Fern, Wildflower, C. Cassis, & Mel's

GETAWAYS • Upstate Intel 

LITCHFIELD COUNTY: A FOUND correspondent checks in from Fern (above) in Lakeville, which opened in September:

The old fire station has been redone in a rugged wooden-industrial vibe, with a large wood-fired oven in the back turning out pizzas. The Italian menu is familiar, with a couple successful twists (Roman bread, for instance, a subtle update on the ubiquitous focaccia starter). The pizza is solid. But better were the grilled octopus starter and the gnocchi, served with shrimp and mushrooms. The main space is fronted with glass roll-up doors, and I imagine this will make for a fine indoor-outdoor dining space once warmer weather returns.

→ Fern (Lakeville, CT) • 9 Sharon Rd. • Reserve.

HUDSON VALLEY: Mel’s The Bakery, Nora Allen’s popular Lower East Side spot that closed earlier this year is opening in a new, much larger space on Warren Street in Hudson. Its first day is tomorrow; service is weekends-only to start. Eater has the scoop on what to expect, including lots of breads. 
→ Mel’s The Bakery (Hudson, NY), 324 Warren St. • 9a-3p.

HUDSON VALLEY: In Rhinebeck, entrepreneur Rachel Petach produces the liqueur C. Cassis, made from locally-grown blackcurrants. This fall, she opened a tasting room inside her production facility. The space is seriously chic, packed with product and merch, with a three-seat bar for tastings and a changing menu of sandwiches and snacks. 
→ C. Cassis Tasting Room (Rhinebeck, NY) • 108 Salisbury Tpke. • No reservations. 

CATSKILLS: The Auberge Resorts property Wildflower Farms is now accepting bookings for a special weekend with Blue Hill at Stone Barns chef Dan Barber, Jan. 19-21, 2024. The collaboration with Barber’s Row 7 Seed Company includes a Saturday night tasting menu dinner by Barber ($398 per). Other events throughout the weekend can be purchased à la carte. 
→ Wildflower Farms (Gardiner, NY) • 2707 Main St. • Reserve.