Daddy's Donuts & Bake Shop in Middletown, NY

With the holidays comes a need for baked goods, whether home-made cookies by the dozens or specialty items from a beloved bakery, people seem to crave specific combinations of sugar, dough or batter.  Whether we want sprinkles, frosting, chocolate topping with or withot fillings of cream or jelly, we know we want a sweet treat after our holiday meals.  At Daddy's Donuts & Bake Shop in Middletown, NY customers can also add a touch of whimsy from childhood by creating confections topped with favorite cereals or based on flavors from popular candy bars.

I checked the website before my visit and was surprised to see they had baked goods ranging from fresh bread and bagels to cannoli, pie, cake, danish and yes, of course, donuts.

When I entered the shop, I could not resist inhaling deeply when I first detected a variety of smells associated with pastries including the powerful aroma of sugar. Everything outside of Daddy's Donuts simply ceased to exist.  All thoughts revolved around selecting just the right items while the rest of my senses tried to remain rational and coherent.  I struggled to concentrate long enough to read the menu board, but my eyes were scanning the room, the displays, the racks, the shelves and fresh items filled the surfaces.  How would I decide?

Even now, as I compose this blog, I find myself carefully looking through the photos to see if I missed anything I may want to try next time.

I decided to try to make things simple by asking for a dozen donuts including an assortment of popular and cereal donuts as well as two maple bacon donuts.  The next two photos are what I received:

Smores, Fruity Pebbles, Fruit Loops and M & M candy - oh my

Captain Crunch Berry & Maple Bacon are among the choices

The donuts are a light, yeasty cake and did not feel oily, greasy or heavy.  Nicely done.

I then placed an email order to be ready for pick up on Christmas Eve morning. Thought the line was a bit lengthy (to me this shows how popular and in demand the business is as they had plenty of staff working), my order was ready and accurate. Also included in the donut order was a struffoli which I brought to my son's house for Christmas brunch.

Crispy dough balls placed in a circular ring and festively topped with sprinkles made for a pretty and delicious alternative to cookies or cake.

The two donuts I tried were the Almond Joy and Maple Bacon.The Almond Joy was filled with a delicious vanilla cream, topped with dark chocolate, shaved coconut, slivered almonds and very nicely conveyed all of the flavors one would associate with the candy bar.

The Maple Bacon was a stick donut which I had to break in half for a smaller serving size. The frosting was easily identified as maple without being cloyingly sweet. Crispy bacon bits were the perfect balance in texture, salt and, well, bacony goodness! Among the other flavors we tried were the Nutella, Boston Cream and we also gave some cannoli's as gifts which were well received by a discriminating friend.

Welcome to the neighborhood Daddy's Donuts & Bake Shop. I indulged in and shared your products with family and friends who were all Fed Well this festive holiday season.  Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year!

Breakfast in Bed - Atlantic City, NJ

Just the idea of breakfast in bed sounds ridiculously indulgent and decadent to me. The idea of it has always sound to me like the ultimate in feeling positively spoiled and waited on.  Since this was another perk of our room in Atlantic City, we couldn't help but participate.

Sunset in Atlantic City

We looked at the menu the night before and I called to leave a message on the room service voice mail with our order and delivery time.  However, I had no idea that I had transposed the last two digits of our room number...

When what I thought was the scheduled arrival time of our meal came and passed, I became well, annoyed.  After 15 minutes or so I called to check on the status of our breakfast and was told of my mistake.  I could feel the heated blush of embarrassment creep up my face as I was told, "We called the room number you gave us and were told you did not order breakfast." 

Well, that's because I gave the wrong room number and now I've disrupted someone's vacation AND I still don't have breakfast. Ugh.

The person I was speaking with was forgiving and understanding and my mistake was quickly corrected.  

Our breakfast arrived:

Something about those silly metal cloches - makes me feel important or royal or well, like a pampered guest.

Pancakes for the Mr.

Eggs Benedict for me

Berries and Cream - um, yes please!

In this case, it was about the overall experience more than the food. However, we were pleasantly surprised that the meal did in fact taste great as well.  It arrived hot and we enjoyed eating at a leisurely pace, without crowds, before heading out.  Fed Well, we then enjoyed the remainder of our day in Atlantic City.

Red Lobster - Middletown, NY

Chain restaurants.  Overall, the Mr. really avoids them as much as possible.  Sometimes I can coax him if I have a coupon because after all, who doesn't love a bargain.  Other times, they are simply really convenient and one of their best features is consistency.  If you like the biscuits in one Red Lobster, you will like them in every Red Lobster (or if you dislike them, you will never change your mind).

Our younger son was able to spend a month studying in London. On the night of his return, he unpacked his bag like Santa Claus, gave us all a small gift, and simply wanted to sleep in his own bed.  The next night, I thought we could catch up with a casual dinner and so Red Lobster was our destination.

My meal began with a Mojito (which may have been made a bit murky with quite a bit of fresh mint) and the previously mentioned biscuit.  I happen to love them - don't judge.

We all had various food options to begin.  For the Mr. a salad and soup.  I had the same New England Clam Chowder and while the flavors are maybe not as bright or clear as those you may experience in a privately owned restaurant in a tiny coastal town, they are solidly good and predictable.

Main Course Mussels for me.  Although this dish is an appetizer, I have learned over the years that most times, the customer is always right and can mix/match things to suit their own appetite and tastes.  The mussels were fairly good and the flavorful liquor and broth remaining in the dish was quite satisfying.

We heard stories about tourist attractions and various foods our son experienced in England.  We simply enjoyed spending some time together after 4 weeks living apart and it felt a bit like dining in a friend's kitchen rather than a formal restaurant's dining room.  Nothing wrong with that.  We felt Fed Well and satisfied in being together.

 

Roundhouse at Beacon Falls for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Spring 2015

Each Hudson Valley Restaurant Week I search through the list of participating restaurants and select one I have never been to and this year the winner was Roundhouse at Beacon Falls.  I just loved the photos I'd seen of it online and once I was able to view their HVRW menu, I was absolutely hooked.

I'd made a 6:30 reservation so we arrived early enough to enjoy a bit of daylight as the water roared over the rocks and I quickly captured this image with my phone.  I wished we'd been a bit earlier so I could just watch, listen and maybe set up a more careful and thoughtful photo.  I just want to return in all seasons and take this one.  

We were greeted quite promptly and once our reservation was confirmed (I recommend making a reservation - and if you want to sit by the windows - ask) we were seated in this area.

Sleek, minimalist, modern - yet somehow warm.  We took in our surroundings for a few minutes until we were approached by our server, and placed our drink orders.  An extensive cocktail, beer and wine menu is available.  

I often do a bit of research before bringing the Mr. and on this trip, our younger son, to a new place and will send them links to the restaurant.  However, I was not aware that Roundhouse would be serving their HVRW menu exclusively.  This made for limited options for my husband and to be honest, he was a bit disappointed.  I felt as if I misrepresented the restaurant, but hope he will opt to go back another time and try whatever dish he had in mind.

So, he needed a few extra minutes to decide.  Our typical game plan includes ordering different dishes so I can taste everything, but keep in mind, this is not a hard/fast rule.  So, here is how it went:

Starters:

The Mr. selected the salad.  I know the main feature for him was the proscuitto.  I'm also sure this is not what he envisioned though it was delicious.

OCTOPUS

I was ridiculously excited to try the sauteed octopus and this dish met, no exceeded, my expectations. Braised octopus. Chorizo. White bean puree. The octopus itself was firm and dense - somehow I worried it would be chewy or rubbery, but it was more steak-like.  I loved it on it's own as well as swirled through the white bean puree.  I shared a piece with the Mr. who nodded in agreement.  I then allowed him a bit of the chorizo.  Oh, my. It was amazing.  Please note* - the octopus starter is also available on the regular menu, so go, call, make a reservation now.

Clams

When you are a young 20-something male, beer and clams seems like a logical choice and our younger son was not disappointed.  The bowl was filled with tender, juicy clams and accompanied by 2 slices of toast.  We each sampled a clam and I even was allowed a bite of bread that had soaked up some of the magical briny broth.

The drawback to eating dinner with me when I am excited and at a restaurant I have been dreaming of going to is that I lose any ability to remain calm or cool.  I am in full blown tourist mode.  I want to see everything, touch it, smell it, sample it, check it out and yes, photograph it.  Our table is not next to the windows so when one is vacated, I try to not attract any attention as I walk over and talk a picture with my phone.  Please keep in mind, normally I ALWAYS have the flash turned off.  Except when I took the first one.  Ugh.  I'm pretty sure my younger son died for just a second as the light bounced off the glass and filled the dining room.  Yep.  Sorry everyone.  None of the food pictures I'd taken had flash, but I recovered, turned it off and snapped another before returning to my seat.

Purple Lit Waterfall

On we go to the main courses:

Pork Rillette

Funny how we order our food based on the protein and sometimes forget what else the menu said until our meal arrives.  The pork was resting on a bed of barley, not couscous and though our younger son knew full well the orange bits on top of the pork were not carrots or orange, we were stumped for just a minute until we identified the apricot.  Delicious.

Short Ribs with Chipotle Grits

The fork tender meat was sumptuously soft and inviting served in a pool of flavorful sauce.  The Mr. did not care for the grits and was happy to try some of the Pork as well as my Barramundi.

Barramundi with Sunchoke Puree

Just looking at my plate, I was breathless and felt a bit giddy.  The fish's skin was crisp and savory. Swirling my fork through the puree, into the garlic crumbs and then spearing a piece of fish resulted in the perfect bite.  Textures, flavors, richness - bliss.

Desserts:

Trio of Sorbets

Our youngest avoids dairy and nuts so his dessert options are typically limited.  He orders the sorbet, but pushes it toward his father and I to share.  I do sample a bite of the cookie with a bit of the tart sorbet.  Quite refreshing.

The Mr. and I each ordered:

Deconstructed Pear Whiskey Tart

Whiskey caramel, candied pecans, banana ice cream and chocolate crumbs.  While everyone claims they love chocolate, at times a dessert that is not overly sweet is really what I want and the Deconstructed Pear Whiskey Tart fit the bill on many levels.  The whimsy and fun created by the chocolate crumbs was a great juxtaposition for the grown up whiskey caramel and candied pecans. Banana ice cream.  So mature and memorable.

I had a wonderful dining experience at Swift Restaurant at the Roundhouse and strongly encourage you to visit for your next special occasion or just some night when you are ready to try some place new.  I certainly left feeling Fed Well.

Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Peppers

Yes, I also cook.  Frequently.  Thing is, I sometimes get so bored with my own cooking, I will eat go insane during a food/meal rut until I find my next creative dish and then I'm back on track.  The internet has a million food ideas and recipe sources, but an unlikely source for me has turned out to be Pinterest.  And that is how Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Peppers were born.

For my version you will need the following for 4-5 servings depending on appetite sizes and if served with a side dish:

5 green bell peppers
1 lb. thinly sliced roast beef
2 small onions
1 pound sliced mushrooms
1/2 pound sliced, provolone cheese

To begin, I roasted 5 halved green bell peppers that were sprinkled with Kosher salt on a sheet pan in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.  I did not use any oils or cooking sprays, but you can do whatever makes you happy.

While the peppers softened, I sauteed the onions in olive oil in one pan (sprinkled with salt & pepper)

and the mushrooms in another:

Yes, you can brown everything all together.  However, if you have someone in your house that doesn't like either onion or mushrooms, this is an easy way to make separate servings.

You can also substitute the deli roast beef for whatever thinly sliced beef you want to make yourself or you can even use venison if desired.  I'm also sure sauteed chicken could work or omit any meat for a vegetarian dish.

Next, I drained the bit of pepper juice that pooled in the roasted peppers before layering in first a slice of cheese, then the beef and onions/mushrooms and finally topping with more cheese.

Back in the oven at the same 400 degree setting until the cheese is melty, ooey and brownish goodness.  We ate this as a main course with potato salad or chips (both were on the table) and decided the recipe is a keeper and may be cut into strips to be served as a party appetizer.

The finished product above highlights 2 pepper halves with black pepper to indicate they do not contain mushrooms.

It was a perfect weeknight quick and satisfying meal for 5 adults and my older son was able to take some to work today for lunch.  We were Fed Well and I am going back on-line to find the next dinner hit.

Main Line Diner & Pizza Company

Something about a diner...classic, sort-of romantic, timeless, soothing, comforting and you know a diner will likely have a dictionary sized menu offering a wide selection that will guarantee an option for every taste and appetite.  I'd heard about but never been to The Main Line Diner & Pizza Company so I brought the Mr. and our younger son along to test it out.  

Of course I have classic diner favorites:  hot open turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes that are absolutely drowning in neon yellow gravy, Eggs Benedict, grilled cheese (with and without bacon or tomatoes), classic BLT and lately a thick, juicy grilled burger with a fried egg on top!

Main Line offers a variety of burgers and yes, an "Eggilicious Burger."

The decor in the dining room in the back is extremely fun and playful, complete with rail road tracks on the ceiling. 

A mural covers the entire cantilevered ceiling around the perimeter of the room and highlights many of the area's attractions, organizations and recognizable landmarks.

Ah, but what about the food?  We try out some of our favorites...

French Onion Soup

The majority of the time, the Mr. and our younger son will order French Onion soup. They want a deep, rich, brown broth that is fragrant and full bodied to allow enough sweet onions and a healthy sized crouton to all fit in a crock, dripping and oozing with stretchy cheese.  Mission accomplished. This is one food that if you see any remains in the vessel, it means they did not like it, not that they are full.

Chicken & Rice Soup

I tried the chicken & rice soup.  It was quite traditional and surely holds all the ingredients necessary to cure the common cold.  The vegetables were soft without feeling mushy.

Time for the main course:

Shrimp 'Po Boy

Our younger son had never had a Shrimp 'Po Boy before and he was happy with his order.  Can't go wrong with deep fried shrimp.

For the Mr.  (It's NOT chicken)

French Dip

Among the Mr.'s short list of diner favorites, a French Dip sandwich is in the top 5.  He was happy with each component; the roll, the roast beef, chessy goodness, crispy fries, the all important au jus and he even ate the cole slaw.

For me: 

 Eggilicious Burger

First of all, this entire plate was simply perfect. I love a runny-yolk-fried-egg.  Dipping fries in the yellow waterfall makes me smile.  Who doesn't love to have a little fun while eating?  The burger is prepared with a beautiful grilled crust and tender meat on a toasted bun.  I'm still happy just thinking about it.

Though I didn't order a milkshake, I should have because this place seems like it would make a nice, thick and rich shake in any flavor.  This is not a night for counting calories, thank you very much and yes, we were certainly well taken care of by our server and left feeling full and Fed Well.

Return to White Wolf

The last of the holiday restaurant gift certificates have now been used.  These are among my favorite gifts to receive; they stretch out the holiday season, as well as allow me to eat out on cold winter nights when I am feeling a bit lazy about cooking or blue about the weather.

We set out on a particularly blustery evening and I can feel the little bit of skin I have exposed on my face, almost sting, as I walk the short distance from the car to the dining room.  I am then greeted with a rush or warmth as we select our table.  Ah, I feel better already.

To begin...any guesses?

I typically do not express a vodka preference when I order a Cosmopolitan.  However, I am going to in the future if asked.  I think I have tasted enough to know the difference between a future headache and a pleasant cocktail.

We peruse the menu for a few minutes, but we are fairly easy and predictably pleased on this frigid weeknight.  I knew well in advance that I simply wanted a burger and fries.

This particular version was smothered in grilled onions and mushrooms, served with a nice pile of crispy fries.  My craving for meat and potatoes, albeit fast food version, was satisfied.

Open Steak Sandwich

Topped with mushrooms and onions, our younger son had a steak sandwich and fries.  Standard fare, traditionally prepared and served.

Chicken for the Mr.

Seeing pasta like this just makes me a little sad.  I don't know why I always want to see the pasta completely coated in the sauce when served, but I truly do.  The Mr. was satisfied with the portion size and the chicken itself.

The owner walks among the people in his dining room and I do love that personal touch.  Across the room I see a young boy in a New York Knicks jersey.  #17.  Do you know who wears that number? Cleanthony Early - who is a Pine Bush High School graduate.  Always exciting to see local folks succeed.

We head back out into the frozen air.  We are a Fed Well family and stop off at the local grocery store before the next snow storm arrives.  We need bread and milk like everyone else.