The Old Stone Farm House Restaurant
is situated in a 200-year old, restored plantation field house
overlooking the Mahogany Run Golf Course. The stone walls,
archways, shuttered windows, and lovely courtyard with fountain
resound with the history of this estate. Once, the 300-acre
plantation stretched from Magen's bay to Mandahl. More than two
centuries ago the Old Stone Farm House was the core of a Danish
sugar plantation at Estate Lovendahl. The graceful arches, two-
foot-thick walls and majestic rafters are reminiscent of St. Thomas
during the days of the flourishing clipper ship trade, sugar
plantations on lush rolling hills and the aristocratic mansions of
prosperous merchants.
Today this magnificently converted
farm building is an excellent example of restoration. This is
considered one of the best examples of classic West Indian
architecture on the island. Native blue bit rock and brick and
rubble masonry are the prime construction materials.
The entrance road along side the
restaurant was once the cart road from Magen's bay to the plantation
stores. The valley's fields that now form the world class golf
course were used to grow indigo, cotton, laurel bay and sugar cane -
the core and foundation of the economy of these islands for
centuries. Enormous copper kettles were used to produce molasses and
rum. The cane juice flowed into the largest copper kettle where a
fire was lit beneath. The excess water evaporated and workers would
ladle the juice from one kettle to the next in descending order down
the line. The juice eventually became concentrated through various
levels of heating and evaporation and thus produced Rum and/or
molasses.
In the mid 1800's, the cultivation
of sugar cane declined in the Virgin Islands due to two primary
factors: the abolishment of slavery in the Virgin Islands (in 1848,
a full twenty years prior to the United States abolishment) and the
introduction of the sugar beet to more temperate climes. The
Lovendahl plantation for the most part abandoned sugar production
and was kept running by the use of bay oil and cattle. The
evolution of such as seen in the dairy to the northwest of the
restaurant. This structure became the livery of the estate.
In the early part of the 20th
century the plantation started to sell parcels of its once vast
holdings. This building was converted into a private family house.
In the subsequent decades the structure has had myriad uses; from a
pig farm, to a school and even a juvenile detention center, of sorts
and of course a restaurant. Many people from many walks of life
have stories about The Old Stone Farm House, but the most treasured
ones are those that reverberate through its antiquated stone.
Steven Andrew Jankowski
Steven Jankowski was born on October
22, 1978 in Lorain, Ohio. As a teenager, Steven worked in
local restaurants fomenting his love for the restaurant industry
and the culinary arts. After high school he attended the Pennsylvania
Institute of Culinary Arts where he obtained the fundamentals
to begin his career.
Upon graduation, Steven covered all the stations
at the Monterrey Bay Fish Grotto in Pittsburgh. Lured by his
love for the ocean and ample restaurant opportunities he moved
to Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. For three years
he was Sous chef at the well renowned Craig & Sally’s
restaurant, creating daily menus and managing day-to-day operations.
In 2003, Steven joined The Old Stone Farmhouse
as Sous Chef under Brian Katz. After three years he has taken
on the Executive Chef position. During his tenure the restaurant
and food has been recognized by numerous awards including
being named Caribbean Travel & Life’s best restaurant
of the Caribbean, 2004 and Best Gourmet restaurant by the
readers of the Saint Thomas Daily News. The Old Stone Farm
House has also received the Wine Spectator "Award of
Excellence" in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The Old Stone Farm
House also received the award for the Most Romantic restaurant
in the Virgin Islands for 2006.
Steven lives in Saint Thomas with his
wife Megan.
