We interviewed two chefs, Gerry Hayden and Claudia Fleming of The North Fork Table & Inn, and got some tips on how best to spend a fall weekend on Long Island—including where to pick apples and sip cider on the banks of the Peconic Bay.
What is your idea of a perfect fall weekend in the North Fork?
Stay the weekend at The North Fork Table and Inn. Before checking in, stop at The Winemakers Studio for happy hour and then have a casual dinner at either Noah’s or Frisky Oyster in Greenport. On Saturday, grab a picnic basket from The Cheese Shop in Mattituck, check out a couple of wineries and then on to Orient for a picnic, where every country road seems to lead to a secluded little cove. On the way back to the hotel, stop in the village of Greenport for an espresso at Aldo’s and a walk through the picturesque harbor town. Back to the Inn for a nap before your dinner experience at the Table. On Sunday morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast over the New York Times. Before heading out, take a bit of the North Fork with you, stop at Wickhams Fruit Farm to pick up apples, pumpkins and cider!
What farms do you work with on Long Island?
The North Fork Table and Inn sources a great deal of its food from local farms. Greens and heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, beets and zucchini from KK’s Farm, corn from Krupski’s Farm, berries from Oysterponds Farm, stone fruits and apples from Wickhams Fruit Farm, eggs from Browders Birds, ducks from Crescent Farms, goat cheese from Catapano Farm, the freshest fish from local fisherman is procured from Charlie at the Southold Fish Market, beef from McCall Vineyard and Farm, Greenport Brewery and of course, wines from the many vineyards on the North Fork, just to name a few.
Favorite local bars?
The bars at both the Frisky Oyster and Noah’s.
Best place to get coffee?
Hands down, Aldo’s in Greenport!
How to get there: To get to the North Fork Table & Inn (57225 Main Road, Southold), take the LIRR, transfer at Ronkonkoma to the North Fork line for Southold. Or take the Hampton Jitney to Southold.
Photos: Courtesy of North Fork Table & Inn, Orient Beach State Park, Noah’s
For more fall weekend getaway ideas in the North Fork, read this oM piece on a self-guided bike tour of North Fork vineyards.
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram