In the Wild Dinner Series at Foxfire Mountain House

Meet the Chef: Rob Escalante of Foxfire Mountain House

By inside + out | May 5, 2025

Looking for an immersive, fairytale-like dining experience in the Catskills? Check out In The Wild Dinner Series, Foxfire’s swoon-and-photo-worthy annual dinner event set in the magical woods of their 10.5-acre property. Executive Chef Rob Escalante will yet again plate up his delicious fare, which borrows inspiration from his training at the French Culinary Institute in New York, global travels, and a fair shake of his homemade spices.

In the Wild Dinner Series at Foxfire Mountain House

FOXFIRE: In The Wild Dinner Series | Tickets
Sunday June 22 | Sunday July 20 | Sunday Aug 24 | Sunday Sept 28
INSIDER TIP: These tickets sell out fast so grab your tickets as soon as you can

If you’re looking for a truly phenomenal experiential dining experience in the Hudson Valley, FOXFIRE: In the Wild would top the list. Now that the dates have been announced, we highly suggest you reserve your spot for what will yet again be a sold-out event. Their unique multi-course dinners begin with an informative yet fun hour featuring local wine experts or a meet-and-greet with some of the country’s top independent beer, wine and spirits producers. Then, guests meander down a picturesque wooded path to where candlelit dining tables and a lavish multi-course meal await.

Foxfire Mountain House In the Wild Dinner Series

Consider booking a room and making it a weekend getaway! Foxfire is a century-old, 11-room lodge where an artful blend of rustic elegance meets hipster comforts. It’s also a beloved destination for weddings and private events.

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Foxfire Mountain House serves dinner in the summer months on Sunday & Monday, 5 -8 pm. Every dinner served and special food event has a creative force in the kitchen, and in this case, it’s Chef Rob Escalante. Let’s get to know him a little better.

Wild Inside Pop Up Dinner at Foxfire Mountain House

Here are ten things to know about Chef Escalante.

Where were you born and how did you wind up in the Hudson Valley?

I was born in Los Angeles and lived there through college (UCLA) before moving to NYC to attend culinary school.

What inspired you to become a chef?

Traveling in Europe after college–especially eating and drinking my way through Spain.
That inspired me to head back to the States and make my way to culinary school and NYC.

What do you love most about living + working in the Hudson Valley?

The changing seasons and the micro-seasons in between. I appreciate having nature right at my doorstep.

What is your favorite thing to eat/cook when you’re with your family?

Cooking breakfast for my son or the first day we’re able to grill and eat/drink outside on the deck.

What was your earliest visceral or impactful food memory?

On the 4th of July, after swimming in my great-grandfather’s pool all day and then getting out to eat a huge plate of BBQ, I felt so satiated.

What local businesses do you rely on to be successful?

Woodstock Hardware, Tremper Hill Farms and Adams Fairacre Farms.

Your favorite local view?

Stony Clove Notch.

Your favorite local Activity?

Summer dips in swimming holes and long walks in the woods foraging mushrooms.