Farm Fresh for Spring
It’s Monday – what mood are you in?
Fresh
Pronunciation: /freSH/
Full of life and energy… Spring is a time to try something new so why not start today? We love this quote from J.B. Priestly, “I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.”
P.S. Speaking of fresh, the winner of our Substantial Salads book giveaway is Rebecca Hively!
Photo: table
A Snowy Opening
If you live in our neck of the woods then you’ve been anticipating the opening of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s 37th restaurant with baited breath (and watering mouth!) and we were so excited to finally check out the newly renovated The Inn at Pound Ridge last Friday. Given that the restaurant only opened a week ago, the reservations for the dining room were not to be had (being the restaurant guru that he is, Jean-Georges does a gradual opening to train the staff and kitchen) so we were happy to sit in the very comfortable and cozy bar/lounge and people watch from there. Rumor has it lots of local celebrities have already stopped by (Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively live just up the road) and we saw Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas dining quietly in the corner.
The Main Dining Room
The Bar / Lounge
Architect Thomas Juul-Hansen has transformed what is a very traditional 1833 home into a modern version of a farmhouse – airy and open yet charming and rustic with numerous fireplaces lighting the spaces with a welcoming glow. Baskets and crates of farm-fresh produce filled spaces under tables and on shelves while simple bouquets of wild flowers and herbs decorated the tables. A far cry from what the inn used to look like when it was Emily Shaw’s back when one of us had our rehearsal dinner there twenty years ago!
Mushroom Pizza with Three Cheeses and Farm Egg
Apple Pie with Cinnamon Ice Cream
Blake Farrar’s market driven menu (“we’re closer to farms here” said Jean-Georges in an interview) is a delight for the senses. We started out with the Crackling Calamari with Yuzu Foam (so lightly battered and fried that each bite melted in our mouths) and moved on to the Mushroom Pizza (served with a softly fried farm egg) and finished the experience with Apple Pie with Cinnamon Ice Cream by pastry chef, Melody Farrar (Blake’s wife.) Next time, we’ll try the Baby Beets with Yogurt and Herbs… Yum!
Baby Beets with Yogurt
What started out as a quick drink and some appetizers ended up being a lovely five hour evening and now you know where to find us on any given Friday night…