I can't wait to hear what you think about The Bedford by Martha Stewart, my east-coast restaurant located at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. It's open and already we're getting so many excellent responses to our menu and our food!
The 204-seat dining destination is inspired by my 1925 country farmhouse in Westchester, New York. The menu features a selection of my own favorite recipes - all with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. Last week, we celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony, various media interviews and photos, and a party attended by friends, colleagues, business partners, and other celebrities including Christie Brinkley, former Olympic figure skater, Johnny Weir, rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, and Sex and the City creator Candace Bushnell. Guests sampled many of the menu offerings and enjoyed my signature cocktails. It was a wonderful and successful event. And now the next time you're in Southeastern Connecticut and are looking for elegance, warmth, charm, and the most flavorful meals, be sure to go to The Bedford by Martha Stewart.
Enjoy these photos.
It was such an exciting day to see this restaurant come to fruition. Here I am with Foxwoods President and CEO, Jason Guyot. (Photo by Yvonne Tnt/BFA)
The Green Room is modeled after my own Green Parlor – complete with the paint colors and decorative accents. This room is set apart from the main dining area and can be reserved for private events.
In the main dining area, we set up stations for guests. This is the seafood display and ice carving.
This station includes chilled seafood and a raw bar. One of the most popular stations of the evening.
The shrimp, lobster, and half shells are all locally sourced and was so fresh.
On the back kitchen counter, a bread bar including the house made garden flatbreads, with sour cherry-rosemary focaccia, and warm Parker House rolls.
There was also Caesar Salad with lots of parmesan cheese and homemade croutons.
My Short Rib Blended Mini Sliders were passed around – trays emptied in seconds.
Ramekins of my Pasta Limone were also a big hit.
And here’s one of three caviar cart stations, where one could eat caviar atop mini blinis or on the bump – a refined, direct-to-skin tasting on the hand to get the full, pure flavors of the fish roe.
We also had a pierogi making demo station.
Desserts include Classic Crème Brulée.
There were also samples of my chocolate cake.
And one of my own favorites, mini Upside Down Lemon Meringues.
Here I am with Christie Brinkley in front of the “step-and-repeat” backdrop. It was great to Christie at the event. (Photo by Yvonne Tnt/BFA)
Here I am with Johnny Weir. It was nice to see him again after the winter Olympics in Milan. (Photo by Yvonne Tnt/BFA)
Here I am with Jason and members of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s Tribal Council – Chairman Rodney Butler, Councilor Daniel Menihan Jr., Councilor Rahiem Eleazar, and Secretary Matthew Pearson. (Photo by Yvonne Tnt/BFA)
I was happy to see some of my own Bedford staff at the party as well. Here are Adan Morales, Fernando Ferrari, and my driver Andres Velastegui.
Christina Lombardi, Sophie Roche, and John Rice were instrumental in organizing and planning the event. (Photo by Yvonne Tnt/BFA)
Longtime friends Jim Klinko and Layton Thomas never miss my events.
And look who else stopped by to celebrate the grand opening of The Bedford by Martha Stewart at Foxwoods – rapper 50 Cent. (Photo by Yvonne Tnt/BFA)
We all had such a fantastic time at the opening celebration of my new restaurant. I hope you visit soon. The Bedford by Martha Stewart at Foxwoods serves breakfast and dinner seven days a week with lunch on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
I am so thrilled to open the doors to this 10,000 square foot, 204-seat dining destination thoughtfully decorated much like my Bedford, New York farm. The menu features many of my own favorite dishes - all with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. Among them - Big Martha's Pierogies, Oysters Rockefeller, my Honey Mustard Salmon, and Pasta Limone. And for dessert, my Upside-Down Lemon Meringue Pie. These are some of the same dishes I serve to family and friends when I entertain. And don't forget, at The Bedford by Martha Stewart, one can also enjoy my signature cocktails, such as my Martha-tini and my delicious Frozen Pomegranate Martha-rita. My team worked tirelessly to get the restaurant ready for you! I know you're going to love it!
Here are some photos, enjoy.
My second-ever restaurant opened its doors for business over the weekend. The Bedford by Martha Stewart is now on the east coast! And it’s open for breakfast and dinner seven days a week with lunch on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I can’t wait to hear what you think.
The bar is long and fills one entire side of the restaurant. Come and enjoy my delicious signature cocktails.
This is The Green Room, which is inspired by my own Green Parlor at the farm – the paint colors, the hanging Drabware plates, and the furniture are all very similar to what I have at home. This room is separate from the main dining area and available for private parties.
The windows in The Green Room dining room look out to videos taken of my gardens and allées. In fact, one of them even includes me riding by on one of my trusted Friesians.
If you follow my blog regularly, you may recognize some of the same design styles throughout the restaurant. These pots hang above the white marble topped counter just like they do in my own Winter House kitchen.
The copper pots and pans in a variety of sizes come from my MARTHA by Martha Stewart collection.
For opening weekend, my faux bois planters available at my shop on Amazon, were filled with blooming plants – just like I do at home.
All around the main dining room are large black and white photos of me as a model.
Last minute preparations are made to the table settings – everything is set perfectly.
Every piece is checked and checked again. And notice the colors – the walls, furniture, and the wait staff uniforms are shades of Bedford Gray.
Place settings are done in crisp white with silver flatware. Individual salt and pepper bowls are added – just like I do at home for guests.
I display many of my crystal and glass pieces on shelves and inside glass cases in my home. My team worked hard to bring my Bedford home to you – and they did an excellent job.
In one corner is a merchandise area showcasing some of my books and other products available for purchase.
Here are some pieces from my kitchen collections. Items can be purchased during one’s visit to The Bedford by Martha Stewart and added to the dining check. It’s one stop eating and shopping.
Here is another counter display showing my hanging pots and plants.
There are more than 200 seats for guests – some in open, airy spaces and others tucked away for more quiet and intimate conversations.
The staff is large and everyone is given detailed training.
By early evening, the kitchen is buzzing with chefs preparing for the launch party.
Lights are dimmed and table lamps are turned on.
Drink menus are decorated with faux bois, a pattern I love and use on various walls of my home. Several are propped up for guests to peruse.
And wait until you see who attends this exciting event. In my next blog, I will share lots of photos from our launch party – it was so much fun.
There are always so many beautiful and interesting planters to see at The Tropics, Inc. in Hollywood, California - it's definitely become one of my favorite stops whenever I'm in the Los Angeles area.
During a recent business trip, I paid a visit to Ron Horziencik, CEO and President of the 20,000 square foot gallery. You may have seen the post on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48. Ryan and his team offer plants and accessories for both residential and corporate use, real estate staging, and television and film projects. If you're ever in the vicinity and want to browse through the space, please call and make an appointment.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
I always try to add a stop at The Tropics, Inc. to my list of must-see places whenever I am in Los Angeles. It really is a treasure trove of beautiful and unique items. In the back is a large Deuterocohnia lorentziana mound in a handmade vintage French concrete planter with
encrusted sea shells. In front are vintage hewn stone, ceramic, and terracotta planters.
Ryan’s father, Ronald J. Hroziencik, started the business selling junk at a swap meet with his college roommate. Occasionally, they would have plants to sell, and customers loved them. Now, it’s a successful establishment with a large inventory of unique and beautiful plants, containers, and so much more.
This is a massive aged elephant foot tree in a large vintage steel industrial planter.
Ryan has a variety of planters for sale inside and out – in all different sizes, forms, and materials.
In this corner is a braided Pachira aquatica forest planted in a large vintage French foundry crucible container with original patina. A Ceiba tree on the left sits in a vintage planter.
And this is Ryan’s container garden – so inspiring.
In another area, these assorted vintage Willy Guhl hourglass planters with original patina. Willy Gulh was a Swiss industrial designer and cabinet maker. These items are from Switzerland, circa 1960.
Here is an aged sculptural Cyphostemma juttae, commonly known as the Namibian grape or tree grape. It is in a vintage Willy Guhl chalice planter with its original patina – circa 1960.
Perhaps you recognize these plants – Kalanchoe, echeveria, and hanging sedum in different vintage hewn stone planters.
This is a Deuterocohnia brevifolia mound planted in a hollowed tree root.
Another interesting item is this aged deciduous Adenium obesum bonsai in a vintage French concrete planter with its original patina.
Here is a trio of vintage French concrete planters with encrusted sea shells.
Ryan also carries interesting busts – this one is a vintage French plaster bust with original patina on a table. Underneath is a large cluster of pink barnacle.
This vintage French lion sculpture looks to be guarding the space.
Sansevieria hallii, or baseball bat Sanseveria, is a slow-growing evergreen cactus succulent with blue and green foliage. It is planted in another Willy Guhl geometric planter with original patina.
I also noticed this bird’s nest fern – I have many bird’s nest ferns at my farm.
Look at this interesting aged Haworthia truncate mound in a vintage steel disk planter.
Planted here is a Brachychiton populneus bonsai with Deuterocohnia brevifolia mounds and rocks in a vintage Willy Guhl bowl planter with original patina – from Switzertland, circa 1960.
This is a vintage French bust of André Le Nôtre, a French landscape architect and the principal gardener of King Louis XIV of France. In fact, Nôtre was the landscape architect who designed the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
And this is the item I bought – a very interesting Dioscorea elephantipes, also known as Elephant’s Foot – a slow-growing caudiciform succulent native to South Africa, and loved for its large, sculptural tuber.
And here I am with Ryan. Thank you, Ryan, for another wonderful tour of The Tropics, Inc.
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