| Your innkeepers, Michael Pollock and Jim Gilbert have had varied backgrounds before acquiring the Pine Hill Inn in July 2003. Michael is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. He holds his Professional Chef's Degree with Honors from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Michael has experience in both the culinary and hospitality industry. He was a sous chef with Silk's restaurant at the Mandarin Chinese Hotel in San Francisco, where he worked with such award-winning Boston area chefs as Blue Ginger's Ming Tsai and Clio's Ken Oringer. Michael's culinary experience also includes work with Boston chef Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley's Bistro, and as a staff chef for PBS-TV's Cooking with Jacques Pepin. Michael has been the recipient of awards for his unique pairings of food and wine, and has an extensive knowledge of wine selection and tasting, specializing in California wines from Sonoma and Napa vineyards.
In addition to his culinary experience, Michael worked closely with George Shattuck, the former General Manager of the popular Relaix & Château property The Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, for the grand opening of the Inn at Castle Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Putting aside his culinary background, Michael trained as an assistant manger, overseeing housekeeping and general operations of the Inn during the 2000-2001 season.
Jim is an attorney in Salem, Massachusetts and an aspiring writer. He currently operates his private law practice specializing in commercial and residential real estate and commercial and personal litigation. Jim also serves as the Assistant City Solicitor for the city of Salem, Massachusetts. When not at work on his latest novel or practicing law, Jim assists Michael around the Inn, serving breakfast, and greeting guests.
Our Basset Hounds, Barrington and Brandy have no formal education, however, they are quite adept at greeting guests when called upon, and they are very good at satisfying a guest's "dog fix" when they are traveling away from their pets.
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