Categories
Uncategorized

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture on a Birthday (8/22/26)

The last piece of the Rockefeller Nature Preserve that we have wanted to visit was the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Their mission is to catalyze an ecological food culture in the Hudson Valley through agroecosystem research and production, advisory services, strategic partnerships, culinary research, and community engagement and education. They sustainably raise food and and animals within the preserve but also have a cafe, a high-end restaurant, host educational tours about their work, as well as hosting culinary demonstrations, and providing space for community and private events.

We went today to their monthly market. We parked off-site and walked in through the park as they charge $20/car for parking on the weekends. It was a short 15 minute hike from the car. Sustainability comes with a price, but it is definitely a beautiful venue and who can argue with research that could result in healthier food?

Walking into the preserve to visit the center
Passing their greenhouses
Peach trees
A map of the Stone Barns Center in the preserve
Walking up to the main visitor area of the Stone Barns Center
Inside the Blue Hill Cafeteria
The outside dining area for the cafeteria
The courtyard. The building on the left
was hosting a culinary demonstration while we were there.
The Blue Hill Restaurant

I mentioned that the restaurant was high-end. You can decide for yourself with this information from their website. The menu price is $458 per guest exclusive of tax and a 22% administrative fee that goes towards operational expenses. They do not accept gratuities for employees, so hopefully they are paid appropriately. The menu price is prepaid at the time of booking. Drinks are charged separately on the night of the meal. Should you want to bring a bottle of wine to have with your meal rather than buying off of their wine list, they are happy to accommodate one 750 ml bottle for a corkage fee of $150. On the upside (?), a free walking tour of the property usually precedes the meal. Of course, they also expect you to be dressed appropriately (jackets encouraged).

Pretty sure we won’t be headed here to eat before we leave…

The small market, where you may not be surprised to learn
that heirloom tomatoes were priced at $16 each.
They were setting up for a wedding.
It is a beautiful setting but can’t imagine the cost
for having a wedding and reception there.
Steps up to the Overlook Point
A peek of the Mario Cuomo Bridge over the trees
A couple of cows are under the tree on the right
A barn and a farm shed
We walked out the same way we walked in,
but pigs were out when we walked by the second time.
More of the pretty preserve

Today is also Bob’s birthday. We have both gotten a year older during our time in New York. We shopped for an in-home dinner after our outing, as it is to rain tonight and Bob wants to follow the UT Volleyball game tonight.

2 replies on “Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture on a Birthday (8/22/26)”

Leave a comment