Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Blue Hill at Stone Barns might very well be my most memorable food experience of all time. It is top notch, unique, and unlike anything else out there. Forget Per Se and Eleven Madison and imagine for a moment the formality of a fine dining establishment coupled with the casual, rustic vibe of a farm. This is the place to bring foodies. And your nutritionist best friend. And your grandmother. Barns is for anyone who can appreciate good, fresh, delicious food. It is close to a perfect meal, and definitely one of the best I've ever had. From the knowledgable waitstaff, beautiful dining room, elegantly presented food, to the incredible flavors, Blue Hill at Stone Barns is gourmet heaven.

First off, the basics. Blue Hill at Stone Barns is located in Pocantico Hills, NY 30 miles or about a 45 minute drive North from NYC. The restaurant opened in 2004 within the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture. Dan Barber (also of Blue Hill in NYC), is the executive chef who's mission is to "create a consciousness about the effect of everyday food choices" (bluehillfarm.com). A meal here is not so much a meal as it is an experience. There are no menus. Most everything served is sourced on the surrounding fields and pastures, as well as local farms along the Hudson Valley. Expect to find a multi course feast of small plates for your palate using only the best ever-changing ingredients based on the current harvest.

 Tips to have the ultimate BH @ SB experience:

• Go early and walk around. The ambiance of the farm and the restaurant itself, is so special and unique. Take it all in. If you arrive once it is already dark, you miss out on a lot. Also, this is not a quick meal so unless you are okay with sitting until 2AM, an early reservation is recommended.
• Do the Pecking, Grazing, and Rooting option. It's a little more pricey ($208 a head!) but well worth it. Although there are about 20 courses that come, this is not one of those places that wait 20 minutes between bites leaving you restless and exhausted by the time your meal is over. Food just keeps coming. You came all the way here and are prepared to bounce (big time) so go for it, sit back relax and don't forget to breathe.
• Wine Pairing is recommended. I had to be rolled out of here, but it truly was an exceptional night. From bubbly, to whites, an ale or two, to some deep rich reds, the wines were all delicious and paired beautifully with the meal. I will say the wines of white-heavy so if you are more of a reds kind of guy, you may be better off order a nice bottle or two and pass on the pairing. 
• There are no formal menus and the offerings change on a daily if not hourly basis based on what is fresh and in season. Every time you come it is a completely new and different experience. 
• We were lucky enough to have one of our courses INSIDE of Dan Barber's kitchen. Watching the culinary magic first hand felt close to a holy experience. 
• Be prepared for tiny bites, often consumed sans utensils in unique and fun ways. Keep an open mind. Carving off your own brussel sprouts and snipping pea pods is part of the fun.
• Take a deep breathe, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy this experience. 

I won't get into too many food details as the rewas at least 20 courses and as I mentioned it is constantly changing.  I honestly couldn't keep track of everything we ate, but I will say it was definitely vegetable heavy and a lot of fun surprises. Beet hamburgers, crunchy kale, baby vegetables to just name a few. Tomato tartare with a quail egg, delicious homemade ricotta with fresh baked bread, delectable pasta, I could go on and on….

Ultimately, if you care enough about food to be reading this blog, this is a must try place. It is worth the shlep, and worth the hefty price tag.  I know I'm starting to sound repetitive but BH @ SB is epic, definitely an experience you will not easily forget. 

Neighborhood: Pocantico Hills, NY 

Cuisine: American

Bite Mark: *****

Good For: Foodies, Special Occasion

Blue Hill at Stone Barns, 630 Bedford Road. MetroNorth train to Tarrytown then a 10 minute cab ride, or 45 minute drive from NYC. www.bluehillfarm.com 

The Grocery

Easily rated one of my favorite Brooklyn spots, The Grocery serves as the quintessential neighborhood joint. The service is friendly, there is not usually an excessive wait (call ahead), and the food is always fresh and delicious.

There's nothing super fancy about The Grocery. In fact, the decor is pretty much non existent. But if you are okay sitting in a tiny room overhearing your neighbors conversations, and you can overlook or even appreciate Charlie's swarthy/funny remarks, you will find yourself an incredible and memorable meal. 
The menu here changes based on what's fresh and in season, but no matter what they put on, you will not leave disappointed. There's always so many vegetarian options! It's crazy. On an average Thursday night the first 8 items listed were all sans meat and shellfish, and the toughest decision of the night was what we should omit. 

After an amuse of Parsnip Soup, we decided on the Fried Cauliflower with green lentils, serrano chili and sherry vinegar and the Braised Artichokes with garlic bread, escarole, white wine and chili flakes. Both were great. Be forewarned the portions lay on the small side, so you are going to want to get a bunch of things, and the meal will not be cheap. But ah, it will be gooooood. 

Next came the Local Lettuces with grilled cheese and red wine vinaigrette. It sounds like such a simple dish, but the salad and the grilled cheese were both really excellent. The Grilled Asparagus with melted feta and fried egg was another winner. All these dishes have components that works really well together to bring out the simple flavors of delicious fresh food. How can you go wrong with that?

We really love the House made Pasta with spring garlic, young greens, poblano, white wine, brown butter, and grana padano cheese. Really, I don't think we disliked one dish we had all night. The Fluke with white beans that were pillowy soft, roasted garlic and lemon dijon vinagrette was also delicious. The fish itself was not my favorite of the night, but the butter beans and sauce made us lick up our plates.

 For dessert they brought a trio of yummy Sorbets, and we had the special dessert of the night which was a Mocha Bread Pudding with ice cream and hot fudge. 
All in all, it was another great meal at the Grocery. Charlie and Susan are doing something right. Can't wait for the weather to get a drop warmer so I can take advantage of their outdoor garden. The Grocery is a Smith Street stop that never goes out of season. As all new young and fun trendy spots come and go, The Grocery is one that will stand true and delicious and be there for you when others let you down (or you just can't wait 2 hours at Battersby). 



Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn 

Bite Mark: ****

Good For: Family Dinner, Date Spot, Small Parties, Neighborhood Joint

The Grocery, 288 Smith Street  www.thegroceryrestaurant.com