conley and Tan took a "humble" approach and reached out to the community.

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"This was our dream. We knew that we wanted Cotton Hollow Kitchen to survive but we also knew that times were getting desperate," Conley said. "Asking for help doesn't come naturally but the choice was either to lean into our community or close our doors."

Conley and Tan said they took to social media, an avenue they could reach a "significant" audience.

Community support started to pour in. Take-out orders were on the rise, in-house dining increased, and gift card purchases followed.

"One anonymous donor purchased $15,000.00 worth of gift cards that they vowed to distribute within the community," Tan said. "Another woman left a $100 bill on the bar stating that it was a gift from her family. These, and other kind gestures combined made the idea of staying afloat feel more and more like a possibility. We truly witnessed human kindness at its best."

The 840 Main St. restaurant is equipped with UV air purifying technology, socially distanced dining areas and plastic screens around the bar and between booths.

Check the restaurant's Facebook page for special nights.

While Conley and Tan have been long-time community members, they said the outpouring of support has really inspired them to take pause and appreciate "the magic that tends to unfold in this very special corner of the state."

Hidden Gem
The chowder at Cotton Hollow. (Cotton Hollow Kitchen)

"We love the village and community of South Glastonbury and the surrounding towns," they added.

Cotton Hollow also has an Instagram account: @cottonhollowkitchen.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other columns in this series:

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