Small Bites

Guest blogger Danielle Plass again writing about my visit to Sammy’s Downtown Bistro and Bar in Bronxville. Once again, pictures are provided by guest photographer Kelli Wells of Brought to Life Photography.

Sammy’s is located in downtown Bronxville on Pondfield Road.  Interestingly, the owners also run the very popular Rosie’s Bistro Italiano.  Sammy’s fare is American continental with a slight Italian flavor.

The space is small but warm and inviting, with large, classical-themed canvases on the walls. We were impressed right away by the endless supply of honey-laced butter, crispy warm bread and attentive service…..our water glasses were never empty.

The restaurant week menu is eclectic but elegant. We ordered two appetizers: the Wild Mushroom Tart with caramelized leeks in a puff pastry shell with crumbled goat cheese on a bed of greens drizzled with a creamy cognac sauce and the Grilled pan-seared Diver Scallops over an angel-hair pancake.  Both appetizers were outstanding but surprisingly, the standout was the angel-hair pancake, the texture and flavors were unique and delicious!

For our entrees, we chose the Pork chop Italiano, which is grilled and butterflied, served with cherry peppers in a garlic white wine sauce, mashed potatoes and crispy haricot verts and the Pappardelle tossed with shrimp and scallops in a tomato cream sauce. The pork chop was beautifully presented and flavored just right.  The Pappardelle was generously portioned with large pieces of shrimp and scallops and if I am to be honest, I enjoyed eating the leftovers the next day.

Dessert was a Mousse Royale parfait with sabayon custard, just the perfect topper to such a sophisticated meal.

I would definitely return to Sammy’s Downtown, the food was delicious and visually appealing.…the type of dishes I aspire to create on my own.

 

 The 411 on Sammy’s Downtown.

 

 

This is Margaret Rizzuto sharing my recent visit to Cathryn’s Tuscan Gill for Hudson Valley Restaurant week.

What a great  excuse to visit the quaint village of Cold Spring.  With its streets lined with eclectic shops, and Hudson River views, it’s a very easy place to to find an excuse to visit. Then of course, there’s Cathryn’s Tuscan Gill tucked away down a little garden path that opens up to four richly decorated and very comfortable rooms.  I visited with a friend – we were hoping to get there a little earlier (for better photo lighting) but ended up having a late dinner thus leading to the only unfortunately dark photo.

The restaurant was quite busy on this Thursday night, with people sitting at the bar, tables and the great lounge area.  The location of the lounge area was new to me since the last time I visited – the first sign that it had been too long between visits. The lush couches were previously in the front of the restaurant though the new location makes perfect sense.  It readily invites you to sit with a drink and relax a bit before dinner – a very nice way to start your meal.

Having eaten at Cathryn’s several times before I felt a little surprised by how meat and game heavy the menu seemed (this of course, from a vegetarian’s perceptive – any carnivore would be very pleased with the selection and variety of meats).  I don’t remember having a hard time selecting a meal previously though this time I did.  Finally, we both decided to start off with the Insalata Gloriosa which was a lovely mix of romaine, asparagus, avocado, corn, hearts of palm, and green olives that was delicately dressed. The lettuce was very fresh and crunchy and the supporting ingredients were plentiful which I really like in my foods.

For our entree we each opted for Pasta dishes.  I had the Fettuccine ai Fiori di Zucchini made with fresh fettuccine, zucchini flowers, currants, pignoli, and anchovies. I asked to have the anchovies left out which might not have been the best culinary decision I ever made because I can certainly see how the anchovy flavor would have lent itself to a richer flavor profile.   In retrospect, I also realized that the zucchini flowers were left out too! I confirmed this by checking the very dark image I had of the dish.  Very unfortunate omission as that was the impetus for my ordering this particular dish.  Our conversation must have been so compelling that I didn’t even notice at the time!  At first blush, I was a bit taken aback by the taste of the sweetness from the currants against the savory garlic but then it began to work and work quite well. I can only imagine how much better it might have been with the zucchini flowers and yesm even the anchovy.  Now of course, I’ll have to go again soon to try it as it should have been with both of the missing ingredients.

Dorene had the Orecchiette con Gorgonzola e Noci, lovely little ear shaped pasta with walnuts and Gorgonzola cream sauce. We were musing before our entrees came that her dish might be heavy but we were both very surprised at how light it actually was. Very delicious without the heavy-ness that soemtimes comes with cream sauce. I’m not quite sure how that was accomplished but it was a great success. The large pieces of walnut added a great texture to the creamy Gorgonzola sauce which was excellent.  Yes, I wanted to snatch her food but I refrained, settling instead to nibble up the few pieces she did not finish.

Service was interesting, we seemed to have two different people waiting on us at various times with totally polar affect.  One being charming, and conversational the other being much more the quiet type.  We had a long lag time between our salad and entree which certainly worked for us, making it a nice leisurely meal.

After our pasta dishes we unfortunately had no room left for dessert which again, leaves me feeling another visit is in my near future.  It’s also worth mentioning that Cathryn’s serves Brunch from noon to 3:00 on Sundays with dishes such as Crostino di Uova alla Cacciatora, sunny side up eggs with fresh tomato-porcini mushroom sauce served over toasted country bread, with pan-roasted potatoes  – yum.

The 411 on Cathyrn’s.

Hi everyone, guest bloggers George Distelhurst and Brett Sloane back for another year, this time to serve up a review of Division Street Grill in Peekskill.  Always eager to try a new restaurant this year we decided to start the week off with a visit to a place that was on our list for quite some time.  What better opportunity than to visit during HVRW for fine food at a great price

As luck would have it, before we even left for our first night of reviewing a different restaurant, we received a voicemail to confirm the next night’s reservation with the added comment… “The restaurant is not offering the Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Menu on Fridays and Saturdays.”  What a bummer! Brett was supposed to review that restaurant!  (Never ones to back down from a challenge we decided to share the reviewing duties for the Division Street Grill and change our next night’s reservations to one of our favorites that was in fact fully participating).  So here goes our first shot at a “his and hers” review…

Division Street Grill is located in the heart of Peekskill.  This restaurant finds itself in the center of a very lively spot filled with restaurants and night life galore.  Upon entering the restaurant we were quickly met by the charming host who promptly informed us that our reservation had been cancelled!  Yes that’s right, a big “X” right next to our name!  Not exactly what we were expecting to hear, but given how the night had started with the unexpected cancellation for Saturday night, we were worried that we were under a HVRW jinx! Thankfully, the host just as quickly told us not to be alarmed, probably after seeing the look of shock on my face and the sight of Brett reaching for her BlackBerry to do a panic search for yet another last minute reservation! Our luck turned for the better and the host seated us at a very nice table for two up front.  Finally with menus and wine list in hand we were ready to dine.

Our waitress Maria took our wine order as the water glasses were filled and the bread was brought to the table.  From the outside the size of the restaurant is quite deceiving.  Inside the high ceilings and large back room as well as the front space offer plenty of seating options.  For us, sitting up front where the action on the street can be seen provided a very nice and lively night scene.  Decorating the walls around us were several pieces of wall art towering 8 to 10 feet tall, all offering bright and radical colors to brighten the room (obviously when the room was decorated they decided to use every inch available).  If it were not for the fact that I was more concerned with the flash disturbing the other diners around us, I would have added a few pictures to the blog.

At first glance of the menu the appetizer and dessert choices jumped right out at both of us.  The entrees were more of a challenge.  Would it be chicken, beef or fish?  A large reason why we enjoy HVRW so much is that it offers you a chance to try the restaurant’s signature meals at a very reasonable price, but these three entrees seemed to be lacking that special something.  I decided on the Oven Roasted Pear Salad with pistachios, goat cheese and apple cider vinaigrette to start.  The Boneless Braised Short Ribs of Beef with red wine reduction as the entree, followed by the Warm Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert. Brett decided upon the Mussels Fra Diavolo appetizer, the Sautéed Breast of Chicken main course, and the same dessert I chose.

The attentive wait staff quickly brought our appetizers.  The salad had a nice mix of sweetness from the pear combined with a salty taste from the pistachios and goat cheese.  The vinaigrette dressing added just the touch to make you wish it was easier to find these dressings at your local market so you could duplicate the salad at home.

 

Brett thoroughly enjoyed her Mussels! They were meaty and the Fra Diavolo sauce added just the right amount of spicy kick. And the sauce was even tastier when sopped up with the fresh bread.

Then our entrees arrived, braised short ribs sitting on a mound of mashed potatoes mixed with cauliflower, broccoli and carrots for me. For Brett it was chicken…  sitting on an identical mound of mashed potatoes mixed with cauliflower, broccoli and carrots with quite possibly a lone mushroom and tomato. The short ribs were as tender as could be, literally falling to pieces at the slightest touch.  The taste was closer to a BBQ flavor than I would have imagined but still very tasty.  The mound of veggies were okay but I would have preferred to see each served on its own and leave the mixing to me, if in fact I chose to do so.  Brett’s chicken was a bit bland; I took a quick taste and went back to the short ribs.  As we mentioned before, sitting up front offered us a great view of the entire dining area so as we ate we could see the wait staff busily bringing out one entree after the other.  It was easy to see how all the dishes looked exactly the same, with even the fish (salmon) being served on a mound of rice mixed with the same exact veggies. Obviously everyone was here for HVRW but it felt more like we were at the same catered party with three dining options.  Or as Brett simply put it… “Wedding food.”

The dessert was very good, nothing over the top, but satisfying and sweet. We both ordered cappuccinos, nice and strong, for a fine finish to our meal.

Overall we were glad that we took the opportunity to visit a restaurant we have walked by many times and always wanted to try.  The service was great, the atmosphere lovely and romantic, the décor unique and interesting, and some solid good food. All in all we really enjoyed our night at Division Street Grill.

As for our last minute reservation for Saturday night? We showed up at The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry at 5:00, the first ones to arrive in order to score a first come, first served table for dinner!  A restaurant we have dined at multiple times and always walk away from eager to return.  From start to finish, menu choices, wine, dessert… one word… AWESOME!  But we’ll leave that review for another time!

 The 411 on Division Street Grill.

This is Margaret Rizzuto sharing a recent dining experience at Moderne Barn in Armonk.

We arrived on a busy Saturday evening after our GPS sent us the wrong way.  Apparently, this is a common occurrence with GPS systems as they try to take you to Moderne Barn.  If you decide to visit, instead of the actual address, it’s recommended that you input  Moderne Barn at Cox Ave and that will get you to the right location and I can tell you, it’s a location you don’t want to miss.

As you step into the beautiful two story restaurant you are greeted by the sights and sounds of people engaged in cheerful conversation and a bustling atmosphere.  The first thing to catch my eye was the beautiful floor to ceiling windows which spread across the entire front and back of the restaurant.  Then there’s a wonderful walnut-barrel vaulted ceiling and a catwalk over the bar that houses the wines.  The decor is an elegant yet simple mix of country, industrial and wonderful twinkling, modern glass chandeliers.  The restaurant is spacious and though I’ve heard some people mention that some of the seating is too close, we did not have that experience at all.

Within just a few minutes of being seated a very affable waiter came by to welcome us to the restaurant and take our drink order.  He was engaging and despite the busy-ness of the restaurant, did not seem at all rushed.  He even made time to chat with my son about a comic he was reading.  As a parent, this kind of engagement with my child, especially teenagers, is always appreciated.  My husband ordered wine while my son and I sipped some sparkling water.

A foccacia and delicious walnut raisin bread were placed on the table and the start of a wonderful meal began.  My husband and I decided we’d start off by sharing the Heirloom Kumato Tomatoes with house-made mozzarella, pesto, red watercress and a white balsamic dressing.  This salad had my son’s three most favorite ingredients: mozzarella, basil and tomatoes so we were very surprised when he said he was’t too hungry and didn’t want the salad. However, once ours arrived and of course, he tried it, he’s appetite was suddenly piqued and he ordered one of his own.  The tomatoes were perfectly and deliciously ripe, the mozzarella firm but with the moist, softness that a house-made cheese should have.   The red watercress, which I understand is a relatively new variety added not only to the visual appeal of the plate but added a nice peppery flavor as well and the white balsamic dressing was light enough that it pulled everything together beautifully.

We then had the  Grilled Calamari Steak appetizer with tomatoes, garlic, and a lemon basil sauce. I sometimes find that if calamari is over cooked just a bit too much it can become chewy but this was not the case at all. The texture was just right – firm but soft at the same time. The sauce was delicate and complimented the calamari quite nicely.

For our entrees I had the Day Boat Scallops – four very large scallops served over a medley of mushrooms, baby artichokes, spinach, and a light madeira cream sauce.  On the occasions when I eat seafood, scallops is always a favorite and this dish in particular could easily become a favorite amongst favorites.  The scallops were evenly cooked throughout and the sauce flavorful without overpowering the gentle taste of the scallops. The baby artichokes, spinach and mushrooms all worked to create a very memorable dish.

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This is Margaret Rizzuto sharing a recent lunch at FAB.

My friend and culinary cohort Patrice Costa and I headed over to FAB (French American Bistro) for lunch Monday afternoon. We went on the later side and had the restaurant to ourselves which was a real treat.  It’s an attractive restaurant with large french door style windows across the front and some sweet touches like a lovely poem over the doors written in both French and English.

We decided to go with the restaurant week menu.  I started with a Butternut Squash soup which was a beautiful color and absolutely velvety with a delicate seasoning.  Patrice had the the French Onion Soup which had a rich broth and nicely caramelized cheese that added just a little crunch for texture.

For my entree I decided to have the “create your own crepes”  where I selected from a substantial list of ingredients. I opted for the smoked salmon, tomatoes and goat cheese. My crepe was served with a lightly dressed salad and a lovely crepe with ample filling. The combination of goat cheese, tomatoes and smoked salmon was delicious inside the light and airy crepe.

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There’s only a few days left of 2012’s Restaurant Week. I hope everyone got a chance to visit as many restaurants as possible. I’m guest blogger Michele Curran and Wednesday evening, myself and some friends headed to Piermont to check out Confetti. The waterfront in Piermont is always a welcome place to visit for dinner and I had wished it was one of those 80 degree days from last week so we could have dined outdoors. Sadly it was 30 degrees, so inside the dining room we went!

We were seated immediately at a lovely window seat, and the dining room was fairly quiet. Our waiter came over promptly to take drink orders and we began perusing the options on the menu. We decided to each get something different, there were 4 of us, so we could all taste and so I could take lots of pictures.

For appetizers or Antipasti as the Italian’s would say we ordered a variety of items. The Zuppa di Cozze, steamed mussels in a fresh tomato and basil broth were excellent! They were definitely the favorite appetizer at the table. The flavor was excellent and the mussels tasted like they had been caught 5 minutes before they were served!

The Mozzarella e Pomodoro was fresh, homemade mozzarella cheese served with vine rip tomatoes and EVOO. A traditional appetizer.

My mother had the Crescione, watercress over roasted beets with shaved parmigiano and candy almonds in a sherry vinaigrette. She opted for this salad without the almonds, tsk tsk. This was a great dish, the watercress was fresh, the parmigiano was excellent and the salad was perfectly dressed with vinaigrette.

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Guest blogger, Gina Truhe from Food Is My Porn, here to share with you the meal I had at Tavern at the Highlands Country Club in Garrison.

After diligently reading through each  menu shown on Hudson Valley Restaurant Week website, my boyfriend, Mike and I chose Tavern as one of a few new restaurants we would try this year. Mike’s birthday fell fight in the midst of Restaurant Week this year, so this past Saturday we ventured down to Putnam County to celebrate.

Though the restaurant was full when we walked in at 7:45 we were seated right away at a long communal table with another couple seated at the far end (unbeknownst to me, fellow guest blogger, Robin Locker Lacey was also seated right nearby). The rustic tables were set with white linen napkins, flatware, tall candle sticks and large wine glasses. There was a small bar with just four seat next to the door, and through the room where we sat, a green house room with additional tables.

Our waitress came to the table to explain the Restaurant Week menu (and unfortunately they had run out of the Testa – seared rustic pig’s head pate topped with an egg yolk raviolo – which I likely would have had) and to take our drink orders. Mike had a Brooklyn Lager and I had a glass of an old favorite – Cain Cuvee. Once we placed our orders, a board with the most delicious cornbread we’ve ever had came out.

 

 

When our entrees made it out to the table, I could tell that Mike was a happy man! He had ordered the onion soup, served with beer battered onion rings, chervil and tarragon. Mike loves onion soup, and this was did not disappoint. The onions were carmalized and sweet but not cooked so long that they had last their body and texture. They still had some bite to them, and the soup, which was thick and full of them was absolutely fantastic.

I had the Six Minute Egg served with fingerling potatoes, house-cured bacon and pickled mustard seed. I can’t say enough about this dish. The six minute egg was perfectly cook. The white had enough firmness to it to keep it from running, but still soft enough to melt in your mouth. The runny yolk mixed with the vinagrette on the greens, celery, onion, bacon and potatoes to create a creamy sauce. The bacon was unreal. It was nice and thick with the perfect amount of fat. The mustard seeds added a fantastic texture.

For our entrees, Mike chose the Buttermilk Fried Chicken served with roasted sunchoke, pickled beets, olives and arugula. There was a beautiful crust on the piece of breast and leg that were served. The salad on the side had a delicious dressing made with spicy mustard.

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Hi Sharon Pickett here. To kick off Hudson Valley Restaurant Week 2012, my trusty dining companion and I journeyed north to Putnam County to Brasserie Le Bouchon in Cold Spring.

                               

 

Located on historic Main Street, Le Bouchon is situated in a lovely gaily painted building with an inviting front porch. The interior is dark and cozy and staff is currently sprucing up an outdoor dining terrace at the building’s rear.

In France, a Bouchon is a typical restaurant found in and around Lyon whose fare consists of hearty dishes containing duck, pork and sausages as well as many forms of charcuterie (vegetarians be warned!).

Cold Spring’s version of Le Bouchon stays true to its lyonnaise roots. In addition to traditional savory and hearty offerings, the menu also features bistro classics such as Salad Nicoise, Moules and Frites and Croque Monsieur.

Restaurant Week offerings consisted mostly of menu items – onion soup, country pate and escargots for starters,  hanger steak frites and steak tartare for the main course and chocolate mousse, crème brulee and baba au rum for dessert. The only “off menu” item was skate Lyonnaise served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes and baby spinach – very intriguing.

I opted for the escargots (AKA “garlic butter delivery devices”), the steak and crème brulee. My companion could barely hide his glee when he saw mention of skate – he ordered that with the pate and baba au rum.

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It’s funny how when you live close to some well-known landmark you may take it for granted.  It sometimes take a visit from out-of-town relatives to get you to visit the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building.  I’m guest blogger John Fix, and thankfully one of my assignments for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week 2012 was to dine at the Eastchester Fish Gourmet.  Though my wife and I are lifelong Eastchester residents and huge fans of seafood we tend to forget about this wonderful eatery right in the north end of our town (The post office lists the location as Scarsdale, but technically it’s located in Eastchester’s north end).

My wife Judy and I arrived at about 6:30pm on a Monday evening, and we were seated promptly at a nice table by the window. For starters we browsed the extensive wine list, which offers wine by the glass, half bottle, or full bottle, and we selected a 1/2 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The special Restaurant Week menu offered a nice selection, with six different appetizers, four different main course entrees, and three different desserts.  My wife chose to start with the Prince Edward Island Mussels three-herb and white wine broth.  She finished them quickly, and soaked up some of the broth with a dinner roll. Mussels and the broth were delicious!

I’m not a big fan of most shellfish, but I do enjoy clam chowder, so I chose to start off with the New England Clam Chowder (a Manhattan-style clam chowder was also available). The creamy soup had just the right balance of clams and small potatoes, and of course some oyster crackers were provided which are an essential part of the chowder experience (in my opinion anyway).

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By Simon Feldman.

Cedar Street Grill in Dobbs Ferry has that “true blue american” theme going for it.

Here’s a short video I shot

It’s a little country and very much about comfort food. I arrived around 10pm this Wednesday past there was a band playing to a lively crowd as I made my way to a bar for a drink and a bite to eat. I started with the fried pickles, which were deep fried of course, tangy crisp and salty. Followed by a gulp of a cold draft beer, what could be better?

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Guest blogger Elissa Fisher here to tell you about my experience at Le Jardin du Roi. My dining companion, who happens to be my daughter, Mia, and I had a 6:00 reservation.  We walked through a lovely patio, which, in the warmer months ahead, will make for some pleasant al fresco dining in a garden setting. Umbrellas were at the ready, and  some hints of Spring were already present in the  outdoor urns and window boxes, which were planted with daffodils and other flora.  We walked into the restaurant, and were greeted warmly by Joe Quartararo, one of the owners.  We were seated immediately in a comfortable booth by a large window.

Antonio, our waiter, appeared and we were offered water and drinks.  A basket containing individual baguette style rolls was accompanied by a small plate of  butter.  I ordered a Kettle One martini with olives and Mia requested a glass of prosecco.  Service was prompt and friendly, and remained so for the duration of our meal. We requested the HVRW menu, but also took a look at the extensive regular menu, which includes traditional French fare such as omelettes and moules frittes, as well as other dishes such as salads, burgers and pastas, along with daily specials.

We settled down in our comfortable surroundings and took in the atmosphere.  The  cozy  leather banquettes, tin ceiling scattered with ceiling fans, dark wooden tables aglow with votive candles, and wrought iron sconces on the walls created a warm and intimate ambience.  Both fresh cut and potted flowers, along with simple decorations on the windowsills, added to the charm of this little bistro.  The cream-colored walls were adorned with photographs of seasonal outdoor scenes by a local photographer, Joanna Cirasella.  A contemporary mix of music played at just the right volume in the background, and that, along with the unobtrusive chatter of other patrons, made table conversation easy.  A small, well-stocked bar that seats five took up one area of the restaurant. Before we knew it, the tables were full.

   

 

The HVRW dinner menu had something for everyone-carnivores and vegetarians alike.  The appetizer consisted of a choice of French onion soup, smoked bbq ribs, fish tacos, or beet salad.  I ordered the fish tacos-Cajun rubbed sole, cucumber citrus salsa, and baby greens rolled in a black bean wrap, with spicy mayo on the side.  The sole was fresh and moist, with a bit of a kick from the rub.  The spicy mayo was a thoughtful accompaniment to add more heat if desired.  Delicious!

Mia ordered the beet salad, which couldn’t be beat as far as taste goes!  Diced beets were tossed with olive oil, shallots, and ginger, then topped with crumbled goat cheese. Endive was served along side, making the presentation a beautiful pinwheel of color.  The ginger flavor came through, and a touch of Dijon mustard added a little pizazz.

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Happy HVRW 2012 from Vicki Borah Bloom!

I’m really glad that I’m usually in “try everything new that opens once” mode when it comes to restaurants in the Yorktown/Mahopac area. Otherwise, I might have missed this gem of a Latin restaurant, which doesn’t look like much from the street. But Ramiro’s is actually a beautiful space, with a bright modern bar and seating downstairs, and a party space/art gallery upstairs that features the work of both local pro artists and of local kids and students.

I brought my husband and my foodie (“Yes, Mom, I can eat three courses, get that kids’ menu out of here”) eight-year old out for a Sunday night treat, so we were able to taste the majority of the Restaurant Week menu. After starting with rustic rolls served with whipped butter and melty roasted garlic cloves, we went on to appetizers.

A serving of two empanadas de picadillo were flaky and crispy, with a sweet, oniony beef filling a little less sweet than this dish is sometimes made. The sweetness came instead from a chipotle cream sauce drizzled on top, neatly enough that these could still be finger food if you wanted.

Sopa de elote was a corn soup with a mushroomy background, almost reminiscent of huitlacoche without the funky aftertaste. I found the texture of the corn skin distracting in the otherwise thin soup, but the fresh flavor was just right.

But my favorite is the platano relleno, a savory and festive “banana split” stuffed with pull-apart smoked chicken, black beans, and white queso, with white and green drizzles of sauce offsetting the bright yellows and oranges.

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It’s guest blogger Sara Aufgang, here to tell you about my recent dinner at Marcello’s Ristorante of Suffern for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.  Marcello’s, situated in downtown Suffern, has been a local staple for over 25 years.

Although the restaurant is large, the inside space is separated into different rooms so that we felt we were in a small, intimate setting.  Once seated, my dining companion and I were each served a warm dinner roll and a piece of onion focaccia, in addition to the packages of breadsticks that were already on the table.  The roll was hard on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and perfect with a little butter which melted right into the bread.  The onion focaccia was quite tasty also.

Marcello’s Restaurant Week menu is available online.  For my appetizer, I ordered the gnocchi al ragu di cervo (homemade potato gnocchi with venison ragu).  This was my first experience with venison, but the waiter assured me the best way to venture in.  The venison had been cooking for five hours and was incredibly tender and tasty.  It tasted similar to beef short ribs but with a slightly stronger, gamier flavor.  The gnocchi were perfectly cooked.

My friend ordered the warm goat cheese salad, consisting of a lightly breaded piece of goat cheese on top of greens with walnuts, slivers of green apple, and sweet roasted peppers in a garlic lemon mustard dressing.  All of the flavors and textures were in perfect sync with each other, making this dish a favorite.

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Well we joined 21 others for a beautifully presented feast at a somewhat different type of restaurant. Yes,  Donna Monaco Olsen and Bradley Olsen really do have that many friends and acquaintances who want to try a new place during HVRW 2012. Milonga is billed as serving Argentinian & Mediterranean fare as well as tapas in the bar.

The service could not have been better in accommodating such a big group. This restaurant has little hideaways for more private dining and a central room housing several tables (enough to fit all of us), so that we felt like it was a private spot. We were very comfortable and felt like we were not bothering others since we are a noisy “foodie” bunch, who chat about our plates and where we are dining next in somewhat loud tones.  The owner is a lovely woman named Miryam Rendon who floated in and out greeting tables of patrons.  She informed us that they are opening another hot spot on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains soon and that will also serve arepas and kabobs. Possibly a more casual place?

Back to the meal at hand. Small on space and “spaces” they offer valet parking. The staff truly doted on us and we did not have to request water which is refreshing in both senses. This restaurant is being so gracious during HVRW that they are including a salad course choice and an appetizer course choice.  We were impressed that they were able to handle a large group and bring out our food all together and we enjoyed the yeasty, warm crunchy bread with olive oil while we waited.

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I don’t think could have picked a better night for my restaurant week dinner – with temps in the high 60s, just about everyone was out and about in Rye last night, and many of them at Ruby’s! Not that I could blame them, the lure of fresh oysters and a chilled white wine is hard to resist.

Hi everyone, my name is Kristina Massari, and this is my third year blogging for Small Bites during HVRW. An old pal and I enjoyed dinner at Ruby’s last night and the bustling crowd at this adorable bistro in the heart of Rye was the first sign we had picked a good spot. Not to mention, Ruby’s is part of the Pearl Restaurant Group which owns local notables, Morgan’s Fish House and Rye Grill & Bar, among others.

As its name would imply, Ruby’s has an old world French flair with beautifully coffered ceilings and dark wood walls, accented by deep red leather furniture with exposed nail heads. Vintage posters of L’Instant Tattinger dot the walls and red-shaded chandeliers give it slightly dark, Moulin Rouge feel. For a second it feels like we could be dinning on baguettes and fromage in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower!

The restaurant also accommodates some limited outdoor dining toward the front with windows that slide up allowing tables to spill out onto the sidewalk, ala many NYC restaurants.

I loved the ambiance of Ruby’s. It was casual but chic. Though the food is important, yes, I feel the mood and atmosphere play an equally important role in the overall experience. That said, our food was just as excellent. 

I kicked off my meal with a perfectly chilled glass of Vicolo delle Venezie Pinot Grigio and an order of the pan-fried oysters (how could I not?) with a champagne butter sauce. One thing I missed was a well-appointed martini list, but the expansive wine and beer list definitely makes up for it.

The presentation was lovely (comes with three medium sized oysters) and the champagne-to-butter ratio in the sauce was perfect. It had balance and a nice frothy feel so that you didn’t feel like a stick of butter was coating your mouth. Personally, I probably could have had a dozen of the oysters and called that my meal!

 

 

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Nestled among the horse farms of North Salem, 121 presents a comfortable setting for a good meal. With a dining room bordered by walls of windows, the pink hues of a sunset are visible to all. The decor is simple and includes artwork capturing the horse life of North Salem There is also a lively bar area that complements the main dining room. We are Hannah and Eric Byrne and this is our first blog of HVRW 2012.

At 121, an extensive menu is available with options for all types of diners from the pizza enthusiast to the fine diner.  On a Sunday evening with an early reservation, the dining room was just beginning to fill as we made our selections from the specially crafted HVRW 2012 menu. For our first course, we began with the Fresh Steamed Mussels in a Saffron Cream Sauce. The well-cooked mussels were perfectly coated with a light, flavorful broth that had hints of garlic and herbs.  Our next starter was Vegetable Spring Rolls with a Carrot Ginger Puree. Served on a bed of baby greens, the flavorful vegetable filling was nicely complemented by good crunch and a tasty dipping sauce.

 

Our first entree was the House Made Whole Wheat Fettuccine with Spring Vegetables and Garlic Cream. A large portion of pasta with broccoli, red peppers, green peppers, yellow squash, and zucchini was dressed with a light cream sauce that had a buttery taste and a hint of lemon. Each was well prepared and well presented. Our next entree was the Roasted Pork Chop with Cabbage & Bacon and Roasted Potatoes. Lightly seasoned, the generously sized pork chop was served atop the sides. The smoky bacon and crisp cabbage made for an excellent pairing with the pork. Rounding out the plate was a side of oven roasted potatoes that were perfectly crisp.

For dessert we chose the Banana Nutella Crepes and the Classic Tahitian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee. Both desserts were beautifully presented and left us with a “sweet” memory of the evening.

 

Todd Matthews, guest blogger, reporting in on Turkish Meze Restaurant in Marmoneck. This quaint find is quite unassuming at first glance. When looking from the outside, one is not quite sure what to expect in terms of formality. The building appears to have been around for quite a long time, yet the bright blue awnings have brought a kick of life to it.

 

As it turns out, this restaurant is easy-going and quite casual. It is a small restaurant. The décor is warming with walls of sun-kissed muted yellow. Turkish artifacts and art adorn these walls. It appears that when full, this restaurant could accommodate about 75 patrons.

We were met with a smile and seated promptly and given a seat next to the window, which provided some natural light and some warmth. Music playing is modern Turkish. One song playing was from Turkish pop star Rafet El Roman, lending to the casual mood of the place.

Water was poured promptly, and we were presented with a plate covered by cloth under which was Turkish flat bread containing sunflower seeds, nicely warmed and caramelized. The bread was paired with an earthy tapenade.

There was initial confusion when we were presented at lunch with the Hudson Valley Restaurant Week dinner menu. We asked for the lunch menu; but they clarified that because they normally serve a lunch special, this was our offering or we could order from the standard menu. Although friendly, the server seemed perplexed that we questioned it. We decided to just be flexible and go with it.

For the soup and salad option, we ordered the Turkish red lentils cooked with vegetables and herbs. The soup was full of finely minced herbs and was earthy in nature. Although tasty as is, a squeeze of the accompanying lemon was enough to brighten it up and bring it into balance.

The Salad Sampler contained three salads consisting of white beans, chickpeas, and a shepherd salad. The plate was icy cold as were the components of the salads. It was very fresh in addition to being refreshing with the chickpeas, diced red onion, parsley, dill, and mint. I would have welcomed this as a complete meal in a bowl with a big piece of Turkish flatbread.

One plate that arrived at the table which was not ordered, but we decided to keep, was called Ezme. This was delicious. It is a mixture of finely chopped vegetables, which is then blended with a pepper paste. Also incorporated is tomato paste to provide richness, then finished with pomegranate molasses & olive oil. This is just the right amount of spiciness with a touch of sweetness, and would go well over grilled meats, calamari, or simply be a fabulous dipping sauce for great bread.

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Hi there!  Briana Costa, guest blogger, here to tell you about the Italian restaurant just around the corner that you need to hear about.  Graziella’s Italian Bistro is literally around the corner from my new home in White Plains, and I had been anxiously awaiting a reason to try it out.  So, my friend Kate and I decided to start the week off right with cocktails and dinner at Graziella’s.

The bar was decently crowded, even on a Monday night, but Kate and I still found a spot at the bar to enjoy some pleasantly chilled glasses of prosecco and complimentary chips – be careful, they’re addictive!!

Our hostess was very excited to hear we were there for Restaurant Week and sat us at a table by the large picture windows at the front of the restaurant.  Our meal began, as most do, with complimentary bread being brought to the table.  But instead of the normal side of butter or oil to go with the bread, we were brought a plate of sliced salami and a bowl of diced tomatoes in oil.  The bread was toasted just enough to have the outside crunchy but the inside still soft.  Adding the tomatoes and oil to the bread made me feel as if we were making our own mini bruschetta, and they tasted just as good.

We also ordered some specialty drinks – a French Martini for Kate, which she says was one of the best she’s had in the area, and a drink for me that was concocted by our waiter, Nat, since he saw how much trouble I was having deciding on a drink.  He recommended one that he based on a bellini – champagne, peach schnapps and fresh cut strawberries.  It was a perfect drink for the first week of spring! 

For our Starters Course, Kate and I both chose the Baby Arugula Salad with avocado, candied walnuts, fresh mango, goat cheese and a red zinfandel vinaigrette.  I’m a bit on the fence when it comes to arugula – usually I skip it because of the bitter taste – but I couldn’t pass this up when I saw goat cheese and mangoes.  For me, goat cheese and just about any type of fruit is a perfect combination and this salad did not disappoint.

The candied walnuts added a nice texture to the mostly soft elements and the cherry tomatoes (though not listed on the menu) added a fresh acidity to the dish.  The only way this dish could’ve been better was with a bit more goat cheese.  I can understand not wanting to overpower the dish with the potency of it, but towards the end I had run out of goat cheese and was left with more of the bitter arugula taste than anything else.

The Braised Short Ribs Ravioli with authentic veal Bolognese sauce was an easy choice for the Appetizers Course.  It became even easier when our waiter informed us that the pasta is made in-house.  There is nothing quite like homemade pasta.

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This is my final “vegan and omnivore” post for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week 2012. I’m JL Fields, guest blogger, back with news of a delicious meal at Sweet Grass Grill that pleased both the plant-based diner and the meat-eater.

Saturday night of restaurant week is crazy!  Lots of diners were out and about, looking for great food at a great price.  Sweet Grass Grill was packed and the staff were clearly ready. They moved around the room rapidly with great care and attention.

The server greeted us with a menu and explained, “we keep it simple.” Rather than offer a prix fixe menu, they allow you to choose a starter or salad, an entree, and a dessert and charge the standard restaurant week dinner rate of $29.95. It was liberating!

I explained that I was vegan and he immediately walked me through the menu and pointed out the items that were already vegan, as well as those that could easily be made vegan (I ended up choosing the ready-made vegan options).

While we considered the menu our drinks and a bread basket were served. I asked if the bread was vegan. The server asked why it might not be. I explained that some bread recipes use eggs (or egg white is brushed over the bread loaf for shine) or non-fat dry milk powder is used. He returned with chips, because they weren’t sure about the bread.

Nice touch!

My husband started with the Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad.

He liked the salad but thought the dressing might have had a bit too much salt (coming from a man who never met a sodium he didn’t like, this means something).  But overall, he enjoyed it very much.

I couldn’t resist the vegan Crispy Tofu “Sushi” Roll.

Positively divine!  I am a fan of Asian-infused dishes in general and this did not disappoint.  Hearty enough to serve as a main dish, the roll bites were actually quite light.  I took half home.

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Hi Everyone! This is guest blogger Rinku Bhattacharya, and I am thrilled to report my first HVRW meal was so good, that I want to go back to the place tomorrow. The place being Le Provencal Bistro, in Mamaroneck.

The charming little restaurant located in Mamaroneck, is just the cheery kind of place that calls your name on a lovely spring day. The walls were done in pretty shades of yellow and covered with artwork that
was contemporary and pleasant in mostly neutral colors. Jars and wine bottles were arranged on wooden shelves that make you feel comfortably and cozy. I wasglad that we had picked lunchtime, since the meal allowed us a chance to enjoy the picture perfect weather. The restaurant was busy, but not too crowded and we were greeted and seated in a prompt and friendly manner.

On to the menu, the first thing that caught my attention was
the number of choices that they had. It is always nice to feel that there is enough to choose from, as sometimes with pre-fixes the selection can be limited. They had about five or six appetizers, ranging from salads, soups and pate platters.

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I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of restaurant week as much as I am! I am guest blogger Michele Curran and on Wednesday evening, a few friends and myself had dinner at Il Portico in Tappan. As a life long resident of Rockland County, I have to admit I think I have been to Tappan, 3 times. For whatever reason, I just never make it down there, but I was pleasantly surprised as we pulled down “Restaurant Row” to really take in the quaint atmosphere of the town itself. I never realized how much history is there and as we came down the main road, Il Portico was right there welcoming us.

As we approached the entrance I was confused at first by the 2 front doors but quickly realized which one to go in (the one on the left) and we entered to a nice long bar area. One of the waiters greeted us quickly and promptly seated us at a cute corner table. What was particularly nice was there was no rushing us through our meal, typical practice of a fine dining restaurant, though not always executed well. Il Portico let us get settled and took our drink orders before bringing over the menus. It was nice to feel as though they weren’t in a hurry to get us fed and out the door. The first selling point for me was they had my favorite wine on the wine list, Louis Jadot Pouilly Fusse! Excellent, we’ll have a bottle!

Shortly after ordering, our first course came out.

I ordered the Eggplant Rollatini with buffalo ricotta and tomato which was amazing! I am not a huge fan of Eggplant Rollatini in general but I wanted to give it a try; it was one of the best I’ve ever had and I would return again and have it as a meal if I could!

My friend ordered the Belgian Endive Boats with lobster meat and a creme basil vinaigrette. We shared the 2 appetizers and this was just as good as the Eggplant. It was nice and crisp! The portion size was very generous and overall agreed by the table a winner!

After the appetizer was cleared, they gave us a nice break to digest before bringing out the Entree. Everyone ordered something different so we could all try each others dishes! My only disappointment was they were sold out of the Pork Ossobucco.

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Approaching a restaurant for the first time can be compared to receiving a wonderful gift and while the brain argues to not judge a book by the cover, the  heart races ahead with anticipation of what the dining room will look like and the taste buds long for edible treats.

 

Hi. I”m guest blogger guest blogger Sharon MacGregor. Stepping into Il Cena Cola, guests enter a hallway then descend into a greeting area which proudly displays a photo gallery and award wall featuring images of George Clooney and Hillary Clinton among other treasures.

 

I couldn’t help but notice the James Patterson autographed book and photo.  Mr. Patterson was also featured in another area restaurant entryway and while that is a completely different story, I wonder if I am somehow following his “food trail.”

 

We (a party of four including myself, my husband and our adult sons) were seated and eventually presented with water, bread and a small unknown dish.  Upon asking the contents, we were told, “It is zucchini.”  While we wanted to know a bit more, since we now knew the main ingredient, we placed a small forkful on the bread and were pleasantly surprised at the departure from a tomato bruschetta, or dipping oil.  The zucchini was soft and flavorful.

Once our drinks arrived and orders were placed, we observed the wait staff plating appetizers and desserts from a display near the entrance.  This kept them quite busy as they plated, took orders and cleared and may have prevented them from being as attentive as possible.

 

Unfortunately, photographing the food was a bit of a challenge in the dining room’s dimmed lighting.  While the quality of the images may be diminished they are not representative of the flavors.  The panzanella salad and red snapper soup images could not be captured.  However, the salad was filled with crisp cucumber and generously dressed.  The red snapper soup had a bit of peppery kick in the background.

 

Four large and generously stuffed mushrooms were one choice.  The mushrooms itself was appropriately yiedling to the bite – not rubbery, not cooked down to mush.

 

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Hi. I’m guest blogger Roseann Healy for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week 2012. I dined at Alain’s Bistro in Central Nyack with my friend Chris on Thursday evening.

I first heard of Alain’s Bistro from a co-worker.  Both of us Rockland residents, we would discuss any new restaurant findings we discovered in the county. None sparked more praise from her than Alain’s Bistro where she dined several times, never disappointed.

So going to Alain’s for the first time I had high expectations. As we approached the restaurant, opening the door for us was none other than Chef Alain Eigenmann himself; we were very impressed.  He continued to show us to our reserved table.

Soaking in the atmosphere for the first time you were transported to a small bistro somewhere in France.  Calm mood lighting, pleasant background music piped in, French décor, made the place cozy and inviting.  Our server for the evening was Jessica, very friendly and attentive, offered us a variety of waters to start.  We declined politely and went straight for the wine, a chardonnay, that was crisp and refreshing.  Assuming the wine was French, I was surprised to learn it was actually a wine from the Hudson Valley, from Millbrook Vineyards, a nice touch to support Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.

We ordered from the Restaurant Week, three course dinner menu. The appetizer I chose was their French onion soup which was outstanding.  The broth and the caramelized onions had a rich flavor and the cheese top was browned and melted perfectly.

Chris ordered the French martini tartar which came presented in a martini glass garnished with a juicy lime.  The bottom layer was compiled of avocado mousse that was creamy and oh so delightfully rich with flavor.  The second layer was the salmon tartar that had the perfect blend of spices topped with a subtle lime froth.

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One of the restaurant experiences I have grown to love in New York City and the Hudson Valley is the sidewalk cafe or bistro and while dining al fresco is not a requirement, the feeling and atmosphere simply adds another element and sparks another sense.  Hi. I’m guest blogger Sharon MacGregor. While my son and I had a lunch date at Bistro Lilly, we were able to sit at the table in the open doorway which gave us one figurative foot in and outdoors.

It was easy for us to find a number of things we would enjoy on the menu and finally decided to start with the French Onion and Butternut Squash soups.

The french onion soup broth was robust and included a tomato base for the sween onions.  A grilled bread slice topped with Manchego cheese brought this soup into a more modern light and was also a bit more practical to eat with fingers rather than trying to chase a toasted crouton around with a spoon.

The butternut squash soup was silky, smooth and sweet with a dollop of sour cream.  The portion was quite generous and it took a lot of self-control to not pick up and lick the bowl, but rather behave like a lady and put it aside for the main course.

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Hi all. Susan Dorien here, guest blogging my dining experience at Chutney Masala in Irvington. Getting to the restaurant was a snap as the Metro North station is directly across the street. There is adequate parking if one chooses to drive. The brick warehouse buildings surrounding Chutney are history of the waterfront trade routes of the 19th century.  The interior of Chutney is warm and inviting. There are two dining levels with a small bar on the lower level. The friendly hostess greeted us enthusiastically and escorted our party upstairs. 

The wine list is small but had a large enough selection to accompany our dishes. Two of our diners ordered specialty cocktails – a Chutney Mary; silver tequila, tamarind, triple sec, sour mix and the other was a Pomtini with pomegranate juice and vodka. Both were refreshing and delicious.    For starters we ordered a variety off the HVRW and regular menus. Eggplant fritters were crisp outside with slices of moist eggplant inside topped with a sweet tamarind glaze. Potato samosas were crisp outside tender inside and filled with potatoes, peas and ginger stuffing.  The Hara bhara kebab (pan fried patties of baby spinach, toasted lentils, homemade cheese) were delicate, fluffy and just spicy enough. The chili chicken; an indo-chinese spicy chicken in ginger soy sauce was not your typical ‘chili’ at all; no sauce more like a tandoori. It was a plate full of spice and flavor.

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Guest blogger Robin Locker Lacey sharing my first dining experience of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week 2012 with you.  I was very excited to learn a new French bistro, called Le’Express, had recently opened in my neck of the woods and was over the moon to hear they were participating in Restaurant Week!  A perfect excuse for me to try it.

Upon entering the newly redone space, which is a lovely combination of dark and light woods, ivory walls and Morracan light fixtures, it was clear that some sort of business event was taking place. There was a crowd of about 3o people encompassing the bar, with name tags on.  Considering this place is new, and still a bit under the radar, I was very surprised to see a group of this size on a weeknight.  Great for business, maybe not so good for dining acoustics.

It was immediately apparent that the noise level was uncomfortably loud, so when our friendly host and waiter greeted us, I inquired about dining at a quiet table, perhaps in a separate area in the restaurant, far away from the bar.  Unfortunately, the bar and dining area are in the same room, so that wasn’t an option, but he promised the event would be over and folks would be leaving in about half an hour.

We decided to tough it out and forged on. For the first forty minutes or so, conversation was near impossible and we found ourselves shouting our order to our smiling and apologetic waiter.  But, after the crowd cleared out, things did get much quieter and we were able to enjoy the rest of our dinner in peace.

Speaking of dinner…

A tasty dish of green and black olive tapenade in a pool of olive oil was brought to the table with a basket of rolls, which we immediately devoured.

We were given both the regular menu and the HVRW menu to order from. We were very excited to see an unbelievability large selection on the HVRW menu.  Typically, no more than three selections of starter, main and dessert are on offer, but the Le’Express menu was chock full of options – between five and seven per course!

I chose the roasted beet, orange, toasted almond and goat cheese salad, which was a very large portion for an appetizer.  The ingredients were all very fresh, it was dressed well, the flavors mingled together nicely and the creamy dollops of tangy goat cheese melted in my mouth.  It was an instant favorite.

My husband decided on the mussels served in a garlic, white wine and parsley sauce with a side of garlic-rubbed toast.  It was also a very generous portion, the mussels were plump and I can only guess the broth was delicious, because I witnessed him slurping it out of a half-shell, so nary a drop was wasted.

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I drive by Cienega in New Rochelle at least once a day because it is 2 blocks from my house. From the outside it looks like a happening place and I have made many mental notes that it’s the next new restaurant I want to try. Hudson Valley Restaurant week 2012 gave me the motivation to do it.

I’m guest blogger John Lanser III. Walking into to Cienega you are instantly transported from a suburban, semi industrial neighborhood into Manhattan night life. In fact the building reminds me of the Flatiron in NYC. The room has sweeping high ceilings which makes very good use of a small space with unique dimensions. The shape of the room along with the great lighting adds a chic ambiance.

As we waited for our friends, we were encouraged to have a drink at the bar, and we were happy to oblige. My beautiful and talented wife that I love dearly Jennifer had a special drink made with Cava which she enjoyed and I had the more traditional South American staple, Caipirinha. It was also done quite well.

Once our foodie friends, Peter and Susan showed up, we were taken to our table in the “Flatiron” part of the room. My wife admitted that she was hoping to sit there. In the restaurant it is the back corner near the doors to a patio. The patio was just redone and is packed during warm summer nights. Jennifer and I both ordered off of the Prix Fixe menu for HVRW and the options were very nice for the price.

I ordered the “Tamal con Pato”, a deconstructed Tamale topped with shredded duck confit. The flavor profile was very good as the sweet corn stood up to the fatty duck. The rest of the dinner party had one of the few varieties of ceviche that was available. In general, all of the ceviche was well done, vibrant and fresh, which is what you should expect from a good ceviche. Although Susan thought hers was a little heavy on the cilantro. Jennifer’s ceviche came with Papaya which she thought tasted great.

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Guest blogger Danielle Plass here to tell you all about 151 Grill in Mahopac, with assistance from my guest photographer Kelli Wells of Brought to Life Photography.

Located right off the Taconic parkway in Mahopac, 151 Grill is an unassuming restaurant that resembles an inn rather than a southern-themed dining establishment. Once inside, the restaurant is quite cozy and charming, with a large fire place, wooden booths and large bay windows providing both warmth and light. There is also a small patio for al fresco dining but we opted for a booth inside by the window due to the chill in the air.

The restaurant week menu is chock-full of hearty choices – Stuffed Por Loin, Grilled Shell Steak, Turkducken, Bourbon Chicken – but we went along with the waiters recommendation of the Smoke BBQ Ribs which were dry rubbed and slow smoked in a pit over a hickory fire. There were several appetizer choices but I opted for the salad bar, I can never resist a good salad bar!

My decision to go with the salad was definitely a good one as all the ingredients were fresh and homemade, including all of the salad dressings and the side salads. The potato salad in particular was outstanding. I had to stop myself from going back for more as I had two more courses to get through.

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Hi. This is Denise of deeCuisine.com guest blogging my dining experience at Frankie and Johnnie’s Steakhouse.

Whenever restaurant week rolls around, I try to make a reservation at a steakhouse.You can’t go wrong with a prix fixe menu at a steakhouse. A three course dinner for about $30 is a great deal, especially if you’re trying out new restaurants. For HVRW, I chose Frankie and Johnnie’s Steakhouse in Rye.

Similar to their NYC locations, Frankie and Johnnie’s Rye location offers dining on two levels in a classic steakhouse setting, but in an old bank. For dinner, we were seated at the second level overlooking the bar.

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The vegan and omnivore diners are at it again! I’m JL Fields, guest blogger, back to share our “mixed” dining experience at Haven in Pleasantville.

This was not our first visit to Haven.  Last year my husband wanted to treat me to a vegan dinner for my birthday. I didn’t really want to trek into Manhattan so I turned to Google to find plant-based options in Westchester. The first hit was for Haven – I studied the menu and, to my surprise, the menu actually had the words “vegan friendly” next to items in the starter, entree and dessert sections! My husband called the restaurant to confirm that “vegan friendly” actually meant vegan. It did.  Needless to say, we dine there frequently.

When we walked into Haven for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week we were greeted warmly and the manager immediately said to me, “You can order any vegan entree from the regular menu and it will count toward the prix fixe menu.” Aw, she remembered me!

Before we even looked at the menus we ordered wine and started munching on the complimentary, home made chips and white bean dip.

Be careful.

Those delectable treats could be a meal!

Because we have a few favorites on the regular menu we ordered one item before perusing the special menu:  Crispy Chickpea Fries with Spiced Black Cherry “Cream.”

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