Tag Archives: Hudson Valley

Back Yard Bistro

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I had been wanting to go to this tiny place in Montgomery that I had heard serves the most incredible food for years. It was one of those places that I had never made it to for lack of a proper occasion. It’s kind of off the beaten path and very intimate.

There were only two basic things I knew about this restaurant prior to going: it is in a converted garage and the owners are married CIA grads. From those two facts, I was completely sold on the concept as my imagination took over… I figured that there must be some incredibly romantic story behind this place. It must have been created by a leap of faith and imagination; a realized dream for two lovebirds who wanted to share their passion for flavors by taking a handful of guests on a gastronomic journey right in their own backyard. Oh how I love a good story about life, love, and following your dreams wherever they lead you. This theory may or may not be factual, but since food always tastes better when it is prepared with passion, I am going to stick with it.

I knew it would be good. I didn’t realize how good.

I was a terrible blogger that night and only took the sad photo above, but since every dish was gorgeous, I had to steal these from their site as proof:

Amuse:Ginger Poached Mutsu Apple with Sea Urchin Roe and Celery Sauce

Hudson Valley Arugula with Pickled Sugar Pumpkin,
Sous Vide Apple and Cider Dressing

Porcini Dry Rub Sirloin with Duck Fat Fried Potatoes and Caramelized Shallot Truffle Sauce

Black Olive Caramel Glazed Pork Belly with Pancetta Lentils and Celery Root Puree

Ginger Smoked Pork Loin, Caraway Potato Gratin and Pumpkin Sauce

The amuse bouche awakened our palates for what was to follow by blasting our senses with an unusual combination of nut and citrus. I started my meal with their Apple Cider Heirloom Squash Sous Vide “Tartare” with Frozen Pomegranate Cream and Yogurt Dressing. The squash was perfectly prepared. The presentation was exquisite and the unique flavor combinations were remarkable. The Pheasant and Lobster Soup with Shitake Mushroom was gulped up by my date with a satisfied smile on his face. For our meals, we chose the Cilantro Grilled Tuna with Chayote with a Cactus & Red Onion Salad, Red Chile Tamale Fries and Mole Verde and Sauce LaBelle Farm Grilled Duck Breast and Braised Duck with Pickled Seckel Pears and Sweet Potato Tater Tots. Because every plate was stunningly presented, for the duck the “pretty” cuts were on top, while the tasty little bits and scraps were hidden beneath and were like finding a buried treasure according to my date. Every bite got better and better, with the finale being my favorite part of any meal. The dessert menu is aptly named “temptations,” but I beg you not to practice will power when visiting the Back Yard Bistro. Be tempted. We had the Creme Brulee Layered with Chocolate Mocha Ganache and the Roasted Pine Nut Tart with Pumpkin Ice Cream and Rosemary Cream. I had never experienced anything remotely close to rosemary cream, nor had I thought I would have wanted to, but it was the absolute prefect compliment to the buttery, sweet roasted pine nut tart and seasonal pumpkin ice cream.

The menu at Back Yard Bistro changes monthly. The October menu is riddled with familiar fall flavors done in surprising and unique parings. You order, eat, and you’ll want to re-read what the heck that amazing taste was that you just experienced.

Back Yard Bistro is located on 17K in The Town of Montgomery. Make a reservation for this 16-seat restaurant, 845-457-9901. Lunch and dinner are served Tuesday through Friday, dinner only on Saturday. Amex or Cash only.

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Harvest on the Hudson

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Have I mentioned that I love food? Unfortunately for my diet, I ventured on a culinary tour of the Italian region of Abruzzo last week. While savoring every moment of this cultural excursion, I learned about more than just Scamorza. I also discovered that the best way to ruin your diet is with a feast surrounded by good friends and Harvest on the Hudson’s explicit Hudson River ambiance.

Because if you’re going to break your diet, you might as well kill it right?

Kill it, and fully enjoy every shameful second.

A Storybook Dinner at Harvest on the Hudson:

This particular dinner read like a good story. It reeled us in with an enticing beginning that seamlessly led to the main course, and satisfied us with a memorable sweet ending.

The Beginning

Our table was enveloped with an assortment of appetizers including east coast and west coast oysters, their brick oven baked Hudson Valley scamorza, a warm brick oven pizza topped with fig, goat cheese & prosciutto, salmon Carpaccio topped with local sweet corn, butternut squash, and fresh herbs, and a creamy risotto that I can’t really critique because it had meat in it, however, judging by it being swallowed up by my co-diners with less than no hesitation, I’m sure it was just as amazing as the rest.

Some pre-dinner cocktails that are worthy of mentioning included the Ginger-Main which is tons of fun to say, and even better to sip on. It was spicy and contained my all time favorite booze: St. Germain Elderflower with Boodles Gin and Canton Ginger. The Kind of Blue made me kind of happy since they use my go-to Stoli Blueberry, delicious Lychee and Fresh Blueberries. The men chose to Bite The Bullet (like most guys I hang around are forced to), this drink is mixed using Bulleit Bourbon, St Germain, Mint, Lemon and Blood Orange Bitters.

Good drinks, good fun.

The Middle

I chose the bright, robust vegetable torte consisting of polenta topped with their Harvest tomato sauce, roasted plum tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil & grilled portabella mushroom. My table also enjoyed the Paccheri with Duck confit, wild mushrooms, mascarpone scented with white truffle oil and their flawless Spaghetti “Roman Style” simply prepared with cracked black pepper and aged imported pecorino cheese.

The Ending

More desserts than people. A cart to bring them out. Yup, I dine with that kind of dessert crowd. One comment from my kindred dessert loving spirit:

I feel guilty about eating all that pasta.

I’d never feel guilty about dessert.

Our choices were their Pistachio Crème Brûlée, Passion Fruit Semifreddo with a white chocolate mousse and pistachio crunch, Warm Caramelized Apple Rice Crepes with Apple cider reduction & cinnamon gelato, Molten Chocolate Cake with Port-soaked cherries & vanilla gelato, Milk Chocolate Banana Custard with Caramelized bananas & peanut Ganache, and rounded it off with their Home Made Cookies and Cannoli and Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Tawny. My tip is to skip the cookies but NOTHING else.

And we lived happily ever after.

harvest on the hudson

Harvest on Hudson is located at 1 River Street in Hastings, NY 10706

Call to reserve a table: 914.478.2800

Outdoor seating in their functional garden which overlooks the Hudson is usually my favorite, but their indoors boasts a dramatic warm atmosphere including a gorgeous fireplace.

A couple river pics from that day:

The End.

Bonticou Crag

Bonticou Crag

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Another dose of Hudson Valley majesty.

I had such an amazing response to my very first outdoorsy post about Anthony’s Nose, (it was featured on the Hudson Valley’s fb page—gah!) so I just had to follow it up with yet another great climb:

bonticou crag

Bonticou Crag.

As a first timer on this rock scramble, I was promised that it would be the same sort of concept as Breakneck in Beacon. Having now done both [in my opinion] Bonticou is much prettier. Disclaimer: saying that one of these mountains is prettier than the other is kind of like saying Angelina Jolie is prettier than Gisele Bundchen. Does it really even matter?

Both end at absolutely breathtaking summits.

summit

bonticou crag

The trail leading to Bonticou makes it seem as if you’re walking through a secret garden leading to mountainous ruins. The truth is you kind of are.

bonticou crag bonticou crag

bonticou crag

bonticou crag bonticou crag

The scramble takes you straight up on top of rocks that appear to have been shaken right off the mountain itself. This rock climb portion of this hike is moderately challenging and not recommended for kids or four-legged friends.

For those that decide to go this one solo, with small children, with your pup, or in case your co-hiker winds up being petrified of heights and freaks out at bottom, there is a trail around the scramble that will take you to the same summit.

bonticou crag

bonticou crag

bonticou crag

To access this hike, use Spring Farm Trailhead:

Take the New Paltz exit 18 off of the NYS Thruway. Go west on Route 299 (through New Paltz), go over steel bridge and turn right onto Springtown Road. Make a left onto Mountain Rest Road. Pass the entrance to the Mohonk Mountain House and go under the one-lane bridge. (Horse trailers, note: clearance is only 11 feet.) Continue on 1 mile, and turn right on Upper 27 Knolls Road. Within ¼ mile, you’ll reach the kiosk for the Spring Farm Trailhead. This is the trailhead for Bonticou Crag as well as the Table Rocks Trail.

Most importantly, please do not forget the last part of hiking in New Paltz (discussed here):

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. -Thoreau

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Anthony's Nose15

Anthony’s Nose

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Those sneaky Westchesterians have been hiding a stairway to heaven.

I just had my first experience on Anthony’s Nose and I’m a slightly shocked my sister hadn’t taken me there sooner. For part of the trail the rocks actually form a semi-manicured stairway guiding you up to the nose. It’s a fairly easy hike- but is still a great workout that ends at an utterly spectacular view of the area’s famed scenery.

To get there: head South on 9D through Beacon, Cold Spring and keep on going until you almost hit the Bear Mountain Bridge.

Just before the bridge, you will see a trail kiosk on the left hand side of the road. You really have to look for it. I didn’t see any other signs for the trailhead or parking- which is kind of tough. We parked a little closer to the bridge where the shoulder gets a bit wider and walked up 9D to the start of the trail.

The trail is well maintained. Feel free to bring your dog on this one.

Follow the white Appalachian Trail markers. You will eventually hit a fork in the trail- go right and you’re almost there.

Total trek time for us was right around 3 hours which included a pretty lengthy break at the summit.

One last tip: if you are ever hiking and see a pile of rocks, be sure to add one.

Super Sam

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While prepping for the weekend getaway I will be going on next week, during which a saint of a friend will be house/puppy sitting for me, I decided it was about time to get a new collar for Sam.

Now if by any chance my boy gets loose, not only will people know that he is owned and loved, but they will also see that he is quite the super hero:

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Although he had been loving life as an exhibitionist, running around naked and free from the restriction of annoying collars, I can tell by this face that he is happy with his new accessory.
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Full Circle

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My relationship with Kingston has come full circle.

full circle

When we first crossed paths, I absolutely loathed the area as I tried to navigate the narrow roads that were evidently planned right around the arrival of the Dutch in 1652- prior to the invention of traffic lights and modern automobiles.

Now having been forced to become acquainted with New York’s first capital city, I genuinely enjoy the venture out to Kingston’s Historic District, sipping a fair trade latte from Hudson Coffee Traders while being exposed to all the vividly timeworn architecture that the district offers.

And surprise- I also love to shop. Boutiques in unassuming cities like this are thrilling to meet because, like any good stranger, you don’t know what you might discover.  In the past, the only place that was ever able to drag me on the hour long trip to Kingston was their huge costume shop, the Costumer (*gasp* Halloween is fast approaching- so if you can, you should definitely stop in to check this place out sooner vs. later).

My latest love in Kingston is the little shop appropriately called Full Circle. I stumbled upon this tiny treasure on a rainy day, when the umbrellas hanging from the ceiling coaxed me in, and instantly became smitten.

What’s not to love about unique handmade purses, jewelry, rain boots, baby blankets, even marble cheese boards, and games? With prices that were so affordable, I couldn’t resist buying some “just because” presents for a few good friends, only after picking out a new necklace and bag for myself:

bag and necklace

bag

necklace

Full Circle is located at 42 North Front Street, Kingston, New York.

If Kingston, NY is a bit far for you to travel, you can buy some of my favorite leather and glass items that the shop offered right on Etsy- Carli Bruno Fused Glass- merging art with style.

carli bruno cuffs

Carli Bruno Cross Body Bag

Mexicali Blue

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If you’re happy with your current spot for a good burrito, don’t read this post– and definitely don’t venture out to New Paltz where Mexicali Blue is blowing minds serving fresh fast food with no fryers, no freezers, and no cans.

Whatever you do, do not even think about tasting their Tuna Burrito: Teriyaki & Sesame marinated tuna, with vegetable rice and beans, cabbage, lime, guacamole & wasabi aioli. You will never be able to enjoy another burrito again.

Trust me, it’s that good.

mexicali blue

Mexicali Blue is serving authentic Southwestern California style cuisine using the freshest ingredients prepared quickly, right in front of you.

Even their sides of salsa and guac are prepared fresh daily, and their flavor options for hot sauces include coconut, pineapple, raspberry, lime, roasted garlic, habanero, to name just a few.

mexicali blue

mexicali blue

Not your average taco shack.

If it’s good enough for Anthony Bourdain, it’s good enough for me.

Mexicali Blue | 87 Main Street | New Paltz, NY 12561 | 845.255.5551 |

If you’re lucky, you might be able to grab a bench to sit quickly. But that works out just perfectly for us nature loving granola goddesses…Since it’s not really a sit down place, it’s a great spot to stop after you get all sweaty hiking around Lake Minnewaska and the surrounding areas in the Shawangunk Mountain ridge.

It’s absolutely stunning there:

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

minnewaska

McKinney and Doyle’s

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I found heaven in a chocolate coated package at McKinney & Doyle’s Fine Foods Cafe and The Corner Bakery:

Their Fruit & Nut Chocolate Bar.

I wish I had been able to get a pic before it was devoured, but it was not what it looked like that was most impressive. It was the taste that immediately provoked involuntary sighs of appreciation. The caramel oozed nutty buttery sweetness like a warm praline. It was the perfect way to end a scrumptious Sunday brunch.


McKinney and Doyle’s is located in the Village of Pawling. Their mission to serve serious food in a not so serious atmosphere is evoked through the exquisite vintage brick building studded with humorous quotes and black chandeliers.

When the food arrives you recognize the seriousness. All menu items are made from scratch, and are skillfully composed creating effortlessly balanced meals that possess a lightness from the use of the finest, freshest ingredients.

mckinney and doyles

For more info, hours of operation, lunch, dinner, catering, holiday and brunch menus- Visit their site.

Brasserie 292

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Last week a sophisticated dining destination on the 200 block of Main Street in Poughkeepsie, Brasserie 292, celebrated their one year anniversary.  In that short time Brasserie has built a fantastic reputation in the Hudson Valley by consistently serving up to-die-for meals in an intimate, relaxed, yet upscale atmosphere. Executive Chef Daniel Crocco uses “fine, local ingredients coupled with traditional cookery to create an incomparable and exceptional dining experience.”

Brasserie

Be sure to try the Warm Camembert appetizer, wrapped in phyllo with arugula, apples, and a fig balsamic vinaigrette. For a meal, sample their delicate pan seared salmon served with goat chesse Lyonnaise potatoes, sautéed spinach, preserved lemon and caper vinaigrette, and ceci fries or the Duck Confit, which was raved about. There is a raw bar available, and brunch is served on Sundays. Ask about their plate-of-the-day.

Feel like taking part in a cocktail renaissance? Classic Cocktails, such as a Dark and Stormy or St. Hilaire, are offered. Beer (they serve Chimay!) and wine are available.

Within walking distance of The Artist’s Palate, Union Square, Bull & Buddha, and Karma Lounge, Brasserie 292 has been a welcomed addition to this newly revived portion of the City of Poughkeepsie. Reservations are strongly suggested. The dining area can accommodate up to 80 people, and a private room can accommodate a party of up to 20 guests.

Follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on special offerings.

292 Main Street Poughkeepsie, NY12601

845-473-0292

Mon-Thurs: Lunch: 11:30AM- 3PM Dinner: 5PM-9:30PM

Fri: Lunch: 11:30AM- 3PM Dinner: 5PM- 10:30PM

Sat: 5-10:30PM

Sun: Brunch: 12AM-3PM Dinner: 4PM-8PM

Skydive the Ranch

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Cross it off the bucket list.

I am pretty proud of the fact that I now know what a cloud tastes like.

Well— maybe one day I will remember, once all of the bits and pieces of the experience that I subconsciously blocked out of my mind come back to me.

skydive the ranch, gardiner, ny, upstate, hudson valleyskydive the ranch, gardiner, ny, upstate, hudson valleyskydive the ranch, gardiner, ny, upstate, hudson valley

Though I must admit, I was terrified. Muted terrified (the worst kind). It was beyond anything I have ever experienced.

skydive the ranch, gardiner, ny, upstate, hudson valley

You might wonder what the scariest part was:

Was it jumping out of a moving vehicle that you just watched six other people vanish out of in a fraction of a second?

Was it the plummet from 13,500 ft. to 6000 ft. when you are dropping so fast that if you forget to breathe you are literally bombarded with more air than you could ever possibly need in a lifetime?

Not quite.

For me, the worst part of the entire day was when the parachute opened.

Sounds strange, but in that split second the thought actually crossed my mind, what if it’s twisted? What if it doesn’t open? But once that ‘chute opened, the turbulence that surrounded me for the 2 minute, 7,500 ft. free fall broke to absolute silence.

skydive the ranch, gardiner, ny, upstate, hudson valley

There was nothing but me (and of course my tandem man), that parachute, stillness and the indescribable scenery. It creates this powerful calm that is absolutely exquisite- and quickly ends once the instructor takes you through a series of twirls and whirls and foolishness.

I adored every exhilarating moment and can’t wait to go again. Now I know why my instructor said it is addictive.

 skydive the ranch, gardiner, ny, upstate, hudson valley

“All people who live, die. But, not all people who die have lived.”

skydive the ranch, gardiner, ny, upstate, hudson valley

 Where I went: the Ranch in Gardiner, NY.