Blue Hill Farm

Located in scenic Westchester County near Tarrytown, Blue Hill Farm is a fantastic destination for food lovers and families.

Located in scenic Westchester County near Tarrytown, Blue Hill Farm is a fantastic destination for food lovers and families.

Blue Hill Farm Stone BarnsBlue Hill FarmThe restaurant, Stone Barns, is a four season farm to table affair.  The menu mainly features seasonal items either grown by the farm or sourced locally.  The building itself is beautiful and provides the ideal back drop for the food.  Rather than choosing from a menu, diners are given a list of ingredients being used in the kitchen on that day to build a unique tasting menu.  Each course is crafted to showcase these ingredients with such creativity.  In winter, you might experience smoked kale or hake with mussels.  At other times of the year, you might experience zucchini pasta or beet burgers.  Dining here is a whole experience; when you visit, you may be selected to meet the chef and watch him cook.  It’s very different, and not your traditional restaurant.

Blue Hill Farm 3Blue Hill Farm 6One of my favorite aspects of Blue Hill Farm is that it is a true working farm.  From spring through fall, you can take your kids to see how the farm is run.  In addition to the many gardens and greenhouses, Blue Hill is home to chickens and sheep.  After touring the farm, a stop at the Cafe and Grain Barn lets you recharge with snacks, salads, and baked goods.  Or, you can try Blue Hill Farm’s very own yogurt.

Blue Hill Farm 5Blue HIll Farm 1Blue Hill Farm 7To learn more about Blue Hill Farm or to plan a visit, go to their website.  You can also find them on Facebook.

 

 

Del Posto

Located at 85 Tenth Avenue in NYC, Del Posto is the creation of Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich, and Lidia Bastianich.

Located at 85 Tenth Avenue in NYC, Del Posto is the creation of Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich, and Lidia Bastianich.  The restaurant’s goal is to create an atmosphere of European luxury where guests enjoy refined Italian cuisine and a world class wine list.  The menu is crafted from the highest quality ingredients and tailored to provide an unrivaled experience.  Lunch consists of a 3 course prix fixe with antipasto, secondo, and dolce.  Dinner guests can choose for their table the five course Il Menu Del Posto or the sumptuous eight course Captain’s Menu, each available with wine pairings by Del Posto’s sommelier.  Each dish is executed to perfection and so beautifully presented with a truly memorable combination of flavors and textures.  The food is pure art — as soon as you see it, you know it tastes amazing.

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Of course, I always notice the interior of a restaurant.  As soon as you walk into Del Posto, the restaurant’s design influences your expectations and sets the tone for the meal you’re about to enjoy.  Del Posto’s dining room is opulent and lavish, but also inviting.  The food is bright and colorful while the interior is a handsome and masculine contrast with dark woods and geometric floors.  The yellow hue on the ceiling provides a light counter balance, and the overall effect is just a great backdrop to the food.  Del Posto is definitely on my must-visit list!

Del Posto 10Del Posto 3Del Posto 7Del Posto 9Del Posto 8Del Posto 11To see a complete menu, visit the Del Posto website.  You can also find them on Facebook.

 

 

Inn at Pound Ridge

The Inn at Pound Ridge is one of the area’s hot spots, known for its wonderful ambiance and great food.

The Inn at Pound Ridge is one of the area’s hot spots, known for its wonderful ambiance and great food.  The elegant but down to earth fare by Chef Jean-George is the main attraction, but the decor is what I find so memorable.  The curve of the banquets, the use of leather, and a neutral palette add up to an interior that makes you want to stay for hours and hours.

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Named for the building’s history as an inn, the Inn at Pound Ridge is a refined, yet rustic, restaurant in picturesque Pound Ridge, New York.  Built in 1833 as a residence before later serving as an inn, the building has been restored and carefully renovated.  Many of the original materials have been preserved, resulting in a modern sensibility that stays true to the building’s historic past.  A mixture of reclaimed wood, zinc, and marble throughout the interior meld with artful lighting to create a truly warm atmosphere.

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In fact, the interior of the Inn and Pound Ridge was so well done by designer Thomas Juul-Hansen that it has become the inspiration for a home I am currently designing in Montana.  I love how the Danish furniture, the stone, and the wood elements at the Inn became a point of reference for a home in an entirely different state.

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To learn more about Inn at Pound Ridge or plan a visit, see their website.  You can also find them on Facebook.