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Enjoying Newburgh, Amazing Dinner at Liberty Street Bistro

Since we moved to the Hudson Valley almost two years ago we’ve had many wonderful meals, so many great places to enjoy, yet this dinner, on quiet historic Liberty Street in the up and coming revival city of Newburgh, has been our very best so far.

We had the pleasure of meeting Chef/Owner Michael Kelly who looks too young to be this good, yet the rich flavors and purity of his finespun cuisine comes from years of the often grueling hard work to become a graduate of CIA and gain the incomparable experience he has won under a veritable Who’s Who of New York City restaurateurs.

The comfortable welcoming vibe that greets you here also comes from Micheal’s passionate Hudson Valley roots, and community spirit.

The dining room and bar are nicely separated giving a distinct identity to each. Towards the back is another dining area that has a view of the well appointed and deeply staffed kitchen.

The pleasant to the eyes old world Edison like lighting sadly did not illuminate well for my photos of the food but here you go.

Beef Tartare, Raw Egg, Capers, Dijon Moutardes, and a Carrot Green Pesto with perfect bread. It tasted fresh, delicious, safe, and wholesome.

We paired the entire meal with a lovely Willamette Valley, Oregon Pinot Noir called Whole Cluster from the very well chosen wine list.

Kelly’s cuisine is as he describes “contemporary American” with “classic French-influence” done “in a modern and simple style” that embraces “the community, culture, and bounty of the Lower Hudson Valley.”

A rather humble expression for what are actually extraordinarily balanced yet highly complex creations.

We have tasted the very best of Pates in and from France and from American makers and must say that this Pate de Campagne with Testa, a seed coating, Cornichon Pickles, Mustard, Fennel, Greens Chiffonade and Cured Ham, was very possibly the best we have ever tasted.

The cold appetizers came quickly and we were allowed a nice period of time to enjoy, finishes and breath. The main courses came in due time, thankfully not rushed. They were…

A Duck Confit Strudel, with Lacinato Kale, Fingerling Potaotes, and Eggplant. And…

Pan Roasted Chicken, Mashed Celeriac, French Lentils, a spectacular Jus. and a medley of other vegetable accents. Perfect! The Jus was amazing, but we would have liked more Celeriac.

The thing about Michael Kelly’s cuisine it is that it is slightly exotic yet very familiar and comfortable. The ingredient/flavor guessing game we always play was challenging, exciting and pleasingly surprising.

And we should mention the staff is attentive and congenial, very purposeful to your dining experience.

To close our meal we enjoyed this…

Liberty Street Bistro Sweet Cornbread and House Made Ice Cream with a wonderful warm and cold contrast.

A very happy meal it was.

Liberty Street Bistro

7 Liberty Street, Newburgh, NY

845-562-3900

Sweet Reminiscence of Puglia, Yet Home in the Hudson Valley

A favorite wine we found at the engaging Palate Wine and Spirits shop in Newburg, NY inspired this dinner. A Fiano from Puglia (Apulia) one of our very favorite parts of Italy. Puglia is the “heel of the boot” of Italy, the lower south east peninsula wrapped by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.

Wine made with the Fiano grape is very popular, In this part of Italy, a bright and flavorful wine. Yet the grape can be hard to grow and has low yields. It is rarely farmed outside of Italy. We fell in love with it on a wine pilgrimage to Italy in the fall of 2012. It can be hard to come by in the US so we were delighted to find this wine in here at wine store in the Hudson Valley.

This one is by Masseria Li Veli a winery founded in 199 by the Falvo family who also owned the fine Avignonesi estate in Tuscany.

The fresh ingredients for the dinner we made came mostly from Dan Madura Farms a regular vendor at Cold Spring Farmers Market who had gorgeous yellow cauliflower, onions and abundant fresh parsley this week. With this produce we made a dish from Tal Ronnen’s fabulous vegan Crossroads Restaurant recipe book, “Cauliflower With Olives and Sun-dried Tomatoes.” Other ingredients came from our own Cold Spring Foodtown and Adams Market in Wappinger.

For the pasta dish I created my own recipe for Orchietta, the classic Purglian pasta. We bought some exceptional Italian sausage, that Chris of Marbled Meat Shop has just made. Sauteed it with escarole and onions, EVO, Kosher salt, and hot red pepper flakes, some white wine, veal stock and as a last step a tablespoon of arrowroot to thicken the sauce.

These dishes with a nice baguette from Marbled and fresh herbs from our own garden as well as freshly ground cheese, and of course accompanied by a perfect wine, were an inestimable culinary luxury.

Here’s More:

Masseria Li Veli

Palate Wine and Sprits

Crossroads: Extraordinary Recipes from the Restaurant That Is Reinventing Vegan Cuisine

Our Trip to Puglia

Marbled Meat Shop

The Cauliflower Recipe by Kris Carr.

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

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A Seat at the Table — Longhaul Farm — The Cottage Supper Club

The hidden yet prosperous farms of Garrison are true gems of our community. Most everyone has heard of Glynwood Farm, more than a farm an institution with a mission “to ensure the Hudson Valley is a region defined by food, where farming thrives.”

But perhaps lesser know yet equally vibrant, is Longhaul Farm that operates a copious CSA to which you may subscribe and in season offers wonderful dinners with wine pairings to small parties in “The Cottage Supper Club.”

Operated by Jason Angell and Jocelyn Apicello who have enthusiastically embraced their decision to pursue a more satisfying way of life with a deep connection with the earth. They spent a year in Patagonia Argentina at 20+ year old organic and bio-dynamic fruit and vegetable farm in El Hoyoa learning the art and science of farming. Then moved back to family land in Garrison. More

For my birthday dinner Diana got us two seats at Longhaul’s Supper Club. The events begin with a special cocktail and invitation to stroll the grounds.

It was a gray day, but the richness of the land was no less beautiful. Fortunately the impending rain held back through our evening of wining and dining.

The menu was spectacular all prepared by Jason and Jocelyn with vegetables, fruit, and meat all from this farm. Each dish was lovingly presented. Truly “Farm to Table.”

Wine was served for each course, selected to compliment each dish. Well presented by sommelier Andy Bay.

A wonderful evening was had by all.

Learn more about their CSA here.

A Delightful Diner at Ziatun Bistro, Beacon NY

In Arabic Ziatun means olive or olive tree, a wonderfully symbolic name for this delightful new Middle Eastern restaurant in Beacon, NY.

Olives, there oil and the olive branch and leaves have held deep symbolism to many cultures and religions for thousands of years. The olive symbolizes such qualities as a glorious life, renewal, resilience, and peace for all. The oil suggests purity, protection, health and light. The olive branch long a symbol of peace in the world. Could there be anything more perfect to subdue and reconcile the misguided anger and hate that is being promoted today.

Ziatun is place for a wholesome and pleasing meal to be enjoyed in a relaxing setting.

Arfully created by lovable Kamel Jamal. This is his fourth restaurant, part of the family of Beacon Bread Company, American; Angelina’s Pizza; Italian, and Tito Santana Taqueria, Mexican. All are great. No surprise considering Kamel has been cooking since he was 17. His restaurants are all casual and fun, serving great quality food.

Here the cuisine is authentically Middle Eastern, which always reminds me of the favorite film Cairo Time when Juliette, Patricia Clarkson, refers to her Cairo visit as “to the Middle East,” her new charming Egyptian acquaintance Tareq, Alexander Siddig, is prompted to wonder what the expression means. “Middle of what?” Cairo Time

Some could consider the “Middle East” as the middle, center of the world, all civilization. So much of what we have today has roots there. In any case we love the food.

Falafel is one of our favorite dishes which we have enjoyed in many cities and villages about the world. Here it is sublime, the recipe is Kamel’s mom’s. One of the best we have ever had. We’ve dined here twice now and are longing for more.

Bring some friends and enjoy the love.

Palestinian-Arabic-Middle Eastern. Vegan & Vegetarian

Ziatun

244 Main Street Beacon, NY
(845) 765-8268

Thursday-Monday 11am-9pm
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday

Sip and Savor at Brunette Wine Bar Kingston

Try anything, everything here and you will be very pleased. Open about a year now Brunette has been on our must visit list for sometime. At last a trip to the Rondout section of Kingston brought us here.

The curators and owners, Tracy and husband Jamie Kennard are the most gracious and interesting hosts. Deeply dedicated to presenting very fine local, natural, genuine food and wine. Our conversations wove through all sorts of topics as we carefully savored each sip and bite.

Along with the food we enjoyed some very nice wine and will be back soon for more.

Brunette

33 Broadway, Kingston, NY

Something Special in Downtown Kingston: Brunette Wine Bar
Brunette, a New Wine Bar in Kingston

You’ll Be Happy at the Stormville Airport Antique Show & Flea Market

From the moment we announced our move to the Hudson Valley friends exclaimed “You must go to the Stormville Flea Market!” Well we finally made it this past weekend and what a spectacle it is.

Our excited anticipation was frustrated on the way there, 3 miles out from our destination, the old Stormville Airport, traffic slowed to a crawl. Next time we’ll bring a thermos of coffee and some breakfast to enjoy while we wait in line.

As we got closer, brightly adorned traffic handlers pointed us to the second of the two massive parking lots.

Once we parked we started to scope out what seemed like endless aisles of merchandise, food, drink, all sorts of things new and old.

The people watching is great too, from locals, to tourists, hipsters and artists. Don’t mess with his guy.

Sited at the old Stormville Airport which was opened in the early Forties, the market is steeped in history. The airport closed in the nineties, but you can still feel the spirit of aircraft and pilots of old. Read more about Stormville Airport History Here.

The market began here in the Seventies with just a few vendors on the front lawn. Over almost five decades it has grown to be one of New York’s largest and most popular outdoor flea markets with over 600 vendors taking over many acres.

The aisles are more less arranged between new merchandise and antiques. There are just all sorts of goodies.

It is clear that the experienced shoppers, Stormville veterans, know to bring their carts,

Because you just might need one of these.Or some of these.

At every turn there was another aisle, we spent a couple of hours shopping.

Of course there is food and drinks a plenty.

Fun for the kids.

And more and more stuff.

And endless people.

Lots of curiosities and curios

This is quite an event! Stormville Airport Flea Market and Antique Show

428 Route 216
Stormville, NY 12582

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By the way, sorry no pets allowed.`

For the Love of Italy – Enjoying Grano Focacceria with a Great Wine

We’ve been waiting about a year for Grano Focacceria to open, creating goodness can take time.

You see, when business partners Eduardo “Eddie” Lauria and John Paul Scanga set out to open a restaurant here in Philipstown Square, on Route 9 at 301, they wanted nothing less than excellent.

Eduardo has a great reputation to maintain, garnered with two previous restaurants he has owned, the highly regarded Il Barilotto Enoteca in Fishkill, and the excellent Aroma Osteria in Wappingers Falls. The latter he sold to retire, but apparently became restless and decided to try something new, a Focacceria.

A picture is worth a thousand words so let me share this snap of a Focaccia called the Mastroantonio, with Sweet Fennel Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, Sundried Tomatoes Chili Flakes, Mozzarella cheese. Yes it is like a pizza, on the menu described as thin crust pan pizza. The difference is in the crust. Focaccia, which means cake translated from the Italian, is doughier, fluffier, with more texture than a typical pizza crust, yielding a satisfying, comfort food mouthfeel that delivers the flavors upon it with pleasure.

Served on a wood plank, each ingredient is of great quality, we were awed by the size of this pie, but somehow found a way to eat it all. It’s irresistible.

In Italy Foccaccia is served plain or with any number of topings, just simple olive and salt, great with black olives, or a fancy preparation like this, or one of the seven others you’ll find here.

There a lot of other options on the menu like this crisp fresh “Cesarina” salad, very simple but satisfying.

We really liked the wine list. This wine from the Salentino area of Puglia is terrific. We started with a glass, but then bought a bottle. Read More about the great wines of Puglia here: Wines of Puglia are Quite Exciting

Word on the street is abuzz with praise for Grano Focacceria and while we were the first patrons at 6:00 on a week night, by the time we left every table was filled with happy diners. Not to mention a stream of take out customers.

Our waitress Angela was a joy, apologizing for being new to her trade. Not at all necessary as she opened our wine properly, allbeit with a little shaky confidence. Through our dinner she kept a careful eye attending to our dining pleasure just right.

Grano Foccaceria

3182 Route 9 at Route 301
Philipstown Square
Cold Spring, NY 10516
845-666-7007

Let’s Stock Up and Eat! Marbled Market, Beacon NY

New in Beacon, an exciting eatery, just opened by the fabulous people of Marbled Meat Shop in Cold Spring, Lisa Hall and Chris Pascarella, and for this venture they persuaded long time friend Adam Sternberg to join them as chef.

Located on Teller where the Copper Roof Deli used to be, the place is spruced up in Marbled style. Open just a short while, the word is apparently out.

The place was hoping last Saturday when we stopped in for some lunch.

What makes Stock Up great is the Marbled team’s uncompromising dedication to using the freshest and best quality ingredients. The deli counter has a fabulous selection of cold cuts.

We opted for two of their creative sandwiches, inspired versions of classics.

The Ruben + Sprouts with house pastrami, brussel sprout sauerkraut, swiss cheese, Stock Up secret sauce, on griddled rye. Big, delicious, yet not overly filling.

The Philly Style (Wiz Wit), Adam is from Philly, scrumptious shaved beef, the best meat to be found, with hopped up beer cheese wiz with smoked sauteed onion on a crusty fresh seeded roll.

Sandwiches come with a side of your choice from an awesome selection of healthy tasty creations.

Check this place out, you will be delighted.

Stock Up

29 Teller Ave
Beacon, New York
(845) 202-7400

Read More about Stock up on A Little Beacon Blog.

Cure for the Way Too Cold!

If there was ever a day for a hot homemade chicken soup today is one. With this magic potion all sorts of ills are cured and Subzero temperatures are soundly turned to happiness. A bright salad and a crisp wine makes warmer days seem well, not so far off.

A perfect pairing is this dry muscat, created at Bodegas Fontana in Castile-La Mancha, Spain, by the wine making team of oenologist Tomás Buendia and Master of Wine Sam Harrop. Two men who I think would find themselves very much at home here in the Hudson Valley.

Discovered at Dylan’s Cellar in Peekskill, the wine is of Fontana’s “Oveja” (sheep) series. These wines are created out of a reverence to the region, “single bottlings of exciting experiments” meant to show the “potential of the area and grape varieties.” Much the way many of our Hudson Valley winemakers craft their vino. And we do love our Hudson Valley sheep.

We liked this wine so much that we bought a heard on our next trip to Dylan’s.

“Intensely aromatic and expressive, with aromas reminiscent of lychees, grapefruit and rose petals. Light bodied, very fresh on the palate, the fruit is perfectly balanced by the crisp acidity and a dry, mineral finish.” Winery

It really knocked our socks off! Well no, those socks are staying on. But astonished “Wows!” were on our lips as we savored this precious wine.

If you love bright sauvignon blanc, crisp pinot grigio, or unoaked chardonnay you will love this wine.

Muscat is an ancient grape with 200 varieties. Some studies suggest it is the oldest domesticated grape, taking us back millennia. Here in New York State a variety called Valvin Muscat is grown and made into very nice wine.

It can be found in dry, sweet and sparkling wines. All so very delightful.

Dylan’s Wine Cellar

Bodegas Fontana

Hudson Valley Sheep Festival