HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Healthy & delicious dinner at Fez Cafe in Saugerties on a quiet Winter night

My husband and I had a very delicious and healthy dinner at Fez Cafe in Saugerties last Sunday night. I hadn't eaten there since August. After our yummy Mediterranean/Moroccan meal, we decided that we should try and come here more often. I wish they were still open for lunch. Saugerties was very quiet last Sunday night, but that never stops us from enjoying date night. 

Tom started with the Mezze special. I had the cream of cauliflower soup. I'm usually not crazy about cauliflower, but this soup was really good. It was very rich and spicy. I think it was the dash of roasted paprika oil that made it extra good. For my main course I ordered the veggie sampler with an extra side of couscous. Everything on the vegetable platter was really fresh and tasty. He ordered the Fez Salad with a chicken and lamb kabob since he was very hungry.  They really cook with love here. I think it is one of the best kept secrets in Saugerties. You can follow Fez Cafe on Facebook or visit their website. Fez Cafe, 71 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY (845) 247-7198.

The Tavern at Diamond Mills: A delicious flatbread, gourmet burger & a Manhattan vibe in Saugerties

My husband surprised me by taking me to Diamond Mills, the new luxury hotel in Saugerties for our wedding anniversary. I have seen Diamond Mills in all phases of construction over the past few years. My first impression when I set foot in the Tavern at the hotel was, "Wow! Where the heck am I? Where did all these people come from?" My husband told a staff member that he felt like he was in the Twilight Zone. "You're not the first person who has said that," she said with a smile.  I think she knew that he meant that in a good way. You feel like you are in a chic Manhattan steak house, without all the pretention that goes along with eating in a fancy Manhattan steakhouse.  

To start I had a small plate seared scallops. They melted in my mouth. I also ordered a small plate of crab cake. The crab cake was small, but very tasty. Tom ordered the Tavern Salad. I ordered the flatbread with potato and asparagus as my entree. It was very filling! Tom had the Burger, which he was very impressed with. He kept oohing and ahhing about the burger sauce. For dessert, we shared the Hudson Valley sampler. It felt like everyone knew it was our anniversary which made the meal extra special.  

Our server Victoria was very friendly and patient with our questions.  A few of the food runners seemed a little stressed out, but first week jitters are to be expected at any new restaurant or hotel, especially an ambitious one like Diamond Mills.

As we were leaving, I spotted a local politician entering the bar there. By summer time, the Tavern plans on offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Right now, they are only serving dinner. For more information visit the Diamond Mills website.  

 

Cool Concert alert: The Catskill 45s to perform in Woodstock on New Year's Eve!

If you are looking for something fun to do in Woodstock this New Year's Eve weekend, the Catskill 45s will be performing at the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts in Woodstock. Here is the info:  "On Saturday, December 31, 2011, the Catskill 45s will perform a special dance party concert at the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts, 36 Tinker Street, Woodstock, to welcome in 2012 and help raise funds for Byrdcliffe’s programming.  The party will start at 9 pm.  Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door, and can be purchased online at www.byrdcliffe.org; by phone at 845.679.2079 or in the Byrdcliffe Shop, Thursday-Sunday in December from 12-6 pm. The Catskill 45s came together in 2009 to play a private 45th birthday party, performing only hit songs from the host’s birth year - 1964. The massive success of that event was repeated in 2010 and 2011, at which the 45s played sets drawing from 1965 and 1966 respectively."

If you are looking for a great place to have New Year's Eve dinner, check out The Bear Cafe. I haven't been there in a while, but the New Year's Eve menu looks really good.  

 

 

 

Date Night: Arielle's in Rhinebeck: Chicken tagine, crispy artichoke hearts & eavesdropping heaven!

My husband and I had a delicious dinner at Arielle's in Rhinebeck this past weekend. I had been curious about this place since it opened in 2008.. The place was packed on Friday night. I made a reservation for two, and the hostess sat us at a small table next to a mirror.  (I took a photo of the comfy booths that were empty for a few minutes.) The tables are close together so it is a real treat for eavesdroppers. It was a little bit like being in a Woody Allen movie. Unfortunately, the man sitting next to me talked about baseball and his hypertension woes non-stop so I didn't get any good gossip.    

For an appetizer, I ordered the crispy artichoke hearts. My husband had the country salad.  For the main entree I had the chicken tagine served with couscous, dried apricots, black olives, and harrisa. The sauce was amazing. I gobbled it up and ran out of it quickly so I dumped the rest of the olive oil dipping sauce from the bread on to the chicken breast. I'm glad the chef didn't see that. The presentation was triumphant. The chicken arrived piping hot in a ceramic pyramid platter. I begged my husband to get anything, but the burger. He got the Bistro Burger, which he said was excellent. 

We couldn't agree on a dessert to share so we decided to be indulgent and each have our own. The caramel crepes were delicious though I couldn't taste the rum in them.  My husband enjoyed the floating island. The service was very friendly and unpretentious. I'd definitely recommend this place if you like mediterranean cuisine with a little European flare.  Share the food with your date, but not your secrets. It is better to whisper if you don't want the party next to you to eavesdrop. Arielle's in Rhinebeck, 51 Market Street, Rhinebeck, NY. (845) 8876-5666

Garden Cafe in Woodstock: A big tasty veggie burger & quesadilla that leaves me feeling skinny!

I had a really tasty vegan lunch at the Garden Cafe in Woodstock today. It had the "Southwest Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burger" and it was incredibly good.I started off with an olive quesadilla, which was very light and scrumptious. (Even when I order vegetable quesadillas at other restaurants, I end up getting heartburn). Not here though. I think it is because they bake it and use all organic ingredients.

After leaving the Garden Cafe, I felt skinny and calm. Maybe dining among local yoga teachers had something to do with it too. Who knows? In any case, it is a great place to eat if you want to jump start a healthy diet after a week of Thanksgiving gluttony.  The Garden Cafe also has a popular vegan buffet on Monday nights. (Reservations are required for the buffet). I've got to try that one of these Mondays. Garden Cafe on the Green, 6 Old Forge Road, Woodstock, NY. (845) 679-3600.

Do you have a favorite vegan restaurant in the Hudson Valley?

Brasserie 292 in Poughkeepsie: Delicious classic French cuisine, beautiful high ceilings & happy fussy customers!

In late June, Chris Crocco, co-owner of Brasserie 292 invited me to sample the menu of French cuisine offerings and check out the new restaurant in Poughkeepsie. I finally took him up on his offer yesterday for lunch.

For the appetizer I ordered the soup a l'ognion, and my husband ordered the warm Camembert wrapped in phyllo. After taking the first bite, he said, "I just went to France!" So, I had to try it, and it was very gooey and good. I know what he meant. (Later found out that the Camembert is none other than Old Chatham Sheepherding Company Cheese made here in the Hudson Valley!) For my entree, I had the tuna nicoise. It is served rare, but I asked for it medium and it was perfect. My husband ordered the Bistro Burger with Gruyere cheese. 

Our handsome server Anthony tolerated my husband and I arguing over whether he resembled a young Robert Duvall or young Rudy Guliani. He also answered exhausting questions from the high-maintenance food know-it-all at the table next to us with total grace--not one smirk! (This foodie nerd wanted to know the exact size and species of the lobster on the menu). The service was excellent. Thanks Anthony!

For dessert, we shared the dessert special: carrot cake bread pudding with pumpkin gelato and caramel sauce. (As you can tell from the photo, it was very good!)  

It's a beautiful space. Their private event room can seat 20 people and their dining room can seat 80. They haven't hosted a wedding there yet, but I can imagine it would be a great setting for a rehearsal dinner or a small intimate wedding party. It is also a great place for a business lunch. Brasserie 292, 292 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY. (845) 473-0292.

The Local Restaurant in Rhinebeck: Worth the splurge!

My husband and I had something to celebrate on Friday night so we ate at The Local Restaurant in Rhinebeck. It has been open for a little over a year now, but this was my first time there. I have walked past it many times without even noticing it. The exterior is very non-descript. It just looks like a quaint Rhinebeck house. Once inside though, you'll see the stylish minimalist decor and candle lit dining area.  There were many people eating upstairs, but we were seated in the downstairs which was empty.

It took us a while to place our order. We were indesicive. The cuisine is American eclectic. I find it always takes time to choose my meal when the food is this eclectic because the menu is full of things I rarely eat. 

Finally, we ordered a B.L.T. Frisee Caesar salad, Sepascot Farm Grass Fed Beef Sliders for our "Small Plates." My husband ordered the Beer Battered Fish and Chips special for his entree.  I was first going to order the Grilled Sea Scallops. But then I asked our server what was the most popular dish, and she said the duck was a real signature dish and really good. I rarely eat duck because it is a splurge dish, and besides it is hard to get duck right. I have eaten too many tough ducks! Well, I took a leap of faith, and ordered the Hudson Valley Duck "Two Ways" entree.

The salad came with fried olives, very yummy homemade cheese crackers, and really delicious dressing. The sliders were served with home-cooked potato chips. Another nice retro touch was the TAB soda that I offered instead of Diet Coke. I swear I had a 1980s flashback when I took a sip! 

The service was excellent. I could see the chefs prepping my dish from where I sat. I noticed one of them making a fuss about how the french fries were being placed on the fish and chips. (Maybe one was out of place?) Anyway, it made me feel like I was one of the judges and one of those Top Chef shows, except in this situation, the chefs knew what they were doing. The presentation was beautiful, and the food was really delicious.

The duck was cooked medium rare, and was very tender. The stuff that the duck was served with was also very tasty. (Turns out the duck was cooked with oven-dried tomatoes, oyster mushrooms,rosemary spaetzel, and sweet sopressata.)  I couldn't even see what it was because the room was dark, but trust me, it was good!

For dessert we had the chocolate torte with coconut ice cream, which was yummy, but had we splurged on two desserts we would have tasted the local apple crisp special too.

Expect to pay at least $100 for dinner for two here, but it is worth the splurge for that special celebration. The Local also serves brunch on the weekends, which is less expensive, and probably just as yummy. For more information visit The Local Restaurant's website. 38 West Market Street, Rhinebeck, NY (845) 876-2214

American Glory in Hudson, NY: Meaty ribs, restored firehouse ambiance & friendly service!

Hudson, NY was pretty quiet last Sunday night. American Glory was open and very inviting. The restaurant/bar opened in 2010, and is a restored firehouse.  The bar was busy. I ordered the pomegranate margarita, which I enjoyed, but had I been more adventurous I would have ordered the Pumpkin Martini. I overheard two ladies at the bar asking about the ingredients and it sounded very exotic. 

I was very hungry by the time I sat down for dinner at American Glory. (I had skipped lunch!) So we ordered 3 appetizers . We had 5 buffalo wings, a cup of chili, and the wedge salad. The appetizers were all very good. The buffalo wings were perfectly cooked. The Firehouse Chili was intense. They make the chili from pulled pork, brisket, and ground sirloin.

My husband ordered the cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. The burger was juicy and good. For my entree, I gave in and ordered the Glory Platter, which is a sampling of 4 of their signature barbecued meats. I must say the ribs were my favorite, and were very filling and tasty. I wasn't able to finish the rest of the platter which included pulled pork and hash. I was feeling over-stuffed by then! Our server explained to us the different barbecue sauces that were on the table. They were all very good, and I could imagine myself taking them home to use on my plain old turkey burgers.

The plan was to get dessert at Swallow Coffee down the street, but it had just closed for the night. Oh, well. Next time! American Glory, 344 Warren Street, Hudson, NY. 

Date Night in Uptown Kingston: Boitson's got hearty dishes, romantic back patio & devils on horseback!

 

 

I took my husband out to Boitson's restaurant at 47 North Front Street in Uptown Kingston for his birthday last week.  

The bar was crowded when we arrived around 7:30pm, and I we bumped into an old friend there who suggested we sit outside on the patio. The outdoor patio was candle lit and very warm and inviting. I looked around and saw a mix of friend gatherings and couples on dates. I also spotted a young family with a very well-behaved tot in a high chair.

I started with their Midtown Margarita which was very good! I really liked the salt and chili powder on the rim. Nice touch with the grapefruit juice. (I ended up having 2 which is usually too much for me!) Anyway, on to the delicious appetizers. We shared an order of deviled eggs, devils on horseback, and a charcuterie plate. I've never tried devils on horseback, but they were very tasty. (Dates stuffed with blue-cheese and wrapped in bacon).  

For the main dish, I decided to go light and had the zucchini fritters, which were very good. My husband ordered the pork schnitzel which he heartily enjoyed.  For dessert we had a vanilla pudding dessert. I can't remember what it was called, but it tasted a bit like a light creme caramel. The dessert was small, which was fine with me. Check came out to about $100 for 2, which is a splurge, but pretty good value considering we had 3 appetizers, 2 main dishes, 2 margaritas, a soda, dessert, 2 coffees, and a very good time. The service was super too! For more info on Boitson's check out the Boitson's website.

Red Hook Curry House: Very Popular Delicious Indian Buffet & real Indian chai!

 

The Red Hook Curry House in Red Hook was really bustling on Sunday night. They offer dinner buffets on Tuesday and Sunday. Since I very rarely wait longer than 20 seconds to get a table in the Hudson Valley, I am always impressed when I have to wait 5 minutes. I knew as soon as I walked in there and saw the packed restaurant with beautiful red booths that I was going to have a really Indian buffet dinner.  Locals, weekenders, couples, families with teenagers were all feasting here. 

The buffet ($12.95 for adults) had quite a few vegetarian options, including mugalawtanny soup. For the main dishes: fish karma, lamb vindaloo, chicken tandoori, and very fresh nan. Everything was delicious and fresh. The service was very friendly too.  

Besides the food, I was very impressed with the chai.  Anybody who has visited India knows about real Indian chai. It is sold just about every where you go in India. I had my best chai in a run-down hotel in Mumbai in 1998.   It always amazes me that even good Indian restaurants in New York City have a very lame version of chai. I will ask for chai, and they come back with a cup of spiced Lipton Tea. I don't know why the restaurants don't make an effort to make the real thing.  

Newsflash: Red Hook Curry has the real chai!  I couldn't believe it! The chai here is the closest I've come to having chai in India! It is milky, strong, sweet, and re-fills are free! It was the perfect ending to a delicious India buffet. I didn't have room for dessert though the dessert offerings were small anyway.