EATspeak: Blue Hill at Stone Barns

God, this has been a long time coming. Apologies - I have my mother in town for a couple of weeks and am dutifully playing tour guide and celebrating both our birthdays so there has been very little time for playing on my blog.

Because I don't want to drag it out any further and I don't have time to write down the thousands of superlatives I would like use to describe BHSB- I really just want to say a few key things and show you some pics.

Now, this is a big call but, the experience of dining at Blue Hill at Stone Barns would, without a doubt, have to be one of the most enjoyable food and friend days of my life. And here's why...

From the train trip, with good friends, departing glamourous Grand Central station...

...which cruised alongside the Hudson river (Hudson Line),

to arrive at Tarrytown station on a perfect afternoon

before being driven by taxi up the hill to the stupendous venue

and then the stroll around the farm where we were able to see exactly where and with how much consideration and expertise our meal had been raised or grown

- to arrival at the restaurant via the grand entranceway

(happy Jane! finally here!)

where we dove straight into the superb cocktails laced with homemade herbal syrups and the like in the cosy, elegant bar

before entering the most engagingly warm dining space

filled with a professional and divinely friendly team who provided exemplary service throughout the night and passionately introduced us to the most incredible food and pretty damn fine wine too - there was nothing at all to fault. Nothing.

Add being invited to see the kitchen to meet Chef Extraordinaire Dan Barber ( which was a very sweet gesture -poor guy was under the pump but still managed to smile and say hi!) and it just couldn't get any finer.

Here's a peek at the menu and what we were most fortunate to imbibe in...

A few little tastes to begin with - oh so sweet miniature veg and vegetable juice from the garden

Face bacon (from pork cheek) and crispy Kale

Tiny tomato burgers (so sweet)

Radish with creamy, sweet browned butter

Tiny zucchini/squash possibly wrapped with lardo (don't quote me) and sesame

wafer thin jamon on coca - thin crisp pastry ( at least this is what the ol memory is dredging up - whatever - it was sen-frickin-sational!)

housemade "V-9" juice

bone marrow

Pretty vegetable plate

A little home made wheat beer to go with your bread perhaps?

Fresh Ricotta made at the table - served warm with brioche

as the restaurant is a nose to tail kinda place they attempt to charcoal everything they can - some are more successful than others - above is a selection including wood, deer antler and bone, pig, corn cob, shellfish...

Roast onion with beet puree, chicken liver and pickled greens

Wahoo with grilled sweetcorn and concord grape sauce

onion bread with pretty damn fine hudson vally butter with two salts - tomato and mushroom - I thought that was pretty special - until they brought out the single udder butter....

Who's udder would you prefer??
below is butter made from Ellie's or Sunshine's milk - one of them grass fed the other grain

Carbonara style zucchini ribbons with roasted and shaved chestnuts

Veal, beans, smoked tomato, brussel sprouts, tongue and tarragon sauce

Wholewheat pudding with plums and plum and armagnac sorbet

concord grape pudding

grapes, dried peaches and chocolate truffle accompanied our teas and coffee

I have never seen such a magnificent selection of fresh herb tea ...

now THAT'S a tea trolley (below) . How delightful - freshly picked herbs surrounded by candles arrive at your table where your tea is prepared - oh my

oh, even the bathrooms were delightful...

including the etchings - if a little unsettling at the time ( for Aussies only - does ye olde "red back on the toilet seat" spring to mind?) Apologies.. I digress.

Pure bliss from beginning to end (excuse the unintended nevertheless obvious pun). What a night.

(very Sleepy Hollow...)

What a lovely, lovely thing to do. If you are in NYC make sure to book into Blue Hill well in advance then make an afternoon and evening of it - in fact - If I went again I would go for the weekend and take in the surroundings - the prospect of taking a closer look at Pleasantville and Sleep Hollow - yes these places really do exist - not just in books and movies - is too irresistible.

Even the ride home was fun. The restaurant will organise a car to drive you back to your hotel if you are too tipsy to bother with the train. Total luxury when one is a little hazy and sleepy after a most magnificent day... If you are not as lazy as us you should know that the train runs until reasonably late and it is only a 35 minute trip back to Manhattan after a 10 minute taxi ride from the restaurant to the station. Whatever way you get there or home - just do it! You won't regret it. A wonderful special occasion restaurant.