HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Copy Hut: Copies, Flyers, Ads & Customer Service-Kingston, NY

Copy Hut in Kingston is where I go to make copies, flyers, and business cards. They always do a great job and take their customer's satisfaction seriously. As the sign says "Buy Local First" and when you go to Copy Hut to get your copies that's what you are doing. Yes, Staples is right down the block, but if you want personal service and attention to detail stick with the Copy Hut folks! 

Bruegger's Bagels: Tasty bagels & baby friendly--Latham, NY

I ended up going to Bruegger's Bagel Bakery, a very bright and spacious bagel place in a square strip mall area in Latham, NY because I missed the turn for Panera Bread. I had to run a few errands in Latham today. It was just as well, as I was more in a bagel mood than a salad mood, and I'm always looking for new places to blog about. I had honey grain bagel, and my husband had an Asiago Parmesan softwitch with tuna salad. I forgot to take photos of the actual bagels.They were on the small side so I didn't feel that guilty having one for lunch. They were hot and very soft though. I also noticed a few babies in high-chairs, and a diaper-changing tray in the bathroom. Very baby friendly! Bruegger's has franchises all over the country. This was my first one. Forgot to mention, the French Toast coffee was pretty good too.  Bruegger's Bagels, 594 New Loudon Road, Latham, NY. (518) 785-4961.

Karaoke Night & Garlic Burgers at Dutch Ale House--Saugerties, NY

On Wednesday, March 23rd, Dutch Ale House in Saugerties is hosting a Karaoke night, and will be giving away Lucky Chocolates too!  They are well known for their beer, but honestly their garlic burgers are amazing! I had one last summer. They also have a excellent wings. I've never been there at night.  Dutch Ale House, 255 Main Street, Saugerties, NY. (845) 247-2337. 
 
 

New Olive Garden in Kingston, NY--Family style Italian food & bread-sticks!

 
 The new Olive Garden in Kingston at the Kingston Plaza Mall was very busy for lunch today. I don't remember ever having to wait for a table for lunch in the Hudson Valley so I was a bit amused when the hostess asked for my name and told me it would be about 10-15 minutes, and handed me a buzzer. The space is huge, with a few hall-size rooms, and a semi-private dining area for groups. Our waiter Ryan was very attentive, and the food was brought out very quickly, and the food and plates seemed extra hot. I had heard a lot about these bread-sticks there, and they were quite good. A lot of diners were extra-happy to be there because of the novelty factor.

Now that chain restaurants in Ulster County have to include calories on the menu, I feel less guilty about ordering. I started with the pasta e faglioi soup, and I split an order of stuffed mushrooms with my husband. He had the chicken marsala for his main dish, and I had the portobello raviolis which were really rich, but surprisingly only 450 calories. Next time I go, I'll try one the dipping sauces for the bread-sticks. A couple friends of mine swear the bread-sticks are the best in the world. That is a bit of an exaggeration, but it is hard to stop at one. I'll have to work it off this weekend. I did see quite a few families with babies and young children here so definitely baby friendly. They even have those Koala holders for car-seats. Olive Garden, 560 Kings Mall Court, Kingston, NY. (845) 336-4867. Have you been to the new Olive Garden in Kignston?  How was it?

Hickory Barbecue and Smokehouse on Route 28: Corned Beef, Fresh Salads, and Live Music

 
 
 I couldn't resist the Corned Beef sign at Hickory BBQ on Route 28 today, St. Patrick's Day. The food is really tasty here, and there are way too many temptations on the menu--pulled pork, ribs, beef brisket, sourdough onion rings. Even though the barbecue meat is their specialty, the salads are the freshest I've tasted around. We split a chopped salad with goat cheese to start, and I was pretty impressed. No limp lettuce here! My husband ordered the Corned Beef and Cabbage, and I had the grilled vegetable wrap with gouda cheese and a baked sweet potato with maple butter, and kale as sides.

The kid's grilled cheese sandwich was made with thick slices of white bread, and I managed to resist stealing a bite! We got there before the St. Patrick's Day revelers did so it wasn't crowded, but I'm sure it will get crowded later on. The BBQ also does catering, and has live music on the weekends. Take-out is available too. Not sure if celebrities dine here, but the owner looks like Ashton Kutcher. Hickory BBQ and Smokehouse, 743 Route 28, Kingston, NY. (845) 338-2424. 

Steel House Bar and Restaurant--Kingston

The upbeat Steel House Bar and Restaurant in Kingston's round-out area is one of my favorite dinner places in the Summer. Their mango margaritas and chicken wings are amazing! The weather was dreary today though so we were the only ones there. A few of my single friends go there for Country Night. I believe they have line dancing there too.

Since I'm trying to shape up for ice cream season I got a boring old Caesar salad with chicken. Well, not as exciting as the chicken wings, but still pretty good. My husband's Steel House Burger with the house salad was very tasty. Next time I will try one of their specialty pizzas from their brick oven.

Tomorrow, they are expecting a good crowd from the Kingston St.Patrick's Day parade and the 22nd Annual Shamrock Run which starts at 12:50 pm. 

Rainy day fun: Indoor Heated Pool at the Holiday Inn Kingston

The Holiday Inn in Kingston has a nice indoor heated pool which is open to the public for a daily pass charge of $7 per person. I had never been here until a friend of mine invited me today. The pool has a lifeguard, lounge chairs, towels, vending machines, and a nearby video arcade for tweens. I don't know how the rooms are, but the pool is definitely a good bargain for a rainy day fun activity. I will be going back here before Summer starts. Another indoor pool I'd like to try out is the six-lane 25-yard pool at Bard . It is $10 for a day pass there. The Courtyard Marriott in Kingston has a pool, but only guests are allowed to use it. Stay tuned! Holiday Inn Kingston, 503 Washington Avenue, Kingston, NY. 12401. (845) 338-0400. 

Foodie alert: Hudson Valley Restaurant Week begins Monday, March 15th!

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week begins Monday, March 15th and lasts until March 28th. Mark your calendars and save your appetites because there are 141 restaurants participating this year. Here is the info provided by The Valley Table.

A grand total of 141 restaurants in 7 counties have signed up to participate in Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, the largest and most successful celebration of fine dining in the Hudson Valley, which starts Monday, March 15.

“This is Restaurant Week’s fourth year, and each year it has grown in popularity, both in restaurant participation and with customers. This year we’ve been blown away by the response — 141 restaurants is double the number from when we started in 2006 and an increase of 60% over last year!” says Janet Crawshaw, organizer of the event and publisher of The Valley Table magazine, which has been cited by The New York Times as “the magazine of all things epicurean up and down the Valley.”

During the event, which runs through March 28, restaurant goers can enjoy three-course prix-fixe dinners for $28 and lunches for $20 (beverages, tax and gratuity not included) at all 141 participating restaurants in Westchester, Dutchess, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Ulster and Columbia counties.     

Crawshaw has heard from some of the more popular restaurants that they are booked out for the entire two weeks.  Others are reporting that the phones are buzzing and they are filling up well on the weekends.  “There are still lots of reservations available, but diners should call their restaurants of choice as soon as possible,” she said.

    The dramatically increased number of participating restaurants means diners will have the opportunity to choose from a wider-than-ever variety of cuisines this year. From classic Italian, French, steak and seafood houses to Eclectic American, Nuevo Latino, Moroccan, Portuguese or Greek cuisine, the event offers something for every palate. Many of the restaurants showcase the bounty of Hudson Valley farms and orchards by using locally grown ingredients on their menus. 

    For culinary adventurers who want to treat themselves to dinner and an overnight getaway, many hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts in the region are offering special discounted rates during the two-week event. Even foodies without cars can take advantage of this dining celebration as more than 40 restaurants are located within walking distance of Metro-North train stations along the Harlem, Hudson and New Haven lines.

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is presented by The Valley Table. Major sponsors are American Express, WHUD Radio, The Gold Standard, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Westfair Business Publications, Brooklyn Brewery, Brotherhood Winery, Dutchess County Tourism, Westchester County Tourism, and Sysco Albany.

A complete list of all 141 participating restaurants with menus and directions, is available online at Hudson Valley Restaurant Week .  Reservations are recommended.

An Ode to Ruby Tuesday's Salad Bar--Kingston, NY

 

Ruby Tuesday's on Ulster Avenue is a good place to go to if you are looking for a good salad bar. I love salad bars. Whenever I'm near one I get a 1980's retro fuzzy feeling. Ruby Tuesdays has a very fresh and healthy one, that doesn't tempt you too much with mayo-laden salads. If you get an entree, it only costs $2.99 extra so I filled up twice on all the veggies and legumes while I waited for my Barbecue Chicken Dinner.

The lights are very dim at Ruby Tuesday's so the photo didn't really do the salad bar justice. A fellow diner gave me an extra coupon she had for a buy-one-get-one-free entree she had clipped out of the newspaper. I love random acts of kindness, and I must remember to pay it forward soon. Next week, I plan on checking out the new Olive Garden in Kingston that is getting a lot of buzz, but tonight it was nice to eat retro at Ruby Tuesday's. Ruby Tuesday, 122 Ulster Avenue, Kingston, NY. (845) 336-0909.

 

Day Trip: Tarrytown, NY

 

 
I took a day trip to Tarrytown over the weekend. There are many cute bistros and upscale restaurants in town. I like the romantic ambiance at Chiboust Bistro and Bakery and Sweet Grass Grill. Perfect date place for Manhattan couples who want to get away from the city, or Hudson Valley couples who want to get a little closer to the ctiy.  Lolipop very enticing candy store. After strolling around Main Street, we drove to Emporium Bagels to get a quick snack. Emporium Bagels is right next to Capri's Pizza by the Shoprite complex. They have the best bagels I have tasted in the Hudson Valley, with the exception of the bagels at Price Chopper in Saugerties. (Don't tell anybody about the bagels there. It's bad enough they run out of my favorite kind!)

We stayed at the DoubleTree, which was very comfortable as always, but it's getting to be a very popular place for families so we had to share the pool with a dozen tweens at one point. I don't mind sharing, but one older male guest who was looking for peace and quiet was not amused.

I love the DoubleTree's Bistro Z for breakfast. The buffet includes smoked salmon, waffles, eggs, an omelet station, and pancakes made to order. Bistro Z is participating in Hudson Valley Restaurant Week which is coming up next week. Next weekend Tarrytown will host the Sleepy Hollow St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 14th at 1:30 pm. Call (914) 909-6519 for more info.