The thermometer was pushing into May territory even though it was only mid-March. Too nice to stay in, but too soon to enjoy the yard, so we settled on a drive to Bedford, NY to explore the area, have a nice lunch, and spend some time in the unseasonable air.

Bedford, about a half hour away, is made up of three hamlets: Katonah, Bedford, and Bedford Hills. Settled by Quakers from Stamford, it was part of Connecticut until King William III declared it part of New York in 1700. Our destination was the restaurant Bedford 234 in downtown Bedford.Carpenter Gothic in Bedford

Historic buildings in BedfordBedford itself is just a few crosswalks long with charming shops in historic buildings, an ancient cemetery, along with the historical society, a tiny post office, and a carpenter gothic church. Don’t blink, or you could miss it.

Established by longtime residents, Bedford 234 has a smart country vibe, contemporary American menu, and the loyal patronage of the locals. Avocado Fries with roasted garlic-cilantro aioli ($9) – crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside – started us off on an enjoyable lunch. I narrowed my menu interest to Wild Mushroom and Roasted Vegetable Pappardelle, Savvy’s Brown Rice and Quinoa Bowl, or Fish Tacos.

Grilled cheese at Bedford 234But I couldn’t resist the Bedford Grilled Cheese ($16), an astonishing but delicious combination of basil pesto, prosciutto, and red wine poached pears with gruyere and white cheddar cheese on brioche. It was the most intriguing grilled cheese I’ve ever had, the sweet pears taming the rich cheese and salty ham, while the basil pesto gave an herbal note. The brioche only added to the buttery goodness you want to see in a fine grilled sandwich.

Marsha went for the Grilled Fish Tacos ($19), lavishly seasoned with pico de gallo, cilantro, avocado, apple/cabbage slaw, and lime sriracha aioli. Three plump tacos and a stack of hand cut fries was more than she could handle.

Driving through Bedford, you immediately know that you’ve left Connecticut. Along the main roads, colonial era houses, some with multiple additions, lie close to the street. Between them are pristine farms, mostly for horses, some for gentlemen farmers with charming names like Hidden Jump, Meadow Brook and Stone Hill. There are also long stone walls punctuated with pillars, pierced with iron gates, and discreetly marked with numbers only, no names on the mail boxes. The long driveways tend to disappear around curves or over hills to the homes of the privacy seeking.

There are some attractions in the area, but they tend to be closed or on shortened winter hours now, returning to a fuller schedule in May. The John Jay Homestead (johnjayhomestead.org), just down the street from Martha’s Stewart’s compound, is worth a visit. The Katonah Museum of Art (katonahmuseum.org) has a changing schedule of exhibits. The Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts (caramoor.org) presents classical and jazz concerts all summer long, has beautiful gardens for strolling, and the historic Mediterranean-style Rosen House, open for tours or afternoon tea.

We enjoyed just driving around. Looking at the houses from the road, it’s fun to imagine who lives in the big estates, speculate how settlers lived in the colonial homes, and note the remarkable contrast of the occasional mid-century modern house. At this time of year, before the leaves come out, you get to see well back into the woods.

It’s quite beautiful too. There are countless ponds, streams, and lakes along with the occasional waterfall. Wooded glens and rocky hillsides are more rugged than here. Great Blue Herons gather to nest in the tops of dead trees in the Pitch Swamp.

After some aimless driving, we headed for the Bedford Post Inn. Long known as Nino’s restaurant, it was rejuvenated by the actor Richard Gere and some pals in 2007. The rambling Relais and Chateaux inn has eight rooms. It’s two restaurants are both under the umbrella of three-star Chef Michael White’s Altamarea group. The Barn serves breakfast, lunch and dinner while Campagna, a more special occasion Italian restaurant, is dinner only.

We bumped into General Manager Erik Bailey who updated us on the Inn’s restaurant happenings and confided in us about the Great Blue Heron rookery across the street. With the inducement of a three-course restaurant week menu ($22) at the Barn, we planned to return the next day. After all, you’ve got to eat lunch somewhere.

Dining room at The BarnWith even warmer temperatures, but not quite such blue skies, we followed a different path to our second lunch in Bedford. The Barn is the nicest barn you’ll ever be in, but still a barn, with hand hewn beams, plank floors, tractor seat stools at the bar, and country chandeliers.

Roast Carrots at The Barn

Roast Carrots at The Barn

Looking at the menu, you can see there is a sophisticated hand guiding the kitchen. Mushroom soup, a rich puree, was garnished with ricotta, croutons and balsamic vinegar. Roast Carrots turned out to be a unique and tasty salad with roasted carrots and bitter greens atop a mix of farro, lentils, and pistachio nuts all dressed with a honey vinaigrette that had a mysterious hint of turmeric. Wow!

Rotolo with parmesan fondu

Rotolo with parmesan fondu

Rotolo, a sheet of pasta rolled up like a jelly roll with a swiss chard, kale, and ricotta filling and bathed in Parmesan fondue was a delicious discovery. The greens and cheese blended into a creamy texture all held together by the pasta. The White Label Burger (named for Chef White, I suppose) was meaty with some tangy-salty pickles and an excellent brioche bun.

Lemon Tart with meringue kisses

Lemon Tart with meringue kisses

Gotta have dessert! After all,l it’s a three course meal. The light and well-flavored Almond Cake came with whipped ricotta and local honey. The Lemon Bar had kisses of meringue down the length of the lemony custard, the sweetness offset by a tangy fresh berry puree.

We’d like to head back to the Bedford area when some of the attractions are open, but to tell you the truth, a good lunch, a walk around town, and an enjoyable drive, was just perfect!

 

Burger and Fries at The Barn

Burger and Fries at The Barn