HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Brio's Pizzeria Restaurant in Phoenicia: Great salad, pizza, sweet potato fries & comfort desserts!

We had a very yummy casual dinner at Brio's Pizzeria in Phoenicia recently. I can't believe the last time I blogged about Brio's was in April 2009. I really love the gourmet pizzas here, but I wasn't really in a pizza mood so I ordered the veggie burger with sweet potato fries, and macaroni salad. It was delicious! My husband had the warm chicken spinach salad with Mexican rice, which came with very fluffy pita bread. He ordered the baked clams as an appetizer, but they were a bit too bready for my taste. I'm not a real baked clam fan though. The kid devoured 2 slices of pizza, and picked out a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting for dessert. The service was fast and friendly. It was hard to say no to dessert, but sometimes I have to be strong! Brio's Pizzeria, 68 Main Street, Phoenicia, NY (845) 688-5370

Where to have Easter Brunch in the Hudson Valley: 7 ideas from HVGoodStuff.com

 

Carving Station at Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern in Saugerties. Photo credit: Michael Nelson Photography

 It is hard to believe Easter is almsot here. Here are 7 restaurants that will be serving Easter Brunch in the Hudson Valley. With any luck by the time you get to enjoy your Easter brunch, you will be able to see the grass again.

1) Gunk Haus in Highland. If you love German food, you will love the Easter menu specials at Gunk Haus: Wiener Schnitzel, Lamb Sausage, Fresh Roast Turkey, Weisswurst, and Loaded Waffles. Leave your diet behind!

2) Peekamoose Restaurant in Big Indian will be open from 3pm to 8pm on Easter Sunday, and lamb will be on the menu.

3) Duo Bistro in uptown Kingston. My love for Duo Bistro is no secret. They will be open for Easter Brunch from 10 am through 3:30pm, and open for dinner from 5:30 pm-10pm. Follow them on Facebook for menu/event updates.

4) Phoenicia Diner on Route 28 in Phoenicia will be open for Easter Brunch, but they don't have their specials up yet. I love their big breakfast skillets, omelets, and soup! The portions are very generous, and the atmospher is casual mountain diner chic!

5) Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern is Saugerties will be serving a "bountiful Easter Brunch" on Sunday, March 31st. $39 for adults, $18 for children 12 and under. Children under 4 are free. (They have kids buffet too, fyi).  If you are looking for a fancy buffet with carving stations, made to order omelet station, and a pasta station, this is the place!

6) Garden Cafe in Woodstock is a perfect place for vegans to go on Easter Sunday. They will be open until 2pm for a yummy vegan lunch.

7) The Village Tea Room & Bake Shop in New Paltz will be fixing Southern Style Easter Ham (from Northwind Farm Tivoli NY) with collard greens, biscuits and gravy. They will be open at 8am Easter Sunday. You can also order from their regular menu that day. (I wrote a review for LoHud's food blog about The Village Tea Room in March 2011).

Wishing everyone a happy and delicious holiday!

Clyde Forth Dance & Pilates Studio in Mt. Tremper: Fun Community Mat Class, beautiful studio & private instruction!

Recently I went to a great spirited Pilates class at Clyde Forth Dance & Pilates studio in Mt. Tremper. I used to go to a Pilates class once a week at my gym, but it's been at least 2 years since I stepped into a Pilates Class. Clyde Forth, dancer, choreographer, visual artist, and pilates instructor, invited Hudson Valley Good Stuff to try out her Community Mat Class on Monday at 12noon. The hour long class is only $5 . (The studio is around the corner from Four Corners Inn (formerly La Duchess Anne) on Route 212. There were about 7 of us in the class, which made it an intimate group. Ms. Forth's dog (her sweet pit bull mix Jade) sat in her pen for the entire class, and greeted each visitor with a loud bark. When I first walked in, the bark rattled me, but once the class got started she mellowed out, and I appreciated this quirky Pilates sidekick. (I found out afterwards that a few of her regular students look forward to seeing Jade, and request a little play time with her post Pilates class).

The class itself was great! Clyde Forth is very attentive to all her students, and quick to help you adjust your position if you're not properly aligned, and very encouraging to newbies. Her studio where we practiced has huge windows overlooking the woods, which makes it a very calming space. The first few exercises seemed easy, but once we got to working with Pilates ball and bands, I got a little shaky. Eventhough I was not sweating that much at the end, the next day I definitely felt it in my legs. I felt like my legs were a bit more toned. Now I just need to do Pilates at least once a week like I used to!

Clyde Forth also teaches a a modern dance class for kids at Mountain View Studios in Woodstock. Clyde Forth has another Pilates studio with equipment, which I didn't see, where she gives clients one-on-one private Pilates instruction. Check out all the other dance and pilates classes Cylde Forth Dance and Pilates has, and great deals on her intro series for four private Pilates sessions at ChronogramDeals. Clyde Forth Dance and Pilates, 5401 Route 212, 2nd floor, Mt. Tremper, NY (347) 927-1187