Judith Hausman, not wanting to be left out of Restaurant Week, has also generously offered to be a guest blogger. She set out to Le Fontane for a solo lunch. Here’s what she came back with:
I was dining alone at Le Fontane, but don’t pity me. The solicitous staff made me feel welcomed, gliding by often to ask me — and all the guests — if we were happy with their Hudson Valley Restaurant Week lunch. I couldn’t do limoncello after my meal on a workday, but it was charming offer.
It’s a sunny spacious room with all those Italian touches: arches, tiles, a fruit basket mural, columns and plaster busts. You almost want to burst out in an aria.
There were lots and lots of choice on the special menu: mussels, eggplant rollatini, fresh mozzarella with roasted peppers and prosciutto, and the yummy, crunchy (if poorly focused) string bean salad I tried. Loved the good olive oil, bright lemon, chopped tomatoes and a grilled portabello on top:
Here’s the lamb ravioli I ate next. Don’t let that “traditional ragout sauce” fool you. They overdid the simple marinara some, but the pasta was firm and the lamb filling was lightly seasoned and delicate.
Shrimp and clam risotto, grilled salmon, a chicken dish and a pork chop scapariello with sausage were the other ample options. I tried the poached pear in red wine. (The photo, alas, did not come out well.) You could even trick yourself into calling it light — oh, a little ice cream and a dab of whipped cream don’t add many calories.
Restaurant Week finally got me to Le Fontane and I’ll be back. I think they took the event seriously and gave it their best shot with generous, varied choices for a great price. I’ll sit outside on the covered terrace, try some fish from the regular menu — and I’ll say yes to the limoncello next time.
Le Fontane, 137 Route 100, Somers. 914-232-9619. lefontane.net
1 Comment
First let me start by saying that two Saturday’s ago I was planning on joining Weight Watchers to get ready for “bikini” season (ha) but once I realized it was Hudson Valley Restaurant Week quickly chose to spend my WW registration money on a three course meal! Let me correct myself, a few three course meals! For the first week we made reservations at Harvest on Hudson, Goldfish and Sonora for dinner. For the following week we made reservations at Stoneledge Creek, Pacifico and 121 Restaurant and Bar.
I am a big Fan of Chef Palomino and in the past have enjoyed both his restaurants Sonora and Pacifico, so found no fault with what I was offered at Sonora. Dining at Harvest and 121 was enjoyable and delicious! The Molten Chocolate cake with Coconut Sorbet at Harvest was like eating a Mounds bar, and at Goldfish The Home-made Cheesecake was very similar to my mom’s recipe, which means it was very very good if not great! (Mom might be reading!)
With much anticipation I looked forward to my second week of dining, when all of a sudden …Whamo….the stomach virus!!! Let me tell you, this thing hits you hard a fast and lasted for three days……and afterwards it still takes your stomach a few days to get back into the swing of things! So needless to say I had to forgo my second week of dining. On a positive note, the weight I gained during the first week of Restaurant Week, magically disappeared after being sick!
I think Hudson Valley Restaurant week returns in the fall….For now…Watch out Weight Watchers here I come!!!