Have you been up to The Gem yet? If you’re in the mood for awesome smoked meats and a scenic ride up the lake - this is your place. We caught up with co-owner Paty Boccato as The Gem enters its second summer in business to find out a bit more about how The Gem came to be and what we can expect to see on their menu (smoked meat platters and fried chicken sandwiches, anyone?).
Tell us a bit about yourselves!
We are two couples with the same vision for hospitality with multiple venues in New York City and the Hudson Valley. We have worked together on projects before and we have collaborated yet again in the Adirondacks on The Gem and Little Gem.
Richard and I live and work in New York City where we run several businesses that are at the forefront of the modern cocktail revolution — Hundredweight Ice and Dutch Kills Bar.
Kristan Keck and Kirby Farmer live in the Hudson Valley. Kirby Farmer trained at the Culinary Institute of America and later worked in New York City making a name for himself as an inspiring force in the culinary world. He and Kristan, who comes from a production and design background, opened a beautiful restored turn of the century boutique hotel, restaurant and bar called Wm. Farmer and Sons in the town of Hudson.
Together we are running the businesses, raising our sons, and raising the bar on guest experience.
How did The Gem come to be?
The Gem is a year-round dining and cocktail destination with indoor and outdoor seating. It feels like a mountain escape inspired by the Adirondack Great Camps with modern touches, and New American style comfort food inspired by southern roots.
The Gem was born out of friendship and an existing partnership between two couples in the hospitality world. There was obvious need in the community for another option when it came to cuisine and dining atmosphere. All of that combined with the good fortune of the building being in bankruptcy made The Gem come alive.
How did you decide on a name?
The Gem and Little Gem Liquors are named after two islands in the Narrow Island group on the lake.
Why Bolton?
My family has ties to Bolton. I grew up spending summer on the lake, and our family still gathers here for holidays and special occasions.
I watched this building sit vacant for most of my life until I called the number on the window. I’ve seen Bolton get busier and busier, and every year it continued to explode. The need for new and different culinary options was prevalent.
What can we expect to see on your menu?
The Gem is a Smokehouse, but it's also much more than that. The sides, the salads and the farm fresh offerings are both elevated and approachable. We also have vegetarian options and choices for kids and we put as much love into these menu items as we do into our meats. We make every single sauce and side dish fresh in house — nothing comes from a jar or the freezer. The food and cocktails are both world class given the pedigree of the brand and we are proud to be serving fresh, high quality dinners up here in the North Country to locals and visitors alike.
Some of the fan favorites so far have been the Smokehouse Wings, BBQ Prawns, the Smokehouse Combo Platter and the famous Abigails Fried Chicken Sandwich.
