As promised, I am back with an epic restaurant review.
Since Kyle and I have a shot-gun countdown until we leave the NYCizzle, we decided it was muy imperativo that we start hitting up all the great dining spots that are on our to-taste list. (For the record, that list is about 5 years worth of meals long, so I will be pleased if we can even make a small dent in it…)
Anyways. Up first on the list was Blue Hill.
I first heard of Blue Hill Farms back on the 5th season of Top Chef, when the chef-testants got their cook on at Dan Barber’s Blue Hill at Stone Farms. This Pocantico Hills, NY location is where the magic happens. Just 30 miles north of New York City, this working four-season farm and educational center continues to promote its mission: to create a consciousness about the effect of everyday food choices.
From the website: Sourcing from the surrounding fields and pasture, as well as other local farms, Blue Hill at Stone Barns highlights the abundant resources of the Hudson Valley. There are no menus at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Instead, guests are presented with a list of over a hundred ingredients, updated daily, which contains the best offerings from the field and market.
Well, let me tell you, the Manhattan restaurant was nothing short of genius as well.
Local, fresh, seasonal, and prepared to my specifications? Yes please!
We started with wine. I got a Pinot Noir from Oregon and it was really good. Kyle got a Spanish Rioja, but switched over to my Pinot after his first glass. What can I say – I’m a wine-o…I know how to pick ‘em 😉
Then the most gorgeous display of bread arrived, hot from the oven. Ever the dainty lady, I couldn’t wait to dig in, and so my first bite was rather phallic. In my defense, it’s pretty damn near impossible to pass up such warm doughy bread though. Oh, the aroma!
I wanted to smuggle the leftovers in my purse…but there weren’t any! Ha.
After we ordered, this little plate arrived from the chef.
*As an aside: The waiter made sure that the chef was aware that all my food needed to be dairy free, so the rest of the tasters and meals were made with my dietary specifications in mind. Amazing service.
But, getting back to the cute lil burgers above. The insides were actually beets and they were on a mini toasted bun. Such cute buggers! The bread tasted almost like a sweet dessert roll/shortbread. So weird, right? But for some reason it was amazing when paired with the beet “burger,” which tasted nothing like beets, and almost like a ketchup-y bite-lette of I don’t know what. I have no clue why or how these flavors worked so well together but doggonit, the amuse bouche was quite amusing.
After that, our appetizers arrived. I actually don’t even remember what Kyle ordered because I was so focused on my own plate.
This, my friends, is the ROOT VEGETABLE BURGER, with a sunny side up farm egg, Stone Barns butter lettuce, and red cabbage ketchup.
It was soooo good, I died a little with each bite. Can I please eat all my root vegetables like this forever more?
Now please don’t go ape sh!t on me because I had an egg, ok? My GI system has no qualms with eggs, so I have no issues with eating them every once in a while (although let’s be real – when was the last time I actually ate a real egg?). The truth of the matter is they usually skeeve me out and I’d rather pass on the cholesterol…but that’s neither here nor there.
Anyways, if there were ever a time to eat eggs (or meat/dairy at all), it’s definitely when they are farm fresh and responsibly grown/raised. Blue Hill Farms is just the place, so I was (am) definitely ok with enjoying the fruits of the local labor.
So yeah, the burger was freakin’ fabulous and I am pretty sure I could have ordered a second one and been content to call it a night. But (obviously) I didn’t.
For my entree I got the PARSNIP “STEAK” with black trumpet mushrooms, creamed spinach and wild rice.
Don’t be deceived by the “creamed” description of the spinach because (for me) it was dairy free and uber yum.
A+ for accommodating my dietary preference.
A++ for deliciousness.
The garnish was so savory and the parsnip was surprisingly hearty. I will admit that I needed help from Kyle to polish off the wild rice.
It was more al dente than I usually like, but the crunch was a welcome texture difference to contrast with the edamame, carrots, and parsnip.
Even though I was stuffed to the gills, Kyle still insisted on ordering dessert and a port wine. I passed, but my efforts were in vain because the waiter brought me my very own dairy free treat!!
As much as Kyle was enjoying his own COFFEE AND CREAM with cocoa nib ice cream and chocolate cloud, he was definitely eyeing my dairy-less peanut butter decadence.
And could you blame him? Holy EFF!!!! If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this was a mix of nothing but peanut butter and cream. Wow.
I shared a bite with Kyle and he nearly jumped ship from his own dessert to mine. I was damn near speechless.
I think it’s safe to say that Blue Hill now holds a special place in my heart. Next up on the to-taste list is Le Bernardin.
We may leave NY broke, but our bellies will be full and our taste buds spoiled 🙂
Oh wow girl! Love the post, love the egg talk LOL and hope you have a great week!
The food looks amazing!
Great review!!! There are far too many restuarants to try out when/if we ever go to New York. x
That dinner looks AMAZE. The root vegetable burger sounds awesome…no hating on the egg, it’s worth it sometimes!! I want to go here so badly now, I’m glad you’re taking advantage of all these awesome restaurants before leaving NYC!
That dinner looks amazing! Looks like you guys had a great time. Kyle should start ordering the same thing you do when you guys go out…seems like he enjoys your meal more than his own 🙂
The meal looks delicious!!!!! If you loved it there I would suggest Mas (Farmhouse). It’s a similar concept and the menu is made specific for you. I went last week with my boyfriend for a birthday/anniversary dinner and still keep talking about it.
AHHHHHHHHHH! blue hill is my #1 place in the entire world i want to eat. no lie. in a previous internship, we worked a little with dan barber. that man is amazing. in fact, he also gives an amazing talk here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_barber_how_i_fell_in_love_with_a_fish.html
amazing.
the speech and the food. happy monday friend 🙂
Yum yummy everything looks really good. Im glad you had a good time 🙂
YUM. I went to Blue Hill with my mom after my senior year of high school and I still dream of it! I really want to go to their farm.
What an AMAZING experience! I love going to great restaurants that are just an other worldly experience to the usual places I eat. It’s SO worth the $$$ in my opinion, especially if it’s a rare treat.
That parsnip thingy looks/sounds to die for!
wow that meal looks fantabulous!! i always love it when chefs and waiters go out of their way to make you feel welcome!! this place sounds awesome! I lived in NY all my life but haven’t gone to any place that has truly wowed me..you always find the best restaurants!
-Lena
Holy deliciousness! Looks like you and Kyle had a blast! 🙂
that sounds amazing…. i LOVE when restaurants have sophisticated vegetarian entrees rather than just pasta primavera.
i would go to le bernadin not only for le food, but also in hopes of seeing silver fox ripert!
That looks like the most amazing meal! so jealous 🙂
holy wow. thank you so much for writing this review because i am definitely going here next time i am in nyc (i live in philly). i am new to your blog and am loving it!! i just moved to philly from the bay area so i feel you on the awesomeness of california also. my plan is to move back there as well eventualmente 🙂
So incredible! I remember the episode of Top Chef when they went there. I’m also skeeved by eggs, but I’d be hard pressed not to eat anything anyone sat in front of me there!
p.s. i’m so mad! just went to the website and i see it’s right on washington square. i went to NYU for undergrad and either it didn’t exist when i was there (3 years ago) or i didn’t know it was there. either way, i’m pissed. such a convenient location for my visits back to the city though.
Oh. My. Gosh. I guess i need to start saving up now to go visit my sister soon for the sole purpose of dragging her to this restaurant and probably any others you post before you leave NYC! That sounds like the BEST meal ever. A parsnip STEAK? I just finished a couple apples and glass of almond milk for lunch… I guess i need to step my game up and go out to some places like this more often! I am thinking you should try and re-create that peanut butter creation… If you do, i will present you with the “Most dedicated hippie foodie” award, k? 🙂
That dinner must have been good! It is funny how really good restaurants often give you way more reasonable portions, quality not quantity. Love it!
I am beyond jealous of that whole meal. And what is it about putting an egg on top of a dish that makes it so much better??
So do they sell the recipe for that peanut butter mousse/ice cream creation? I would LOVE to try it!
Holy spit. This meal is outrageous. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it. Damn, I need to get back to NYC stat.
I have been digging eggs lately. It’s “bad,” but not really. To no normal person would eating an egg get you sh!t, but in the veg-foodie world, it can. So silly!
Ughhh I want it all!!!
OMG, I’m at my work desk envying all of your delicious eats so beautifully plated! I’m working up an appetite and some funds to put away for your new list for eats in la la land…hehe
Adding this to my list for my next trip to NYC!
Oh my! I need to hop on the next train to NYC and get me some Blue Hill amazingness!
everything looks delicious, ive been wanting to go there, and now i def will soon! cant wait to hear about le benardin!
all that food sounds delicious, i love vegetarian restaurants!
yes!!! good call.
I agree…I hadn’t had an egg forEVER, and it really was unreal how amazing it tasted.
I would kill for that dessert recipe…hell, I’d buy it in stores for whatever they charged!
hahaha…such a bummer…it was kinda hidden on a side street and was the kind of building that you go down steps to enter (an underground-ish place) and the outside was very understated. basically – you definitely needed to know the address (and be looking for it) to find it!
uhhhh hell yeah. i may make a break for it to the kitchen for that reason alone!
my parents and kyle are mega foodies, too, so im surrounded by talk about the latest opening of such and such and so and so restaurateur – also, if you are a zagat member, they send weekly emails. its detrimental to my bank account, but thats the only downside 🙂
I have been to the Stone Barns location!!! AMAZING!!! OMG @#$#@OT@O!!! I mean, right? Hehehe… I actually got those same little beet sliders, too. 🙂 I’m so glad you got to do Blue Hill before peacing back to Cali, though–obvz so worth it. I definitely want to hit the Manhattan location myself.
Speaking of CA, to answer your question my parents live in Brentwood. Not the one near LA; it’s more like East Bay-ish. Not sure exactly of neighboring towns, but i know it’s not far from Concord/Walnut Creek…you feel me? Be prepared: Imma holler at you next time I’m out there, which will most likely be after your move. 🙂
omg of COURSE i know brentwood…i grew up in Lafayette (affectionately called L-town by it’s residents), so your ‘rentals are super close. and yes, blue hill blew my freakin’ MIND!!
i know…it’s VERY overwhelming…gah, too many delish places to dine!!
i know. im a pro when it comes to ordering, he should take my lead. im DEFINITELY telling him you said that btw 😉
oooo, i have been eying that place too…thanks for the rec!!
me too!
i agree. theres NO better way to spend $$$ than food and travel.