Champagne in the Shadows, Pt. 2

Here, finally, are the details for that fabulous Moët & Chandon Champagne dinner I blogged about earlier this year … a five-course dinner paired with a handcrafted Champagne cocktail and four different Moët Champagnes.

It takes place at 6 p.m. April 24 at Shadows on the Hudson in Poughkeepsie. Cost is $125 per person (includes tax and gratuity). Reservations are limited and may be made by calling 845-486-9500.

Here is the menu. Yum!

Welcome Cocktail
The Moët Imperial Berry

Sesame Crusted Pan Seared Ahi Tuna
Moët White Star

Smoked Salmon and Mesclun Salad with Ginger & Shallot Oil
Moët Grand Vintage 2000

Filet Mignon Wrapped in Pancetta topped with a
Wild Mushroom jus
Moët Rose Imperial

A Cheese Plate of Baked Brie de Meaux, Mimolette and Roquefort Cheeses paired with Lavender Infused Honey and Dried Fruit Compote
Moët Nectar Imperial

Moët Nectar Sorbet topped with Caramelized Peaches and Cherries in a Cookie Shell accompanied by a Fresh Fruit Napoleon
Moët Nectar Imperial

Garden editing

I love designing – and redesigning – my gardens. (I call it “garden editing.”) And today’s weather is really putting me in the mood to do a lot of garden editing. That’s why a recent e-mail from The Clark Art Institute caught my eye. Am I interested in learning how to design a great garden by copying ideas from famous painters such as Pierre Bonnard, Paul Cézanne, and Claude Monet? You betcha!

This is a free event that’s worth the nice drive up to the Berkshires, if you’re a garden geek like me. Nationally recognized garden designer and author Gordon Hayward will explore the visual language shared between painters and garden designers during his illustrated lecture "Fine Paintings as Inspiration for Garden Design" at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. A book signing will follow the lecture.

Hayward is a garden designer and lecturer who has been writing for Horticulture Magazine for 25 years. He is a contributing editor at Fine Gardening Magazine , the author of nine books on garden design, and has lectured at art museums and garden organizations across the country regularly since 1995. Hayward and his wife Mary have been developing a one-and-a-half-acre garden around their 220-year-old farmhouse in southern Vermont for the past 23 years, as well as a tiny garden outside their cottage in the Cotswold Hills of England. His 2003 book, Your House, Your Garden: A Foolproof Approach to Garden Design, won a book award from The American Horticultural Society. Hayward's new book, Art and the Gardener, will be available this fall.

Here is more info from The Clark:

During this lecture, Hayward will juxtapose images of paintings and gardens to explore the many levels of similarity between how painters and garden designers construct their images. See Childe Hassam's In the Garden next to an image from Hayward's own garden in Vermont to illustrate an Impressionist passage in a garden. Uncover how Gustav Klimt's The Park shows the gardener how to keep trees pruned low to compress views under them. Among the many works of art illustrated will be the Clark's The Duck Pond by Claude Monet; Sleeping Girl with a Cat by Pierre-Auguste Renoir; Wood Gatherers: An Autumn Afternoon by George Inness; and Edgar Degas's The Dancing Lesson. Above all, this is a lecture about seeing.

The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (daily in July and August). Admission is free November 1 through May 31. Admission June 1 through October 31 is $12.50 for adults, free for children 18 and younger, members, and students with valid ID. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit www.clarkart.edu.

Men's clothes???

A friend and I were chatting the other day about the dearth of fine stores for men's clothing in the area -- or at least, that we didn't know where to look. (Being as I am a woman, I admit I haven't looked too hard.)

Anyway, I thought I would throw the question out here -- where do you shop for good men's clothing, meaning formal, work, office-casual or resort wear?

An enjoyable evening

I spent a great couple of hours last weekend at Kingston's waterfront area. We started out by getting our names on the list at Savona's Trattoria at 11 Broadway (it's quite popular).Then we walked up the street to check out Cecilia Madden's new wine store (her family owns Savona's) while we were waiting for our table.

We found a great selection of wine at good prices in the lovely little shop. I bought two bottles I'll taste soon -- a Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel (a big, fun red wine I'd enjoyed in the past) and Polka dot, which I bought because 1. I really like German Rieslings and 2. it's packaged in such a cute bottle. My companion said it looked like a "girly wine" but I'll let you be the judge. (I had photographed the bottle for the blog but then found this great image of it at this site -- much better than my attempts!)

I'd met Cecilia Madden a few times many years ago when I worked with her husband Bill (a longtime area newspaper photographer who unexpectedly passed away a few years ago). It was nice to reconnect and to see the wonderful place she's established on the Rondout.

Back at Savona's we had a delicious meal -- real Italian comfort food at very reasonable prices in a nice setting. The menu is here. (Be sure to try the pumpkin ravioli in sage butter sauce.)

All in all, it was a great (and easy) way to spend an evening. :-)

People peeping

Interested in seeing photos of your friends and neighbors at fab events from the past two years in the Hudson Valley, Litchfield Hills in Connecticut, and the southern Berkshires in Massachusetts? Celebration photos from 12 issues of Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine are now archived online at www.hvcmagazine.com/society.html. We've got photos from galas, benefits, art shows, wine festivals and more! Come check it out ...

No day but today

I just read in the Poughkeepsie Journal that the Broadway musical "Rent" is extending its closing date to September 7.

Its producers had announced earlier this year that the very-long-running show would close on June 1, but a surge in ticket sales has apparently changed those plans. "Rent" opened on Broadway on April 29th, 1996, and has won the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Musical but after so many years, sales were declining.

I'm going to take a little credit for its extension because I was one of those people creating the surge in recent sales -- I saw "Rent" on Broadway just last month. ;-) It was a fabulous production. (Then again, I may be biased -- I have the music memorized.) "Rent" channels the story of the Puccini opera "La Boheme" through the counterculture residents of New York’s East Village in the early 1990s. It was a trip down memory lane for me.

I took the train to New York on a Saturday morning and had plenty of time before the 2 p.m. (and SRO) matinee. The line to get into the Nederlander Theater stretched around two blocks (!!) but the staff did an excellent job moving everyone inside quickly. No complaints here! It's a wonderful production -- uplifting, exciting, funny and optimistic despite its serious themes (such as AIDS, poverty, gentrification). Go, see "Rent" before it leaves Broadway for good. No day but today.

Pasta Primo Vino!

I've wanted to attend the Shawangunk Wine Trail's Pasta Primo-Vino event since its first year but have not yet had the opportunity. I've toured some of the wineries on the trail in separate events and liked what I saw (and tasted!) Maybe this year I'll get to Pasta Primo Vino -- how can you go wrong with this? Fine pasta dishes paired with nice wines .. I also understand that the tickets sell quickly, so it's best to make reservations soon!

Here is more info from the wine trail:

Celebrate the start of the winegrowing season by visiting each of the wineries on the wine trail as they pair their wines with a delectable pasta dish. Your taste buds will be tingling with dishes like Pasta Carbonara with Pancetta at Warwick Valley Winery, Fettuccini con Zucca e Pangrattato (with pumpkin and bread crumbs) at Whitecliff Vineyards,“Husband’s Delight,” comfort food at its best at Glorie Farm Winery and Gnocci in a sage and butter sauce at Benmarl Winery.

Be the first to taste Warwick Valley Winery’s 2007 Pinot Gris crafted from 89% Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) and 11% Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a delicate floral and honey aromas are followed by good fruit and welcomed acidity. Also newly released at Warwick Valley Winery just in time for the Pasta Primo Vino is Harvest Moon, a semi-sweet white wine with 1% residual sugar, made from the Cayuga and Vidal grapes.

When arriving at Glorie Farm Winery, pair their “Husband’s Delight” with their first Estate Released 2006 Cabernet Franc. A stop at Whitecliff Vineyards will have you tasting their 2007 Estate Grown Awosting White which is their “Hudson Heritage White,” a blend of Seyval and Vignoles. This wine is lovely, soft, low acid with flavors of apricot and peaches. In addition to the Awosting White, Whitecliff will be releasing their 2007 Pinot Gris, 2007 Redtail, 2007 Mt Laurel White and 2007 Riesling for this event.

Celebrating spring with Pasta Primo Vino is a wonderful way to be introduced to Hudson Valley Wines. The new releases available for tasting at the 10 wineries will make you see why Hudson Valley Wine has reached new levels in winemaking.


This year the event takes place over the weekend of April 19 and 20. Event tickets include tasting fees at all the wineries as well as the pasta sampling. The event starts at 10 a.m. each day and runs until 6 p.m. Tickets for this two-day event are $20 per person when purchased in advance or $25 in person the day of the event at any of the participating 10 wineries. For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.gunkswine.com.

Wine trail members include: Adair Vineyards & Rivendell Winery, New Paltz; Whitecliff Vineyards, Gardiner; Benmarl Winery, Glorie Farm Winery & Stoutridge Vineyards, Marlboro; Baldwin Vineyards, Pine Bush; Brotherhood "America's Oldest" Winery, Washingtonville; Applewood Winery & Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, Warwick.

The Word is Art!

Here’s a chance to see the work of some young artists before they hit the big time! "Word is Art" will show the work of 15 local high school art students who belong to The Art Institute of Mill Street Loft’s chapter #2242 of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS). The exhibition runs from Saturday (March 15) through Friday, April 11 at 455 Maple Street in Poughkeepsie. Admission is free. The public is invited to attend the artists’ reception from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, including a gallery talk, refreshments and the opportunity to meet and talk with the artists. There will be art for sale.

Here is more information from the organizers:

NAHS students are selected according to a national set of criteria and this group represents 10 area high schools in three Hudson Valley counties. Each piece in the exhibit is inspired by a word, a nine letter (at least) unusual adjective, randomly selected in a drawing by each student. The chapter’s faculty advisors are Art Institute Directors Todd Poteet and Michael Gallo-Farrell.

The National Art Honor Society is comprised of students who demonstrate artistic and academic excellence. The Art Institute of Mill Street Loft’s chapter focuses on the promotion of the arts in our community and the raising of scholarship funds through various activities and venues including: gallery exhibitions, art excursions, volunteer services, guest artists, art competitions, and creating public murals. This chapter is unique in that it is the only one not directly affiliated with a regular school. Members of NAHS are also eligible for additional scholarships to college through the National Art Education Association, or participating schools. Scholarships can range $1,000 to $45,000.

The Art Institute of Mill Street Loft is a year-round pre-college portfolio development program designed for motivated high school students interested in pursuing careers in the visual arts. Since 2000 our students have been offered more than 11 million dollars in merit-based scholarships to the nation’s leading colleges, universities and art schools. For a complete list of Spring 2008 NAHS participants and further information about The Art Institute and Mill Street Loft, please visit its Web site or call 845-471-7477.

Vive la France!

If you are a Francophile (or just like fine French pastries and music) and you will be in New York City on March 28, this is worth adding to your calendar.

Visitors to the New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West (between 76 and 77th Streets) will enjoy free Friday night admission from 6-8 p.m. March 28 and the opportunity to purchase fine chocolates and French pastries in celebration of the ongoing exhibition French Founding Father: Lafayette's Return to Washington's America. The exhibit, on the occasion of the Marquis de Lafayette's 250th birthday, explores his role in the American Revolution and how his year-long tour of the fledgling United States in 1824 inspired the patriotic identification of a young nation. The exhibition runs until August 10.

A local connection? Well, Robert R. Livingston, one of the owners of the Clermont estate (and the man who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase) was friends with Lafayette. According to this Poughkeepsie Journal article, French Marquis de Lafayette spent the night of Sept.16 at Clermont, the home of the Livingston family, where he was entertained by a magnificent ball. Clermont, near the western border of Dutchess and Columbia counties, is now a state historic site and park with lovely views of the Hudson River and Catskills.

During the March 28 event, the beloved Upper West Side bakery Soutine will sell its renowned pastries and visitors will be treated to a performance by internationally acclaimed soprano Juliana Janes-Yaffé.

Lines & Colors through the lens

"Symphony of Lines and Colors" features photographs by area artists and runs through March 25 at RiverWinds Gallery @ A. G. Edwards a division of Wachovia Securities LLC, 6423 Montgomery Street (Route 9), Suite 10-Second Floor in Rhinebeck.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, 10 a. m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays or by appointment.

Interested? Here are descriptions of the artists, from the organizers:

Christopher Staples is fascinated by perception and meaning, the seen and unseen. She layers textures of visual information using multiple media: painting, photography, printmaking, image transfers and collage. Fragments of words, color, transparency, marks, symbols, images and even objects both found and natural convey the immediate and visceral.

Linda T. Hubbard's photographs of New Zealand capture the incredible rugged landscape of this far away county. The mountains, glaciers, lakes, and seacoast create their own symphony of lines and colors....The blue water of the glacier lakes, the reflections of the mountains in the waterways...the road taken....all speak to you - in rhythms and patterns.

Mary Ann Glass takes you to the world of roses.....their color, the symmetry of the petal shapes - they create their own symphony. Her closeups of this magical world of nature invite you to enter each row of petals, each inner world...

Here's Patrick ...

Patrick Decker, a local guy who works as Rachel Ray's food stylist, sent me a video link this morning that shows some of what he does behind the scenes at her television show.

Check it out -- it's interesting -- and you might get some ideas for meatballs!

If you've seen the latest (February-March) issue of Hudson Valley Connoisseur, you might recognize Patrick, who is featured in an article about people who are passionate about knitting as a hobby. Writer Shelly Loveland put together an entertaining and comprehensive story about a few interesting folks (such as Patrick) who are into the yarn craft, as well as spotlighting regional resources available for those at all skill levels.

Patrick also did some food styling work for the latest issue of HVC magazine, creating a fun cake to illustrate our cover story about 10 treats that are good for you.

I first met Patrick back when I worked at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. He was a student in its bachelor's degree program and the editor of the student newspaper. He also did some writing for the alumni magazine, which I edited at the time. It's great to see him come so far in his profession so quickly.

Can it get any better than this?

From today's Poughkeepsie Journal:

The second annual Celebrity Waiters Brunch fundraiser ... Local business and community leaders don tuxedo jackets and shorts in an effort to wow the panel of celebrity female judges. Waiters cater to the audience by serving them brunch, including mimosas. Then the men compete in a Best Legs contest.

Woo hoo! What more can I say? Proceeds from this March 9 event at Dutchess Golf and Country Club in Poughkeepsie will benefit the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum. RSVPs are due soon – more details (and a photo!) can be found here.

Modern home

Lately I find myself being drawn more and more to modern architectural styles, even though (or perhaps because) I have favored and lived in pre-1900 homes for much of my life. This weekend brings an exciting opportunity to peek into the first home built locally by designer Rocio Romero. From what I have seen in advance photos, her work incorporates modern and elegant design – and it’s a kit home!

Here are the details about Saturday’s event from her PR team. Note, if you want to tour the home, you must make reservations by Thursday and there is a cost.

WHO: The first designer to bring modern design to kits homes since the 1950s, Rocio Romero invites fans and prospective home-buyers to the first Rocio Romero kit home to ever to be opened to the public on the East Coast. The Gallatin showing kicks off the inaugural 2008 LV National Open House Tour which will open four LV homes across the U.S. in 2008.

WHAT: This first open house will be an LVL, the largest kit home in the LV series and the home of Matthew and Allison Meek in Gallatin. Rocio Romero, her staff, homeowners, and general contractors will be on hand to discuss LV series design features, custom design options, the build process and construction costs.

WHERE: Gallatin, New York, about 40 miles south of Albany and 85 miles north of the Bronx. (My note: Gallatin is in Columbia County near its border with Dutchess County -- not so far from the Pine Plains-Milan-Red Hook area.)

WHEN: Saturday, March 1. Tour times are 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

CHECK-IN: Tour check-in is at the Terrapin Restaurant at 6426 Montgomery in Rhinebeck. Tickets are $40 per person (non-refundable and non-changeable). To register, visit www.rocioromero.com before February 28. Transportation from check-in to the Meek home is provided.

Dinearound Hudson

This sounds like so much fun -- good food and good art!

The first Hudson Dinearound (associated with the Columbia County Council on the Arts 13th Annual Juried Art Show) takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.

The evening will go as follows:
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. -- Pre-Juried Art Show appetizers and drinks at one of Hudson's finest restaurants - CaMea, DABA, Mexican Radio, Swoon, Vico, or Red Dot. (Event organizers will assign you to one.)

6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- The 13th annual Juried Art Show opening reception at the Hudson Opera House, and awarding of 1st & 2nd cash Prizes in Photography, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Works on Paper, and Painting, and Best In Show.

7:30 - 9:00 p.m. -- post-Juried Art Show entree, drinks, and dessert at another Hudson restaurant. (Event organizers will assign you to one.) A CCCA Board member and an artist from the Juried Art Show (and in some cases artwork by Juried Art Show artists) will greet you at each restaurant.

You can also stroll Hudson to see what's on view in the galleries and shops – it’s the city’s First Saturday, a prime day for art enthusiasts.

Tickets can be purchased at participating restaurants; at CCCA, 209 Warren St, Hudson; or online at www.artscolumbia.org.
Tickets are $100 each or $175/couple ($90 each or $157.50/couple for CCCA members).
Visit www.artscolumbia.org, phone 518-671-6213 or email info@artscolumbia.org for more info or for reservations.

February-March HVC magazine

The latest issue of Hudson Valley Connoisseur is available at local Barnes & Noble stores and other shops (there is a list at our Web site.) I hear they're selling quickly ...

It was a fun magazine to put together. Our lead article is about Romantic Indulgences: 10 treats that are also good for you! One of those -- chocolate -- is featured on the cover. (Our model is enjoying one of Oliver Kita's fine creations from his chocolate shop in Rhinebeck.)

Cooking for a Cure

Dan Budd, owner of the fantastic Taste Budd’s Café in Red Hook, lost his sister to a brain tumor in 2000. This Sunday, he’ll gather some of his friends – all GREAT chefs – for a fund-raiser to benefit the National Brain Tumor Foundation.

From 6 to 9:30 p.m. at his café, you can enjoy a dessert reception with Taste Budd's delicious desserts and freshly brewed coffees, and watch demos by some noted chefs. Topics include elegant hors d’oeuvres by Culinary Institute of America chef-instructor Dan Turgeon, and decorative and delicious breads by CIA chef-instructor and Certified Master Baker Richard Coppedge and Hawthorn Valley Farm baker David DeCesare.

Budd, who spent years creating pastries and desserts in some of the world's finest hotels and restaurants in America and France, is a 1987 CIA graduate and former CIA chef-instructor. Both Chocolatier and Pastry Art and Design magazines named him on their lists of the "Ten Best Pastry Chefs in America." He has been nominated as "Pastry Chef of the Year" by the James Beard Foundation and has appeared on The TV Food Network, Good Day New York and Good Morning America. This chef does amazing things with chocolate. Maybe you've sampled his over-the-top-they're-that-good desserts at area events such as the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival, or enjoyed his famous cream puff at the Dutchess County Fair. He’ll talk at Sunday’s event about “the art of tarts.”

Online price is $30 or $38 at the door. More info and online tickets are at his Web site. Taste Budd’s Café is at 40 West Market Street in the village of Red Hook. 845-758-6500.

Another fab beer and food event!

This one is a Samuel Adams theme with paired dishes (5 courses!) at the beautiful Shadows on the Hudson in Poughkeepsie, 6 p.m. March 6.

Pan-seared sea scallops with white ale and caviar beurre blanc paired with Samuel Adams White Ale. Boston Clam Chowder paired with Sam Adams Boston Ale. Arugula and endive salad topped with caramelized walnuts and a cherry wheat vinaigrette paired with Samual Adams Cherry Wheat. Beef Wellington with brown ale reduction paired with Sam Adams Boston Lager. A trio of handcrafted desserts: chocolate gift; miniature honey porter creme brulee; and miniature raspberry mousse dome paired with Samuel Adams Honey Porter. Oh, yum!

$75 per person (tax and gratuity included). For more details, click on the poster at left or visit www.shadowsonthehudson.com

Hudson goes to the dogs (while Catskill sticks with cats)

I have a soft spot for dogs and I love checking out the creations of local artists, so I think this idea from the Columbia County Council on the Arts is just the cat's meow.

"Best in Show" 2008: Hudson and Columbia County Art Project

Imagine classical dogs, colorful dogs, cunning or crying or cocky dogs, cranky dogs, corny dogs, conceited, contented and comical dogs. All the newest, all the coolest will be taking up residence in Hudson, for the summer of 2008. Fiber glass dogs, approximately 25 inches, either in a sitting or standing position and mounted on a base, will be purchased by a sponsor and then painted and decorated at the whimsy of the artist. There will be promotions and special events throughout the season. Patrons who sponsor the dogs and artists who decorate them will be promoted in print, on the web, at events and in the streets!!

The dogs will be on display in Hudson and other towns in Columbia County from July 4th Weekend through the CCCA's Hudson ArtsWalk, ending Columbus Day Weekend. Following their summer on the street the dogs will be auctioned at the "Best in Show Auction and Gala" to be held during ArtsWalk 2008, on Sunday, October 12th.

There is info here about sponsoring or creating a dog.

I drove through a town in Vermont last summer and saw a version of this kind of event, but with bears. Locally, Catskill did something similar with cats, and apparently there are plans afoot for a repeat in 2008. And who can forget the painted fiberglass cows on parade in Chicago and Manhattan? Bring it on!

Chef moves

Jeff Raider's announcement late last year that he was leaving the elegant and acclaimed Valley restaurant in Garrison left me (and other foodies in the region) wondering where the chef would turn up next. Well, I received an e-mail from Raider this morning with the announcement that he has been appointed the new executive chef at One Restaurant & Raw Bar in Irvington.

Prior to Valley, Raider (a Culinary Institute of America grad) spent four years in New York City at the celebrated Sea Grill Restaurant in Rockefeller Center as chef de cuisine, two years as chef de cuisine of the Seafood Bar at the five star-five diamond Breakers Hotel & Resort in Palm Beach, Florida and also honed his skills at Peacock Alley at the Waldorf=Astoria in Manhattan.

Raider said he'll take over the One kitchen in mid to late March, when he will introduce his seasonally inspired menu in time for spring. One Restaurant & Raw Bar is at 1 Bridge Street in Irvington. 914-591-2233

Diners there will be in for a treat. As executive chef at Valley, Raider saw his food earn an “Excellent” review from the New York Times. And he's more than a great chef -- I've seen him do cooking demos and he has a great rapport with the crowd. He also wrote an excellent article about oysters for the October 2006 issue of Hudson Valley Connoisseur. In fact, this was the same issue of HVC that won Best of Gannett that year. Look for this chef to go far!

PS According to food writer Liz Johnson, One's current executive chef will be moving on to the Ardsley Country Club.

Beef?

The U.S. government on Sunday ordered the largest beef recall in U.S. history — 143.4 million pounds — and said the meat has been used in school lunches and food assistance programs ... The huge recall will put the safety of the U.S. beef supply "front and center" in Congress, said William Marler, a prominent food-safety lawyer. He said it also will raise questions about USDA inspection of meat plants. "It's hard to imagine … that they couldn't figure this out sooner."


Reading this story today has reinforced my respect for chefs who take a pass on the cheaper beef that comes from the huge feedlots. Instead, they will use pasture-raised (and preferably local) beef such as that served at Tavern in Garrison and raised by farmers like Herondale Farm in Ancramdale and sold at shops such as Fleishers in Kingston and Rhinebeck.

And it's becoming easier to find the products here in our region -- I just saw organically raised beef for sale at Adams Fairacre Farms during my Sunday food shopping.

And beer in the Tavern

Celebrate the acclaimed breweries of New York during a special beer tasting dinner with Tavern Executive Chef Eric Gabrynowicz and “Civilization of Beer” owner Samuel Merrit. It takes place on Sunday, February 24 at 5 p.m. at Tavern Restaurant at the Highlands Country Club in Garrison. Members $45; non-members $55. Reservations required: 845-424-3254. (Complimentary shuttle to the train station available.)

The chef – who recently came to Tavern from the acclaimed Union Square Café in Manhattan – grew up in Orange County and serves what’s been called “refined farm-to-table comfort food” that showcases Hudson Valley producers.

Here is more of the chef’s bio:

An honors graduate of the Culinary
Institute of America, Eric was hired by Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. He honed his skills at several of their restaurants, working on the opening team of Blue Smoke, then moving to Tabla as the tournant, where he worked every position on the line. In January of 2005 Eric was promoted to sous chef at Union Square Café, a position he held for two years before taking the Executive Chef position at Highlands.

"I am excited to be back in the Hudson Valley and to have its incredible bounty at my back door," enthuses Chef Gabrynowicz. "While I've worked with many farmers from this area during my time at Union Square, it is inspiring to have access to The Garrison Farm right down the road and to the many additional local farmers and artisanal producers. My goal at Tavern is to find the best local ingredients for our dishes, farmed in a manner that sustains the land for future generations."

Chef Gabrynowicz likes to refer to his comfort food cuisine as "like Mom's, only better." His winter menu features a line-up of lusty winter fare, with starters that include Meiller's Farm Pork Confit and a Hearty Littleneck Clam and Mussel Chowder with root vegetables and bacon crumble.

The Heritage Turkey Pot Pie, made with Murray's organic, free range turkey and Blooming Hill farms vegetables, is already a favorite main course among diners. Other great choices on a cold winter night are the Braised Cedar River Short Rib with parsnip puree and watercress, and the Cassoulet, made in the traditional style with duck confit, chorizo and white beans. Signature Tavern favorites like the Raclette service and the Tavern Burger, made with pasture raised beef from Meiller's farm, remain on the menu, as does the kid's menu.

Tavern is at the Highlands Country Club (also home of Valley restaurant), 955 Route 9D in Garrison. The restaurant's winter hours are Wednesday and Thursday -- noon to 9pm; Friday and Saturday -- noon to 10pm and Sunday -- 11am to 9pm. Reservations are recommended; call 845-424-3254

Champagne in the Shadows

UPDATE: I just got word that the Perrier Jouët event will be replaced by an upcoming Moët & Chandon Champagne dinner -- date and details for which will be announced very shortly. This is also exciting news and I will share the info ASAP. Wow -- what a prestigious Champagne house event coming to Poughkeepsie!



How fabulous! A romantic candlelight dinner featuring the famed French Champagne house Perrier Jouët at the elegant Shadows restaurant overlooking the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie. Seats for this event are VERY limited so if you are interested in going, I recommend you call Shadows on the Hudson at 845-486-9500 for reservations ASAP.

Candlelight Champagne Dinner with Fabien Gay of Perrier Jouet
Thursday at Shadows on the Hudson, Poughkeepsie. This has been cancelled for Thursday, see update above.

Here is more information from Shadows:

The Event will be hosted by Fabien Gay, the Perrier Jouët Champagne ambassador. He is respected and well-known in the world of Champagne. Shadows on the Hudson is both honored and excited to welcome such a successful Champagne into our restaurant. We invite you to take part in this evening of great food, service and candlelit ambiance paired with a portfolio of world class champagnes.

Welcome Champagne toast served at 6 p.m., followed by five gourmet courses. The menu is of French inspiration and each course is delicately paired with the wine.

Steak Tar Tar with Crostini
Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, NV

Frisee and Spinach Salad with a Warm Bacon Vinaigrette and Hard Boiled Egg
Perrier Jouet Blason Rose, NV

Porcinni Crusted Filet Mignon with Grilled Shrimp on a Potato Cake
Perrier Jouet Fleur de Champagne, 1999

A Cheese Plate of Baked Brie de Meaux, Mimolette and Roquefort Cheeses. Paired with Lavender Infused Honey, Dried Fruit Compote
GH Mumm Cordon Rouge, NV

Pear Tart Tatin with Praline Ice Cream and a Sparkling Mumm Cuvee Sauce
Mumm Napa, Cuvee M, NV

$75 Including tax and gratuity. Reservations required.


Shadows is at 176 Rinaldi Boulevard in Poughkeepsie. 845-486-9500

Cupid countdown ...

It's almost Valentine's Day ...

The following last-minute gift/celebration suggestions came into my e-mail box today. If you're still scrambling for a way to indulge that special someone, maybe this will spark some ideas.

1. Gift certificate to one of the Marlene Weber Day Spas. Fabulous!
Poughkeepsie Day Spa · 751 Dutchess Turnpike · Poughkeepsie · Phone: 845-454-5852
Millbrook salonspa · 2647 Route 44 · Millbrook · Phone: 845-677-1772

2. How about a sweet treat? Valentine's Day Specials at Gigi Market include heart-shaped chocolate hazelnut and pink iced sugar cookies specially packaged for the occasion. Or, select from their delectable brittles and barks and unique books and games. Customize a gift collection for the one (s) you love by putting together a gift basket tailored to their tastes. 227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook. P: 845.758.1999

3. You'll find more sweet treats and fine kitchenware at Warren Kitchen and Cutlery in Rhinebeck. The store has a new chocolate and candy selection for Valentine's Day. Chocolate hearts of dark, milk, and white chocolate, French caramels with sea salt in tempting flavors like ginger-pistachio and walnut-chocolate, orange-honey, and authentic Italian hard candy by Leone.
Warren Kitchen & Cutlery | 6934 Route 9 | Rhinebeck

4. Or view and perhaps buy some art? The Tivoli Artists Co-op will present an Erotica art exhibit during the month of February, its eighth such event. Here is more info: The exhibit features art of a sensual and erotic nature approached with humor and good taste but also with the artists' freedom to conceive of works that fall within the "adults only" signature event.

Artworks in the exhibit are by member artists as well as invited guests. The works represents the artists' concepts of love, including homage to the human body, and of loving relationships. Among the twenty artists included in the show are co-op members Dea Archbold, Susan Cara, Lara Chkhetiani, Susan Katz and Barbara Walter.

Susan Katz, a photographer, submitted eye-catching black and white photographs of burlesque performers. Helen Sacco, a former coop member and previous contributor to the Erotica shows, has produced drawings of embracing couples that leave no doubt of their feelings for each other.

Artist Barbara Walter is entering her first Erotica show. Two of her latest encaustic works (charcoal figure drawings under wax and oil) were created especially for the show. "The well formed male body radiates sensual beauty, as seen time and again in the works of artists from the Renaissance forward," says Barbara. Dea Archbold also created new works for the show; her works in watercolor pencil on canvas board convey both an exotic and spiritual quality

60 Broadway in Tivoli -- Gallery hours are Fridays 5-9 PM, Saturdays 1-9 PM, and Sundays 1-5PM.

5. Enjoy a fine meal? Gigi Trattoria invites you to celebrate "amore" with lovers or friends. Offering a choice of the sumptous Lover's Prix Fix 4-Course Menu at $45 or full a la Carte selections from their popular dinner menu.
6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck. Call for reservations at 845.876.1007

6. More great food. New World Home Cooking Co. in Woodstock celebrates the Sensuality of Food with a special Safe Sex Valentine’s Menu.
Call for a reservation: 845-246-0900. Seatings 6:00-6:30 or 8:00-8:30

Kick up your heels on Saturday!

A modern dance event you can bring the kids to!

The resident dance company of The Egg in Albany -- the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company -- will offer a family-friendly and high spirited modern dance program 2 p.m. Saturday at the Taconic Hills Performing Arts Center. It's located on the Taconic Hills Central School campus, intersection of NY RT 23 & Columbia County 11A in Craryville (Columbia County). Tickets for "Mega Moves & Maxi-Motion" are only $6 for students and children, $8 for senior citizens & $12 for adults. Call 518-325-0447 for tickets and information.

Here is more info about the event from the Columbia County Council on the Arts

Artistic Director and Choreographer Ellen Sinopoli will encourage audience members to make their own interpretations of whimsical dance suites ranging from the graceful Animal Rhythms, a wonderful exploration of movements of gazelles, giraffes and gibbons to the high-flying and fearless romping energy of Coming & Going. Sound snippets of poetry, recorded voice and the delightful crossover of classical to funk to jazz music meld excitement and innovation of dance movement to visual imagery. Whether a new patron or an established soul familiar to the nuance of modern dance, Ellen Sinopoli and her dancers will artfully engage your senses with their breadth of originality, vibrant spirit and sharply defined dance athleticism. The performances and programs of the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company are funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Cheese, please

The second annual Hudson Valley Cheese Festival takes place from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 in Hudson and will benefit Columbia County Bounty, an organization working to support the county's local farmers and food communities.

Years ago, I coordinated a magazine’s tasting review panel for regional cheeses. As I traveled through the Hudson Valley sourcing products for the event, I was amazed at the variety of locally produced cheeses I was finding. Our expert tasters were professors at the Culinary Institute of America -- all folks with expert palates, international backgrounds and with great insight about the world of food. The consensus that afternoon was that the Hudson Valley was producing some high-quality cheese products. So here’s a chance to taste many of them at the same time!

The upcoming Columbia County event is featuring some exceptional cheeses from local producers such as Coach Farm in Pine Plains, Ronnybrook Farm Dairy in Ancramdale, Old Chatham Sheepherders in Chatham, and Hawthorne Valley Farms in Ghent. The Olde Hudson gourmet shop will also be there to showcase international cheeses. Food will be prepared by local restaurants including DA/BA, Gigi Trattoria, Local 111, Mexican Radio, Red Dot, Swoon, The Red Barn, and Vico Restaurant & Bar. AND a fine selection of wines and beer from the Chatham Brewery will complement the regional delicacies. (The event also includes a silent auction and every guest will go home with a gift bag filled with all manner of goodies from the sponsors and exhibitors.)

Sound like a delicious way to spend an afternoon. And Hudson -- with all its galleries, antiques shops and boutiques -- is just such a fun little city to explore.

Tickets: $40 per person. Capacity 200 (RSVP soon -- they expect to sell out!)
Contact: Columbia Bounty County: 518-828-4417
Verdigris Art & Tea: 518-828-3139

More info here.