October 2016

American Diner or Sri Lankan Bistro Your Choice Red Pepper Wappinger Falls

We had always been curious about the quirky little dinner called “Red Pepper” on route 9D just North of Route 84 in Wappinger Falls, with its bright red and yellow colors and promise of “Worlds Favorite Cusine.”

Opened in October two years by excellent chef and very welcoming host Saman Munaweera, Red Pepper has two personalities.

Once seated you’ll be offered two menus, one that offers typical American diner food and Italian American dishes, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the menu we immediately chose Red Pepper Rasa that presents Saman’s authentic Sri Lankan dishes.

Beef Kothu Roti

Rasa is a Sanskrit term meaning “sap,” “essence” or “fluid.” In the spiritual tradition, this term refers to the essence of human experience; the emotions that govern human life.

The menu includes many delights best accompanied with the most popular Lion Sri Lankan beer. We enjoyed a most pleasing dinner.

With something new a dish called Chicken Hopper. A full description can be found on the Red Pepper Rasa menu here. MENU

Coconut Sambol

And familiar favorites like Sri Lankan Dahl and Brinjal Miju

Dinner was finished with a very rewarding dessert.

Open seven days from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Buffet night is Friday and Saman just announced:

“Hudson Valley’s very first Sri Lankan brunch every Sunday from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. will be offering Sri Lankan breakfast favorites such as milk rice , string hoppers, hoppers, savoury curries, omelette station and Lankan Style Mimosas. Live cooking HOPPERS,,,We hope to see you every weekend. -Chef Saman & Thanuja”

Saman Munaweera, his wife Thanuja and their children (photo by A. Rooney)

Highlands Current – Sri Lankan Cuisine on the Menu

Also lots of great reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp

1458 Route 9d, Wappingers Falls, NY
845-440-0020

Google+

Facebook

A Different Sort of Beach Walk at Little Stony Point

We’ve walked so many beaches, oceans and seas, continents, none quite like this one just a few miles from home, along the beloved Hudson River, a precious place to explore.

Best time is the early morning, during the week, as you might expect it becomes very populated on the weekends. This visit was on Wednesday September 7th.

Little Stony Point, part of the Hudson Highlands State Park is considered one of the most beautiful places in the Hudson Valley. Sadly the park is not cared for by the many visitors as much as Pete Seeger had, a frequent habitué who was know for always taking out a bag of litter. We did.

Though if you walk beyond the closest trails you’ll find the many unsullied magical spots as we’ve captured here. The Little Stony Point Citizens Association does a lot to keep this place beautiful, but they could use all our help. If you do visit we hope you will.

At the entrance there is a fork in the trail and as Yoga Berra advised, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Either way the paths lead you to the river and the contemplative beaches.

Through the trees the sun glistens off the water.

And entices you to broader views and placid spots to mediate.

To the north. So exciting.

And the south. The view can be vast.

The further you walk the cleaner the park is. But do watch out for what some careless dog owners leave behind.

A stony path.

Stony dunes.

And a meadow.

A fire would be nice on a chilly night.

Gnarled roots. Look like slithering prehistoric snakes.

Pretty sand. We may bring our beach chairs next time.

Funny sites, does a bear live here?

Stony beach with inviting water.

Graffiti is dismaying, but I do love the words.

Magical light above the beach.

You can get lost in reflective reverie, with great joy and comfort.

Little Stony Point Citizens

Little Stony Point – Hike the Hudson Valley

The “GW Six Oh” a Very Special Hudson Valley Cocktail for a Very Special Birthday

We drank and ate and laughed and played, a weekend of fun and friendship at cherished Long Beach Island Loveladies beach, with best friends Gail and Marc, part of a year long celebration of Gail’s 60th birthday.

Of course an original cocktail just for Gail Wagner was in order. “I love your cocktails,” were Gail’s words, “but they are too sweet for me.” Well ok, I can make dry cocktails, and crafted this Sherry Martini with Hudson Valley Tuthilltown Spirits Indigenous Fresh Pressed Apple Vodka, Lustau Almacenista Fino Sherry from, Artisan Wine Shop, Beacon, and the very fine 1830 Antoine Amédée Peychaud bitters, accented with raw almond stuffed black olives. The result … ” Yum! Very delicious and not sweet!” called the GW Six Oh!

The recipe:

For each cocktail

2 oz Tuthilltown Spirits Indigenous Fresh Pressed Apple Vodka

1/2 to 3/4 oz Lustau Almacenista Fino Sherry

Canned Pitted Black Olives Stuffed with Raw Almonds

3 drops of Peychaud Bitters

Chill a martini glass or four with ice and water or in your freezer
Stuff a bunch of good black jumbo olives, the pitted kind in a can with raw almonds put two on a toothpick
Add ice to a shaker and the vodka and sherry and shake well
Let it sit for a moment as you empty the ice water from the cocktail glasses or pull them from the freezer and place the stuffed olives in each glass
Gently pour the cocktail over the olives and add three drops of the bitters
Toast sip and smile

Blogs and Pages

My 60th Birthday Celebration

Tuthilltown Spirits

Made with 100% Hudson Valley apples grown at selected local orchards, it is so smooth and delicious.

Sherry and Vodka Available at

Artisan Wine Shop Beacon