Once in a Blue Moon Dinner at Blue Hill Stone Barns

It's hard to have a bad meal in the city, considering we have so many great options to choose from. Most of the meals I would rate as being very good, differentiated more by style of cuisine and the scene as opposed to the quality and taste. When I went to Blue Hill Stone Barns for my 1st year anniversary dinner, I was struck by how good everything was, and the memories of the fresh salmon and crisp green sugar snap peas and the delectable crust of the fresh, warm bread are still very vivid in my mind. I can honestly say it was one of the best meals I have had ever and would wholeheartedly recommend that others make the short trip out to Pocantico Hills, NY for this rustic culinary retreat. 

Blue Hill is located on a former dairy barn on the Rockefeller estate. Guests can make their way across the grounds to a gift shop and small garden before entering the restaurant. If you have a lot of time to spare, and if you can stomach it, you can tour the nearby farm and meet the healthy, happy pigs and other livestock who will probably make their way onto your plate relatively soon. The main dining area of Blue Hill is very modern yet comfortable. The warm earth tones and clean, crisp white linens evoke the interior of a high-end Hamptons country home. As soon as you are seated, the professional and courteous wait staff will provide you with the drinks menu. 

There really is no permanent menu at Blue Hill. Instead, the seasonal produce serves as an inspiration for the day's offering. You have an option of choosing from a 5-, 8- or 12-course Farmer's Feast tasting menu. And don't take the number of courses literally. There are so many in-between courses that add up to a long and satisfying dining experience. In terms of seasoning, The style of cuisine isn't anything complicated or fancy. It's simply fresh produce and protein prepared in an elevated form. Does seasonal food sourced from local farms make such a huge difference in how things taste? I think it does, since there really are no bells and whistles to the preparation. 

Here are some pictures of our meal. I think each photo speaks for itself--what you see it what you get, except even better than what you expected.