Brasserie 292, Poughkeepsie, NY

Burger

Brasserie 292 is located at 292 Main Street in Poughkeepsie, hence the name. The location, once the site of a Chinese restaurant, sat empty until about two years ago when the new owners renovated and created a cute, contemporary French Bistro. The tin ceiling is all that was left from the original and they used white tile on the walls, huge mirrors (spotlessly clean I might add) and nice lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. 

Fried Oysters

The menu is not large, it fits on one page, but there some great choices. I was going back and forth between the duck, the mussel frites, the steak frites, getting a couple of appetizers (including the escargot) and the burger. I started with the fried oysters at $15 because friends were there the night before and recommended them. We both ordered the burger at $14.

The Oysters were delicious and they should be as the restaurant specializes in oysters. At the Best of the Hudson Valley Party I'd sampled quite a few of their blue point oysters. As I was eating the fried oysters with spicy pepper and aioli, a couple of orders of mussels passed by our table and the smell was intoxicating. Next time. The burgers were very good and we were given a few choices for the cheese. I chose blue cheese and a medium burger and Teresa chose gruyere and medium well. My burger was closer to medium rare, which was fine for me, and hers was medium. I asked if she wanted it to be redone and she said no and promptly finished it. I only point this out because if you are like me you are used to restaurants overcooking a burger so be aware that they are more prone to under-do it. By the way, the picture shows a salad with the burger. Behind that salad was a mountain of really good fries, the kind that a French restaurant does well.  

The service was excellent. Vanessa was our waitress and she was helpful, attentive and enthusiastic. A young man also stopped by to top off our water and keep us supplied with bread. 

Overall, a very nice dining experience and we will definitely be returning. I want those mussels and I want to try the escargot too. Oh, and I want more oysters. By the way, the restrooms were clean. Stop by and give them a try. 

Free Book!

Killer Cuisine will be a free book on Amazon Kindle on Saturday, May 11th. That's right, you can get a free copy of this book for your Kindle (or your Kindle AP for computer, iPad, iPhone or whatever).

Ian Wallace, the kilted food photographer and writer from Port City, North Carolina has been asked by his friend Demos to help out Nick, a mutual friend who has been accused of murdering a famous French chef. Nick was found hiding in the bathroom, his chef coat covered with blood and his finger prints on the knife. It looks bad for Nick, but Ian agrees to help out. Along the way Ian reconnects with his on again, off again girlfriend Athena, the sister of Demos. Will Ian solve the murder and get the girl? Join him for some mystery, romance, suspense and humor and find out.

Just click here.

Would Restaurant, Highland, NY

Duck

The Would Restaurant is an odd name for a restaurant and I'm not sure how they came up with it. What I do know is that I like it. I'd heard good things from some fellow food bloggers with similar tastes and decided we needed to stop by. 

They open at five and we got there at five on the button, without reservations. They weren't needed as it wasn't all that crowded in the ninety minutes or so that we were there. I've found that arriving right after they open usually works out well if you don't have a reservation. It is a rather interesting restaurant. I suspect that it was once the dining hall of a Villa, or resort, where city folk came during the summer to escape to heat of New York. As such it has more the rustic look of a lodge than a white tablecloth restaurant. In fact, I don't think the term white table cloth applies as they cover the tablecloths with white paper. 

As people came in we saw that they were far better dressed than we were, but I wasn't concerned. Jeans are fine in any restaurant where you can take crayons and write on the table. In conversations with friends who have been there I was informed that the regulars do indeed dress nicely to eat there, they look at it as a special place to go.

We started with the mac and cheese appetizer at $7. Our waiter, Tomasz, was excellent. He gave us space while being attentive, that perfect balance of good service. He informed us that the mac and cheese would take twenty minutes as it was made to order, as were all dishes. He also told us that they bake their own bread, make all of the deserts in house and even make their own ice cream. 

The mac and cheese, a good sized portion I might add, arrived about twenty minutes after being ordered and was quite good, and piping hot. It got even better and better as we ate it and it may have needed to rest a couple of minutes more before being served. 

I ordered the duck at $25. It was quite possibly the best duck I have ever eaten. I ordered it medium and it was delivered a shade below medium with a crispy crust, which was absolutely perfect. The cinnamon and pomegranate reduction sauce was just the right balance of sweet and heat and the corn and zucchini side dishes were good. Even the rice (I don't like rice) was good.  

Teresa had the vegetarian dish at $22. It featured risotto (delightful) and grilled vegetables. She said it was good, but thought that perhaps she should have ordered a different dish as there were a couple of others that struck her interest. I guess that means we'll have to return to try them.  

Vanilla Crème Brulèe

In spite of being quite full, at the end we decided on the Vanilla Crème Brulèe at $7. It was delicious and light enough to sit well after a rich meal.

Overall, a very good dining experience. There has been a bit of hype about The Would and I would say they certainly live up to it. I think you need to get there soon. We'll definitely be returning.

Burger with Crab Cake, Winner's Circle, Exton, PA

This is a burger with a crab cake on it and remoulade sauce from Winner's Circle in Exton, PA. It was good, but I really liked the photo and wanted to share it.

A'vanti's Restaurant, Hopewell Junction, NY

Eggplant Rollatini appetizer

We were invited out to dinner by our friend Pat to celebrate an event and she said she was taking us to one of her favorite italian restaurants, so of course we readily agreed. I like Italian, and I like it when I'm treated to dinner.

A'vanti's Restaurant is on Rt 52 in Hopewell Junction in an area called Wicopee. It is a former pizza joint in a strip mall, so it is a bit unassuming from the outside but don't let that fool you. It was completely remodeled a few years ago when the new owners took it over and as a result it has a nice, warm feel to it inside. Our server was very good and we were constantly attended to by him and a nice woman who helped and kept our water glasses full. 

Vongole Oreganata

Looking over the menu, and listening to the specials, my dining companions were having trouble deciding what to order so we started with appetizers, the eggplant rollatini and the clams. Both were excellent. The clams had a lovely garlic flavor that was not overpowering. The eggplant was just right with no bitterness to it. 

Veal Sorentina

I knew what I wanted before we even got there. I looked online and saw that they offer a Veal Sorentina, one of my favorite dishes and a dish by which I judge Italian restaurants. This was a properly executed plate with the veal being perfectly cooked, just the right amount of perfect eggplant on it and possibly the best sauce I've ever had on it. It took two pieces of bread to soak up the remaining sauce and I didn't want it to end. The pasta side dish was also perfectly cooked with a delightful marinara sauce. 

Spaghetti all partenopea

Pat ordered the spaghetti all partenopea which she said was wonderful. Teresa ordered a pasta and broccoli plate that she loved. Somehow we managed to share a desert of mousse that was very rich, and very tasty. 

Mousse

Overall, excellent food, impeccable service, reasonable prices and nice ambiance. I would recommend that you stop by and enjoy a nice meal. They have a website for more information. 

Skull Splitter Ale from Scotland

Skull Splitter comes from the Orkney Brewery in Scotland and is a wee heavy beer. That means it weighs in at 8.5% so it isn't a light weight. It has a really nice taste, one of the finest Scottish Ales I've tasted and goes well with red meats. I had it with duck.  

From the company web site-

Appearance- A crystal-clear, rich tawny-red colour beer; a tight, smooth head with hints of red and amber colour.

Aroma- Juicy, almost fruity malt character, together with a medley of fresh and dried fruits, dates and figs, hints of ginger and cinnamon spice, hints of vanilla.

Palate- A rich, fruity, wine-like complexity on the palate includes fresh and dried fruits, warm exotic spices, and light summer citrus fruits.

Key Ingredients- Very best pale ale malt – and plenty of it – together with crystal and chocolate malts provide a rich, fruity backbone which is perfectly balanced by the spicy herbal character of East Kent Goldings hops.

Franco Di Roma, Middletown, NY

Franco Di Roma is an unassuming place from the outside, it sits in a strip mall near the Middletown Farm store on Rt 211. Inside it looks better, but is still unassuming in a quant way. We were seated in the front, they have another dining room in the back, and given menus by a very pleasant waitress. Teresa decided on the eggplant parmesan at twelve bucks and I ordered the veal sorentino at seventeen bucks. Both came with pasta and a choice of soup or salad. These are two of our favorite dishes, and we often use them as a benchmark in comparing restaurants. 

Well, both were excellent. My veal was three pieces of meat with ample prosciutto and a delicate sauce that did not overwhelm the veal. The same sauce was on the penne pasta. The eggplant was quite nice as well with no bitter taste and a nice red sauce. 

Overall, I would say this is a place you should try sometime. It is a diamond in the rough.

McKinney and Doyle, Pawling, NY

McKinney and Doyle occupies three storefronts on the main drag in Pawling, NY. Facing the building the one on the right is the bakery and ice cream fountain, the middle one is a dining area and the left one is a bar/dining area. Inside it was elements that I really like; aged wood floors, brick walls and tin ceilings, so the ambiance is nice. Well, some of the decorations on the wall ledges could use a dusting. I could have written my name on one of the wine bottles.

We went on a Saturday afternoon and it was slightly busy. The middle section was full, but there were seats in the bar area. We had to wait a few minutes for a seat though.

After perusing the menus, it was brunch time until three, I decided on the M&D burger shown below at $12.95. It came with Swiss cheese, crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato with a side of fries. The fries were just okay, but the burger was very good. I ordered it medium and it was a perfect medium with enough seasoning.

Teresa ordered the avocado salad at $16.50. It was an avocado, pealed and sliced in half with one half stuffed with a lobster salad and the other with a tuna salad. It wasn't bad, and it wasn't great.

Overall I'd say it was good. The ambiance was good. The food was good, but a bit pricey. The service however was mediocre. I would go back again if I were in the neighborhood, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so.

Longhorn, Newburgh

We tried the Longhorn in Newburgh shortly after they opened and I wrote a review, and it wasn't all that good. After consideration I decided to remove it since they had just opened and it really wasn't fair. Now that they've been open for a bit we went back to try them. That and the fact that they had an $11.95 steak special. I must say it was much better than the first time, but it is still not amazing. 

I had the sirloin covered in baked potato, bacon, cheese and scallions. I ordered it medium and it was real close to medium. It was also fairly tender, yet lacking in seasoning. I got the seasoned fries with it (I didn't taste any seasoning) and a salad. Teresa had the bourbon and bacon wrapped sirloin medium well with a salad and a baked sweet potato. Hers was not as tender as mine, but there was more flavor. The sweet potato was quite good though and it had a cinnamon butter. Both were $11.95 so all things considered, we got what we paid for.  

Overall, not bad. The service was good, the food was non-stellar but reasonable, and even though the steak was only six ounces (okay, that's a normal serving size) we left full. If you remember that it is a chain it isn't bad and I'd say they are on par with Applebee's Texas Roadhouse or TGI Friday's, but below Outback or Chili's.

Wayfarer Delicatessan and Bistro, Wilmington, NC

Whistlin' Dixie Burger

I've had a few people telling me that I needed to visit the Wayfarer Deli, and to do it quickly because I didn't know what I was missing. Well, today I had the chance and I found out they were right. I should have gone long ago, and a few times between. I know I'll be going again because the have very good food, excellent service, and a charming atmosphere in a very small place which adds a cozy feel to it.

What I had was the 'Whistlin' Dixie Burger' (shown above) which consisted of bacon, pimento cheese, green tomatoes and Cajun remoulade on a pretzel bun. A shorter description is amazing. Light, lean and full of flavor, and juices. Teresa had a side of Mac and cheese and a small shrimp and corn chowder soup. Also amazing. 

I had the chance to talk with the owner about food and found him to be friendly and hospitable. Our waitress was very good and pleasant, as was everyone else there. So here we go, if you haven't been there yet, get there. 

Dixie Grill, Wilmington, NC

Dixie Benedict

I've heard some good things about this place, and from people I trust, so when it came time to have breakfast with my grandson I decided to try it. They were right.

I had the Dixie Benedict, shown above. It is a biscuit with a delightful fried green tomatoe, scrambled eggs and Vidalia onion sauce. I decided to go native and get grits as the side,in lieu of home fries. The benedict dish was very good and I think the grits were good, but since I come from a much higher latitude I don't know too much about grits. 

My seven year old grandson went for the strawberry pancakes. They come in 2, 4 or 6. He had two and inhaled them. 

Overall, good food at reasonable prices with excellent service. Stop by and see for yourself sometime. 

Dat's a Gouda Burger, Beacon Falls cafe

Beacon Falls cafe is one of my top five restaurants anywhere. It is also one of the best places to get a burger anywhere. That said, I thought I'd share this beauty with you. Texas Toast, a half-pound of fresh beef cooked perfectly, gouda cheese, bacon and an onion sauce that ties it all together. A handful of happiness. 

Angelo's, Harriman, NY

I have to give one caution to this review. When you go, and I really think you need to go, and soon, make sure you bring cash as they do not take credit cards. That said, this is one of those out of the way gems so let's get into it.

Calamari

My friend Alicia has been raving about Angelo's for a couple of weeks now so when we went down to Woodbury Commons we swung over to try them. We got there at 4:15 and the sign said they open at 4:30. A nice gentleman was coming out, one of the owners, and after he talked to us for a few minutes he told us to go on in. We were seated and another of the owners introduced himself to us and told us a bit about the food. He also asked if we brought our own wine, it is BYOB, and finding that we didn't he suggested some soft drinks. We opted for tap water.

Veal cutlet with pesto pasta.

We started with the fried calamari and it was quite well executed. The calamari was perfectly cooked with a light breading that suggested they were made in-house. I did find the marinara sauce to be fresh tasting, but a bit bland. There was an option to have a spicy sauce (probably more like a fra diavlo) and that's what I'd do the next time. After we finished the calamari, we were brought small house salads with a nice vinaigrette dressing. 

Looking at the menu I found a few things that interested me, but I finally decided on the veal dish shown above. It is veal cutlet, perfectly cooked by the way, with home made ricotta and mozzarella on it with a wonderful pesto on the pasta, and the veal. Quite amazing, wonderful flavor and texture, good portion. I'd offer up more platitudes, but I'm sure you get the point.

Eggplant Parm

Teresa decided on the eggplant parmesan, her 'go to' dish. First of all, the portion was massive. I tasted it and it was really good, light in taste with delicate flavors. I asked her about it and she said it was one of the best she'd had, and she's eaten that dish in dozens of restaurants. She brought more than half of it home, that's how big it was. 

So you see what I mean? Get some cash together (Our bill was $60 before tip) and get there. It might be a good idea to call ahead as it looked to only seat about 30 in the section we were in. 

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

I saw this at the Beverage Emporium in Newburgh and, being a Goose Island fan, I just had to try it. 

At $22.00 for a four pack, or $5.99 for a single twelve ounce bottle, this is a bit pricey so I bought one bottle.

At 15% it is also quite potent and is a sipping beer, best served in a brandy snifter.

The taste is very nice and better than Victory's Dark Intrigue. It has a dark color to it with and would go well as an after dinner beer. 

Cuisses de Grenoille a' la Provençal (Sautéed Frog Legs)

The French elevate simple ingredients, some of which may seem bizarre and unpalatable to the uninitiated, and turn them into culinary delights. Think escargot, or frog legs.

I took six frog legs (three pair before snipping them apart) and rinsed them off. Next they went into a bowl and were covered with milk, the bowl was covered, and into the fridge for thirty minutes. 

Next step was to pat them dry, salt and pepper liberally, and coat with flour. Into a sauté pan I put a half stick of butter at high heat until it started to sizzle. I cooked the legs for four minutes, turning once, until golden brown.

Let the legs rest while you wipe out the pan and heat a quarter stick of butter. Put in two cloves of garlic, minced small, some more salt and pepper, and a dash of lemon juice. Cook for about a minute stirring vigorously. Pour some of this over the legs and eat.

If you have never tried frog legs you will be surprised. The taste is a bit like a meatier talapia with a chicken consistency. Of course all that butter and garlic adds a new dimension.