Table Hopping with Morris Gut: Fall Drives to Farms and Markets
Do you want to visit a farmstand, pick your own apples or pumpkins, and savor some cider and doughnuts, too? Take a flavorful fall foliage drive with the whole family. Here are some great destinations, and be sure to check ahead for hours and availability:
Thompson’s Cider Mill, 335 Blinn Road, Croton-On-Hudson & Thompson’s Fable Farm, 1311 Kitchawan Road (Rt.134), Ossining. Enjoy local fall artisanal foods like cider, donuts, and pies. Partake of samples in the Cider Tasting Room. Next to Teatown Lake Reservation. 914-409-3433 www.thompsonscidermill.com
Wilken’s Farm, 1313 Whitehall Road, Yorktown Heights. Marking their 106th year, visit the farmers market or pick your own apples, peaches, pumpkins, and even Christmas Trees. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through mid-Dec. 914-245-5111 www.wilkensfarm.com
Stuart’s Fruit Farm, 62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs. This farm has been operating since 1828. Strewn with old tractors and rural artifacts, you can pick your own fruit and produce or visit the farmers market for fresh cider donuts and pies. Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 914-245-2784 www.stuartsfarm.com
Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard, 130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem. Operated by first-generation farmers since 2011, the farm store is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The on-site kitchen is open Mon.-Fri. Get tickets online for apple picking. CSA membership is available. 914-485-1210 www.harvestmoonfarmandorchard.com
Hayfield’s, 1 Bloomer Road, North Salem. Owner Renea Dayton’s multi-faceted country market bustles daily inside and out. Available from the in-house kitchen are coffee, breakfast, lunch, soups, salads, and ice cream. Colorful flowers are also available for purchase. 914-669-8275 www.hayfieldsmarket.com
Outhouse Orchards, 139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem. Reservations are required on weekends. 914-277-3188 www.outhouseorchardsny.com
Muscoot Farmers Market, Route 100, Katonah, part of Muscoot Farm. With over 20 vendors, the farmers market operates every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through November. Free admission. For further info: 914-864-7283, or www.muscootfarm.org
Salinger’s Orchards, 200 Guinea Rad, Brewster. Visit their farm market and bakery. No pick your own, but fresh-picked apples are available at the market. The Bus on the grounds provides food and beverages. 845-277-3521 www.salingersorchards.com
(Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and a former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in the Bronx and Westchester for 30 years. He may be reached at 914-235-6591. E-mail: gutreactions@optonline.net)