Bee’s Knees Cafe

Farm to table for the win. Yes, yes, yes. This is a destination worth adding to your list of capital regions musts. Please do not assume that this rustic little café at Heather Ridge Farm is serving up your basic bacon and eggs for brunch. Chef Rob has some serious talent and creativity. In fact, I’ve already done the research (read: cyber stalking) for you, so be sure to check him out at:
, and for some #foodporn on instagram: robhandelfood. John and Carol, the farm owners, are also fantastic hosts. Check the website for upcoming meals and events, and be sure to make reservations (…and get their directions before you hit the road, because my GPS tried to kill me along the way, and I didn’t have cell service out here to save me). I only wish this place was closer so we could come every week.
In addition to the weekend brunches, they also have dinner events, cooking classes, and offer catering services. The Husband and I loved the brunch buffet so much that we booked reservations for the 5-​course Valentine’s dinner before we even left the premises.
The brunch buffet was great because we were able to try everything. This is a small operation, so the food is hot and fresh, and nothing sits for long. My favorites were the caramel french toast and sweet potato bacon hash. I could’ve stayed and eaten them all day. Other dishes available this particular weekend that stood out for me were the turkey cranberry sausage, onions stuffed w. feta and spinach, and shepherds pie. I tried everything except the dessert, only because I was too full, but each offering was unique and very well done.
They dressed things up for the Valentine’s Dinner; linens, beeswax candlelight (made on the farm, of course), and table service. Again, the food was unique and delicious; each course wowed us with both flavor complexity and presentation. The chef and owner explained each dish, the origins of the ingredients (local if not from this farm), and also took the time to chat and answer questions. We had… Farm-​made beverages: twenty ingredient root beer, lilac and lemon sour, and seltzer with grapefruit and cardamom bitters; Soup: spiced beet and chocolate bisque with seared scallop and spruce infused crème fraîche; Charcuterie: duck terrine w. hazelnuts and dried cherries, smoked andouille sausage, pear mostarda, whole grain mustard, and crostini; Salad: celery root and endive w. goat cheese crottin and blood orange vinaigrette; Palette cleanser: locust blossom sorbet; Entrée: grassfed filet mignon w. cherry demi-​glacé and pickled Samascott Orchard cherries, served over buckwheat polenta w. roasted fennel; and Dessert: lemon and white chocolate cake with damson plum sherbet. WOW.
So, please come support your local farmers. They have a passion for what they’re doing here, and it truly shows. Bring your family, take the farm tour and peruse the farm store while you’re here (more details in my review of the farm itself).

When we are up in the Catskill Mountains we always stop at the Bees Knees Café. Have never been disappointed with our meals or the goodies we take home. They offer a full selection of farm raised beef, pork and poultry and if you are lucky the best lemon honey you have ever tasted among the many other items available .The menu changes with Chef Rob who likes to forage the fields and use locally grown produce and grass fed beef from Heather Ridge Farm, along with pork, chicken and other ingredients either grown right there or from other local farmers. Can’t go wrong with Oink & Moo Chili, sticks to the bones on a cool fall day, save room for an Apple Cider donut like no other you have ever eaten. We would have taken a dozen home with us but on this day we were glad that there was at least one left for us to share for dessert. Also vegetarian and gluten free selections available, something for everyone.

My fiancé and I met with Carol and Rob at the café while we were looking for caterers and a venue for our wedding. The café is charming and the farm is just beautiful — set in rolling hills about 20 minutes west of Catskill. We even met some of the happy, healthy animals they care for. Carol and Rob clearly have a passion for food and take great care to ensure that what they serve is of the highest quality. They put together a beautiful menu and Carol was responsive and helpful in our communications. All around a fantastic place!

Carol Clement and John Harrison run the ultimate mom and pop operation. If you like farm to table food this is the place to go. Pretty much every ingredient is locally sourced. I enjoyed quizzing the owner Carol each ingredient’s origins. The chef walked out past the picnic area overlooking the majestic Catskill mountains and picked some fresh dill from the herb garden.
My aunt suggests calling ahead for reservations for dinner because that sells out. My aunt also suggests the courtesy of calling ahead and telling them what you plan to eat. I thought she was crazy. But when you get there you see. You feel like you’re eating at someone’s kitchen.
The owner sat with us and discussed his Solar Power panels.
The farm is out of the way. But the scenic drive is worth it.

First off, the menu is farm fresh and delicious. All of their food is from the owners’ (who are lovely people) own farm. The café is in the ground floor of an old farmhouse. Also, there’s a little store attached where u can buy their organic food mostly meat from their animals, but also honey, lamb skins, wooly socks etc. Call ahead for hours. It’s a mom and pop operation. Highly recommended.