The Blue Pig, Croton on Hudson

This adorable shack offers delicious home made soups and lunch specials as well as ice cream.
One can eat there with the friendly servers offering advice for a first visit, or take soup or ice cream cake home. Of course ice cream fans may already know about it, but for others it is certainly worth a step inside!
http://thebluepigicecream.com/

Tofu House, Hartsdale, NY

So Gong Dong Tofu
Known to us as "Tofu House", this Korean restaurant offers sizzling cast iron pots of tofu and bi bim bop options galore. A favorite appetizer of ours is the scallion pancake, served crispy and delicious.
I like the bi bim bop with spicy pork, and usually have the leftovers for a next day lunch. The hot tofu casseroles come to the table boiling.

The servings are plentiful and the service quick and relaxed. One of the few options for a meal under $15 which comes with vegetables and small plate appetizers, as well as hot barley tea.
http://www.westchestermagazine.com/Westchester-Magazine/January-2014/So-Gong-Dong-Tofu-So-Gong-Good/

Southern Westchester Food and Wine

Scarsdale, NY Sowefwf.com For those of us who enjoy eateries and have a palate open to every style of cuisine, the Southern Westchester Food and Wine Festival September 22 was a great event. A sampling of tasty cuisine from restaurants throughout the county ranged from crepes of Grenadine of Dobbs Ferry, to shepherd's pie from Molly Spillane' to braised veal stew. Dessert options included Longford's ice cream and a wonderful plum tart from Patisserie Salzburg. All this festivity does not even touch upon the wine tasting which offered a huge variety of bottles attended by knowledgeable pourers. The crowd was thick, music enjoyable, and weather delightful at this must return event.

Grenadine

Dobbs Ferry, New York
GrenadineCreperie.com

This delightful establishment offers sweet and savory crepes with carefully selected ingredients, healthful juices, and a variety of interesting beverages including Grenadine. Those of
us who grew up feeling very special when we were offered a Shirley Temple as children will appreciate the delicious red drink known as Grenadine, which is a specialty of Normandy. It was in this region that the two french proprietors grew up. Fortunately for us, they came to live here, met
at a local eatery, and have now opened this authentic french creperie.
Favorites of mine are the Roquette, which is a generous crepe wrapped around arugula, gorgonzola, sliced pears and honey, and the Blueberry Crepe with lemon curd. Creative new combinations are offered in the Crepe of the Week. On hot days such as these, the mint tea, lightly sweetened, is very refreshing. Bon Appetit!

Juniper in Hastings on Hudson

It is a special occasion when our family is all together at home.
So on Friday night, we went out to our favorite restaurant- Juniper!
The meal began with two appetizers. The soft shell crab was a dream- cooked perfectly with a moist center and crispy shell, it was served with vegetables and a light cilantro and mint dressing. The firm and flavorful pasta carbonara with english peas was so fresh it brought us to think of our travels in Italy.
My entree of the Dorade with smoked potatoes and vegetables was pan seared and served over a light and flavorful broth dousing the smoked potatoes and vegetables. Just perfect!
The other entrees we had were skate, grilled chicken and pork with fava beans. All were excellent.
For dessert the panecotta with strawberries and rhubarb was amazing. The bread pudding was served with delicious and rich chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream. Outrageously good!
We are so lucky to have such a great eating spot nearby.

New England Pollock

I was so pleased to see "fresh unfrozen" fish offered at Stew Leonard's yesterday. I inquired and learned that the fish, a reasonable $6.99 per pound, was pollock from New England. It was a heavy white fish looking a bit slimmer than tilapia so I had to try it. How delicious! When I encrust it with a pecan coating it crisps nicely in the cast iron skillet. The side dish prepared above is red onion sauteed with portobello mushrooms and spinach. I also added french salt my good neighbors brought back for me from southern France, and lemon at the end. Yum. Pecan crusting is just awesome, but the fish has to be heavy.
This was ideal. Good for Stew's!

The Chocolate Shoppe

Nyack, New York
www.chocolaterie-nj.com/

I happened to step into this adorable shop two weeks ago and the wonderful aroma of chocolate is still fresh in my memory. I'll be going back for stocking stuffers. They have these wonderful chocolate and caramel cocoa sticks. You stir the hot milk with the chocolate and.or caramel stick and, voila! hot chocolate.
There is also a wonderful assortment of fresh chocolates as well as imported chocolate bars, which include lavender and earl grey.

For anyone having trouble feeling the joy of the holiday season, a trip to chocolaterie is a sure remedy!