A Fire Closes Blue Hill at Stone Barns and its Farm

Over the weekend, a fire ripped through the property of Dan Barber’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns, forcing both his restaurant and non-profit farm education center to close temporarily.

An announcement went out on Instagram stating the fire was “small but serious,” adding that “thankfully, no one was injured and the fire was quickly contained.⁣⁣” Firefighters were at the scene at 3 a.m. on Saturday, January 11; a spokesperson for Blue Hill says they’re still not sure what caused the fire.

“The entire campus is closed today, including the restaurant, cafeteria, and events spaces. We are looking forward to welcoming back our guests soon,” the post stated. Chefs like Dan Kluger (Loring Place, Greywind), rushed the comments to offer condolences.

In his personal Instagram, Barber, known often for his appearance on Chef’s Table, wrote: “The buildings are intact and the damage is contained. It’s too early to assess the physical harm, but not too early to feel grateful… more than 60 fighters bravely battling to contain a potential disaster. We owe these anonymous — and until now for us, unheralded volunteers, everything.” Town inspectors will arrive at the property today to assess the full scope of the damage.

“No chef has shaped the 21st-century conversation about the connections between agriculture, cuisine, ecology, health, and climate change more profoundly than Barber,” Eater wrote in a 2022 investigation into the property that shone a light on its complicated legacy. Over the years, Blue Hill has shifted in particular after the pandemic as it launched, what it called, a “2.0” version.