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.

The Original Sandwich Shoppe of New York

At 58A Greenwich Avenue just off Seventh Avenue South, this neighborhood eatery offers excellent empenadas and fresh soup. The white bean soup I tried on my last visit was delicious. The empenada was the best I ever had, offered to me by a woman with a warm smile diligently working away behind the counter . I imagined it was an old family recipe and if I could get it, it would be a new family recipe in my house. With a price tag of about $7 or so for lunch, the relaxed atmosphere and just plain good homestyle cooking are refreshing in this part of the city. I also enjoyed the turkey sandwich with green apple.

Tomatillo

Dobbs Ferry, New York
This restaurant is one of my favorites in Dobbs Ferry. The fresh ingredients are consistently good and some are purchased from Stone Barns in nearby Tarrytown. The chicken club burrito, which I prefer with black beans to the menu pinto (also very good), is a generous and nutritious option for days when work hours run too late for a home prepared meal. The service is friendly and the restaurant is a fun place for sit down meals with its jovial colors and tables with options for varied size parties. The appetizer chips are the best I know of in any nearby Mexican restaurant, and the salsa is also great. The proprietor responded to a student's inquiry regarding use of recyclable container and opted for some of the choices she suggested, later hiring her to work in the restaurant. Simple fresh fare and sustainable, community conscious management. A bow of respect to Tomatillo!

Savoy on Prince Street

savoynyc.com
SoHo New York
This low key establishment prides itself on its fresh ingredients and offers a comfortable and quiet atmosphere, with a wood burning fireplace in its second story dining room. The wine menu includes a fine french wine by the glass, Macon Charnay (Bourgogne), which, by the fire, sets the perfect mood for the dining experience.
The appetizers include a specialty "burrata", mozzarella in a purse form with the inside of the treat fluffy, light and moist, savory with its delicious companions of garlic toast and tomato compote. Our other appetizer was just as delightful. The farmstead sheep's milk cheese, Weston Wheel from Vermont, was perfectly matched with lightly toasted fresh bread and honey crusted pecans.
For our entrees we were both blown a bit over, for the flavors were so succulent and delightful that this restaurant quickly reached "good find" on our radar. The Florida Gulf shrimp with braised beans and bacon was in a Trinidad chili salsa sauce so delicious it compared with excellent ragout sauces I have had. My striped bass came from Rhode Island and was perfectly cooked with a crisp skin, shallots, a mushroom flavoring no longer on the menu, but I would say it was in the chantarelle family, and risotto on the plate. The fingerling potato side was its perfect side dish.
For desert we shared a concord grape Gelato so rich in flavor, although no sugar was added, that it is one of the best I have had. 
Savoy, you are my new word for savory, and I will be back for a certain return with loved ones to share you with!

Table d'Hote

tabledhoteonthehudson.blogspot.com

Hastings on Hudson
Hastings Station Cafe 10/23/2010

It is a special treat when the culinary endeavors of local food and wine connoisseurs bestow their talents on a room of River Village foodies. Offering a menu bringing farm to table with ingredients from Shinnecock Bay to Catskill farms, accompanied by fine mustard and flavors from Brittany, the Fred and Alex team offers a new layer to culinary delight!
The enjoyment of the first in the Table d'Hote series was enhanced by the friendly and knowledgeable guests, who impart a vast knowledge of good eats, ranging from Bulgoki seasonings to roast duckling recipes to vegetarian seaweed options.
My personal favorite of the evening offerings was the Shinnecock Bay scallops carpaccio, served with mizuna and greens, pink peppercorns, cilantro and lime.
A wonderful endeavor, gentlemen. We look forward to the next on December 11. Merci!

Cathryn's Tuscan Grill

tuscangrill.com
Cold Spring New York
This restaurant is the perfect stop after a morning hike in the nearby hills or an afternoon meandering the curious shops of Cold Spring. The spacious restaurant with outdoor eating area brings to the states the wonderful flavors of Tuscany. This evening we savored the fresh pasta of the frutta di mare, served with fresh seafood in a delicious red sauce. This is the best pasta we have had since Italy.
The lentil soup was also fresh and delicious, and a gloriosa insalata offered hearts of palm, a rare and delightful addition to a salad. I was very impressed to find a Vermentino from Tuscany by the glass, which complemented the lentil soup nicely.  The Sicilian version, more commonly available in wine stores here, is not nearly as good as the Ligurian or Tuscan.
The last time I visited Cathryn's I had the Tuscan white bean soup. It is wonderful so if it is offered, enjoy!
Grazie Cathryn...a bit of Tuscan charm in a very fun and beautiful part of the world...Cold Spring.