Damon Baehrel

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH STARS TO RATE DAMON BAEHREL!!! The hubs and I were extremely lucky and fortunate in being able to come here for a super special private seating to celebrate my birthday!!! Damon Baehrel, which is named after the chef himself, is probably considered the most exclusive restaurant in the world. I had first heard about this chef from MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER, JASON C., which got me quite intrigued!!! It is literally a one-​man show, as Chef Baehrel is the one who cooks, serves, and hosts a 5−6+ hour-​dining experience for his guests at his beautiful home on his 12-​acre property in upstate NY. As most know, this restaurant is booked solid until the year 2026, and they have not been taking any reservations/​adding parties onto their waiting list since last year/’14 (this is for an indefinite period of time) — you bet your tootin’ bootin’ that I felt so victorious for bypassing others on the list by 11+ years!!! (Just note that it really doesn’t matter ‘who’ you, ‘who’ you know, and/​or if you come equipped with a list of multiple referrals.) Known for his ‘Native Harvest Cuisine,’ every single item on his menu (besides the seafood that is brought fresh from Nova Scotia from his private supplier) is made/​created/​raised on the premise — when I mean every item, I mean EVERY item, from the flours, pressed oils, vinegars, breads, to the curing his own meats and aging his own cheeses! This restaurant is the epitome and the prime definition of what ‘farm-​to-​table’ should really be! We were welcomed warmly from Chef Baehrel, and I was super excited that we were his only guests for the evening — YES, IT WAS JUST THE 3 OF US, THE HUBS, ME, AND THE CHEF!!! (I think I literally sobbed right on the spot). The 5.5+ hours we were there actually flew right on by and was like a total dream — we were given a multi-​course menu (about 24−26+ items, including some handful of extras since the Chef was just super excited in having us (!!!)), that featured seasonal, organic plants/​fruits/​vegetables/​trees from his property, in addition to a lovely educational overview of each of the ingredients used for the dish. I just couldn’t believe at some of the ingredients that he had used, and how each of them had a distinct flavor (and were all actually edible/​okay for human consumption!) — it was amazing to listen to the experimentation, the time spent, the punctuality of harvesting such items throughout the year, and the multiple aging/​preserving/​curing process that he does. I had a lovely wine pairing with the multi-​course dinner (delicious champagne, reds, whites, and dessert wines), while the hubs had homemade juice pairings made from the luscious fruits/​tree saps (super delicious and refreshing!). The love, the passion, and the excitement from the chef was just purely an eye-​opener, and this literally was the BEST DINING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!! BELIEVE THE HYPE (of the very few limited ones there are) — Chef Baehrel will change your life and exceed any and all expectations that you may/​will have!!! You have to go there to experience it personally, as there are no words to describe such a unique experience — the overwhelming appreciation that you obtain in tasting the raw essence of the ingredients that are found around you, was truly truly truly remarkable — Chef Baehrel is a GENIUS! Just note that there is no photography/​video/​recording equipment/​note-​taking allowed inside the restaurant, so please be respectful to the Chef (and, shame on those who disregard/​circumvent around this request/​policy!); this really allows you to immerse and focus on the offerings and not get so OCD in terms of taking every shot! I plan to bring my dearest friends, and I cannot wait to go back! :D
+BEST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER!!!
+Chef Damon Baehrel: D
+Native Harvest Cuisine: D
+5.5+ dining experience: D
+no photography/​video/​recording equipment allowed inside the restaurant — please be respectful!