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!

Lanterna Tuscan Bistro

lanternausa.com
Nyack, New York

It is always a special pleasure to be greeted by a proprietor when stepping into a restaurant for early lunch.
Rossano greeted me as I perused the menu outside, and offered me all the answers I sought to whether he is continuing cooking classes, and what could please me from the menu. I chose the Insalata Campagna and was very impressed to find the quality of care at a lunch which could compare with high end dinner dining.
The salad was perfectly prepared, with the chicken grilled to perfection and not too heavily salted. The arugula could have been picked than morning, it was so delicious and fresh. The accompanying portobella was tender and delicious and a perfect complement to the red roasted peeper and goat cheese. The fresh bread and olive oil were both well selected. That perfect combination of a crispy, hearty Tuscan bread, and a quality olive oil win high points with me. But service and a friendly, caring proprietor are the attributes I seek in fine food establishments, so I will surely return. Grazie, Lanterna!

Juniper

Yesterday was my husband's birthday and the joys of Juniper continue to amaze us. My meal offered sirloin steak so perfectly prepared that we spent a good bit of conversation figuring out why our own oven or grill could not create the same. The side was the smoked potatoes infused with olive oil and topped with an herb, I think chives, and course salt. These potatoes are just another world to me. I had them first the last time I visited, and actually tried to recreate the flavor at home, stirring in ham and fresh French salt my neighbor brought me. I enjoyed my own creation, but it could not compare. These Juniper potatoes infused with olive oil are a new frontier to this Irish girl who prides herself on her own mashed potatoes.

In addition to that was the mushroom soup- delectable,  wonderful, another treat to remember. Our neighboring table patrons were friendly and shared their similar regard for the excellent talent of this chef.
Their mushroom appetizer was delicous, and the pan seared cod was devoured in no time at all by our neighbor.

Our conclusion of the meal was, why even consider eating anywhere else in the Metro region for a high end meal? It is never as good. We had a wonderful meal for our anniversary at a romantic high rated place in New York City last week. We had a wonderful time, but all in all, the food was too rich, and none at all compare to the talent of the chef at Juniper.

Table d'Hote Crepes at Hastings Farmers Market

The dynamic duo Fred and Alex strikes again, with yet another wonderful culinary endeavor- the ultimate of weekend morning treats- the Crepe! Little did I realize that their Farmer's Market offerings are not limited to just fruit and chocolate (though we love those, too), but include a ham and gruyere crepes. Yum! I savored this delicious breakfast while rounding the festive market, where a troop of dancers cheered the crowd and a pie contest was about to begin. A fun start to the day!

Cafe Zelda

www.cafezelda.com
Newport Rhode Island

This enchanting eatery boasts itself as the best cafe between Key West and Bar Harbor. The nautical decor is enchanting. I could imagine the rear dining space as part of a ship, with its dark wainscot and deep blue striped wall covering, bench seat and wonderful framed ship picures.

But the food is my favorite part of the experience and the seafood bouillebaise will pull my back on every return to Newport. A generous assortment of seafood and fresh tuna adorned be a succulent broth rich in herbs and spices. For appetizers, we were elated to find the rare tuna appetizer served with a tempurah crust and delicous sauce.

A sure return for us...

Flo's Clam Shack-A Decadent Departure

Middletown, Rhode Isand

There are situations where a note to the regional and fresh warrant a departure from pure health and low salt offerings and Flo's Clam Shack has won me over. Despite my usual rules for quality cuisine, I applaud these clams so fresh with full belly that they melt in the mouth. For me there will be no other clam shack.. No food stupor followed this delicious meal, and the moisture of the fresh seafood secreting its plentiful moisture from a crisp coating was a delighful flavor not to be forgotten. In fact, it compares with some of the best soft shell crabs I have had. The shack is cash only and many tables have partial view of the water... a non pretentious place patronized mostly by returning clientele. No tableside service here. Wait on the line, and take your little numbered lobster to your table and wait for it to beep. Child friendly, and fun.

Simple Summer Treats at Home

Westchester New York

The lessons of this summer's home cuisine are:

A growing plant of basil on the patio is the best accent to the kitchen salads. Every salad was more delicious with a few sliced leaves.

The best salad of the season was mostly from Fairway Pelham- spinach leaves, nitrate free bacon, golden beets. tamari roasted almonds, and locally grown tomatoes . That dash of home grown basil topped it off.

Crab cakes ala Alyssa Ha. The crab meat at Stew's is pricey, but the result without all that breading of a restaurant crab cake is worth the expense.

Red velvet cupcakes ala Kathryn Ha, so moist! Hope she will share that recipe!

Blackened shrimp from Fairway at $14.99 per pound. All of our shrimp is brought frozen here in New York. But if you get it over the counter it may be free of the preservatives they put in packaged frozen shrimp. So for the price, this ready to eat delicious treat is a good deal.

Beans are good for memory. The Tuscan Bean soup, ribolito, is still my best.

Mint is good if chopped in a vodka cocktail. I have not tried it but a neighbor who walks by my mint garden tells me so, and is happy I let her take some.

Grilled steak is much more delicious with a grilled portabello by its side.

Would love to hear the summer treats discovered by others...

Summer Fests by Table d'Hote on the Hudson

Yonkers New York

This summer the efforts of Alex and Fred of Table d'Hote on the Hudson were enjoyed in the beautiful Hudson Riverside setting of the Beczak Environmental Center. The long farm table of jovial attendants brought all that one could hope for in an evening out.
The June event brought a Moroccan experience with lamb kabobs setting a standard for delicious. The wine matching by Fred was exemplary, as always, and the boisterous response to the evening brought the clapping of the crowd so appreciative of these events.
The July event was even more exuberant, with the long table of guests nourished by the incredible Nicoise Salad and lamb chattering away to late evening. The final song for Bastille Day was a joyful end to a beautiful evening. Fred and Alex, keep it coming. Your cuisine and company are beyond compare!

Nijiya Market

Hartsdale New York
www.nijiya.com
This unique Japanese market offers many organic options as well as an assortment of meals ready to take out.
Our latest favorite is chirashi, an assortment of sashimi cut into small pieces and mixed with egg and spilled over rice. Refreshing and easy to digest, the dish is a great meal for under $8.00. The take out sushi is also good and they offer hamachi, my personal favorite, as well as tuna. I'll be in trouble for posting on this one, as my husband considers this one of the greatest secrets of Westchester!

Oriental Diner

Hawthorne New York
Across 9A from the All Saw Mill Movie complex is a chinese restaurant where service is quick, movie times are posted at the door, and the waiters and waitresses are very accommodating. Two of us share sauteed vegetables in white sauce and crispy orange beef and we have a feast for a total bill of about $23.00. The pork fried dumplings are also great here (the best we have found in Westchester). The Greenburgh cinema is also nearby so this place is great for those of us who want dinner and a movie at a good price, without getting home too late.

Bouchon

http://ashevillebouchon.com
Asheville, North Carolina

How is it that this charming French restaurant found a spot here in the Smoky Mountains? Well, however it happened we are only are few of the fans who enjoyed it last night. The wonderful mussels in white wine sauce, bread and butter as tasty as Parisians would serve, and a fume salade with smoked trout, were just a few of the courses we relished. The casual atmosphere was enhanced by the charming space, with wood trim, arch rounded wine storage areas behind the bar, and a rear patio which would have been inviting had the weather been warmer. The service was friendly and the wine menu included choices from french vintners who are friends of the owners. Part of the local food network in Asheville, this delicious restaurant supports local agriculture.

Nishi

www.nishirestaurant.com
Ardsley New York
There is a certain comfort in having a nearby restaurant that fulfills the desire for a meal which is nourishing and calming. My husband, who is Korean, is always satisfied by a meal at Nishi, as am I, and this has become a favorite of ours.
I seek it out when I am under the weather as I always leave knowing I have been very well nourished, and always feel more relaxed. I seek it out when ill, for the Nebiyaki Udon is the best I have had, and the flavorful broth great for a cold.
We go as well when feeling great and just want that quality sushi and the plentiful bento box my husband loves. I am a great fan of hamachi, and enjoy it by the hand roll or as sushi at Nishi.
I know that there are many sushi restaurants nearby and the atmosphere at Nishi is simple. You have to relish fresh preparation and traditional fare to enjoy Nishi. And if you do, it will be a steady partner in your path to nourish and rejuvenate.

Juniper on Valentine's Day

We went again for Valentine's day and the meal was amazing- one of the best we have had anywhere. I wouldn't trust many chefs to serve a prix fixe with no choices, but Alex, the chef, outdid himself and has won my trust. The five courses included wonderful 30 day aged steak, scallops, and a salad with grilled brussel sprouts we both craved for after. The desert with tapioca semifreddo served with roasted pineapple and meringue is one which I will never forget!

Turkish Meze

www.turkishmeze.com

Mamaroneck NY
This casual restaurant is child friendly and offers a wonderful selection of carefully prepared meals. The grilled octopus was my favorite of the evening and the Doner, served tradionally over rice and salad, was a generous portion of tender lamb.
The service was friendly with the exception of a waitress who seemed to rush us to order, especially as I tried to find a Turkish wine by the glass, but her suggestion turned out well. It was a red Turkish table wine similar to a Pinot Noir.
The grilled kebab dishes look wonderful and I saw a whole fish being served which also looked great. Definitely a place for more visits, Turkish Meze is listed as #1 of Tripadvisor for Mamaroneck.

Juniper

www.juniperhastings.com

Hastings on Hudson

This local gem is the current family favorite, and the fresh ingredients offered always include a surprise. The chef is creative with flavor combinations, accomplished in the preparation, and remembers us with a smile of greeting when we return. This past visit was especially delightful. The tile fish on the menu made me curious to know if it came from Montauk. (See Fishbar Montauk blog from the summer). Sure enough, it is from that charming town and it is nice to see nearby fisheries patronized, especially with tile fish, which is a moist fluffy fish which I now prefer to halibut.

My husband enjoys the pork and has had it in a number of variations at Juniper, all very satisfying. The roast duck was excellent. The appetizers included gnocchi with a truffle sauce which was outstanding. For dessert, we ordered the pound cake which was toasted lightly and served with amazing lemon curd and creme fraiche. We have now had the pound cake a few different times and it has always been a delight, though I missed the one served with raspberry sauce which I've been told is superb.

I suggest booking advance reservations for weekend evenings. Juniper is a small restaurant, but the atmosphere is warm and the service very gracious. They do not have a liquor license yet so one can eat very well on a budget bringing in your own wine.

The talents of the chef, Alex Sze, can be measured by the happy patrons. I will be returning again, I hope, to enjoy the winter menu at least once more. If I don't make it back until spring that will be a pleasure, too. As the seasons turn, so will come new surprises in fresh delights from Juniper.

North

This new arrival to Armonk is a welcome addition to Westchester cuisine. The service was exceptional and being catered to in this fashion is a special treat outside Manhattan. The meal started with hot, firm crusted pumpernickel rolls served with delicious infused butter. The wine list offered an excellent Sancerre by glass or bottle. The appetizers were outstanding. We shared the tuna tartare with guacamole and foie gras, perhaps the best I have enjoyed even in light of my trip to Dordogne. For the main course the bay scallops with roasted potatoes were wonderful, the ribs rich and delicious, and the cod nicely prepared but not a cut worthy of this chef. The desserts we ordered were a chocolate chip cookie and apple crisp, each served in a skillet with vanilla ice cream from Ronnie Brook. A delightful evening with charming waitresses and host attending. A certain return on another day heading North.

Table d'Hote on the Hudson

Table d' Hote served its second savory meal to the delight of some twenty eight eager eaters. The quality selected wieners and wurst served with the best Sauerkraut I have ever had are the work of Alex Orlowsky, whose gracious demeanor delivers the meals with care. The appetizer Butternut squash was delicious, and the accompanying wines of the meal included St. Nicholas de Bourgueil 2007, which I thoroughly enjoyed. For dessert was Tarte Tartin.
These meals bring out the true talent of Fred Cottineau, whose pairings are excellent, worthy of recording for future indulgence. The patrons of these Alex and Fred meals are a delightful group, and I will remember the wonderful meal of December 11 for a long time to come.