Foodies of all types have discovered the Valley and its wide variety of top-flight restaurants. One chef even predicts we’ll soon be vying with California’s Napa Valley as a dining destination. Find out what all the buzz is about with these profiles of local eateries.
By Lynn Hazlewood
Published in Hudson Valley Magazine February 18, 2011
http://www.hvmag.com/Hudson-Valley-Magazine/March-2011/Where-to-Eat-in-the-Hudson-Valley/
You know a restaurant is great when there's four feet of snow and tons of treacherous ice on the ground, super low temps and, yet, they have a full house. FWandD enjoyed dinner for the second time at the wonderful No. 9 restaurant in Millerton, NY this weekend and we can't stop raving about it. Where do we begin?
First, thank you No. 9 for turning up the heat. We know the temp shouldn't matter if the food is delicious but, in Millerton, frankly it does. Many restaurants in the area "country up" their looks with gorgeous wood floors and bare walls--which is nice--but then fail to turn up the (expensive) heating in the winter for their patrons. Thank you No. 9 for treating us better than that. Perfect temp!
Next, the restaurant is beautiful. It's connected to a very nice country inn, but the restaurant seems somewhat modern, sleek almost, with a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, an intimate and stylish bar, thoughtful art work throughout and great lighting.
The service was stellar. If we have one bit of advice for the restaurant it is to cherish their servers. Tim was outstanding---he paid so much attention to us and treated us with such respect! He was just great; fully knowledgeable about everything on the menu, courteous and quick and not at all condescending. FWandD would like to add a very honorable mention for the female server with red hair. We didn't catch her name but she never stopped working or watching the room. She always kept moving and helping everyone, from diners to colleagues. Nice job!
Finally, and most importantly, our dinner was magnificent! We started with the butternut squash soup which was warm, rich and somehow left a delightful, lingering taste of rustic homemade buttery popcorn. The cheese and nuts on top turned this bowl of soup into a hearty, savory meal. Bravo! We scraped the plate, literally. The entree was monkfish with mushrooms and sweet potato puree and was phenomenal. See below...aaaah.
The entree was creamy, slightly sweet and very filling. The fish was cooked perfectly and the mushrooms filled a void in this non-meat eater's heart. Dinner was accompanied by a very good Argentinian Malbec which served as the icing on the evening's cake for FWandD since, very sadly, we had no room left after dinner to try No. 9's desserts. The dessert trio of souffle', creme brulee and panna cotta sounded divine though...
Check out this great restaurant if you're in the Hudson Valley (tip: they're open for Valentine's Day).
Number 9 in the Simmon's Way Inn
53 Main Street
Millerton, NY 12546
518.592.1299
http://number9millerton.com/index.html
We frankly don't know how we missed it. Maybe life has been too busy; maybe we spend too much time in the country; maybe we're just reawakening to exploring the food of New York City. Whatever it is, it's unforgivable. How have we gone so long without getting to know this great restaurant? We're sorry; but we're so happy to know it now.
Last night we sought out and found an amazing dining experience at Freemans Restaurant. It's located down a not-that-easy-to-find alley but easy to recognize once you spot the small white lights and European style outside (even though the restaurant's theme is rustic colonial American, it brought us back to our searches for gourmet treats in the small streets of France and Spain). The service was terrific. We're in no mood to give our time or money to snobs or folks who could care less about our patronage. This was not the case at Freemans. Every person we passed there, from the host to the manager to the servers, had a smile on his or her face, each said thank you and please and each seemed happy to have us there. Our server was knowing, confident, fun and approachable. After finding this cool spot, being greeted by the wonderful staff and showed quickly to our cozy spot in the Tavern Room, we got the chance to peep around and take in all the cool taxidermy/colonial tavern design. We could have stared at it all for hours...in fact we almost did...except the food was so good we had to stop to discuss. My reasonably-priced gruet in a short champagne glass was bubbly, perky and delicious. Our artisinal cheese plate with grilled 7-grain bread and fresh tart apples lives on in my memory still. Finally the pan roasted pollock with white beans and escarole was filling, hearty, warm and tasty. And thankfully we had room for the Bananas Foster afterwards. Not often does being bad feel so worth it afterwards. Delicious! This restaurant is worth finding and trying if you haven't before. And since it's been around since 2004 we'd suggest going back again if you've already dined with them. It's time to revisit!
From The New York Times Style Magazine
Located in the leafy district surrounding the Montelbaanse Tower [in Amsterdam], one of the prettiest parts of the city, this cozy dining room with wood-plank floors, bare wooden tables and old-fashioned wallpaper, is run by René Loven, who named it after his mother, an apparently gifted home cook whose smiling face appears on the cover of the menu. The place is invariably packed with a jolly crowd of locals sating themselves on beautifully cooked versions of the comfort food they loved to eat as children.
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/eurofile-dutch-treat/?ref=food
Blending cultures as deftly as he combines flavors, Chef Serge Madikian invites you to savor the pleasures of Serevan Restaurant. From his rich imagination and multifarious background comes an exceptional cuisine, celebrating flavors and ingredients from the Middle-East and the Mediterranean traditions. Rendez-vous with friends for a glass of wine at the bar after a round of golf or a bike ride on nearby trails. Linger over your meal in the dining room, which offers the glow of a fireplace in winter and year-round, behind-the-scenes views into Serevan's open kitchen. Enjoy drinks or dinner in the romantic garden, knowing that the herbs you see and smell will soon be making their way to your table, along with the freshest ingredients from surrounding farms.
SEREVAN RESTAURANT
6 Autumn Lane on Route 44, West of Route 22
Amenia, NY 12501
Tel: (845) 373-9800
Fax: (845)373-9888
Trumpets On The Bay
58 South Bay Ave., Eastport New York 11941
Telephone (631) 325-2900
This restaurant's great food is complimented by a magnificent water view and outdoors seating on a beautiful waterside terrace. The terrace is laced with hydrangeas in bloom and lunch is attended by a gratis glass of wine. It's just the place to start and end your weekend or vacation in The Hamptons. Along with a European look of white linens, fresh flowers, and chandeliers Trumpets offers wonderful seafood, fresh made signature crab cakes, delicious salads, appetizers and entrees which include steak, chicken, and lobster (in season) all beautifully presented. The chef also prepares fresh made desserts daily. Within driving distance of South Hampton, East Hampton, West Hampton and Eastport villages and open year round for lunch & dinner. Open 7 days a week in July and August. Sunday Brunch served.
This two-year-old farm-to-table restaurant located in Bangall, New York is fabulous. The ingredients are sourced from nearby farms, the wines are delicious (and the bartender may let you try it before committing), the staff and owners are welcoming, the service is impeccable and the chef's and local favorites menus are amazing. If you only have time to pick up some farm-fresh milk or ice cream, you can do that at their convenient Market Cafe next door.
http://www.reddevonrestaurant.com/
