This is the original Blue Hill restaurant in the heart of Greenwich Village, located three steps below street level in a landmark "speakeasy" just off of Washington Square Park. The emphasis here is on local seasonal American produce, in particular the produce of the Hudson Valley. The menu showcases local food and a wine list with producers who respect artisanal techniques. Ingredients come from nearby farms, including Blue Hill Farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, a forty-five minute drive from New York City. Guests can choose from the regular menu or opt for the "Farmer's Feast," a five-course tasting inspired by the week's harvest. The menu is even more appealing in the covered outdoor seating garden!
Executive Chef and Co-Owner Dan Barber opened Blue Hill restaurant with family members David and Laureen Barber in May of 2000. As chef and co-owner of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Dan has received the James Beard awards for Best Chef: New York City (2006) and for Outstanding Chef (2009). In 2009 he was named one of the world's most influential people in Time’s annual "Time 100". Since opening Blue Hill, Dan's writings on food and agricultural policy have appeared in the New York Times, along with articles in Gourmet, The Nation, Saveur and Food & Wine Magazine. Dan’s efforts to create a consciousness around our everyday food choices have led him to the World Economic Forum’s 2010 annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland as well as to TED2010, where he looked toward a new ecological approach to cuisine.
The inspiration behind Blue Hill restaurant is the Barber family farm, "Blue Hill Farm." Occupying 138 acres in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Blue Hill Farm has been in the Barber family for three generations and served as the inspiration behind both Blue Hill restaurants. Originally a dairy, the farm was converted into a cattle-grazing operation by Dan and David's grandmother in the 1960s. Her belief in the importance of land preservation and the intimate connection between great farming and delicious food was passed on to them; Dan began farming and cooking for family and friends at the farm, and it is there that he acquired his passion for locally grown and seasonal produce.