Guest Post on Harvest and Hearth

Jenn from Bite Me wrote a wonderful review of Harvest and Hearth...definitely a Saratoga classic. Sounds like she had a great experience there, definitely makes me want to go there while it's still warm enough to eat outside! 

Thanks to Aliza for letting me post on her blog! Love when food addicted people like myself can collaborate☺

I’m embarrassed to say that I have only recently heard about this great restaurant located right on Saratoga Lake.  Immediately upon walking in, you see the big wood fired oven that they use set amongst natural and simple decor.  

The place was bumpin’ and I thought for sure we would have to wait to sit outside since it was the perfect day during prime dinnertime but we didn’t!  Harvest and Hearth specializes in wood fired pizzas using only local, natural or organic ingredients and they are passionate about supporting local and organic farmers right here in New York state.  Their passion comes through because the pizza makes me want to go Whoop Whoop! 

We started off with the Mammie’s Poppy salad which consisted of poached organic pears, fire roasted pecans, fresh local goat cheese and a homemade poppy seed dressing atop organic mesculin greens.  What I loved about the salad was that it was very lightly dressed.  

I hate when a salad is swimming in dressing.  It went so nicely with the pears and crunchy pecans and all of the flavors really came through.  The portion size was very generous too!  Three of us shared with a little to spare! 

For the main attraction, we ordered the Olivia’s Organic which had whole milk mozzarella, asiago, fresh organic herbs and garlic infused extra virgin olive oil.  

Next up was The Natural which had sun dried tomato pesto, caramelized onions, organic mushrooms, nitrate free maple fennel sausage, whole milk mozzarella and herbs.  

Rounding third we decided on a Your Creation which we topped off with roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, fresh basil, chicken, goat cheese and garlic infused extra virgin olive oil.  

This was definitely the hat trick because all three pizzas were great and the fact that you can enjoy them while overlooking Saratoga Lake makes it that much better.  The ingredients used were so fresh tasting that it’s obvious they’re in season and local.  The other nice thing is that they offer a great draft beer selection choosing to serve beers made right here in the Northeast.  Some of the brews they offer are Bear Naked Ale from Adirondack Brewing, UFO Hefewiesen from Harpoon and Peak IPA from Peak Organic Brewing.   

The one downside to Harvest and Hearth is that the service is extremely slow.  Working with only one wood fired oven, they can only crank out the pizzas so fast which resulted in us being at the restaurant for a total of 2 hours.  We didn’t mind because the view was great and we weren’t in a rush but if you have someplace to be, you may want to try Harvest and Hearth on a night when you are looking to lounge.  Heck, even if you do have someplace to be, make the time to get here because the pizza is great! Have you been to Harvest and Hearth?? What did you think?

Harvest and Hearth opened in October of 2008 and is owned by Peter and Gina Michelin.  Their focus in on supporting local and organic farming communities through out New York and New England. Their dough is made with water from Saratoga Springs and most of their ingredients are local and organic.  Their motto is “In sharing a meal at Harvest & Hearth, you are choosing sustainability, conservation, simplicity, integrity, loyalty, and the importance of family and home.” All I know is that when I choose to dine here, I will get a great pizza!

Harvest and Hearth is located at 251-B County Route 67 (Stafford Bridge Rd.) Saratoga Springs, NY. To discover great local food businesses, visit www.BiteMeShow.com and "like" me on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you!