An Evening at Westerly Canteen at Hammertown: Where Design Meets the Harvest
On a warm August evening, Pine Plains quietly transformed into something out of a midsummer dream. Guests arrived at Hammertown Barn to find the lawn scattered with tables that seemed to bloom from the landscape itself. Styled by Hammertown, the setting balanced elegance and eclectic charm, where every vignette invited you to linger, to take in the scene, to be part of something beautifully curated yet effortless.
Lawn scattered with tables that seemed to bloom from the landscape itself.
The evening’s host, Westerly Canteen, is known for weaving community, sustainability, and cuisine into memorable dining experiences. This dinner was no exception. Tablescapes, each with their own intimate character, were dressed just enough to complement the surroundings without competing with them. The glow of soft lighting and the hum of conversation created an ambiance that felt both celebratory and serene.
“Weaving community, sustainability, and cuisine into memorable dining experiences.”
The menu told its own story. Every dish, from the smoky eggplant dip with herb salad to the vibrant melon and pea salad, adorned with Ardith Mae goat feta, celebrated the late summer harvest. The heirloom tomatoes, dressed simply with crème fraîche, crispy garlic, and a kiss of chile oil, were a standout, proof that the best ingredients need little embellishment.
As the evening unfolded, plates of bass with black lime butter and steak with vinegar-grilled onions circulated family-style, fostering the sense of community the night was built on. The final note, a burnt cheesecake with honey-macerated peaches, felt like a quiet exclamation point, a sweet reminder of the season’s abundance.
What set the evening apart was not only the food or the decor, but the way experience and environment married seamlessly. It was a dinner that captured the essence of the Hudson Valley, rooted in local ingredients, shaped by thoughtful design, and elevated by the people who came together to share it.
A smoky eggplant dip with herb salad
At Livolia, we believe that the spaces we create and inhabit should tell a story. Our work begins where design meets intention, curating environments that invite connection, celebrate nature, and bring people together. This evening was a perfect reflection of this philosophy: an experience where every detail, from the placement of a table to the sourcing of a peach, contributed to something greater than the sum of its parts. These are the moments that inspire us to continue shaping homes, gardens, and experiences where beauty and meaning flourish side by side.