The Bedford Post, delicious American farmhouse cuisine

Richard Gere, the actor, and his business partner, Russell Hernandez, purchased an 18th-century house and barn on 14 acres in Bedford, New York. Their plan is to keep the historic integrity and to transform it into an eight-suite luxury inn along with a restaurant featuring a farm-to-table dinner menu.

Although that ambitious project is still underway, the adjacent barn has already been restored and turned into a brasserie-cafe that serves delicious and amazing breakfasts, lunches, and dinners on certain nights. Their philosophy is American farmhouse cuisine, rooted in slow food cooking. The chef is Brian Lewis, who has worked in many fine restaurants across the United States and abroad. He gathers his ingredients from small family farms, using only what is in season and only of the highest quality. Simply stated, Brian's creations are fantastic and I certainly enjoy eating there.

Another great thing about Bedford Post is that local horse-riding trails lead to it and it's fun to go there on horseback. Betsy Perreten, my stable manager, and one of her riding buddies met me there for brunch recently. I'm told that there are plans to eventually build a small stable where a rider may leave a horse while visiting the restaurant, but for now, Betsy was prepared and packed a hitching device.  Come and have a look.

This is a highline kit, which has everything you need to tie up a horse or a mule. It's from Outfitters Supply. This kit provides the animal with freedom to walk around in a circle, lie down, and even roll.

The highline has easy-to-follow instructions with clear diagrams for how to tie the proper knot.

Ramon (wearing an English saddle), Morgan Murphy, Stan Schulman, Betsy, and Rinze (wearing a Western saddle). Stan was kind enough to bring water and hay for the horses to keep them happy while we enjoyed our brunch. The highline went up quickly.

Yummy hay!

Bedford Post is located at 954 Old Post Road in Bedford, New York.

This is the entrance to the barn. There's also a yoga studio located in the loft.

One of several original hand-hewn beams.

A lovely fieldstone fireplace.

The breakfast menu, featuring local yogurt, maple syrup, and farm-fresh eggs from nearby farmers.

I enjoyed this egg sandwich on a flaky biscuit served with crispy hash browns. So good!

Betsy savored the brioche French toast stuffed with mixed berries and ginger. Yum!

The bakery counter displays many wonderful creations. This is a fromage blanc and apricot Danish.

Flavor-packed cinnamon rolls.

Heavenly vanilla cupcakes.

Daily muffins and scones.

The lunch menu is also delightful. This is an appetizer of garden vegetable frito misto. Impeccably fresh vegetables and squash blossoms are lightly battered and fried, tempura style, then sprinkled with fennel pollen, giving a truly amazing flavor.

An heirloom tomato salad served with mozzarella, shaved fennel, and purslane –- simply gorgeous.

This is a salad of beluga lentil and quinoa served with avocado and organic local tomatoes -– what could be better?

Chef Brian Lewis posing proudly ouside Bedford Post.

Comments

[Ewa]

Place looks so fine. Stone, gravel, wood and rhodos make a classy combination.
Brian is verry handsome :)
Greetings,

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Thanks for this tour of other parts of Bedford, New York. It's really great to see other properties that are close to where you live. I feel like I'm right there and I would love to join you and others for a delicious breakfast or lunch. Richard Gere certainly does have an ambitious project and I'll bet it will be absolutely fantastic when it is finished. How is Martyn doing, did you name the miniature Hereford cattle yet and did you pick your new baby? Hope to find out soon! Thanks so much for sharing. Jan

[Norbie K. of Las Vegas, NV]

What a lovely post. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Emilia]

Good food and yoga all in one place. It looks fantastic and being able to ride your horse there makes it almost magical. Lucky you.

[michael anthamatten]

Martha,
Thank you for sharing. Please send best wishes to the business owners, and admiration to the chef, Brian Lewis.
Hope they have a web-site soon.

[michele]

Martha !!!

You are so so lucky :) I love your pictures (the horses) and the food OMG

"Chef Brian Lewis posing proudly ouside Bedford Post."

I would be proud too if I was him

thank you Martha for being so fabulous with your lovely life and sharing on your blog.

Can't wait to see your new show on Fox 11

regards,
michele
http://thecraftycameleon.blogspot.com/

[Ingrid Moyle]

Another wonderful referral to be added to my ever growing list of restaurants/cafes to visit on our next (soon to be booked!) trip to New York. This looks gorgeous - the cupcakes especially so! I very much look forward to this cafe. Thankyou.

[michele]

Dear Martha I was so hungry I went to the food before reading the entire post.

This is by far one of the most enchanting places. Richard Gere! Love Richard Gere. He's a buddist and so the concept with the 16 acre farm and riding trails is like a dream for him I would imagine.

I idea of riding your horse along and a stop to hang out then get back on the horse is like a dream

Once again I read your post and it sort of feels like I was there
I guess thats called an overactive imagination. The gardens the grounds most be beautiful :)

regards Michele

[Minna Mercke Schmidt]

Dear Martha! What a lovely place!!! I'll send a link to my dear sister who's planning to set up a place like that here in Sweden. Her husband takes care of the farming and Hanna will be managing the restaurant. Thank you for the inspiration!

[Nan Ashby]

I really like the Highline kit. Hope they do open, soon a stable boarding area, for those that arrive via horseback. Betsy has a job I envy. She and her friends really do a marvelous job of meeting your horses every needs. Just wish you'd inform us on how Martyn is doing. Ramon and Rinze are so well behaved and look fit and in good condition. Like the delicious menu, and I hope you eat there as much as you can after you arrive by horseback. I think that is healthy for you and your horses. Nan

[Alex]

That all looks simply delicious and absolutely fresh! I passed through Bedford a few weeks ago on my way back from Maine, and it looked like such a beautiful and quaint rustic place. Perhaps one day I'll have to trek up again to sample this visually scrumptious eatery!

[Gilda]

Everything served looks expert! Wish to see some more of the interior. The horses are lovely, too.

[Robin]

Martha, I love traveling with you. You only take us to the best places. Well, I feel like I'm traveling with you. Thanks for the ride!

[Linda]

This place is beautiful. Thanks for this post. The food looks wonderful too. MMMMM yummy! And you can ride your horse to it. So cool. I love your horses. Lovely names for them too.

Linda
Phila., PA

[Ladymissgailo]

Unbelievable! That food look great!

[aleta follrod]

Oh My Goodness. What a wonderful idea. I cant stand it that Bedford Post is so far away. I am in Ohio.The local fresh food is so fabulous. I wonder what they do in the winter? What a terrific location for a Bed & Breakfast!! Really a must to do!! Rustic barn with luxury or country A-frames! Yes! My B & B is The Equine Inn Estates. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. Love the outdoors!best wishes to all.@

[Trish]

Great post! I can't wait to see the luxury inn when it's complete. Richard Gere is a favorite of mine. He has a new movie with Diane Lane coming out in December, maybe sooner.

Through the woods on a horse for breakfast; how great is that! Trish

[charmayne]

neat neat neat, u all have created paradise in Bedford

[Nan Ashby]

Martha, would you lend me Rinze so I could take the trail to the Bedford Post, in my riding habit, to meet Richard Gere, the man of my dreams? It would make a good movie! Nan

[KellySchwark.com]

...Such a lovely find! I find that good food always tastes better in beautiful places, and Bedford Post looks so warm and welcoming! I can hardly wait to try it when I am in Westchester again next week!

Thanks for the suggestion for this Connecticut neighbor!

Kelly
www.KellySchwark.com

[IowaCowgirl]

It's a long ride from Iowa to NY, but looks like it might be worth it!

My "Richard Gere claim to fame" story involves his filming of "Miles from Home" here in Iowa. One of his assistants heard I had horses and asked if Gere and she and I could go riding. I said OK, but at the last minute Gere cancelled due to a meeting. So the assistant and I rode anyway. Does that count as sort of a brush with celebrity? ha.

[Cindy Bricker]

What a cozy and comfortable-looking place! (and the horse trail accessibility!!...neato!) With the upcoming stables in the works - well, "if they build it, they will come"!! It would be good to know your beloved companion (a 4-legged one) was well taken care of after a little jaunt (thru the woods, I envision) to this welcoming cafe.

Indeed, Chef Lewis should be proud, not only of his past accomplishments but for his current creations. The food looks absolutely scrumptious! Alot of passion and love goes into food prep and creation, and it certainly is evident here!

One (of the many) thing(s) that I admire in you, Martha, is how you take time to "smell the roses" in the everyday things in life. Your example instills in us to truly "carpe diem"! I thank you for that.

=^..^=

[allyson]

Wow I would be going to Bedford Post for breakfast,lunch and dinner with such a talented, cute chef like that, and looks like a nice place to relax !!!

[Patty]

Yet another fun "trip" with Martha !! We just never know what fun tomorrow will bring.

I hope we'll see Chef Brian Lewis on the show this fall. Both the chef and the food are very attractive.

[Lisa in Albuq.]

Forget pictures of the food--how about some of Richard Gere????!!!!