HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Best of Hudson Valley Good Stuff: Memorable events, meals & moments of 2011

Cupcakes galore at the Cupcake Festival at Gardiner

Post-Irene tree climbing 

The Midtwon Margarita at Boitson's in Kingston

The Lake at Belleayre Mountain, Pine Hill

REO Speedwagon at the Dutchess County Fair

Our new family member at Animal Kind in Hudson, NY

 

American Red Cross in Kingston--CPR class

Brasserie 292

Bell's Christmas Tree Farm


Another year of blogging about Hudson Valley Good Stuff. Put it in the books! My blog turns 3 today. As I look back on 2011, here is list of my top memorable events, meals, and moments that I blogged about. 

January:  About two hours after our romantic anniversary dinner at Violette's in Woodstock, my daughter fell very ill and we had an emergency at the house. This prompted me to sign up for a Red Cross CPR training class in Kingston. Thankfully my daughter got better the following week, and the year got better. 

 In February, I signed up for a Partner Yoga workshop at Shakti Yoga on Valentine's Day weekend in Woodstock, and the poses Linda taught us that day, have stuck, at the end of a stressful day, in addition to bringing out the potato chips, we practice partner yoga.

In March there was Hudson Valley's Restaurant Week.  I discovered The Village Tea Room in New Paltz. I wrote a review for LoHud's Small Bites Blog here.

April: The Woodstock Writers Festival is only in its 2nd year, and already very successful. I only made it to one lecture, but hopefully in 2012 I will make it to at least 2 lectures and workshop, who knows. Check out the Woodstock Writers website to see what Martha Frankel and her staff are planning this year.

May: On Mother's Day, I went to the Cupcake Festival in Gardiner and had a very sweet time. I will definitely be back there this year if the festival takes place again. It is a foodie's dream!

June: I wish I could have spent more time at Pine Hill Lake at Belleayre this Summer. It is truly a slice of Hudson Valley paradise.

July: While we really got a cat to take care of the mice situation we have totally fallen in love with her. We adopted a senior cat at Animal Kind in Hudson. The staff are very helpful and the adoption was a breeze.  If you need to surrender your cat for whatever reason, give them a call. 

August--I will never forget the angst in the air at the Dutchess County Fair the night we saw REO Speedwagon in concert, the day before T.S. Irene arrived. Being a weather junkie, I was excited about a potential hurricane. After the first intense 20 minutes though, our power went out and that is when the fun abruptly stopped. Later when I saw the down-trees and wires, flooding, my excitement turned to panic, then to gratitude. We only lost our power for 5 days, and we stayed one night at the Hampton Inn, and the rest of the time with family in Long Island. Hudson Valley Weather's Facebook Fan Page and The Watershed Post proved to be  very valuable resources for victims of Irene.

September--Celebrating my husband's birthday at Boitson's in Uptown Kingston. I tried devils on horseback for the first time and had the best margarita of the year!

October--My favorite week in Woodstock continues to be the Woodstock Film Festival week where thousands of filmmakers come to town to screen their indie movies. The concerts are not to be missed. In 2009, I became a ukelele fan and now  Melvern Taylor is on my iPod. Last year, I saw Simi Stone in concert at the Colony Cafe and I bought her new CD from her at the concert in November.  

I cannot forget walking into Rock Star Rodeo in Saugerties and hearing a guy sing "Happy Birthday" on my actual birthday, only to find out it was the store owner Billy Yosh's birthday too!

On November 11th, 2001, I saw the amazing Simi Stone again in concert at Vivo Art Gallery in Woodstock. Later that month, Brasserie 292 in Poughkeepsie invited us for lunch. It was delicious!

December--While I had fun with the family at Sinterklaas in Rhinebeck, I have to say that my favorite adventure was chopping down the Christmas Tree at Bell's Christmas Tree Farm.

 In December, we put our Hudson Valley Good Stuff billboard up. A huge thank you to our current sponsors Fez Cafe in Saugerties, Taft Street Realty, IXL Health & Fitness, Fun-e Farm Bouncy House Fun center in Kingston, and River Rock Health Spa in Woodstock, and our future sponsors (you know who you are) for your support! 

What will the 2012 hold for the Hudson Valley and HVGS? I am working on HVGS wish-list. First thing on my list is snow!   Wishing you all a Happy New Year & please keep sharing this blog. 

Oliver Kita Chocolates Studio Collection Box: Indulging in gourmet chocolate bon-bons!

Oliver Kita Fine Confections in Rhinebeck gave me a box of chocolates to sample and review.  The box is called Studio from their Chocolate Collections. Confession:  I was so excited by the presentation that I double-checked to make sure that there wasn't a hidden secret layer underneath these 16 chocolate bon bon delicacies!  Each chocolate was unique and had very subtle flavors.  

This box which retails for $36 would be a great gift for any chocolate candy lover you would like to impress!  I tasted all of them, and I would have to say my favorites were the Shiki Matcha Crunch, Cognac Creme brule, Caramel du Sel, and the Scarlet Caramel.  Check the Oliver Kita website for more selections. If you want to see all these chocolate delicacies in person, visit the Oliver Kita store at 18 West Market Street in Rhinebeck. (845) 876.2665.

 

Where to eat Thanksgiving Dinner in the Hudson Valley? 6 ideas to get you started

If you are heading to the Hudson Valley for Thanksgiving, here are a few places to have Thanksgiving Dinner: 

The Rhinecliff Hotel in Rhinecliff will be offering Thanksgiving Lunch & Dinner by the river for $42.95 plus tax and service from 12 noon - 6pm.

Aroma Thyme in Ellenville will be offering yummy traditional dinner along with vegan and gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner options as well.

The Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society will be hosting a vegan Thanksgiving dinner at the Reformed Church in Rhinebeck. Bring a vegetarian dish to share. $25 if you don't have a dish to share.

Mohonk Mountain House will be offering a Thanksgiving Grand Buffet from 11:30 to 3 pm. See their website for more details.

American Glory--Take Out--If you are not in a cooking mood, but want to eat in. Take-out delicious comfort food from American Glory in Hudson NY. 

 Looking for a fun Turkey Trot race? Check out the Thanksgiving Day race in New Paltz.

Don't forget to a chocolate turkey for the chef or whoever else you are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Oliver Kita in Rhinebeck sells very pretty ones! (See photo). 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wild Hive Farm Store, Bakery & Cafe in Clinton Corners: Country Cool Farm to Table Menu & Maybe a Celebrity!

The Wild Hive Farm Store is a very cheery organic cafe in Clinton Corners, the only place to eat in this little town. I could tell by the fancy organic take-home food that the menu was going to be farm to table healthy. They serve breakfast all day, but I was in the mood for lunch so I ordered a grass-fed burger with local cheddar cheese and a side salad. My husband had the veggie burger. We started with the soup. The vegan broccolie rabe and cheddar for me. He had the potato bacon. Both were served piping hot and yummy! For dessert I couldn't resist Erika's Chocolate Oatmeal Bar. It was very good, and not overly sugary, which leads me to believe it was probably healthy (gasp!)  

A staff member there tells me that celebrities come to Wild Hive Farm often, especially during the spring and summer months. (Naomi Watts has visited before). While I was there I saw two tall blonde women sporting sunglasses who certainly looked and acted like celebrities, but I could not recognize them. Anyway, with its understated vibe, I can see how it would be a fun place to relax and people watch. They also do catering. I enjoyed eavesdropping on a catering meeting going on at the table next to me. Wild Hive Farm, 2411 Salt Point Turnpike, Clinton Corners, NY. (845) 266-5863.

Fez Cafe: Yummy Moroccan and Mediterranean Cuisine in Saugerties!

Please note: 1/05/2012---Fez is only open for dinner. No lunch.

I had a delicious lunch at Fez Cafe, a restaurant that serves Moroccan and Mediterranean in Saugerties. I haven't found any other restaurants in the area that serve Moroccan food so I was very happy when they opened over a year ago. It has a cozy eclectic ambiance. There was a couple with two tween daughters were enjoying a lunch when I was there. A local couple sat at the table next to mine. The woman boasted that chef owner Neils Nelson really has a finesse with the way he prepares the food. I have to agree. It is definitely cooked with love! (My husband raves about the curry chicken salad at Fez Cafe). 

I started with the falafel fritter starter, which was very filling. The falafels were very crunchy and the tahini sauce was perfect. For my entree I had the signature Fez salad, with a lamb kebob. The over-sized salad had a little bit of everything, cured olives, goat cheese, stuffed grape leaves, artichoke hearts, homemade hummus, pita bread over greens. For dessert I had the cardamom creme brulee.

(Tip: If you go there mention the Hudson Valley Good Stuff ad on the blog and you can get a free cardamom creme brulee with your entree!)  

I'm very excited to have Fez Cafe as a sponsor for the blog because they really have good stuff! Fez Cafe serves brunch, lunch, and dinner. Credit cards are not accepted but there is an ATM across the street. They have daily specials as well as a wine list. See website for hours. Closed Tuesdays. Fez Cafe, 71 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY (845) 247-7198.

Celebrating Father's Day in the Hudson Valley: Where to take Dad

 Here are a few fun ideas if you are celebrating Father's Day in the Hudson Valley this weekend. 

Skytop Steakhouse & Brewing Company, 237 Forest Hill Drive, Kingston, NY (845) 340-4277 Brunch Buffet- I went here 3 years ago. They always have a great spread with smoked salmon and an omelet station. You can also order off the menu. It's always a good place for beer lovers!

Hickory BBQ Smokehouse--743 Route 28, Kingston, NY (845) 338-2424. If your Dad is more of BBQ ribs kind of guy, take him to Hickory BBQ. Everything is pretty damn good here, even the salads! http://www.hickoryrestaurant.com/index.html

Big Healthy Breakfast--Sweet Sue's Phoenicia, 49 Main Street, Phoenicia, NY (845) 688-7852--It's one of the best breakfast places around.  The only thing you will not like about this place is the line outside to get in on weekends! Over-sized organic pancakes are their specialty.  They have a zillion different pancakes. Try their pancake sundae!

Dad would also like other Restaurants that I Love that I've mentioned in the blog as well.

Starting at 11 am on Sunday, June 19th the Rhinebeck Farmers Market will be offering Dads free strawberry shortcake. Where will you go to celebrate Father's Day?

 

Cupcake Recap: Cupcake Lovers Get Satisfaction at Gardiner Cupcake Festival!

I had a delicious time at the 3rd Annual Gardiner Cupcake Festival today!  I got there around 2: 3o pm, but there were still plenty of cupcakes to be eaten.  Many of the cupcakes looked too pretty to be eaten though. The rain and drizzle didn't stop cupcake lovers from driving in to Gardiner. There was quite a bit of traffic near Main Street, but it was definitely worth the wait. Next year, I'll get there earlier. Hope everyone enjoyed their cupcakes! To see more cupcake photos visit Gardiner Cupcake Festival online.

Mama's Boy Cafe in Phoenicia: Mama's comfort food & Catskill gifts!

Mama's Boy Cafe has been open in Phoenicia for about a year now. I checked it out for the first time last week.  It fits right into Phoenicia's quirky, but righteous Main Street. It has a bit of "pot luck" vibe. All the dishes look like Mama just made them.  I only tried the soup and a cupcake this time around. I will be adventurous next time. Anybody have a favorite dish at Mama's Boy? I also love their Catskill-themed souvenirs and locally made preserves and syrups.  

I also noticed that Sweet Sue's is still closed. (This is due to a plumbing/septic issue).  Hopefully Sweet Sue's will be back in business by this Summer. Check out Mama's Boy Cafe! 845-688-3050.

Scenes from the 29th Annual Woodstock Holiday Open House

The Woodstock Holiday Open House was fantastic as it always is, and for once the weather wasn't quite bone-chilling cold. I couldn't catch up with Frosty the Snowman for a photo opp this time. Maria's had magnificent cupcakes for sale and nice free samples. I also enjoyed browsing Timbuktu, and the Woodstock Music Store next to Yum Yum Noodles. The stores seemed more crowded than last year. I will definitely make an effort to shop local this Christmas. Thank you Woodstock! If you missed the Woodstock Open House, don't worry, you still have Rhinebeck's Sinterklaas tomorrow, and Saugerties in the Village fun on Sunday, December 5th. What are your favorite holiday events in the Hudson Valley?

 

Le Petit Bistro: Romantic, Warm, and Cozy French Restaurant in Rhinebeck

 
 
 

 

 

Le Petit Bistro is a very cozy and intimate French restaurant in Rhinebeck, that I had never been too until last week. A friend of mine who grew up in Rhinebeck recommended it as the best French restaurant around. Since I just returned from a 10 day vacation in France recently, I had high expectations. I also know that even the best French restaurant here can't compare to a home cooked meal at my cousin's house in France. The delicious dinner I had at Le Petit Bistro came very close though. The service was outstanding. (Don't be intimidated by the knowledgeable staff there! They are eager to answer any questions you have about any dish on the menu.

We had the pate and the escargots to start. Both appetizers were delicious. The bread wasn't French bread, but it was yummy. I had the duck, which was perfectly cooked. My husband ordered the skirt steak which was a special. Though I really enjoyed the duck, if I go there again, I will order the lamb as it comes with mashed potato, and the woman seated next to me, raved about them. I don't know why they served plain old white rice with such a magnificent duck. 

Dessert was totally over-the-top! I got the eggnog creme brule. (I'm sure there was a bit of alcohol in there!) My husband had the apple crisp. I would definitely recommend Le Petit Bistro as a perfect place to splurge a little on date night. Be sure to make a reservation, especially on a weekend. For more information, go to Le Petit Bistro, 8 East Market Street, Rhinebeck, NY.