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Journey to Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Published

on September 28, 2009

. 8 Comments

Located 45 minutes outside of Manhattan, Blue Hill at Stone Barns is a working farm, an educational center, and a restaurant, all with a shared mission: to celebrate year-round farm-to-table agriculture and promote the connection between farming and eating. Of all the restaurants on my New York City itinerary, this meal was the one I was looking forward to the most.

Half the fun of dining at Chef Dan Barber’s locavore temple is the journey. Well, maybe an eighth of the fun is more accurate. After our breakfast at Russ and Daughters and a light snack at Momofuku Ssäm Bar, The Astronomer and I trekked forty blocks to Grand Central Station.

After purchasing tickets, we boarded the express train to Tarrytown. The 30-minute ride offered beautiful views of the Hudson River. Unlike our dear friend the Los Angeles River, this one was whooshing with water and free of graffiti. From the Tarrytown train station, we flagged a taxi that dropped us off steps away from the restaurant.

Before getting our farmers feast on, The Astronomer and I strolled around the farm to see the sights and greet the animals whose relatives we would soon be eating.

The first creature we sought out was the Stone Barns sheep dog. According to Wikipedia, humans first trained sheep dogs to herd and guard their flocks thousands of years ago. These dogs are very active and intelligent. My brother absolutely adores the Stone Barns sheep dog, and after meeting him myself, I am smitten as well.

After watching the herd of sheep tirelessly munch on grass, The Astronomer and I walked over to the massive greenhouse.

The greenhouse covers 22,000 square feet (a full half acre) of year-round growing space for dozens of crop varieties and uses only a minimal amount of added heat.

Every inch of space, every seedling, every clump of soil is intensely managed 365 days a year. The greenhouse has two unusual features: retracting roof panels that allow plants to “go outside” on nice days, and natural and cultivatable dirt “floors.”

There are a plethora of colorful signs around the farm to educate visitors on various operations. Click on the photo to learn how composting works at Stone Barns.

Lettuces, cabbage, and serpent-like squash.

Bees pollinating a bushy pink flower.

After meandering around the grounds and taking in the farm’s beauty, it was time for us to dine.

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Blue Hill at Stone Barns
630 Bedford Road
Pocantico Hills, NY 10591
Phone: 914-366-9600

The French Laundry Garden & Young Inglewood Wineries

Published

Gastronomer

on April 24, 2009

in Napa Valley and Scenes

. 1 Comment

Did you know that the town of Yountville has a Michelin star for every 580 residents?

After The Astronomer and I brunched on the greatest steak and eggs ever at Ad Hoc, we took a relaxing stroll down Washington Street to The French Laundry‘s meticulously groomed garden. The three-acre garden, which is located across the street from the famed eatery, provides all three of Thomas Keller’s Yountville restaurants with fresh vegetables, herbs, and inspiration. In fact, the frisée that we devoured at Ad Hoc was picked fresh from here earlier in the morning.

Meandering along the neat rows of beets, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts on a Sunday afternoon was idyllic and calming.

Everywhere I looked were heads of happy lettuces and sprouts. Everyone who makes the trip out to Yountville must stop by this amazing green space, if just for a moment, to take in the peace and beauty.

Before driving back to Los Angeles, we made one last stop at our friend Scott’s house—Young Inglewood Wineries—in the town of St. Helena.

Sadly, Scott was out of town, but he left The Astronomer and me a special surprise wrapped in a brown paper bag on his front porch. The wine he gifted us was bottled a week prior, so labels hadn’t been printed yet. We’re going to enjoy the bottle of ’07 red (60% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc), French oak (~50% new) with grilled steaks or bucatinni and meatballs. Thanks, Scott!

The Astronomer gets a big smooch for planning a spectacular weekend in Wine Country.

Hanoi Highlights II

Published

Gastronomer

on October 19, 2008

in Bun Rieu, Hanoi, Hoanh Thanh, Kem, Scenes and Vietnamese

. 3 Comments

Whereas our first couple of days in Hanoi were spent leisurely walking around town and eating in the Old Quarter, our final day in the capital city was crammed with a bevy of tourist activities. We started our day with a bowl of wonton noodles (mi hoang thanh) on Mai Hac De Street, which was touted by Rough Guide as having excellent local fare. The street had a handful of restaurants, but I definitely wouldn’t classify it as a culinary hot spot. In addition to wontons and noodles, the soup contained slices of barbecued pork, fried wonton skins, chives and a quarter of a hard boiled egg. Overall, a good soup, but it lacked the oomph of its southern counterpart. I say, more fish sauce and more black pepper.

Unsatisfied with our bland bowl of wontons, we headed a few doors down to a bun rieu establishment. Our zesty bowl of vermicelli noodles with tomatoes and crab was solid, and dare I say, nearly as good as Saigon’s beloved Thanh Hai. Fried tofu is the greatest flavor soaker there ever was.

After lunch, we hopped on our rented motorbike and went on a drive by greeting (similar to a drive by shooting, but more peaceful) to Uncle Ho’s mausoleum. One of these days I’m gonna wait in line and see Ho’s mummified body.

The Hanoi Opera House.

After site seeing on the motorbike for twenty minutes, The Astronomer and I were ready for a snack, so we stopped at a shack near the Opera House that sold ice cream and small bites. I ordered sweet sticky rice topped with French vanilla ice cream and toasted coconut (kem xoi). I give it three snaps in “Z” formation.

The always-savory Astronomer ordered a portion of nem ngot ran—slightly spicy meat that’s breaded and fried.

Properly fueled, we zoomed to check out the One Pillar Pagoda—Chùa Một Cột—an iconic Buddhist temple.

While in the neighborhood, we briefly considered going to the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Pros—air conditioning, cons—shame. The Astronomer was shaking in his boots posing outside the museum. After deliberating, we decided to put our dong to good use elsewhere.

Although the Ethnography Museum was not air conditioned, it was definitely an educationally stimulating and guilt-free way to spend the afternoon.

The multi-story museum contained all sorts of colorful and interactive displays featuring Vietnamese minorities. Exploring all of the exhibits got me really excited about heading to the mountainous town of Sapa. Plaid neon-colored do-rags are awesome.