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.

Rock Star Rodeo Boutique in Saugerties: Funky holiday gifts in the Hudson Valley

I love Rock Star Rodeo Boutique in Saugerities. I stopped by there for the first time on my birthday last month, and I forgot to blog about it. I had a Twilight Zone experience there. A total stranger carrying two shot glasses and beer walked into the store, and started singing Happy Birthday. I thought there was no way my husband would have planned this, and besides I don't drink beer! Anyway, the guy was serenading Billy Yosh, the store owner who shares my October birthday. We all had a good laugh about that. Billy told me that I had the strangest look on my face.

Anyway, it is a very cool boutique with loads of funny gag type gifts too. Jimmy Fallon, an old buddy of his gave him a shout out on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show, and showed off the belt he bought at Rock Star Rodeo.  Check out Rock Star Rodeo's website for Jimmy Fallon clip. Rock Star Rodeo, 110 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY.

Christmas Season begins in the Hudson Valley! Save the dates!

 

This Friday, December 2nd Woodstock will be hosting its 30th Annual Holiday Open House from 5pm-9pm. On Saturday, December 3rd Rhinebeck will be hosting its annual Sinterklaas, an Old Dutch Tradition in Rhinebeck. On Sunday, Saugerties has its Holiday in the Village. If you are in the Hudson Valley this weekend, you will definitely get a good dose of holiday spirit on any of these holiday celebrations.

Here is a video I made last year, which is a compilation of all 3 of the above mentioned celebrations to Paul Simon's "Getting Ready for Christmas Day" song. Maybe you will spot yourself in one of them!

Date Night in Saugerties: Miss Lucy's Kitchen--comfort food in cozy mama's kitchen setting

  
I couldn't decide where to have my birthday dinner in Saugerties last week. There are a few restaurants there I love, including Land and Sea Grill, and Fez Cafe. I'm always looking for new dining experiences to keep the blog "fresh" so I finally decided to try Miss Lucy's Kitchen since I have never been there.  It was crowded and we didn't have a reservation, but luckily there was a table for two available. I loved the cozy atmosphere--the wood tables, dim lighting, and even the wobbly wooden chair I sat on felt kind of authentic.

I started with a grilled asparagus soup. My husband had the slow cooked wings. For the main entree, I had the bbq ribs, which came with corn bread and coleslaw. I rarely eat this kind of high fat food, but it was my birthday so I gave in to my cravings.  It was delicious! No regrets here! Look at the barbecue sauce they give you! For dessert we split the end-of-summer apple crisp. The server mentioned that the menu changes every day so I can't promise you will get to eat all this if you go, but I'll bet everything is good!Miss Lucy's Kitchen, 90 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY. 845.246.9240.

Don't miss 2011 Hudson Valley Garlic Festival September 24th & 25th!

 

If you love garlic or just good food in general, you have to go to the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival! It will take place this weekend, Saturday September 24th and September 25th in Saugerties.

Quite a few restaurants I have blogged about will be represented there including Fez Cafe, a HudsonValleyGoodStuff.com sponsor. Fez Cafe will be serving up special dishes for the garlic festival. They will have falafel & yogurt marinated chicken wings with a garlic tahini sauce! Mention that you read this on HudsonValleyGoodStuff.com, and get a free pomegranate lemonade with your order! (Their vendor number is f40).

Rumor has it that Saugerties native Jimmy Fallon might check out the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival this year. Keep your eye out for him!

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.

Fez Restaurant: Moroccan & Mediterranean Cuisine in the Hudson Valley!

Falafel in Pita at Fez

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Chicken Kebob Wrap at Fez

Please note: Fez is only open for dinner now. No lunch in 2012. 

 

Fez Restaurant at 71 Partition Street serves Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine. I  so rarely get to eat a Moroccan meal! I've never been to Morocco, but I've always loved the cuisine.  My French mom used to make couscous all the time.  

My husband had the sausage and bean soup which was very tasty. For the entree I ordered the Falafel in pita with tahini ($7)  which was very good, but the portion was huge so I didn't finish it. My husband had the Chicken Kabob wrapped in moroccan flat bread which was even tastier. If you go here, make sure you try the sweet Moroccan mint tea. A nice place for a lunch date. They don't take credit cards.  Fez "Mediteroccan" cuisine. 71 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY. (845) 247-7198.  Follow Fez Cafe on Facebook here.

Jimmy Fallon sings with Robbie Dupree at Bearsville Theater!

 
 

Jimmy Fallon surprised the audience (and Robbie Dupree too I suspect) at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock tonight. Shortly after the show's intermission Robbie Dupree said he had a surprise guest tonight who he sang with on his TV show. Just as "Steal Away" started playing, Jimmy Fallon came out with his father and joined the back-up singers in the song. Dressed in relaxed weekend gear, faded jeans, jean jacket and fall sweater, he yelled at the audience, "I love Woodstock! It's so good to be home!" After the song, Fallon joined Dupree in an impromptu singing of a doo-wop song. I was so excited witness this all that I forgot the song they sang! What a night to forget my digital camera though. I did the best I could with my camera phone. Thank you Jimmy Fallon and Robbie Dupree for a great show!

Land and Sea Grill & Steak House in Saugerties--Old-fashioned amazing home-cooked dinner!

 
 Every time I drive by the Land and Sea Grill and Steak House in Saugerties on Route 212, near the Hess station, I end up craving whatever is listed on their small billboard sign. The restaurant has a very unassuming exterior, but it is one of my favorites here. What I love about it very authentic, and doesn't try to be trendy or exotic. This is a perfect place to take someone who loves to eat good food, but doesn't like fussy restaurants. I think my mother-in-law would probably loves this place, especially since they have old-fashioned wooden bar too.

My husband could barely contain his excitement when I told him that I wanted to take him here for his birthday last week. For starters, I ordered a grilled stuffed mushroom special, and he had the crab cakes. Both appetizers were quite hearty and very delicious. I ordered the grilled pork chops, 2 huge savory chops which I got with mashed potatoes. He ordered the chicken. For dessert he had a special plum tart a la mode, and I had the hazelnut creme brule. I didn't make a big fuss with the birthday dessert this year, like I did last year at Mohonk for his 50th. The lady at the table next to us got a "happy birthday" serenade though which was fun.

It just serves really good home cooked food. It reminds me of the old-fashioned pub-style restaurants my parents used to take me when I was a kid, way before the "minimalist" trend in food circles. Land and Sea Grill and Steak House is located at 395 Route 212, Saugerties, NY. (845)  246-0355.

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.