Brunch at the Hoot Owl

Friends who have lived in the Pine Bush area for more than say, 30 years, have said it is a bit hard for them to embrace the idea of heading to the Hoot Owl restaurant because of memories they associate with the former business.  Please, let it go.  If you are really nervous, start with a weekend brunch, and you will let go of all of your fears.

Brunch begins with a cocktail.  In addition to a lovely specialty cocktail menu, the Hoot Owl's full bar offers mimosas (in this photo is the Blood Orange) and Bloody Mary's or your cocktail of choice.

The atmosphere on a cold, dreary, gray, February morning was warmed by the lighting of a lovely fire.

The menu options are a range including hearty fare and traditional dishes mixed with modern options.  Want an addition or to customize - most requests are absolutely no problem.

Strawberry pancakes above were served with a bit of fruit and my friend asked for an additional two over easy eggs - no problem.  Though I did not try her dish, the plate was clean when it was removed which to me is the best sign of a favorable review.

I selected my meal mostly based on the wonderful, whimsical name, "Green Eggs and Lamb."  Who could resist?

Look at all of this food! A bit of a side salad, scrambled eggs, pita, and the best lamb sausage patty I have ever eaten.  Okay, maybe I've never had a lamb sausage patty, but honestly, the texture, seasoning and amount of cooking were everything I could have hoped for with no reference.  The eggs.  Oh, those eggs.  It sounds so simple, but haven't you had eggs which were just not cooked properly?  These were pillowy, light, yet no runny, watery, undercooked feel.  Heaven.  The herbs were fresh and added the "green" in the Green Eggs without the overdone grassy mouth feel.  And those potatoes with peppers - just the right cripness and served HOT as they should be. The entire plate was well thought out with various temperatures, textures, savory and sweetness.  I almost didn't want to eat the rest of the day for fear of ruining the memory and other food just not living up to this level.

What did we talk about? Well, as you can imagine we touched on a bit of what's going on in the world today and how folks are reacting on social media.  It's a minefield out there.  The two of us do not exclusively share identical points of view on a variety of topics, but we emphatically agree most people who are creating posts regarding their feelings are creating further divides and typically reacting quite harshly.  We talked about the joys of simply scrolling by inflammatory posts without the need to comment, fan the flames or argue.

We talked about family.  And, most importantly, we talked about how delicious our brunch was and left feeling Fed Well.

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.

The Local Table and Tap

Summer time and I want to eat outside, preferably with water in view.  Well, a few days ago I went with my family to The Local Table and Tap and though we could not be seated outdoors, we were able to have a casual meal at a new-to-us place.  The dining room was quite crowded and the blackboard specials included beers and an entree which was erased while we were seated (I assume they sold out).

Here's what we had:

A tasty hummus appetizer to share.  The pita was warm and pillowy, the hummus tastefully seasoned and we also enjoyed the artichoke, cucumbers and olives.

Two of us ordered appetizers as entrees and all of our main choices are below:

The buratta with grilled bread, arugula and fruit mustarda

Pierogies: potato and cheese pierogie, garlic kielbasa, caramelized onion, dijon sour cream sauce

This was not my dinner, but I was allowed to sample a bit and it was wonderful - great textures and flavors.

Lettuce Wraps: chilled gulf shrimp, toasted peanuts, Thai chili vinaigrette

I loved this! After having the hummus, it was a nice follow-up.  The lettuce was fresh, the shrimp had the right amount of firmness and the sauce was just slightly zippy.  I barely used the crispy noodles, but it was a nice touch.

Fish and Chips: ale battered haddock, hand cut fries, horseradish slaw, dill remoulade 

The Mr. went a bit out of his comfort zone and tried the fish and chips.  It was a pleasant version of a pub standard.

Chicken Campanelli: grilled chicken, oven-roasted plum tomato, garlic, spinach, organic pasta, Pecorino cheese

Although I did not try this dish, it looked exactly as I imagined it would according to the menu description.

I also enjoyed a "Whiskey Daisy" cocktail which was: Buffalo Trace Whiskey, lemon, Grand Marnier, simple syrup.

I'd love to return and be able to enjoy dining on the deck to truly get a feel for the whole experience. Overall, I felt Fed Well enough to go back - perhaps for a fun night with friends. I am sure this place is packed for concert nights at Bethel Woods.  Make a reservation and check it out.

The Hoot Owl Restaurant in Pine Bush

Many locals are more than familiar with the location of the Hoot Owl or "The Hoot," but for those who are not, it is located at 26 Awosting Road outside of Pine Bush.  Some may have known it as a dive bar, but now it has had a remodel, redo and updating that made me very curious.  So, I grabbed one of my best friends and made the quick trip to take look, have a taste and see if I would be Fed Well.

It was easy to meet owner, Arif Khan, as he was working the front of the house and waiting on tables. Once I introduced myself and my friend, I asked if he could decide what I would eat, and so it begins...

Notice that purple hummus? How could you not? Well, it was just as appealing in taste as it is in appearance.  The beet taste was mildly sweet, the consistency lush and smooth.  The naan (I may be wrong as it is listed as pita on the menu) was pillowy inside with a few crisp edges to hold the weight of the hummus.  Garlic was the middle flavor and romesco (red pepper) round out the offerings.  A perfect sized appetizer for two to share and I made quite certain I had my share.  In fact, I would go back just for this starter.

I love olives.  All colors.  Pits, no pits, in my Tito's martini, on a plate, in a bowl, I like them here and I like them there. You get the idea.  Well, fried olives? I've never. Loved it. Another welcome food surprise.

   

For those who either simply prefer a burger, or are not familiar with some of the Indian menu offerings, a loaded cheeseburger with home-made fries is the answer (along with other available options).

For me, the Creamy Chicken Curry or Murgh Makhami, with rice and yogurt sauce, was warmly seasoned and so satisfying.  The chicken was tender, the rice was appropriately firm and the cucumber yogurt provided that bit of refreshing coolness when needed.  If I had more pita, I probably would have sopped up more of the sauce from my dinner.

Dessert? Yes, of course.

A wonderful sweet treat for one or for us, it was lovely to share - flourless chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

If you remember The Hoot, this is not simply a new version of the old bar.  So, go and enjoy The Hoot Owl Restaurant and be Fed Well.  We ran into several people we know so don't be surprised to see friends and neighbors at the next table.

Hacienda in Goshen, NY

Regardless of our age, women friends with other women are always known as "girlfriends." Sometimes it's funny to me that with a vocabulary available to us of over 171,000 words in the English language and about 25% of them being adjectives, we don't identify our adult friendships with women, regardless of age, years known or other information, any differently than our childhood counterparts, the girls we jumped rope with at recess.  Although, thinking about it a little further, maybe all I really need is better terms for new versus "been my buddy for awhile" rather than anything to do with gender. Sigh.  Labels are silly after all and I wouldn't introduce you to either of them in this manner at all, I'd simply say, "Reader, I'd like you to meet So and So."

Well, a newer friend/acquaintance, a close lady pal who is a mutual friend to us both, and I all decided to meet up for dinner.  One of us requires gluten-free options and so, Hacienda in Goshen, NY was our destination.

I have to admit, I was a bit confused by my GPS since I remembered the restaurant to be visible from Route 17 although I had never eaten there.  I was pleasantly surprised to realize the location is the previous site for La Masquerade and La Nieves - ok, so if you really work at it, you realize I am of a certain age if I remember those spots.  Bottom line, the building is large and modern with ample outside cafe-style seating available in nice weather.

I love the outside decorations; ready for St. Patrick's Day, Mardis Gras, and a nod to Mexican Skull Art and Calaveras, in both female and male renditions.

 

The interior is bright, fun, clean and welcoming.

Ah the creamy deliciousness that is guacamole.  Prepared right before your eyes, allowing you to both customize the ingredients and ensure the freshness of your order.  Lovely.

 

Shredded Beef Tostadas.

The best interpretation of this dish I have had to date.  The shells were crisp. The meat was soft to the mouth, yet nicely seasoned.  The lettuce and tomato were chilled as were the rest of the toppings.  Absolutely wonderful.

 

Camarones.  What a fun word.  Shrimp.  This happy diner enjoyed every last bite so I think it is safe to say it was prepared to her liking.

What do three adults with grown children discuss at dinner? Their parents (two have moms with the same birthday), their families, a little bit about work, hobbies and of course, looking forward to better weather in the Hudson Valley.

Time for dessert:

 

Something about sharing a sweet something after a meal... above is an example of sweet chimichangas, and below is a mango cheesecake.  Take a moment and try to imagine how decadent these desserts were and I will tell you, they were even better than your imagination.

 

Well, we even had a brief discussion about politics without anyone's feelings getting hurt and we do span from left to right in thinking, but the difference is we are accepting of the opposing point of view when it can be rationally discussed.  Sprinkle a bit of emotion when discussing our current political officer holders (from local level to the White House) and you could be in for an unpleasant experience.

Hacienda, thank you for allowing us the place to meet up, share thoughts, enjoy wonderful food and drink (did I mention the classic Margarita with extra salt was amazing?) that left us all feeling Fed Well.

Gaby's Cafe in Ellenville, NY

For years, if you asked me what my favorite foods were the answer would somehow include pasta and seafood.  Mexican food wasn't even in my top ten because my only experience was home made tacos that included the use of a cardboard yellow box kit.  Nothing wrong with that - I've made that meal countless times for my only family, but the point is, I had no real experience with Mexican food and a bunch of preconceived and false notions that it would be too spicy.  Period. Spicy. Avoid.

Over the last ten years, Mexican food, in general, has moved right up to the top five favorites.  I even have a few Mexican restaurants that I like and use as benchmarks (I won't mention them here because that's not the point) and Gaby's Cafe has been recommended to me countless times, so here we are at Gaby's. The dining room is full, almost to capacity, and we are greeted then seated quite quickly.

It really is mandatory to begin with guacamole.  My preference is for fresh, tableside preparations, and least desirable is something that seems like it was covered and refrigerated for an undetermined amount of time.

Looks pretty darn good, doesn't it? Freshly green, cilantro, tomato, creamy goodness and a full basket of chips.  Ah.

The decor is eclectic fun and the light fixtures include tequila bottles as shades over the bulbs.  

I do not normally order soup at a Mexican restaurant, in fact, I only did it one other time, but this winter night was cold and I simply craved the warmth I knew it would bring.  It was a chicken soup with fresh herbs and I was happily surprised.

I was also craving pork. Although for some reason I imagined it to look different, the taste I wanted was there alongside a healthy serving size of rice, and beans.

My younger son enjoyed classic steak tacos.

The Mr. stretched and flexed out of his regular comfort zone and ordered this giant burrito.  He was pleased with the results and ate every bite.

We watch families celebrate birthdays and special occasions, date night couples and groups that could be friends or relatives, but the common theme is everyone truly seems to be enjoying themselves and their food.  The service was quick and efficient without feeling rushed and the restroom was clean (I feel this is so important, but not always commented on).

Gaby's Cafe provided us with a nice break from our regular routine and though it is a bit out of the way for us geographically, I'll be sure to make the effort to be Fed Well.

Crawford Craft in Pine Bush

Brunch? In Pine Bush? In the location that was formerly the Grasshopper on Main Street?  What?

Yes, it's true.  I met one of my dear friends for brunch at Crawford Craft in Pine Bush.  

We were welcomed by one of the owners, Mike Moriarty and the congenial attitude he, as well as his partners, conveyed was refreshing.  While taking our drink order we were offered brunch cocktails including Mimosas or Bloody Mary's.

Here's how it looked:

A more industrial decor punctuated with unique art, contemporary light fixtures and a smaller, reworked bar.  We approved.

The menu:

Certainly some new, modern options and distinguishable from other establishments in town.  We opted for the same thing, the Biscuits & Sawmill Gravy.  The soup of the day was a potato kale and I did consider it as well.

Biscuits & Sawmill Gravy

Biscuits topped with poached eggs then smothered in gravy, topped with a sprinkle of green onion.The portion size was appropriate to large.

It was quite a brisk Sunday so the hearty, warm meal was satisfying.  While I'm not a huge grapefruit fan, I wonder if the grilled grapefruit, or similar dish, could have also doubled as a way to end this particular visit. Next time.

Once the diners thinned out a bit I was able to take a few photos of the eclectic art.

For those who enjoy a craft beer, here are some of the options displayed during our visit:

My friend and I talked about life, our families and of course, the food.  We decided we would go back and it fit in nicely with her New Year's resolution regarding spending more actual time with friends. Overall, the Crawford Craft is a nice addition to the Main Street fare.  Take some time to do some small business shopping and stop in.  It's likely you will leave feeling Fed Well.