Swoon Kitchenbar
March 11, 2013
If you’re hungry and in Hudson, I recommend spending a lunch or dinner at Swoon Kitchenbar. Their fresh, locally sourced menu changes weekly based on the season, and it was top of my list to check out. To keep with our cheese trend of the day, we opted for a sampler plate including Humble Pie, a cow, sheep milk blend that was creamy and tangy from Woodcock farm in Vermont, Ewe’s Blue, a sheep’s milk blue veined cheese from Old Chatham Sheepherding in New York, and of course our favorite Hudson Red from Pampered Cow. The shoestring fries with spicy aioli were a perfect extra snack. Although we stopped in during a quiet midday hour, the bar is known to attract a crowd and the tables fill up quickly in the evening hours, so be sure to get there early for a seat.
Ewe’s Blue cheese
Fries
Bread & Olive Oil
Cheese plate
Cheeses of New York
March 3, 2013
During our weekend upstate, we certainly got our fill of cheese. Some favorites included Sprout Creek Farm’s Point of Origin– a raw cow’s milk cheese that is aged with Red Hook’s Sixpoint Ale, another local favorite. This unique beer/cheese combo is soft, pungent and buttery with lovely hints of malt and coffee. Next stop was a bit further north at Pampered Cow’s creamery at Twin Maple Farm. Situated in a picturesque country landscape a short drive from Hudson, we were lucky enough to get a private tour and learn a bit about the cheese-making process. Best known for their Hudson Red– a funky, washed-rind, raw cow’s milk cheese, we also got a sneak peek of their truffle cheese, which was amazing, and their garlic cheese curds were another favorite of mine. I can’t wait for a return visit and photoshoot this spring when everything is in bloom.
Hudson Red & Point of Origin Cheese
Sprout Creek Farm’s Point of Origin
Sprout Creek Farm
Pampered Cow’s Truffle Cheese
Hudson Red
Inside the creamery
A Hudson Preview
February 22, 2013
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend! Here’s a preview of my recent Hudson River Valley excursion. One of those spontaneous trips planned in a matter of just a couple days, the jam-packed itinerary allowed us to see and eat our way through the beautiful region.
Hudson River Valley
Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2012
My contribution to Christmas Eve dinner this evening is the cheese platter. I decided to go with a goat cheese, provolone and fresh ricotta. To add a bit of holiday color, I rolled the goat cheese in dried cranberries and chopped pistachios. The ricotta I placed on french baguette slices with prosciutto, honey and thyme. The provolone I kept simple, ready to be sliced with crackers. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! x
Goat cheese with cranberries and pistachios
Pistachios
Provolone
Ricotta, prosciutto, thyme and honey
Crepes in St. Tropez
July 9, 2012
You can’t go to France without having crepes, so this was one of my first stops in St. Tropez. After a morning of walking the narrow cobblestone streets of Old Town, it didn’t take long to build up an appetite in that strong Riviera sun. I had a great time conversing with the cook who was very enthusiastic about being featured on Camera in the Kitchen, and befriended the regulars, as they too wanted their portraits taken. I couldn’t resist. So we opted for the traditional savory, ham/cheese and the nutella to satisfy our sweet tooth. Definitely a great choice before hitting the beaches.
Ham & Cheese crepe
Salad crepe
Ham & cheese
Nutella
The local regulars
Nutella
Homemade in Red Hook
December 10, 2011
My roommate and I took the ferry over to Red Hook last weekend, an eclectic little community in Brooklyn, and one of my favorites. Stumbling upon Homemade, we couldn’t help but go in for a quick bite to eat. It’s warm, welcoming and has great food. I love their attention detail, like the leather and wooden tie around the coffee carafe. Sitting on the comfy white couch, we split the delicious special, charred filone with a ricotta spread.
Bread and Cheese
Bread, cheese and unlimited coffee
How could you not want to visit this place?
Our mess of food
I Heart NY
November 11, 2011
This morning was one of those, “I love NY” moments while I was walking to work. The sun was out, the fall colors at their peak, and I just finished shooting last night’s dinner. Part II of my autumn pasta is finally here. I tossed together the pasta with olive oil, some seasonal herbs and goat cheese, adding in arugula, almonds, raisins, apple chardonnay chicken sausage and topped it with asiago cheese.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Fresh arugula
Salted almonds
Pasta with Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage and Arugula
Salted almonds and raisins
Late Autumn Picnic
November 28, 2010
Strolling through Syracuse’s Sunday morning flea market, I found amazing vintage Native American fabrics that inspired me to have an afternoon picnic with fresh bread, cheese, fruits and my great-grandmother Hazel’s cheese grater, before heading back to the city and work tomorrow morning.
French bread & pears
Cranberries, Challerhocker cheese, apples & pears
