Posts Tagged ‘East End’

October is Apple and Pumpkin Time at These Area Farms

The dog days of summer are finally over – it’s October apple and pumpkin time. Foliage seekers may want to schedule road trips to look at the brilliant mosaic of colors adorning the maples and oaks, but for the family, October is the time for pumpkin patches, corn mazes, apple picking and hayrides.

NEW YORK CITY

New York City’s boroughs have some intriguing farm experiences.

Courtesy Queens Country Farm Museum

The historic Queens Country Farm Museum in Floral Park, Queens offers weekend activities throughout October. The farm, owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, dates back to 1697 and occupies New York City’s largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland. Plan a visit to go pumpkin picking or navigate a maze, or hop on a hayride. Start your ad venture with a Stalk Talk to prepare you for the challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles and mazing your way to Victory Bridge where the view of the three-acre Amazing Maize Maze is revealed.  For even more of a challenge, try the Maze by Moonlight on October 15, 20, 22 or 27 from 6:30pm-7:30pm or 7:30pm-9:30pm.

73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Queens; 718-347-3276 www.queensfarm.org

Courtesy Decker Farm

An officially designated historic landmark, Decker Farm in Springville, Staten Island is New York City’s oldest continuously working family-style farm. 220 years young, the farm is a joy to visit during October with hayrides for the family that meander past costumed artisans performing 19th-century trades. For those willing to try some new-fangled activities, the farm lets you sign up for three tries of pumpkin chucking.  Or take the little ones on a trek through the Children’s Hay Maze, made entirely of hay bales. Everyone can take their newly picked pumpkins to the painting station to decorate, too. Pumpkin picking is available every Saturday and Sunday in October, and on Monday, October 10.

435 Richmond Hill Road, Staten Island, 917-887-0482 https://www.historicrichmondtown.org/deckerfarm

LONG ISLAND

Courtesy Harbes Family Farm

The North Fork of Long Island offers the ultimate family destination with Harbes Family Farm. Just an hour and half from New York City, the Mattituck farm treats you to its beloved Barnyard Adventure area with scenic hayrides, Goat Mountain slides, a super silo obstacle course, jumbo jumper bounce pillows, a gnome-themed hedge maze and playgrounds.. Weekend activities add pig races. After the farm fun, stop at the Mattituck Farmstand for cider donuts and other farm-fresh produce, or at Harbes Vineyard for a wine tasting in their rustic Wine Barn or sit-down service in their scenic courtyard.

715 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY; 631-298-0800 www.harbesfamilyfarm.com

You can skip the traffic snarls of the North Fork by heading South to the Hamptons on the East End of Long Island.

Courtesy Corwiths Farmstand

At Corwiths Farmstand in Water Mill, you can do the U-pick pumpkin thing and relax for a while the kids slide down the wooden slides, play a game on the giant Connect 4 in the field or climb on the wooden castles and trains. There are also barrel train rides, hayrides, barnyard animal feeding and a racetrack for pedal carts.  Still not enough to keep everyone busy? If you’ve had your fill of everything pumpkin and gourd, this is also the place for goat yoga, even more beautiful now against a backdrop of haystacks and pumpkins.

851 Head of Pond Rd, Water Mill, NY www.corwithsfarmstand.com

Courtesy Hank’s Pumpkin Town

Water Mill is also where you’ll find expansive Hank’s PumpkinTown. You’ll know it immediately by the cars parked on either side of the road. It’s open daily and no reservations are required so be prepared for crowds and waits. You’ll find the usual family-friendly activities here: pumpkin picking, corn mazes, wagon rides, train rides, and giant slides for the kids. After all that fun, your reward is Hank’s yummy Fall for Y’All hot apple cider topped with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle, and an apple cider donut, served in a take-home souvenir mug. If you prefer to pick your own apples, you can do that on weekends.

249 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, NY; www.hankspumpkintown.com

NEW JERSEY

Two farms in Morris County, New Jersey offer scenic pick-your-own experiences, a mere 80-minute drive from New York City.

Courtesy Riamede Farm

At New Jersey’s oldest pick-your-own apple orchard, Riamede Farm, you can begin your visit with Storytime at the Farm, the reading of a harvest-related story, followed by apple picking. On October 12 the farm holds its Community Barn Dance where you’ll learn the rudiments of square dancing, accompanied by traditional music. Make it a date evening, and bring a blanket or chairs plus your favorite beverage for a BBQ dinner picnic on the lawn.  The farm’s cider donuts make the perfect dessert.

122 Oakdale Road, Chester, NJ; 908-879-5353 www.riamede.com

Courtesy Alstede Farms

A second farm in Chester, Alstede Farms provides a souvenir container with a PYO entry ticket. Each participant must have a ticket which includes the apple picking event plus scenic hay rides around the farm, access to the hay pyramid and the farm’s popular evergreen maze.  Book tickets in advance online.

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ; 908-879-7189 www.alstedefarms.com

Where to Get Your Christmas Eve and Christmas Meals in the Hamptons

Restaurant and takeout/delivery options in The Hamptons and North Fork of Long Island offer a variety of dining options for this year’s unusual Christmas holiday.

The Halyard

On Christmas Eve, The Halyard at Sound View Greenport will be open for waterfront dining, meals to-go and room service. Reservations are required for seating in the airy dining room overlooking the Long Island Sound. Chef Stephan Bogardus will serve up a seasonal menu with locally sourced produce including Hamptons favorites like New England clam chowder, seared Hudson Valley foie gras and hamachi sashimi, Shinnecock sea scallops and grilled Montauk monkfish. Chef’s Christmas eve special is a decadent white truffle and lobster tagliatelle dish with a 1½ pound lobster (out of the shell), hand-cut pasts and tableside Alba truffles.

Kissaki

Kissaki, the New York City Japanese favorite, is open for delivery from its Water Mill location on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The” chef’s choice” omakase menu takes sushi to a new level with futomaki (fat rolled sushi) and nigiri (individual pieces) creatively designed and topped to enhance and surprise. A variety of sets are available with each including miso soup and edamame as well. The sushiya’s delicate chiffon cakes make a festive dessert option. Choose from matcha red bean with layers of sweetened red bean and matcha whipped cream, blueberry Earl Grey with layers of Earl Grey-infused whipped cream balanced with sweet blueberries, and Kissaki’s signature vanilla dulce de leche with whipped cream and Biscoff cookie crumbles.

Baron’s Cove

Baron’s Cove Chef Nick Vogel has created special culinary event on Christmas weekend from December 24-27. The decked-out Sag Harbor inn is filled with festivity from the climbing Santa Claus’s on the exterior to the cozy lobby with its welcoming fireplace. The weekend stay/dine package of culinary delights features local dishes with Christmas treats. With scheduled meals hosted by Chef Nick, breakfast, lunch and two dinners are included, including an elaborate multi-course Chef’s Table dinner using ingredients from the restaurant’s farm and artisan partnerships across the East End. Menus are subject to whatever is “of the moment, “ designed to ensure a distinctive experience that reflects both chef proclivities and the bounty of the Hamptons rich location.

Main Street Tavern

For a more casual experience, Main Street Tavern in Amagansett invites guests to reserve Christmas Eve at the new restaurant. For Christmas Day itself, you can order the tavern’s “oven ready” meals, food and drink pairings, and new desserts are available for pickup any day including their popular Shepherd’s Pie, ribs and wings, lasagna and pastas. For the holidays, they have introduced new desserts to their already robust menu with lemon and chocolate tarts, carrot cake, apple crumble, sticky toffee pudding and ice cream pints. The restaurant is open for dining on Christmas Eve if you don’t feel like “cooking.”

Topping Rose House

At Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, Christmas diners will enjoy a luxurious three-course feast from Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Choose from six appetizers on the prix fixe menu including Jean-Georges’ signature tuna tartare with avocado, spicy radish and ginger dressing or his acclaimed crispy salmon sushi served with chipotle mayonnaise and soy glaze. A choice of entree takes advantage of the inn’s prime location near the ocean and farms, offering roasted black sea bass, parmesan-crusted organic chicken and vegetarian roasted cauliflower with cous cous and turmeric tahini sauce. Dessert is Chef’s signature Buche de Noel, a chocolatey confection served only on Christmas. If you don’t like chocolate, you’ll have other choices, too.

The 1770 House Restaurant & Inn

The 1770 House Restaurant & Inn in East Hampton has created a holiday feast for home celebration. Order by December 19 for pickup on December 23 or 24. Designed for four-six people, entrees and sides are ready-to-cook and come with preparation instructions. The traditional meal includes a choice of beef tenderloin roast, Berkshires pork rib roast, leg of Australian lamb or Long Island dark as mains. All include root vegetable gratin, creamed spinach, truffled pasta cacio e pepe and French green beans. The dessert choices are Hamptons all the way – either Tate’s chocolate chip pie or 1170 House sticky toffee date cake. And everyone gets caramel popcorn.

Elegant Affairs

Elegant Affairs can create a very personalized Christmas dinner with more than 56 appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts, all for delivery for parties of 3-4 or 8-10 on December 23 and 24. Possibilities include giving your holiday feast an Italian theme with baked clams oreganata and fennel sausage Stromboli loaf . Then switch to something more traditional with bourbon-glazed ham or whole roasted turkey, or stay Italian with shrimp scampi or Nona’s meatballs marinara. Add cranberry citrus compote and creamy Long Island corn pudding for regional flair. Elegant Affairs’ desserts will be the highlight with their beyond adorable Santa hat cupcakes, cheesecake lollipops, or Santa cake.

Christmas House Long Island

Christmas House Long Island is a first-ever sweet-tooth experience in Riverhead, Christmas House combines a bakery wonderland with an immersive Christmas setting for the entire family. The attraction has cakes to brighten the holidays, gingerbread and cookies to munch on, and rooms curated by Hollywood set designers using lighting and theatrical effects that bring to life the sights, characters and traditions of Christmas. Cake Walk is a must-visit with its playful array of purchasable 3D cakes designed by Andy Cakes, New York City artist-turned- cakemaster.

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