The James Beard Nominated DeBruce in Livingston Manor has rolled out their new spring tasting menu, and it’s a beautiful reflection of what makes The Catskills in Sullivan County special this time of year. Chef Eric Leveillee has crafted seven courses that showcase both foraged treasures and local farm ingredients at their seasonal best.
What’s on the Menu
The meal starts with a stunning Spring Pea Salad that sits atop a green garbanzo bean puree, featuring fresh peas, mustard greens, and trout roe. It’s decorated with springtime flowers – nasturtium, viola, radish, mustard, and cilantro blossoms – that you might spot while hiking our local trails!
Next is a Raw Bass with Compressed Kohlrabi dish, served on ice 2 ways where the fish is ribboned into alternating layers with lardo, kohlrabi and its greens. The delicate spruce and basil flowers add such a pretty and delicious touch. The most fun part of this dish was the small bonfire with hay, spruce, sage, and rosemary that smelled like a spring night with the fireplace lit.
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with those wild ferns & nettles popping up in the woods in The Catskills, the Stinging Nettle and Fiddlehead Fern Stew will inspire you. Chef Eric combines these locally foraged finds with locally smoked trout, spinach, chives, house smoked eel, and redbud capers for a dish that truly tastes like spring.
The Grilled Brook Trout course is a nod to our region’s fishing heritage, delivered by our very own Beaverkill Trout Hatchery. The dish comes with broccoli prepared three different ways, along with chive oil, green garlic (another spring favorite), chili crisp, and peppery rocket flowers. This dish looked like a painting!
One of the most anticipated spring ingredients, morel mushrooms, star in the Morel Mushroom Lasagne. The morels are stuffed with a creamy filling incorporating chicken from Snowdance Farm in Livingston Manor, garnished with ramps, pickled magnolia, cherry blossom, and broccolini in a rich poultry sauce. One of the coolest Lasagnas you will ever have, and delicious too!
The final savory course is Hot Smoked Steelhead Trout kept simple with Upstate Abundance potatoes from Somewhere In Time Farm in Parksville and cream from Tonjes Dairy in Callicoon, finished with dill. This dish will make you wish spring was all year round.
For dessert, you will enjoy Sorrel and Marzipan Ice Cream with coconut crumble underneath and pink peppercorn mochi on top – a creative end to the meal that balances sweet and earthy flavors with great textures in a really bright way.
About Chef Eric Leveillee
Chef Eric Leveillee has returned as Culinary Director at The DeBruce, where he previously helped build the restaurant’s reputation for excellence. Under his leadership, The DeBruce earned James Beard Award nominations in both 2023 and 2024, including in the prestigious Outstanding Restaurant category.
Beyond his culinary achievements, Chef Leveillee is a strong advocate for Foster Supply’s local non-profit, A Single Bite, which tackles food insecurity in Sullivan County. His personal experiences with hardship have fueled his commitment to giving back to the community through food.
Worth the Trip
What’s special about The DeBruce’s approach is how connected it is to our region. The kitchen team works with nearby farms and even forages many ingredients themselves from the surrounding landscape.
If you’re looking to really experience the flavors of spring in The Catskills, this menu delivers. You can come for dinner or spend the weekend staying at The Hotel. The restaurant offers the tasting menu each night it is open along with a unique A La Carte Menu that will truly delight you throughout your stay.
The most fun thing about staying at The DeBruce? You have access to over 600 acres of preserved Sullivan Catskills habitat where you can forage, roam and even learn to fly fish!
So! If you are a big fan of spring, make sure you plan a trip soon. The Spring menu will change as summer arrives, so don’t wait too long to make a reservation. You can learn more about the Progression Seasonal Tasting Series here.
We are excited for you to visit The Catskills soon for a delicious meal!
