“Chef Deanna and her husband David Ellis Rissenberg have created a truly multidimensional and magical experience in the western catskills. The sheer mastery of each of their professional & creative expression is amplified when combined into one evening’s offering. It is a gift; a portal into their world and it is so generous, joyful, healing & satisfying. The evening begins with the surprise of arriving at a warm welcoming home with a glowing wood stove in the corner of the room. The elegantly dressed communal dinner table is handsomely set with tall taper candles creating that perfect light that enhances everything. Glasses of Prosecco await each guest and multiple bottles of red and white wine are ready if you so choose. The understated pottery place settings and the exquisite cutlery and the dark floral tablecloth all feel so well chosen & grounding for the magic that is to come.
For me there is a surprise element of showing up to meet fellow travelers for the journey; there is the anticipation of the unexpected: the conversations, connections, stories & good humor exchanged over the course of the evening brings us closer. Chef Deanna may pop out from time to time to introduce a course or see how everyone is doing , but she has a great server on hand who seamlessly is filling glasses, serving and clearing all while feeling a part of the table’s conversations. The amuse bouche and the following courses of soups and bites makes me remember my days of living in the city and going to fancy restaurants that charge many hundreds of dollars more for (way) less. And each plate feels like a new sensation and a new way of seeing how to enhance a meat or a vegetable that I had never thought of before. I have also been surprised by the sheer surprise of a forgotten comfort food ~ like the best scalloped potatoes… Once we are comfortable with the flow of things ~ the evening shifts~ we pause the divine drinks and delightful courses to step out into the night and venture up a small hill to a tucked away, exquisite cottage. We have a lantern or two to guide us on the trail, and the stars in the sky remind us how blessed we are to be in nature, with fresh air, each other, good food, good company and beauty. We arrive at the threshold of a new experience ~ we enter David’s Realm. This high ceilinged large room also has candle light and a lowly lit lamp and beautiful and comfortable blue velvet seating or if you really want to feel all the vibrations- you can sit on the floor… this space is energetically infused with expansive awareness, meditational and devotional vibes, clean, high frequency and positive energy. You feel different entering here and the scale of this concert piano is a surprise and a curiosity. We settle into our seats and receive a sound bath and energetic healing in the form of classical music from David’s masterful and intuitive concerto. We do not clap. We are mesmerized, our minds wander and explore, and we are so grateful for this gift. David is humble and generous and slowly guides us back out into the crisp evening air to continue the feast of the senses. We are back out into the fresh air and back into the second half of delicious gastronomical offerings, more vino and finally espresso & dessert.
Chef Deanna seems so jovial and casual and fun while simultaneously serving wildly creative, delicious, elevated courses garnished with the prettiest edible flowers or exotic berries or unexpected twists of flavor nuances- it’s mind blowing to me how each plate is a work of art in sight and texture and taste. We all feel closer and connected - our personal walls have been dropped - we are connecting with each other in the heart of winter when it’s so easy to be a hermit. We are sharing an evening in community, candlelight and magic and it is so nourishing on all levels. This priceless journey has inspired each of us in different ways and feels so good. I highly recommend the Bramble Hill experience. Don’t forget to tip your server and buy beautiful things from the Bramble Hill gift shop💖”