Pocantico Hills, New York 10591
914-366-9600
Another recommendation from our waitress at XIV. Having done our our reseach beforehand, this place seemed like a good choice. We set aside an entire half day to catch the train and the short cab ride up state to see the farm and eat from its bounty. Being that it was the middle of winter, the bounty was laying dormant underground or holed up in sheds.
Having read the reviews, we knew that there would be a LOT of courses. Even though you mentally prepare yourself, once you start eating, you become a bit overwhelmed. By the time the amuses were served, we were already pretty full. They don't have a set menu, instead, the chef serves whatevers fresh and available that day.
2010 Winter Tasting Menu
amuse 1: sage and potato chip tower
amuse 2
amuse 3: garden fresh mokum carrots and veggies
amuse 4: beet burgers
amuse 5
amuse 6: chips
amuse 7
amuse 8
amuse 9
amuse 10: spanish mackeral with pigs ear and caviar
amuse 11: bone marrow with sturgeon caviar
artisan bread with fresh butter and mokum carrot salt
berkshire pork charcuterie
The first course of our tasting menu! golden beets with pink peppercorn sorbet
egg with quinoa and mushrooms
fromage plate
peanut butter jam with golden beet sorbet and goat yogurt
passionfruit with coffee-caradamon ice cream and raspberries
vermont maple ice cream with chocolate and pumpkin seeds
So much was served we lost track of what everything was. And without a menu, it was hard to recall what we ate. 70% of the meal was very good. The majority of that 70% that was good were the amuses. The little bites were all very creative and very delicious. 20% of the stuff we didn't get to enjoy simply because we were already so full from the courses that came before. The final 10% was the quinoa. This was just bad. We'd never had quinoa before so we didn't know whether it was the preparation or the ingredient that we didn't like. The grain was tough and chewy and flavorless. Just a really bad dish.
Quinoa aside, it was a very memorable dining experience. It wouldn't be on the top of our list of places to return to, but we haven't ruled out going back to see what Spring would have to offer.
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