Small Bites

Restaurants and recipes in Westchester, Rockland and the Lower Hudson Valley

HVRW Spring 2013: Trattoria 632, Purchase

Dining on our own again (two times in a row), Bradley and Donna Monaco Olsen continued their adventures in blogging for HVRW. This season there are over 185 restaurants participating. Donna currently writes on Small Bites as Chef’s Tip, re-capping great cooking demonstrations in local restaurants. She is the co-coordinator for Westchester Community College’s Taste of Westchester program.

We have tried to experience new restaurants to add to our list of favorites. We are having fun sharing Liz Johnson’s scavenger hunt. Here we tried a spot we have driven past many times. It is truly old world Italian food with the kind of red sauce that makes you lick the plate. The servers were all fun and interactive but our waiter Alessandro brought out a taste of a house wine before I committed to this second type. What a guy! (50)

Many items looked enticing so I was surprised at Bradley’s choice of a veggie lentil soup. (He really has to be force fed veggies!) Then I took a closer look at the BACON in the description and figured it all out…It really was a very nice tasting soup, with lentils and vegetables that still had integrity. Although the lentils are small and the veggies cut rustic style nothing was mushy or overcooked and the soup was broth based, not pureed. A true homemade surprise that made you want to come back. Here is my companion truly enjoying his vegetables! (100 points)

Very old world tastes that were perfect on a snowy night, were eggplant parmigiana and lasagna (which was very light tasting with veal meatballs). The waiter told us the canned brand of tomatoes they use is from Teitel Brothers on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx (patented). My relatives hail from there…doesn’t everyone have an Uncle Tony?

Pork Chop Milanese with arugula salad in a light lemon dressing.

Dessert was a beautiful creme brulee, bread pudding and cappuccino. All classic and all divine!

Although it was a Saturday night, there were many families dining. They have a kids special with lots of choices and pizza too! If you are looking for good ol’ Italian cooking this is the spot! We hope to visit again soon.

There are still two days left-Bradley and Donna wish you happy hunting!

Total points: 150

bradley olsen chef's tip Cooking Demonstrations donna monaco olsen full moon Guest Blogger hvrw HVRW 2013 Purchase. Trattoria 632 scavenger hunt small bites Suny Purchase the valley table Trattoria 632 Westchester Community College

Donna Monaco Olsen

As a contributing blogger and the author of "Chef’s Tip", Donna Monaco Olsen re-caps great cooking demonstrations from local restaurants. She is the co-coordinator for Westchester Community College’s Continuing Education program, aptly named “A Taste of Westchester.” She writes the program, which offers more than 30 cooking classes each semester, by recruiting chefs to do cooking demonstrations in their restaurants for both education and fun. Check out the classes at the WCC web site. Along with her husband, she reviews restaurants during Hudson Valley Restaurant Week and posts them on Small Bites. In her off time she creates custom designed cakes and cupcakes at The Cupcake Kitchen & Luncheonette in Irvington.