As many of you know, Vinegar Hill House has a new neighbor, Hillside. Already serving dinner & brunch, this week, Wednesday, September the 12th, it opens for lunch!
It is a welcome addition to the neighborhood; there isn't much to choose from in Dumbo for afternoon fare. The space is beautiful & airy: sunlight streaming in through big windows, huge ferns (creations of Fox Fodder Farm) hanging above wood tables & an espresso machine to get your fix. My favorite part is the multicolored rainbow broom handles affixed to the underside of the bar. (that's a Sam Buffa find.)
Executive Chef Brian Leth does magic with the small plates served here. Erica Ohrling makes sweets that dazzle you at the end of an already delicious meal. Wine director Bill Fitch shares his treasures. He is skilled at finding the unsung hero of delicious wine, often which are affordable to boot. Jon Cammisa, a man with many tricks up his sleeves, designed the "Hillside" logo.
Owners Jean Adamson & Sam Buffa asked me to paint some watercolor menus for Hillside. Collaborating with them was wonderful. One day Jean handed me a small change plate. On it was a reproduction of the painting "Arearea (Joyousness)" a Tahitian Gauguin painting made in 1892. This was my color palette & my inspiration-perfect! I love the work I made for this project, the watercolor sings & I am so pleased with the collection.
Go on a fall adventure, pretend you aren't in the city, take a bike ride & have some lunch at Hillside~70 Hudson Ave.
