Shadows on the Hudson - Poughkeepsie, NY

Yes, date night is alive and well.  One Saturday night, the Mr. and I decided to cross the mighty Hudson and try a restaurant we have not yet visited.  

Shadows on the Hudson is quite popular and reservations are recommended.  Early.  In fact, we tried to go for Valentine's Day and couldn't get in.  So, if you are thinking about it, just book it.  We made our reservation using the on-line link and I requested a table by a window (though I was told not all requests can be guaranteed).

Raspberry Cocktail as recommended by our server, Raymond

We double checked the regular and special menus, checked with each other and decided on a strategy.  We know we are going to share the food we order and want to ensure maximum coverage of items we both enjoy.

It was tough deciding if we wanted an appetizer or not, but then I suggested we try the Meatballs Siciliano.  Fresh mozzarella and marinara sauce were the only descriptors, but I had a good feeling.

Meatballs Siciliano

Stretchy, Gooey, Hot - the triad of fabulous mozzarella goodness

Yes, I enjoy food, but these meatballs had me from first sight.  They were simply picture perfect. Tasting the initial forkful of tender meat, sweet marinara, and lush cheese made all of my taste buds smile and sigh with contentment.  One of those, "If I only had this one food to eat for the rest of my life," moments.  Really.  I had to stop myself from eating a second meatball because I wanted to at least sample the rest of the food I ordered.  My only consolation was in knowing I would have a second opportunity to eat this amazing appetizer.

Warm bread for dipping in the marinara from the meatballs

The Mr., as some may have come to learn, prefers tradition at the table.  He enjoys a salad and bread as part of his meal.  I mentioned to our server, "The gentleman prefers a generous portion of dressing."  Raymond kindly brought both a dressed salad and a boat of additional bleu cheese. Nicely done.

Carrot Ginger Soup

I was pleasantly surprised by the large portion size of soup.  I had only expected something similar to a coffee cup rather than a full bowl.  I could feel my stomach fill with each smooth and silky spoonful.  Would I be able to even sample my entree?

6 ounce Filet Mignon

My medium-rare beef was perfectly prepared and served next to a heaping serving of smashed potatoes and and equally large portion of root vegetables.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

The Mr. is a huge fan of chicken and this plentiful entree included two cutlets over a perfectly prepared al dente linguini.  I have a strong negative reaction with the smell of parmesan, but the Mr. was quite happy and satisfied.  I was able to sample a bite of the poulty and do appreciate the nicely crisp crunch of the crust without drying the protein. Well done.

We spoke of life, our adult children, his job, and the folks around the dining room as well as at the bar.  Shadows is also known for having a lively late night crowd.  We observed various groupings of people and supposed what they may be celebrating, saw a number of couples like us who may be either on their 400th or 4th dates and enjoyed the atmosphere.  Though we passed on dessert, the offerings were appealing.  We left quite full and feeling Fed Well.

 

Appetizers at Buckalew's Restaurant and Tavern, Beach Haven, NJ

Have I ever mentioned my aversion to crowds?  Sometimes it is frustrating for me and sometimes it is frustrating for my family.  I want to enjoy my food in peace.  I also prefer to simply walk right in and be able to be seated immediately.  These are not always realistic options or expectations, especially in popular vacation areas, at popular meal times or on weekends.  Today, I wanted to try a particular restaurant so I asked the Mr. if we could go during "happy hour" to avoid the dinner rush.

The negative?

He wasn't hungry.

The compromise?

Cocktails and appetizers at Buckalew's Restaurant and Tavern.

For me, a margarita on the rocks with a well salted glass rim.  The tables are nicely covered in white paper and I asked for the crayons the children receive when they are seated.

The talent may be lacking, but the meaning is clear.  

Doesn't the image really, effectively, say all you need to know about my vacation?  Chairs in the sand, on the beach, under the umbrella on a sunny day.  The End.

So, how many appetizers should we order? How not-really-but-kind-of hungry are you?  I just need a little something to hold me over during the car ride home.  He says he isn't "really" hungry, but I know he will eat.  Three.  Yup, that seems fair.

To begin:

CHOWDER! Yes, a cup of New England Clam Chowder.

Lush and velvety with tender clams.  Yum.  Yes, we were actually able to split this cup of soup though I wanted to hog it for myself.

Clams Casino:

Oh my! This is a must have.  The menu simply describes them as "like no other", but really, they are delicious shells of clam goodness topped with a bite of bacon.  Nothing wrong with this wonderful combination and though the salad may not appeal to everyone, I loved it and ate every forkful.

Finally, a true classic - steamers in a bowl of delicate goodness suitable for dipping toasted bread or simply slurping up every last bit.

We enjoyed both our quick visit to Long Beach Island and appetizers at Buckalew's.  We were certainly Fed Well and being able to draw and color on the table covering was a joyful bonus. Vacations should allow you to both relax and perhaps enjoy life without fears or anxiety.  Fabulous and memorable.

 

Cosimo's in Middletown, NY

Do you need fancy surprises to keep the spark alive? Something to keep in mind on your next "date night."

Monday night madness in August.  When your birthday falls on a Monday in the Hudson Valley and you want to go out to dinner to celebrate, well, your options fall quickly.  Add in the fact that I really do not want to drive after an almost hour in the car just to get home from my day job and my selections are really quite limited. However, the Mr. suggested Cosimo's in Middletown and I have been there quite a few times and agreed it would be a nice choice.

Who doesn't love a fully loaded bread basket?  Dipping oil is nice, but sometimes, I will admit I simply long for a nice smear or real, creamy butter.  Old fashioned? Perhaps. I'd like to think of it as classic.

Celebratory Spirits

We started with a heaping platter of salad topped with cured and deliciously salted meats. Carcinogen studies be damned. The cheeses were soft and mellow.  Veggies were crisp and the balsamic drizzle balanced all of the flavors and tied everything together.

It's just the Mr. and I.  Yes, the restaurant has plenty of other diners seated all around us.  But, on this particular evening, it is just the two of us, a date night if you will.  All those headlines in print and on-line about "keeping the spark alive" in your marriage always call out the need for date nights.  Truth is, we've been married since 1987, have lived through ups and downs and are well aware of the importance of spending some time together.  In my opinion, "keeping the spark alive" comes from far more than just date night. It comes from a thoughtful place that may sometimes require a bit of thinking, planning and concern for your partner.  Asking how their day was, about something they are interested in or even current events.  A few of my greatest fears include evolving into those sterero-typical people at a table with NOTHING TO SAY. No, thank you.  I'm not saying we don't share comfortable silence at times (I don't want to make his ears bleed), but I enjoy the conversations we share.

Back to the meal...

For the Mr. - chicken - are you surprised?

For me - PASTA - again, no surprise.

Want to know a secret? The spark is always there.  The trick is in determining how much to fan the flame without blowing it out and no fire should ever be left unattended.

As far as the dinner, we enjoyed a nice meal and honored the tradition of celebrating my birthday. I officially feel I have entered the on-ramp for 50 with the two year countdown in place.  Thank you Mr. for a lovely evening as well as every day making the decision to stay together and be Fed Well.

 

Tony Boffa's in Middletown

Classic. Timeless.  While I may not remember the exact meals I've had at Tony Boffa's over the years, I know what it felt like, how I was treated, the atmosphere and simply put, that the generous portions of food were delicious.  The family feel is exactly what the Mr. likes about this local legendary favorite though he claims it is the red sauce.

It is the weekend, the dining room is full and we are pleased by the live musical entertainment. I'm sorry I never learned his name, but I was the one who tried to be sure to applaud after every song and was unashamed to join in from my table when we were all invited to sing along to "That's Amore." Who could resist?

Yes, I am completely aware that a Cosmopolitan is not a traditional cocktail for an Italian restaurant, but I like what I like and was completely happy with the Tony Boffa version.  And, I did enjoy my beverage with a more appropriate order of pasta fagioli soup.

Tender beans and al dente pasta in a rich broth were exactly what I wanted and this version could be used as the benchmark to judge all other versions.

Next up:

Clams to share

The Mr. often lets me select an appetizer for the two of us to share.  Honestly, I take his tastes into consideration because what would be the sense of ordering something he would not enjoy.  These clams were sweet and delicious, but it is always the juices we look forward to most and sopping up some of it with a slice of hearty bread.  We were not disappointed.

Look at those scallops! No, look again! They are beautifully seared and seasoned and though you can't see the pool of delicately flavored broth under the pasta, this is simply an amazing dish.  Exactly everything I hoped it would be.  I twirled and twirled pasta using both my fork and spoon while swaying in my seat.  My whole body was doing a happy dance.

Yes, the Mr. ordered his favorite with a side of pasta:

Chicken Marsala

He enthusiastically ate a huge portion and still had some to take home.  Sign of a good meal for the Mr.

Among the diners, Mr. Tony Boffa checked in on his guests and took a few minutes to chat. 

Old School Charm.  These are the words I would definitely use to describe the dining experience at Tony Boffa's.  The tables are numbered and correspond to a board on the wall that lights up when the food is ready.  Charming.

We had a lovely meal and could truly consider our night out as a date.  It was a wonderful experience and of course, we were Fed Well.  Always set aside a night for each other and once in a while, if you can, try to go to a locally owned establishment that will treat you like a guest in their home.

 

Guy Fieri's Chophouse - Atlantic City, NJ

Imagine booking an overnight stay in Atlantic City based on the fact that I can eat at Guy Fieri's Chophouse for dinner? Well, that was exactly what happened when the Mr. and I set out for a quick weekend get away last month.  

Making our dinner reservation on-line for Flavor-Town was effortless and I requested a table with a view.  Here's what we saw:

  

I had checked out the limited menu ahead of time (the full menu is not available every day) as well and pretty much knew what I wanted.  The Mr. needed a little time, but we were both able to find appetizers and main courses (though I had an appetizer as my entree).

Personality on a placemat...

and the menu

To begin -

Fun take on the standard bread and butter 2.0 with a pretzel bun and zippy mustardy alternative to plain old butter.

Lobster Knuckle Chowder

Fabulous.  A word I reserve for truly wonderful events and occurrences, but this soup certainly qualifies.  Creamy, substantial, layers of flavor, mixed textures - all the elements you hear the big food guys talking about, well, they showed up in the chowder.  Crunchy croutons served on the side were a bonus so I could control how much softer they were allowed to become by not letting them bask in the silky soup broth.

Classic Wedge Salad

The Mr. started his meal with this salad and I was going to politely decline sampling it because I am not the enthusiastic fan of bleu cheese that he is and it seemed to be drowning.  However, upon closer inspection and taste, the dressing was indeed pungent, but could easily be moved aside by taking off the top layers of crispy iceberg and leaving them for the Mr.  The star of the plate was that tomato. Meaty and firm, the flesh was ripened perfectly and most importantly, tasted like the tomato you imagine when you think of this summertime favorite.  Indeed, it could be served naked on a plate and diners would line up to have a slice.  Simply perfect.  Thank you to the farmer.

The Mr.'s Main

Shut the front door and have some fries!

Crispy outside, tender and flaky potato that had just been fried to the perfect golden brown.  Oh my.

Pork Belly Slider Appetizer

I had my magical potatoes with the pork belly sliders that are intended to be a starter.  Thanks for letting me break the rules and do what I want.  It really does make me that much happier and helped us both feel Fed Well.

We didn't see or meet Guy.  I'm sure he was busy taping, driving, dining or doing something to keep himself crazy busy, but if you let yourself imagine it, you could hear him telling you what he thought of each dish and narrating the ingredients and steps of preparation. I'll see him next time on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

 

Delancey's in Goshen, NY

How do I decide where I will have dinner and which restaurants to write about for Fed Well? Sometimes an opportunity simply presents itself and I have to follow the lead.  I write for a number of community magazines and Delancey's happens to be an advertiser.  Fair enough.  I decided to check it out with the Mr. on a rainy Friday night.

We were immediately greeted by a number of young hostesses.  Delancey's features both a dining room with indoor and outdoor dining which has a view of the Historic Goshen Race Track and a more casual bar/dining room.  Our attire was maybe one step up from jeans so it must have been assumed we wanted the dining room with a view though we were never asked.  

The place was hopping.  Busy, busy, busy.  The dining room was full, the bar area appeared to be full and people were beginning to be turned away.  The rain had caused the deck dining area to be shut down.  We didn't have a reservation, but were told it would be about a 20 minute wait and really, for a Friday night, that's not so awful so we waited.

We watched as a table was brought out of nowhere, then chairs, then place settings.  I wondered if that was magically special or would come with the price of sitting outside of swinging kitchen doors.Somehow, I knew the table was for us.

A few minutes later we were brought to our newly set table with just a bit of clearance to the deck area.  "We had to close the deck," we were told, "so you should be fine here."

We ordered drinks and for me, the bar setting Cosmopolitan.

A nice first impression and though I do not ask for a particular brand of vodka, I can tell after a sip that this is not the brand that will be the cause of a relentless morning after headache.  Perfect.

We decide to share a glorious seafood appetizer; clams, mussels, shrimp and scallops swimming in a mild and delicate red broth.  

We are aware the dining room is filled to capacity by the sheer volume of dinner conversation and laughter. Everyone seems happy and content.  The drizzle has stopped and shades of pink mixed with the gray sky.

Main courses...

Pasta.  Fairly high on my list of food loves. Broccoli rabe and sausage make it a balanced diet, right? The sausage is square and the first tip that it is homemade.  The flavor is unique as well, a bit sweet with a fair amount of fennel.  

For the Mr.:

A molded serving of risotto, a side of vegetables and a lovely shrimp dish.

During our meal, the outdoor dining area was reopened causing guests and staff to repeatedly pass closely by my chair.  We were offered a complimentary dessert for the inconvenience and I selected a brownie with vanilla and chocolate ice creams, whipped cream and a raspberry sauce.  Very decadent and dense.

We appreciate all of the efforts the entire staff made in securing us a table and trying to ensure we had a good experience.  We left feeling Fed Well and wondering where our next food adventure would lead us.

 

Poughkeepsie Ice House on the Hudson

It was the exact date we were married in 1987 when we decided to try "someplace new."  Well, new to us.  I asked for recommendations and someone suggested Poughkeepsie Ice House on the Hudson. We wanted something on, near or at least overlooking water and what better view than between the Walkway over the Hudson and the Mid-Hudson Bridge? We were less than one hour from home and it was a beautiful day.  I checked the menu on-line and the Mr. made a reservation.  When we arrived I was quite thankful I opted for flat shoes rather than heels as I had to park at the top of a hill and walk down to the restaurant.

A great start after a challenging day that included me having a flat tire after driving through one of the worst potholes around, which seems simple enough, but my particular model car has a locking lug nut on each wheel for security purposes.  A wonderful and innovative practice in theory.  Until one of us (I won't say which) took the car to have the tires rotated and was not given back the key when the job was complete.  So, my car had to be towed and the garage will find a way to bust off the locking lug and put on the spare.  THEN, a new tire will be ordered.  Ugh. I'm sure you need a cocktail just from this exhausting story.

Now, I will tell you about our dinner experience.

First, here was just a portion of our amazing view:

Notice the boat, trailer and truck in the background? It seems to be a public launch and so we enjoyed watching a number of boats come in and out while we were at Ice House.

Regular menu and a Special menu...

On the back of the regular menu is a list of beer, wine and sake cocktail options available.

Sake Mule

The Sake Mule is listed as:  hibiscus, ginger hard cider, fresh lime juice & simple syrup.  Try one.

I am fairly observant at this point, ok, nosey, I am really looking around and taking note of the people, the food and the servers, hostesses.  It is fairly busy, diners of all ages, families, dates, friends, some obviously celebrating special occasions.  Some order various courses, a few just appetizers, some just straight to dinner and everyone seems happy.  The overall pace is comfortable. We are able to talk and relax in-between courses, do not feel rushed, and yet we feel well taken care of, not ignored.

To start:

Crab Cakes

We split an appetizer.The crab cakes described by the Mr., "They have a good sear or crust, a good flavor and they have a lot of crab."  Our sons recently joked that he has become a "foodie."  I just love hearing him describe the dish as well as enjoy it.  To be honest, he is right.  The cakes were more crab than filler and yes, they had a nice crispy exterior.  Yum.

For those who have read Fed Well over time, you know the Mr. loves French Onion soup.  Ice Houses' version received an enthusiastic two spoons up as a review.  He enjoyed the flavor of the broth and we were both in awe of the super sized serving.  Imagine the typical restaurant crock and at least another 1/2 serving if not more.

I may pick on the Mr. a bit about having his favorites, but I am also guilty.  New England Clam Chowder is probably a dish I have sampled more than just a couple of times. I enjoy the many varieties with or without bacon, with a little bit of kick or mild, creamy or a bit on the thin side, but it should never be day-glow yellow like canned gravy and the celery should never out number the potatoes or clams.  This was a great middle-of-the-road rendition and I was happy.

Main Courses:

Cajun Catfish

Here are the Mr.'s thoughts, "I liked the fish, but it really wasn't Cajun.  The fries were good, but I really liked the cole slaw."  He can't eat the kale, but I sampled it and with the bacon, it was a winning pairing.  The fish was delicious, but could have been a bit spicier.

Ice House Seafood Platter

Shrimp, scallops, 4 ounce lobster tail, salmon, risotto and my eyes went right to the green and tender bok choy.  I couldn't wait to devour the vegetable on a seafood platter. Strange? Or a sign of the green season I've waited six months to enjoy?  I gave a bit of everything except the veggie to the Mr. to try and he nodded in approval to each forkful.  Special acknowledgement went to the scallops and the risotto.  Everything I ate was delicious, and I brought home the salmon, a few shrimp as well as a portion of the rice.

We were far too stuffed for dessert and I didn't even have an interest in bringing something home for later.  We did try to end our date night with a selfie on the water front.  It was fairly amusing and nothing we would ever share with the world, but we were Fed Well on the waterfront.