New Chef at Heather Ridge Farm

Outgoing chef Rob Handel is passing the baton, or wooden spoon, to chef Robert Lugo at the Bees Knees Cafe at Heather Ridge Farm, Preston Hollow, NY, starting in December. Chef Lugo will be collaborating with owner, Carol Clement, on special events and catering. Lugo, and his wife Janice owned and operated the café Retriever Roasters in Catskill for many years. Robert was the guest chef for Heather Ridge Farm's successful Puerto Rican fundraiser in September, and has been in involved in other special events at Heather Ridge like the wood fired pizza days, and pop-up coffee bar over the past couple years, working together with Handel and Clement.

Carol Clement will also be back in the kitchen regularly. The Bees Knees Cafe plans to keep some of Rob Handel’s signature dishes, bringing back favorites, and adding new ones as the cafe menu evolves this winter. The cafe is best known for innovative ways to serving the poultry and meat raised right on the farm, including Animal Welfare Approved grassfed lamb and goat, and heritage bred pork and eggs in addition to all grassfed beef and pastured poultry.

The Bees Knees Cafe is open Saturday and Sunday, from 11am-3pm, in a classic 1800 farm house with panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains. Menus and special events can be found on the website www.heather-ridge-farm.com