Breakfast at Belle’s

August 1, 2011

Visiting a friend in Newport for the weekend, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a mid-summer Sunday morning than breakfast at Belle’s in the shipyard. Waking up with coffee, breakfast sandwiches and watermelon, we sat back in lounge chairs enjoying the beautiful views.

Bacon, Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwich

A side of sliced watermelon

 

The Lot at the Highline

July 29, 2011

New Yorkers love their food trucks, and what could be better than a selection of the best all in one locale? Last night I met a few friends underneath the bridges of the High Line park for food and drinks. Changing daily, there’s a taste to satisfy everyone from Red Hook’s Lobster Truck to Rickshaw Dumpling, Korilla BBQ and Eddie’s Pizza. They’ve also got a pop-up bar serving local wines and seasonal beers from Brooklyn Brewery. It’s like a summer-long fair or a cafeteria for adults, so be sure to stop by before the cold weather comes!

Lobster Roll from the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck

Rickshaw Dumpling Truck

Eddie's Pizza Truck

High Line Park

The Lot on tap

Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned candy shop? Flashing back to Red Lodge, Montana, this nostalgic emporium in the heart of town has every type of treat imaginable. Stepping inside is like a time machine to your childhood, and you can’t help but splurge to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Milk chocolate with almonds

Milk chocolate with almonds and chocolate covered pretzels

Raspberry truffle

Bartaco

July 22, 2011

When the sun is shining and the afternoon is young, Bartaco’s outdoor patio is a perfect option for lunch. Catching up with a friend, I enjoyed some tacos, a margarita and cheese quesadillas. Tucked against the river in Port Chester, NY, its part surf shack part Mexican vibe does just the trick to make you feel as though you’re on a beach holiday without a care in the world.

Have a great weekend! x

Pork Belly Taco

Bartaco Margarita

Chicken taco

Lunch in Bozeman

July 18, 2011

Bozeman was one of my favorite towns we visited in Montana. With its young and eccentric feel, it gave off a different vibe than the others– the perfect combination of western lifestyle with a hint of a trendsetting city. I heard good things about dining at Plonk Wine, so figured I would try it out for myself. While enjoying our salads, pizza and quiche, we admired the back garden filled with colorful flowers, paintings and sunshine.

Capri Salad

Pizza special of the day with steak and feta

Quiche

Cooke City

July 12, 2011

After spending a morning driving 11,000 ft above sea level through the winding roads of Beartooth Highway through Montana and Wyoming, we stopped for lunch in Cooke City. A tourist destination for those traveling to Yellowstone National Park, there’s nothing more than a few restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops, but it’s certainly full of character with a picture perfect backdrop.

Cooke City General Store

 

Chicken and tomato wrap from the Ore House Saloon at Soda Butte Lodge

 

Burger & Fries

 

The Juicy Lucy Burger stuffed with cheese and peppers

Paws Up

July 9, 2011

One doesn’t often combine the words luxury and camping into one sentence, but that’s exactly what you get from Paws Up, a ranch resort about 30 miles outside Missoula. Stopping through for an evening, I was treated with impeccable service from the strawberry lemonade upon arrival through my next morning’s breakfast wrap with fresh produce. These chefs have the fine rustic cuisine down to perfection as they prepared some of their specialty dishes including Elk Loin and Quail Breast.

Aside from the dining, the resort offers anything you could possibly imagine to make your Montana holiday fulfilling. Due to my time constraints, I didn’t participate in their endless list of activities, but I certainly wouldn’t hesitate venturing back for another visit. Who could complain about waking up in an outdoor luxury tent, followed by a hot air balloon ride at sunrise and an afternoon horseback riding in the mountains? And of course you can’t forget ending your evening with their infamous rustic ranch cuisine.

Seared Quail Breast, Huckleberry Bread Pudding, Roasted Baby Turnip, Sautéed Spinach, Pan Jus

The dining room at Pomp

Pan Seared Ono, Cauliflower Salad, Fava Leaves, Baby Squash, Mint Oil

The terrace at Pomp

Iron Seared Elk Loin, Fregola-Mushroom Stew, Baby Fennel, Asparagus, Black Currant Puree

Outdoor dining and camp fire pit

Moulard Duck Breast, Potato Croquette, Orange Braised Fennel, Asparagus

Huckletini; 44 North Huckleberry Vodka, Huckleberry Syrup, Turbinado Sugar Rim

Homemade infused liquors

Village Entrance

Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride

Montana Breakfast Wrap, Scrambled Eggs, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Bacon, Peperzella Cheese

Sunrise Scrambler, Ham, Scrambled Eggs, Crisp Potato Croquette, Brewer's Grain Toast

Breakfast at Tank & Trough

Tarry Market

June 24, 2011

One of Mario Batali’s many creations, this Euro-style gourmet market in Port Chester has the freshest in pastas, meats, cheese and breads. Crossing off some of our grocery list here last weekend, we grabbed mozzarella and pasta to contribute to the Father’s Day family barbeque at my friend’s parent’s home.

Pasta

Pesto Pasta dish

Fresh mozzarella and tomato

The Kneaded Bread

June 20, 2011

Quite possibly one of the best places around to get fresh bread, this local spot is a must stop for anyone driving through Port Chester. My friend, Leslie, who happens to be a long time favorite customer at Kneaded Bread, brings me by here every time we’re in town, and I end up spending the days following loading up on carbs. They also have great pastries and sandwiches.

Fresh bread

Provolone Bread

Country and Provolone bread

An assortment of breads

Homespun Foods

June 16, 2011

Gazing out my office window at the sunshine, I desperately want to rewind back to my relaxing weekend lunch in the back garden at Homespun Foods in Beacon.  A quaint little dining retreat in town, the staff was welcoming and the food produced locally including cage-free eggs from Feather Ridge Farm, grass-fed beef from Bittersweet Farm, Wallkill smoked salmon and Murray’s poultry. Top on my list was most likely the cheddar cheese sandwich with cranberry apple chutney, definitely easy enough to repeat at home, and the baba ganoosh had me going back for seconds as well.

Pita bread and dressing

Cheddar and Chutney Sandwich: sharp cheddar cheese with cranberry apple chutney

Mac & Cheese

Middle Eastern Platter: Hummus, baba ganoosh, tabouli, feta, olives, cucumbers and tomatoes with pita bread

Salad

Mac & Cheese with a colorful salad

Southampton IPA