It's often said that on St. Patrick's Day, everybody has a touch of the Irish!
Yesterday, I celebrated the occasion by making my rendition of Irish soda bread - a rich, dense, lightly sweet loaf baked with golden raisins, caraway seeds, and butter. I shared it with my staff at the farm during a performance from young bagpiper Will McCormack, a charming 16-year old musician who has been playing with the Police Officer Stephen Driscoll Pipe Band since 2024.
Enjoy these photos.
Fresh out of the oven – two beautiful Irish Soda bread loaves. I made them earlier in the day.
I used my recipe for Rich Irish Soda Bread. It’s a tender raisin-filled loaf that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any day the craving hits.
Before baking anything I always prepare all my ingredients. This bread is easy to make and because it requires no rising time, it can also be done pretty quickly. Here are some of my dry ingredients.
Here I am buttering the top of this loaf before it goes into the oven. I used a serrated knife to make the “x” about an inch deep into the top of each loaf. Legend has it that, in some areas of Ireland, a cross was cut on the top of the Irish soda bread with a knife to ward off the devil and protect the household.
I also like to sprinkle a little flour on top, so it gets that dusted look when it’s done.
And then the loaves go into the oven preheated to 350-degrees Fahrenheit.
After a little more than an hour, the loaves are all done. This looks perfect.
I served it later in the afternoon with Kerry Gold butter. I also served delicious warm tea – it was a cold and windy day.
This is a member of my security team, Bill McCormack, along with his wife, Diana, and his son, Will.
Here’s Will setting up his bagpipes. Traditionally, bagpipes were made from the skin of animals. The hide would be turned inside out to create the bag, while the pipes were made from hollow reeds or wood. Today, many bagpipes are constructed using synthetic materials.
Will also selected three different songs to play for me and my staff.
Adan, Pete, and Fernando enjoyed the bread and the warm tea.
My dear friend Muffin Dowdle also stopped by to celebrate with us.
I asked Will to play on my terrace parterre. While spring officially begins in less than a week, it’s been chilly, so my boxwood hedges and shrubs are still covered in protected burlap.
Will has been a bagpiper with the Police Officer Stephen Driscoll Pipe Band since 2024. The band was named in honor of New York City Emergency Police Officer Stephen P. Driscoll, who was killed on September 11, 2001. The band proudly wears the New York City Tartan, which was designed by Lochcarron of Scotland, and presented to New York City in April, 2002. The colors of the tartan represent New York with gray for the streets and buildings of the City, green for Central Park, and blue for the Hudson and East Rivers which surround Manhattan. The two black lines which are designed in a cross offer a sign of condolence in memory of those who died in the Twin Towers tragedy.
Here’s Will playing his bagpipes – the wild birds loved all the music and began chirping along with him.
He hasn’t been playing long, but Will did a fantastic job.
Thanks so much for sharing your bagpiping talents with us, Will. It was great to have you at the farm.
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.
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.
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.
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