Village Market & Eatery in Gardiner

Post yoga class with my future daughter-in-law, and she suggested we head over to the Village Market & Eatery in Gardiner for calmbucha.

Um, ok.

Well, to learn a bit more, I had to turn to Google.  It seems Kombucha is or can be, a fermented tea which is lightly effervescent, likely has a yeast component, and is finished with a fairly sweet taste.

Calmbucha it seems is a brand.  According to their website, 

"Based in New Paltz, we craft bubbly organic kombucha in small batches, with flavors inspired by locally sourced ingredients, served on tap throughout New York's Hudson Valley.

Our raw, premium beverage begins as a sweet organic tea before it's fermented with probiotic & yeast cultures converting the organic cane sugar and caffeine into nutritive, healing and energizing properties. We then creatively enhance the brew with the highest quality herbs, spices, and fruits, producing the refreshing and invigorating drink that you now enjoy!"

Indeed.  Seemed the perfect post yoga liquid refreshment.

Turns out, we also needed solids to refuel and shush my grumbly belly.

I left the decisions up to my future D-I-L and we each had a Black Bean Quesadila which is 2 scrambled eggs with freshly prepared salsa and Jack cheese.

It was a lovely meal and for me, the best part was chatting it over with the young lady my son will marry.  Yes, we talked a bit about the wedding plans, but I always enjoy her company and seems we can talk about a myriad of topics without having to come back to the details of the future nuptials. 

The atmosphere was a bit of wit splashed with tongue-in-cheek.  Laugher could be heard among the various diners, who seemed to range in ages and interests, as a village eatery seems it should.  The paper menu includes a touch of edgy, dark humor with a cover quote, "The best coffee around..." - Guys across the street.

And while the coffee is self-serve, ask for help with the flavored syrup.

I left feeling Fed Well and am likely to return.  Maybe I'll see you there.

Town Hall Eatery in Pine Bush

Finally had a chance to try the Town Hall Eatery in Pine Bush for lunch this past week with one of my favorite girlfriends and partner in crime.  

Ordering at the counter is how it begins and once you pay, you are given a number to display on your table then your food is brought to you.  I ordered the soup of the day (Lobster Bisque) and a hamburger with sweet potato fries.

We chose a table upstairs.  It was a scenic choice and since we were slightly after the lunchtime rush, I was able to take plenty of photos without anyone noticing.

I made an unusual choice for a drink from the cooler by the register...the Shirley Temple seemed fun and colorful. It was just as sweet as you may imagine and in fact, maybe just a smidge sweeter.

Another view of the second floor dining room

The Lobster Bisque

Hamburger with sweet potato fries

Chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries

Not good or bad, but I was unaware of the fact that my soup and burger would be brought out at the same time.  I understand some would very much prefer to have their soup with a sandwich or other choice, but my preference is to enjoy one while hot then the next. The young man who delivered my food did apologize and in the end I sampled a bit of the soup before having it packed up to go.

The burger was juicy and prepared the way I requested.  I appreciated the arugula rather than iceberg lettuce on a brioche bun. The sweet potato fries were delicious with or without the honey-chili dipping sauce.  While I did not sample my friends chicken, she did let me know that it was delicious.

The second floor lighting

I had to wait until the table to my left was empty to take the photo above but felt it was worth sharing the fun fixture of Edison lights...I think of them as large fairy lights.  

We ran into a mutual friend's mom and posed for a quick picture that was later posted on social media.  What's more fun than going out to eat in small town? Well, not just any small town but the one we were raised in...Pine Bush.  

We were Fed Well and yes, I would return for a casual meal with friends or family.  Maybe I'll see you there.

Roxanne's - Mahwah, NJ

The entire department from my day job recently went to Roxanne's in Mahwah, NJ as a farewell lunch for a member of our group.  Some folks are torn on this practice.  If someone is voluntarily leaving, should we celebrate? Why or why not?  

Well, we all went.

I'd been here once before with our entire department about six years ago and hadn't been back so my memory was a bit foggy.  Here's a peek at the interior:

This gentleman caught me snapping photos with my phone so I asked if he would mind posing as well.

With a smile, he obliged and at the end of our meal, he made a point to ask me how everything was.

When you go to lunch with a group any larger than 6 people, it is virtually impossible to maintain one conversation.  Some will not be able to hear from the other end of the table and honestly, some have short attention spans for long stories so they break off and start their own,

Once we placed our drink orders, we were quickly brought bread, rolls, and a dipping oi.

We ordered two salads to share and they were served in large, shallow bowls, family style, which made it easy to share.

I only tried the first salad which I believe was the "Roxanne's" salad.  The second was the "Arugula" and I heard rave reviews at the table for both.

Next, we shared two platters of the "Roxanne's Chips."  Thin slices of  golden, lightly battered, eggplant and zucchini were accompanied by a cucumber yogurt dip.  I couldn't stop and would return just for this appetizer.

Roxanne's Chips

And then, like magic, pizza time!  Personally, I tend to turn into an elementary school child when exposed to pizza.  My internal dialogue goes crazy, "Save some for me. Oh the cheesy goodness.  I hope they pass me a slice soon. I can't stand it. I hope I don't burn the roof of my mouth, but I also know I won't wait."  AGH!

Mushroom

Olive

We also had a plain pie.  I had a slice of mushroom and 2 plain.  Yes, 3 slices. I love pizza.

Random peek at the ceiling

We asked our "guest of honor" about the big life changes coming, including moving back to a state that begins with the letter M and closer to family.  He seemed happy and I was delirious from being Fed Well by the fine folks at Roxanne's.  

I dream of those chips. Really.

 

The Palate Cafe in Pine Bush, NY

Yes, supporting locally owned businesses and restaurants is important to me.  Spending down times with friends over a meal and just catching up or talking over life is also pretty high on my list of priorities.  Love it when the world's collide and we can meet up at a local place for lunch.

Here's the catch, I just found out today that The Palate Cafe in Pine Bush will soon be closing its doors.  I've never written a farewell piece before, but I truly want to wish the owner, Geri, well in whatever her next venture is and hope that someone will come along and turn this space into another local gem.

You still have a little bit of time to try it or go in and wish everyone well.  So, I will simply tell you a little bit about the lunch my friend and I experienced.

For my friend:

A beautiful fresh green salad topped with apples, sliced chicken and bleu cheese.  She enjoyed the flavors and textures of these classic ingredients.

For me:

A take on a turkey club on ciabatta served with both a side salad and a fresh pea salad.  

We had arrived in-between breakfast and lunch so the soup was not quite ready before our sandwiches.  I had asked if we could still have it once it was finished, even if that meant having it after our main course.  I love being accommodated when possible.

I thoroughly enjoyed mu cup of butternut squash soup served with croutons on the side so they are not all soggy before you have your last spoonful.

Yes, we activated our dessert stomachs and found a bit of space to have a few bites (ok, I ate all of mine, don't judge) of something sweet before we left.

For me:

Salted Caramel Apple Pie

For my friend:

Pecan Pie

We chatted, admired the art on the wall by local artist, Roberta Rosenthal and were Fed Well. Farewell to The Palate Cafe.  We will celebrate our paths crossing and sometimes, I will think of you and your passion for combining food with art.

 

Suffern Field House

The Suffern Field House simply gives off that small town vibe. You almost expect them to call out, "Norm" when the right customer comes in and take his regular seat.  If you become a regular, I'm sure they quickly learn what you like and make sure you get it as quickly as possible.  They just have that personable feel with their customers.

They also enthusiastically support local sports teams and proudly display a bit of memorabilia throughout the restaurant.  Go team!

About the food...

Made-to-order.  The chains are mastering the art of this culinary craze.  Sub-sandwiches and burrito bowls can be assembled from the bottom up as you list the ingredients you want added.  Why not pizza?  Ok, why not wood fired pizza?

So, on the same premise, you begin with a naked crust.  You can first select your sauce, then cheese and finally from a number of meat and vegetable toppings.  Some are grouped together and given names in case you have a hard time putting items together, but really, anything goes and you are the only one who has to like it and eat it so now is the time to experiment.

For my vegetarian friend:

White pizza with eggplant, ricotta and spinach.  Yum.

For me:

Cheesy goodness that I have to show you more than once!

Fresh mozzarella, not shredded, with a mild as well as sweet marinara and torn basil.  Please, don't simply call it a Margherita pizza. This one is mine.  It was custom selected and ordered by me.

It is nearly impossible to pick up the slice and show you the ooey gooeyness of the cheese, so you will have to believe me when I tell you - it was perfect.  A nice thin crust with a bit of snap and I thought I'd stop after 2 slices.  Then I reevaluated and told myself I would only eat half of the pizza.  I'm a liar

I ate the WHOLE thing for lunch.

If you have room or a dessert stomach or an uncontrollable sweet tooth, you may also opt for a custom made Crazy Cupcake.

I was completely filled with pizza, but maybe one day soon I will make a special trip to try a cupcake.

My friend and I were Fed Well and are sure to return for a wood-fired, custom-made, specialty personal pizza.  It's not just lunch, it's a culinary adventure.

 

Lakeview House - Orange Lake, NY

It was a long, cold, harsh, and snow covered winter.  Now, it is full blown summer weather in the Northeast and for the very first time, I was a passenger in a cool convertible as a friend and I headed off on a sunny weekend and went out to lunch.  

Sun shining, breeze blowing, little green sports car and conversation flowing.  

I'd been to The Lakeview House on Orange Lake this past winter during Hudson Valley Restaurant Week and wanted to return and try dining al fresco.  My friend was agreeable and so our lunch trip begins.

We are seated in a shady area and can clearly see the lake.  Once in awhile a boat or jet ski goes by, but mostly all is a bit quiet and peaceful.  We are given regular menus and a list of specials to choose from, but first a cocktail.  A blend of ingredients, one of which was lemonade, with an adult upgrade. Refreshing without the bite of too much alcohol.

Soup. Yes, soup.  While some may think weather dictates the menu, I can always eat soup and this seafood carrot and ginger cup of goodness was well worth breaking the conventional rules of reserving soup for winter.

Shrimp Tacos

Fabulous smoky and vibrant flavors come from the shrimp seasoning then are cooled by the fresh greens and avocado in every bite.  The shells are so filled with ingredients they try to escape out the top and back of the shell while you are eating.  This is a two handed, full concentration needed effort and exactly what I hoped for when I ordered the dish.  Fully satisfying.

Salad with Grilled Chicken

With a selection of dressings, the salad appears to be both a generous portion of veggie and chicken. I'm certain if the contents of the plate were weighed, one might be surprised by the total.

Orange Lake

For whatever reason, I wanted to walk right down to the dock, take my shoes off and swing my feet in the water.  I'm sure this behavior would be frowned upon, but the urge was there.

Cappuccino

Again, making a choice that may not seem to fit with the season, I had a lovely cup of cappuccino. Indulgent? Perhaps.  After all, this is a leisurely lunch treat, not a workday where you simply shove food in as fuel to get you through the day.

Creamsicle Pie

Finally, the most memorable course of the meal and one that could arguably be called the most seasonally appropriate, a huge slice of Creamsicle Pie.  Graham cracker crust layered with orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream and orange slice. STOP! It was insane. Delicious, creamy, refreshing and genius.  I've since had food dreams of the Creamsicle Pie.

With full bellies and content with our chat we said farewell to The Lakeview House and left feeling Fed Well.  I am glad to have revisited this local gem and dined outside.

 

Craft House in Suffern, NY for Lunch

On an ordinary Friday, my friend and I were not sure what to have for lunch and thought we would go out for pizza.  However, we passed Craft House, as we had many times before and thought today should be the day we try it.  She turned the car around and off we went.

We were seated immediately and given menus for both the bar and food.

The dining room meets that comfortable spot in decor and atmosphere - not too trendy, classic without being too cute or themed, yet polished.

I love the "kraft" paper over the tablecloths and secretly wish we had something to doodle about over lunch.  I probably should have simply dug in my Mary Poppins style bag and dug out some pens and pencils and I bet we would have decorated the paper in no time.  I'm sure the purpose is more about being able to easily replace and reset the tables, but it sure seems like fun and next time, I'm doing it!

So, for lunch...

 Grilled Portobello

A ciabatta roll was the crusty vehicle for goat cheese, arugula, roasted red peppers, a black bean spread and of course, meaty portobello mushrooms.  I added the truffle fries and was advised an upcharge would be imposed.  No problem and worth every crispy, savory bite.  The pickle had a nice snap and was dill-icious.  I'm not always great with the puns, but I couldn't resist.  My meal was filling and satisfying.

Mac 'n Cheese

This is no ordinary macaroni and cheese served in a crock.  The shell pasta was thoroughly smothered in ooey-gooey goodness in the form of a fontina/gruyere cheesey blend topped with breadcrumbs and baked.  My friend added a side of truffle fries and was quite happy with her choice.

We were well taken care of and thoroughly enjoyed the food.  We will return for special occasions and a break from the daily work day.

The view next to the parking lot

We return to work feeling full and Fed Well.  I will dream of those truffle fries for some time...