Kris and Tom began a custom last winter of heading to the Hudson House during snowstorms to enjoy old fashioneds. This time, they couldn’t join, but Irene and Greg and I found ourselves at the Hudson House bar anyway, sipping cocktails and dining on mussels, which came highly recommended by Jim, and cassoulet, which was perfect for a winter’s night.
There are many things to like about Wasabi — any time of the year. The food is always terrific, the wines are easy-drinking and the atmosphere is fun. What I like so much about going there on New Year’s Eve is that they don’t muck up the experience by putting on a show with a three-course, prix fixe menu you’re stuck with. Nope. On New Year’s Eve, even, you can order just what you like. Even if that includes a single piece of uni.
The other good part about Wasabi on New Year’s Eve? It’s walking distance from the Farm. We made the short journey with the neighbors, Tasha and Shannon. But not before a little pre-champagne champagne at the house.
We somehow found ourselves back at Cafe Barcel, starting another long weekend with a nice relaxing meal. We got to talking to the new chef, Tim Trombley, who said he had just finished prepping for his New Year’s Eve dinner the following evening. He brought out this little tasting of tuna tartar —
— and then told us about some of the other dishes he’d be serving the following evening, including a root vegetable soup with a little hint of truffle oil. Would we like a tasting?, he asked. Why, certainly!, we said. And off Tim went to the kitchen. We looked at each other. Then we looked at Ozzy, the bartender. Did we just order a tasting menu? I think you did, said Ozzy. And so we did. But it was one of the most retrained, easy-going tasting menus we’d ever seen. Really, just a few tastes. Come and see, after the jump.
On the night before the night before Christmas, no one was stirring — a pot, that is. We knew we’d have enough cooking coming up over the next two days, so we took to the pub. And Olde Village Inne has some of the best wings out there:
We found ourselves on Wednesday night with a fridge full of food and nothing to cook. It was all for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So to kick our long holiday weekend off right, we went out. To Barcel, which we hadn’t visited in a few months at least. The food was as good as always, right down to dessert.
An apple turnover. Delishy.
Art Cafe might just make the best cappuccino on the planet. And it’s good looking, too!
Mom knew she couldn’t top last year’s birthday fete. After all, it was indeed an extravaganza. But to mark another trip around the sun, she arranged for us all to go to Hudson House, which had catered her party the previous year. It was kind of like a return to the scene of the crime.
Back when I was a cub reporter and worked the city desk on election night, the whole gang used to end up at O’Donoghue’s sometime in the wee hours of the morning to relax with a beer after all the results were in and the paper was put to bed. This time, I wrapped up the food section about 7 p.m. and headed over to meet Mom and Leigh for a glass of sauvignon blanc and a simple supper. Good to know you can still enjoy O’D's on election night!
Mom had a big anniversary to celebrate. So we celebrated. The four of us went to Barcel. We ate well indeed, as usual. Mom’s shrimp and chorizo:
We had another great couple of courses at Barcel, including sea bass with fennel:
We love to have a picnic in the park when the band is playing in the gazebo. Tonight, leftovers, rose and a beautiful sunset.
We had a little bit of an anniversary celebration at our favey local restaurant, Cafe Barcel. I got the frisee salad with lardons, blue cheese and, yes, the poached egg. That’s right.
It’s just so easy for us to go to Barcel. It’s four blocks away, we love the food, and it’s not that expensive. I guess that’s why we go so often. This time, we went for brunch!
Even the toast and eggs are great. More, after the jump.
Home from work on Friday. Don’t much feel like cooking. Funny, neither do the neighbors. So the four of us head down to our new favey resto: Cafe Barcel. Didier was at the bar.
Cafe Barcel in Nyack is quickly becoming our go-to restaurant when we don’t feel like cooking. It’s just about the closest restaurant you can walk to from the farm, and the food is so darn good. Plus, they recently started pouring txacoli by the glass. Which is a big bonus in my book. This visit, we discovered a seasonal specialty: soft shell crabs!
The Ranchers have taken to dining at O’Donoghue’s after church most Sunday mornings. This time, Greg and I came along. I had the crab cakes Benedict:
Small Bites fans will also recognize the food in this post, which I first wrote here: Brunch at the Hudson House in Nyack. But SCF fans also get the bonus of family photos. Hold on. That is a bonus, right?
So here we go:
On Easter Sunday, I went to brunch at the Hudson House. The problem at the Hudson House has always been a great one to have: do you get the amazing eggs Benedict or stray and try something else? Now the problem is even worse. The “something else” includes such tempting items as this HH Country Breakfast: two eggs any style, country ham, house english muffin, sausage cream gravy. The muffins are made in house, and chef Christopher Dunn’s sausage cream gravy puts many Southern versions to shame.
Here’s the other problem. Now there are not only the best regular eggs Benedict, there’s another choice — what I’m calling “Fancy Eggs Benedict.” They come with prosciutto, pencil asparagus, grilled artichokes, english muffin and truffle vinaigrette. Photos of that, and the gorgeous Bloody Mary, after the jump.
