October 2017 - NY Foodie Family

Winston Restaurant Debuts New Fall Menu

Posted on October 30, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(I was invited to a tasting of the new fall menu at Winston Restaurant. As always, all opinions are my own.)

Winston Restaurant has been a welcome addition to Mount Kisco since 2014. Named after the dog owned by Executive Chef Michael Williams, the restaurant serves New American cuisine using fresh, high-quality ingredients. I dined at Winston back in December of 2014, during the restaurant’s inaugural year. Even then, my husband and I were impressed with the quality and flavors of the food. It appears that Winston has maintained that high standard of food and service to bring you a memorable dining experience.

Executive Chef Michael Williams recently debuted a new fall menu that I was fortunate enough to get a preview tasting of. Believe me readers, you will not be disappointed! The dishes featured below will be replacing some of the summer-type dishes off the restaurant’s a la carte menu.

Your first decision will be which tasty cocktail to order. And let me tell you, it won’t be an easy one! While Winston has a full service bar and extensive wine list, you will want to try one of their signature cocktails. The fall menu includes (pictured clockwise from top left) a Spiced Apple Margarita, Blueberry Dash, Ginger Redemption, Passion Fruit Bellini, The Herbed Pear and a Pumpkin Mojito. The only other drink, not pictured, is the Gentleman Fig. I love sweet drinks and the Passion Fruit Bellini was right up my alley. Since I had to drive home (and I might be a lightweight) I didn’t try any of the other cocktails. They all have such interesting combinations of flavors and ingredients, and appeared to be well-liked by my fellow diners.

The fall menu includes four new starters (pictured above clockwise) Vegetable Spring Rolls, Beef Negimaki, Beef Carpaccio and Gruyere Potato Dumplings. They were all delicious but I highly recommend the potato dumplings and the carpaccio. The beef carpaccio is topped with an arugula salad and is a nice light dish to start your meal. The potato dumplings are small, fluffy pillows of deliciousness. Accompanied by butternut squash, corn and asparagus, this dish embodies the goodness of fall. The portions are large enough for sharing so why not get both?!

Chef Williams knocked it out of the ballpark with the new entrees on the fall menu! The four entrees (pictured above clockwise) include Pan-Seared Diver Scallops with Cannelini Beans, Chipotle Encrusted Cod atop a Butternut Squash, Corn and Brussels Sprout Leaves medley, Hudson Valley Magret Duck Breast with a Moroccan Honey Glaze served with a potato gratin and roasted cauliflower and Asian Braised Pork Shank atop a combo of Fingerling Potatoes and Savoy Cabbage. Honestly, they are all delicious and I can’t pick a favorite. I think it really depends on what you’re in the mood for. The cod has a bit of a kick from the chipotle crust, but isn’t overly spicy. The braised pork is so tender it falls off the bone. I love duck and the Moroccan Glaze is on point. And look at the perfect sear on those scallops! Again, I recommend ordering different entrees than your dining companions and sharing.

Finally, we can’t forget about dessert. No matter how stuffed I am, I always take a peek at the dessert menu…..just in case there’s something that I have to try. Apple Tart served with vanilla ice cream is the new addition to the fall dessert menu. The nine piece assorted Cookie Plate and The Dirty Winston, a chocolate hazelnut layer cake served with raspberry sorbet are mainstays on Winston’s dessert menu. My advice: skip the cookie plate. If you’re going to splurge on dessert, really splurge! Depending on your sweet preferences both the apple tart and Dirty Winston are really good. However, if you love creme brulee, like I do, you must order the creme brulee trio. While I didn’t sample this dessert during my most recent visit, speaking from my prior dining experience, they are really good! The flavors change seasonally.

Are you salivating yet?! Winston will still be serving their new fall menu from now until the spring. Sunday through Thursday they also have a Prix Fixe Menu. I had never thought of Winston as a “family” restaurant. However, they have a kids menu featuring favorites like a cheeseburger, chicken fingers and pasta. The whole family can enjoy a great dinner out!

The Details:

Winston Restaurant
130 East Main Street
Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
(914) 244-9780

Hours:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Thursday: 5 PM – 9 PM
Friday & Saturday: 5 PM – 10 PM
Sunday: 5 PM – 9 PM

Parking: Street parking available in front of the restaurant. Village Center Parking Lot is located behind the restaurant. Meters enforced 8 AM – 6 PM Monday through Saturday. Free parking Sundays and holidays.

Price: $$ (small plate/starters average $15, most entrees priced between $25 – $35, most desserts are $10 and under)

Reservations can be made via phone or through OpenTable.

Five on Friday {Happy Halloween}

Posted on October 27, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this blog.)

I know I’m a couple of days early, but wishing everyone a Happy Halloween. I hate when Halloween is on a weeknight. Can’t they make it the last Friday or Saturday of October?! Don’t mind my random rantings. I’m sure you’ll hear more in next week’s Five on Friday when my kids stay up way too late and eat too much candy on Tuesday. My daughter has a Halloween dance at school tonight. Tomorrow we are going to have a mother-daughter day and head into the city to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway! Here are five from this week:

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Reading – I am a big Colleen Hoover fan. Her newest book, Without Merit, came out October 3rd. When it came in from the library I had to rush over and pick it up. I read it in two days. Although it was a good read, it is not one of favorites of hers.

Family Fun – Last Friday evening we went to the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. It’s a 7,000+ pumpkin display housed on a local historic site. Artists hand carve the pumpkins and create elaborate displays.

Supper Club – We had our monthly Supper Club Sunday evening. This month’s theme was Caribbean. I made plantains two way – tostones with a garlic mojo sauce and these sweet plantains. I know they are simple dishes, but they are so good! On the rare occasions that we eat Caribbean I need one or both of these.

Watching – This Is Us, Grey’s Anatomy, Real Housewives of Dallas, New Jersey and Beverly Hills. I haven’t been watching a lot of television so, I’m getting behind on all those Housewives episodes!

Blog Goals – I’ve been setting up monthly blog goals and I’ve been doing really well these past two months. Yesterday I finally got around to ordering business cards. Do you know how many events I’ve been to and have been asked for a card? I’ve had to embarrassingly admit that I didn’t have any. They will hopefully be here by next week! This month I also signed up as an affiliate with Amazon. I know it’s not a big money maker, but at this point, every little bit helps! If anyone wants to help me out, feel free to click on an affiliate link or the amazon ad on my sidebar before you make your next Amazon purchase! (shameless plug over!) Eventually, I’d like to design a new header and logo, but it’s not a priority at the moment.

ICYMI this week on the blog:

Monday I shared 5 Essential Cookware Pieces for the Beginner Home Cook.

Tuesday I posted the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in 7 Pictures.

I’m linking up with Katie, April and Andrea. Have a great weekend!

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze 2017 {in 7 Pictures}

Posted on October 24, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is the not-to-miss Fall event in the Hudson Valley. Set on the historic grounds of Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, over 7,000 carved pumpkins are on display. Lights, sounds and even movement accompany the elaborate jack o’lantern displays. Tickets for the Historic Hudson Valley’s biggest event of the year are still available for a few select evenings in November! Here is a summary of the 2017 Blaze in 7 Pictures – Pumpkin Zee Bridge, Celtic Knots, Circus Train, Pumpkin Carousel, Statue of Liberty, Arachno and the Pumpkin Planetarium.

5 Essential Cookware Pieces for the Beginner Home Cook

Posted on October 23, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this blog!)

As much as I love to eat out, I also like to cook. I’m not a fancy or creative cook, but I can follow a recipe. I’m a busy mom and when I’m in the kitchen my main goal is to cook quick and easy meals for my family. While there are all kinds of kitchen gadgets and cookware out there, I hate having lots of “stuff”cluttering my kitchen. Here are 5 essential cookware pieces that I think will be useful for any beginner home cook. These are pieces that I use on a regular basis to create basic, everyday weeknight meals.

Slow Cooker – There is nothing nicer than throwing ingredients in a slow cooker in the morning and coming home to a ready-to-eat meal. As you can tell from this picture, my slow cooker is well used! I have a 6 quart Hamilton Beach Set & Forget Programmable slow cooker. I find that this slow cooker cooks things very quickly. I’ve had it for several years now and know to reduce recommended cooking times in recipes. I use my slow cooker mainly for soups and stews. However, I’ve also made stuffed peppers, lasagna, Slow Cooker Lentil and Brown Rice Tacos and more in it.

Pizza Stone – I received this Emile Henry pizza stone as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and it’s become a kitchen favorite. The ceramic stone is made in France and comes in small, medium and large sizes. I have a 14.5″ large ceramic stone in burgundy. When I make pizza, I set the oven to 450 degrees F. and this stone gives the pizza a crispy bottom and crust. Although I’ve never tried it, the stone can be used on the barbecue grill. Almost every Friday night I use the stone to make homemade pizza for dinner. Lately, I’ve been making plain, cheese pizza. However, we enjoyed this Onion, Pear & Gorgonzola Pizza with Balsamic Glaze.

Immersion Blender – Have you seen soup or sauce recipes where they direct you to pour the liquid (sometimes hot) into a blender to puree? An immersion blender saves you this awful step. While I don’t use it very often, my immersion blender comes in handy often in the fall and winter when I tend to make a lot of soups. I’ve been happy with our Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender. It has two speed settings which is more than enough for my basic home cooking needs. It’s useful when making Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup.

Cast Iron Skillet – A cast iron skillet is such a versatile piece of cookware. They come in many sizes from individual pans to large Dutch oven styles. I have a 10-inch Lodge skillet that gets well used. Cast iron cookware is able to withstand high temperatures and retains heat. It can easily go from the stove top into the oven (with the assistance of good oven mitts!). It does need to be seasoned to avoid rusting, which is an easy process. I often sear meat in this skillet before putting it in the slow cooker for extra flavor. I also cook burgers and cornbread in it. My husband makes fried chicken in our cast iron skillet.

Dutch Oven – A dutch oven is another useful, multi-purpose cooking vessel. It is a thick-walled pot, often made out of cast iron. However, dutch ovens can also be made of cast aluminum or ceramic. I have a 5.5-quart Food Network Ceramic Dutch Oven. I use it to braise meat as well as to cook soups and stews. It’s also large enough for cooking one pot meals in. This dutch oven is perfect for making Simple Clam Chowder.

Do you use any of these cookware pieces? What’s an essential piece of cookware that you use that I didn’t mention?

Five on Friday {Friday already?!}

Posted on October 20, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this blog!)

Happy Friday guys! I can’t believe how quickly this week flew by! It’s definitely starting to feel like fall around here. We haven’t turned on the heat yet, but the down comforter did come out! Tonight we have tickets to go to the Blaze, a famous, local jack-o-lantern display. Currently, our only weekend plans include a Cub Scout event for my son and our monthly supper club. It’s supposed to be a nice weekend, so we will hopefully find something fun to do in our free time! Here are five from this week:

1. Eating – Last night I attended a tasting of local restaurant Winston’s new fall menu. I enjoyed the scallops pictured above, as well as many other delicious dishes that I will be writing about in a future post.

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2. Reading – I’m actually in the middle of reading several books. However, Class Mom by Laurie Gelman has received most of my reading attention. This book justifies why I have and never will volunteer for the position of class mom! It’s a fun, light read that is perfect for my recent reading slump.

3. Watching – Last Friday we had a picnic dinner on the floor of our living room and watched part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I know the book is huge and they had to leave a lot out and change things. But my husband was ready to kill me after I kept commenting, “This isn’t what was in the book!” We didn’t have time to watch part 2, so we’ll have to watch that one soon.

4. Walking – Last weekend, the family participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk. This is a special cause for us, since my mother is a breast cancer survivor. Unfortunately, the weather was pretty dreary. And we didn’t realize until we got to the walk that it was 4.4 miles! But we did it!

5. Getting in shape – I’ve decided that I need to be more serious in getting in shape and losing weight. My once or twice a week zumba classes are not enough. My husband showed me this article and basically I need to start lifting heavy weights…..but I hate lifting any kinds of weights! Any motivational words of wisdom are appreciated! LOL!

ICYMI this week on the blog:

Monday I shared the last weekly meal plan that I’ll be posting on the blog.

Tuesday I posted a review of Brunch at NYC restaurant Calle Dao.

Wednesday I shared our day of family fun at the Strong Museum of Play.

Thursday I featured Wes Henderson in our “5 Questions with…” interview.

I’m linking up with Katie, and Andrea! Hope you have a great weekend!

5 Questions with Wes Henderson

Posted on October 19, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(photo courtesy of Angel’s Envy)

Our 5 Questions feature is where we interview notable people in the food and travel industry. Wes Henderson is the Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Louisville Distilling Company, the makers of Angel’s Envy Bourbon. Based in Louisville, Kentucky Angel’s Envy has made a name for itself in the few short years of its existence. Wes and his late father Lincoln Henderson founded the company to create a super-premium bourbon. What sets their bourbon apart from others is their use of port barrels in the finishing process.

Angel’s Envy is typically aged between 4-6 years in new, charred 53-gallon American white oak barrels. Then, the aged bourbon is aged up to 6 more months in 60-gallon port barrels from Portugal. This bourbon is produced in small batches, of only 8-12 barrels at a time. They also make a limited edition Cask Strength Bourbon. These barrels are deemed exceptional, and the aged bourbon is given a lengthier stay in the port barrels and then bottled at full strength. The 2017 edition is 124.5 proof and is a rare, limited edition release, of only 10,000 bottles. We here at NY Foodie Family were fascinated learning about how this spirit is created, as Kentucky bourbon is one of the few spirits originated in America.

(photo courtesy of Angel’s Envy – (L-R) Kyle, Wes and Lincoln Henderson)

Angel’s Envy is truly a family operation. Although Wes and his father Lincoln created Angel’s Envy, his son Kyle has joined as production manager. Other son, Andrew, is a distillery operator and is also learning the distilling process. Since Lincoln’s passing in 2013, Wes is continuing to carry on the family legacy.

1. What is one thing that would surprise people who know nothing about bourbon?

WH: 60% is an interesting number to look at. It’s been estimated to be the percentage of bourbon’s flavor that comes from barrel aging, and it’s also roughly the amount that each bottle is taxed by the government.

2. What do you suppose your profession might be if you weren’t the son of a Master Distiller?

WH: Well, being the son of a Master Distiller isn’t really a profession, and I had several professions before co-founding Angel’s Envy. But if I had to return to an old favorite, it would have to be a radio personality. I genuinely loved that job.

3. Kentucky produces 95% of all bourbon. What is it that makes the state so special in its production?

WH: The easy answer is the state’s limestone-filtered water. But I genuinely believe that it’s the people. For generations now, we’ve had a unique community, a truly close circle of individuals, committed to distilling great whiskey. It’s a surprisingly supportive group that understands that we all succeed together, and I’ve always thought that that was Kentucky’s secret to success.

4. How would you describe the perfect barrel of bourbon? And have you ever found one?

WH: I have had the pleasure of tasting a perfect barrel of bourbon on several occasions. That’s actually the basis for our Cask Strength release. We usually refer to them as honey barrels, and the second you taste it, you just know.

5. What’s your favorite drink that doesn’t involve a drop of bourbon?

WH: Mexican Coke.

We’d like to thank Wes Henderson for sharing his perspectives and insight with us. Stay tuned for the next entry in our series of “5 Questions With…”

You can learn more about Angel’s Envy and get cocktail recipes on their website.

A Day of Family Fun at the Strong Museum of Play

Posted on October 18, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

{Thank you to the Strong and Visit Rochester for hosting us.}

Bringing out your inner kid is easy to do when you visit the Strong Museum in Rochester. Encompassing two floors and over 100,000 square feet of exhibits, you will easily spend an entire day visiting this museum. I visited the Strong this summer with my 9 and 11-year-old children. During our visit we saw kids of all ages, from babies to college freshman visiting with the University of Rochester as part of orientation!

This is a very popular place! When we arrived at the 10 AM opening, there was already a line at the admission desk. Every exhibit in the Strong has interactive elements. We first headed towards the Field of Play, where the focus is on the six different elements of play. Here the kids climbed a rock wall, walked through a giant kaleidoscope, stood in an optical illusion house and more. They loved playing Dance Dance Revolution and I may have even danced a round or two for old time’s sake!

Younger children will love the Sesame Street Exhibit where they can sit on the stoop of 123 Sesame Street, visit Elmo’s World, watch old episodes of the show and more.

My kids loved the Wegmans Super Kids Market and WKID TV. When you enter the exhibit, you can pick either a shopping basket or a miniature shopping cart to shop with. You are allowed to shop for six items at a time and then are requested to check out. While shopping you can choose from a variety of foods including fruits & veggies, breads, fish, meats and cheese. My son even picked up some sushi at the prepared foods section! Checking out was their favorite part. You place your items on the movable conveyor belt, scan them and then get an itemized, printed receipt! When you are finished, you are asked to re-shelve your items for the next group of shoppers. The back of the store has the WKID TV station where kids can be on television or work the camera and lights.

During our visit, “Have a Ball” was in the short-term exhibit gallery. This exhibit showcased the importance of ball play through different zones. We especially enjoyed playing with Spheros, remote-controlled balls, in the Robot Park. Upcoming exhibits include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Sept. 16, 2017 – January 1, 2018) and Thomas & Friends (January 20 – May 6, 2018).

Superhero fans will love the American Comic Book Heroes exhibit. Young and old will see a collection of familiar superheroes. There are several hands-on displays and a fun photo op too!

The kids were sad that my husband couldn’t make the trip with us. He’s a huge pinball machine fan and they knew he would have loved the Pinball Playfields exhibit. It’s a huge room filled only with pinball machines! Included in the exhibit are the early, basic pinball machines to the fancy, themed ones of today. For only a couple of dollars you can get a bunch of tokens and play to your heart’s content.

One of my favorite areas of the museum was Reading Adventureland. You can literally spend the entire day in just this one exhibit. There are five different areas inspired by children’s literature including Adventure Island, Fairy Tale Forest, Mystery Mansion, Upside-Down Nonsense House and Wizard’s Workshop. Each landscape has books, interactive elements and some even have craft areas.

We didn’t spend much time in The Berenstein Bears exhibit, but younger children will have a blast with all of the hands-on fun here. We also didn’t visit One History Place, an interactive exhibit of toys from the past. For $1 per person you can ride on the Strong Express Train or the Elaine Wilson Carousel.

Before heading upstairs we took a lunch break. We opted to eat at Bill Gray’s where the kids got a cheeseburger and hot dog kids meal and I got a mushroom swiss burger. I shared their fries and had brought a water bottle with me. The kids were super excited that they could get a slushie with their kids meal.

After lunch we visited the second floor. We first stopped at the World Video Game Hall of Fame, where there is a pay-per-play video game room. There is also a Toy Hall of Fame with the most popular toys of the different decades. Definitely a walk down memory lane for me!

Upstairs we also visited the “Game Time!” exhibit. The kids really enjoyed playing oversized versions of classic games like Connect Four and Battleship. There are games including Jenga, an electronic word search, an electronic big screen Bingo game and more. We didn’t spend too much time in the other upstairs exhibits, Play Pals, Build, Drive Go and America at Play, due to lack of time.

I was most impressed with the literature connections the museum makes. Every exhibit in the library houses a collection of books related to the featured theme. Even better, local area residents can borrow the books! The Grada Hopeman Gelser Library is a circulating library open during normal museum hours. Children can borrow books and then return them either back at the museum or any other public library branch in the system. I think this is such an amazing resource.

As crowded as the museum was on a Friday during the summer, it’s spacious enough that it never felt like it. The kids never had to wait more than a minute or two to interact with different exhibits. As you can see, there is a lot to do at the Strong. We visited on a Friday, to take advantage of the longer hours. When visiting the Rochester area, a visit to the Strong is a must!

The Details:

Strong National Museum of Play
One Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 263-2700

Parking: Free large parking lot

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 AM – 5 PM Friday & Saturday, 10 AM – 8 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM

Admission: $14.50/ages 2+ (does not include admission to the butterfly garden)

Food: There is a food court with a Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell Express, Subway and Louie’s Sweet Shoppe. Billy Gray’s Restaurant is located in the museum atrium. Outside food is permitted but must be eaten in lunchroom C, as the dining room tables and chairs in the food court and atrium are reserved for restaurant guests.

Tips:

*Bill Gray’s has a Happy Hour everyday from 2:30-4:30 PM with 1/2 price milkshakes. Take a break and enjoy a sweet treat!

*Bill Gray’s restaurant accepts online coupons from its website.

*To make the most of your visit, get there at opening. Plus, it’s less crowded!

*I recommend that moms wear a crossbody pocketbook or a backpack. Having a bag keep falling off your shoulder can be very annoying (I know from personal experience!). You will want your hands free, because you will be playing and interacting with the exhibits too!

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Brunching at Calle Dao {Chelsea}

Posted on October 17, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

{I was invited to a tasting of the everyday brunch menu. All opinions are my own.}

Just hearing the restaurant name Calle Dao, you know you are going to get a global dining experience. Calle Dao serves Cuban-Chinese cuisine, paying tribute to the heyday of Havana’s Chinatown. Located at 461 West 23rd street, the new Chelsea location opened in the beginning of September. This is the second Calle Dao location (the first one is located in Bryant Park).

Owner Marco Britti, a musician by trade, has traveled the world as a drummer. He has spent a good amount of time in Cuba, playing music and studying the culture and food. Calle Dao Chelsea is his seventh restaurant.

The restaurant’s decor reflects more of a Cuban vibe. The white-washed walls lighten the space and each table has its own overhead light. The abundance of potted green leafy plants, Chinese prints and neon lit signs add pops of color. The beats of the Latin music playing will have you tapping your toes and make you want to get up and dance.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Bradley Warner helped create the menu at Calle Dao.

The restaurant serves brunch seven days a week. From 11 AM to 4 PM, you can enjoy all the deliciousness they offer! Appetizers are in the $9-$10 range, with options like these Cuban Sandwich Spring Rolls and Shrimp Empanadas. I highly recommend the spring rolls that are served with a Mojo Lime Mustard. They really showcase the fusion of the Cuban and Asian cuisines.

Main entrees are priced from $15-$23. I was most impressed with the restaurant’s take on Beef & Broccoli. Tender pieces of smoked short ribs are served with Chinese broccoli and noodles in a garlic hoisin sauce. I just wish there was more than three small pieces of meat. They also serve a vegetarian, mushroom and broccoli version of this dish.

Another one of my favorite entrees was the Chorizo and Garbanzo Hash. The chorizo and garbanzo beans are mixed with sweet potatoes, peppers and onions and topped with sunny-side up eggs. This was a very flavorful dish with a great combo of flavors.

Other dishes I tried were a Lamb Picadillo & Corn Congee, topped with poached eggs and Huevos Al Horno (eggs baked in a white bean stew with Chinese sausage). The picadillo was an interesting fusion of the two cuisines. The Huevos Al Horno was a hearty dish. However, this was one of the few dishes that I felt that I could make myself at home. When I dine out I try to order dishes that I wouldn’t make at home due to the complex ingredients, flavors, or cooking methods.

The menu has a couple of classic dishes like this Cubano sandwich with Mojo glazed pork, cured ham, salami, pickles and Gruyere cheese.

Besides the Mushroom and Broccoli noodle bowl, Calle Dao offers several other vegetarian-friendly options. They make a Black Bean and Mushroom Burger, Shiitake Spring Rolls and two different salads. More breakfast-y options include a vegetarian omelette, Maduro & Eggs (fried rice topped with eggs), Avocado Toast and a strawberry jam and cream cheese filled french toast.

The restaurant has a fully stocked bar and also serves wine and beer. Master mixologist Joy Daniel has created several unique Cuban-Asian cocktails to accompany Calle Dao’s menu. I prefer my drinks on the sweeter side and sampled the “Flor de Oro”. Made with vodka, rose and vanilla infused dry vermouth, cherry jam and fresh lemon juice, this cocktail did not disappoint.

You have to leave room for dessert! I tried both the Bunuelos (fried dough balls, rolled in Chinese Five Spice Sugar and served with a chocolate coconut sauce) and Matcha Tres Leches. Both were amazing, but if I had to recommend only one, I’d vote the Tres Leches.

Whether you are in Chelsea to visit an art gallery, see a show or to shop, take a brunch break at Calle Dao. You are in for a great dining experience!

Weekly Meal Plan {Week 89}

Posted on October 16, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Monday, Monday, back so quickly! Time to start another week and another weekly meal plan. If you’re new to meal planning, you can read all about my meal planning process. This is the last week of my weekly meal plan posts. You can still see my more photogenic dinners (and other tasty eats) by following me on Instagram. Plus, there are 88 other weekly meal plans that you can check out on the blog! I look forward to posting a wider variety of food and restaurant related posts.

Saturday: I had spent the day at my parent’s house with the kids visiting my nieces. My husband stayed home, sick with a cold. My mom sent me home with some homemade chicken soup which he enjoyed. The rest of us had leftover calzones.

Sunday: My daughter requested tacos for dinner. My husband made ground beef tacos which he served with yellow rice.

Monday: This week I tried another Make Once, Cook 3x recipe from Cooking Light, September 2016. I made Sheet Pan Swedish Meatballs. I made 42 meatballs that were then divided up into three different recipes. I made my meatballs with just ground beef, since the grocery store didn’t have ground pork the day I went food shopping. The meatballs weren’t super flavorful but the sauces and recipe variations helped. I served these Swedish meatballs over mashed potatoes, as recommended, and with some veggies.

Tuesday: Using some of the leftover meatballs from Monday, I made Greek Stuffed Pitas from Cooking Light, September 2016. I added some sliced cucumber to the pitas. Unfortunately, the pitas that I bought were thin. When I put all the “stuff” in them, they fell apart as soon as I picked it up. So, we ended up eating these with a fork and knife! Cucumber yogurt sauce can make anything taste good!

Wednesday: The last recipe using the meatballs was this Banh Mi Bowl from Cooking Light, September 2016. Quick pickling the carrots and radishes is a game changer! I didn’t realize how easy it was to do and the flavor is amazing! I seriously could just eat these veggies. This was my favorite meatball dish of the three. I think I’d make this again using a more Asian flavored meatball.

Thursday: I made Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry from Chef Savvy. Would you believe that I forgot to buy the broccoli for this recipe and only realized it when I was starting to cook?!! This was a tasty sauce and it actually thickened like it was supposed to! This is a quick, easy and tasty recipe. I served it over rice.

Friday: Mr. NY Foodie Family went fishing Friday morning with some guys from work. He caught eight Porgies on his fishing trip. When he got home he fried up the fish and made us FLT (Fish, Lettuce, Tomato) sandwiches for dinner. He served them with fries.

What is on your dinner menu this week?

Stepping Back In Time at the Genesee Country Village & Museum

Posted on October 12, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(Thank you to the Genesee Country Village & Museum and Visit Rochester for hosting us.)

Imagine living in a time when you had to grow all of your own food and go to school in a one room schoolhouse. It’s very difficult for children today to believe such times existed! When I learned that the Genesee Country Village & Museum is the largest living history museum in New York State, I knew that it had to be a stop on our #NYSummer2017. History is so important in understanding the present and I know my kids learn best from hands-on experiences.

The Genesee Country Village is located approximately 25 minutes away from where we were staying in Rochester. We arrived at the 10 AM opening ready for a day of fun. Even though we were there from opening to close, we still weren’t able to see and do everything! When we arrived we received a map and a daily visitor’s guide of all the activities.

We started our visit at the John L Wehle Gallery. A large collection of hunting and wildlife art is housed here, including paintings and sculptures. There is also a historic costume collection display featuring 3,500 articles of historic clothing. They have a room especially for children that has Lincoln Logs, a play kitchen, books and more. I let the kids play while I walked around the gallery.

After leaving the gallery, we headed towards the Historic Village. The Village is comprised of 68 buildings and encompasses three different time periods: the Pioneer Settlement (1780’s -1830’s), Antebellum Village (1830’s – 1860’s) and Turn of the Century (1870’s – 1920’s). To visit in time period order, you must start at the left after passing through the village entrance.

Costumed interpreters are in almost every building acting the part of a 19th century villager. We met many villagers during our visit including a blacksmith, a printer, a tailor, a tinsmith and a dressmaker. They are both knowledgeable and informative and able to answer any questions you may have. They actually practice their craft while you visit, building baskets, spinning yarn, making prints and more.

We enjoyed sitting at a desk in the one room schoolhouse and learned that approximately 20 students of different ages would attend each day. The exception was during planting season, when they would be needed to help in the fields.

Another favorite building was the Pioneer Farmstead. There we watched a woman preparing Bubble & Squeak (cabbage, onion and potato) for the lunchtime meal. There are animals on the farmstead including a pig, sheep and chickens that the kids especially enjoyed visiting.

At 11:30 AM we headed to the Civil War Camp for the Civil War Cooking demonstration. There we learned about the different types and small amounts of rations the soldiers received. Since there was no mess hall, soldiers had to prepare their own food. With limited supplies, they had to cook their meager rations to make them edible and to prolong their shelf life. Besides the cooking demonstration we were also able to peek into a camp tent.

Watching the cooking demonstration made us hungry. After the demo we headed to lunch at the Depot Restaurant. The restaurant serves sandwiches, burgers, salads, chicken fingers, soup, mac and cheese and more. The chicken salad sandwich was very good and the kids liked the mac and cheese and chicken fingers. The restaurant sells ales for those interested in an adult beverage. Everything is reasonably priced as well.

When the kids needed a break, we headed to the village square where they played 19th century games and attempted to walk on stilts.

D.B. Munger Confectionery is located in the village square and sells sweets and homemade baked goods.

We stopped by Silver Base Ball Park to some of the match between Spring Creek and Flower City. It was fun to sit in the stands and see them playing ball, with no baseball gloves!

At 2:30 we returned to the Gallery for the free adult-and-child art activity. On our visit we first took a look at a Bruno Liljefors fox painting out in the gallery. Then we went into the art studio and under the instruction of a gallery staff member painted our own copy. (If you have children 10 or older who enjoy art, like my children, try to take advantage of this fun activity!)

We left the Historic Village right around the 4 PM closing time. Unfortunately, by the time we visited the Nature Center adjacent to the parking lot, it was closed. There is access to several hiking trails from the Center but our feet were so tired from walking all day that we opted not to. We did stop to take some pictures of the beautiful water gardens before heading out.

We enjoyed our visit to the Genesee Country Village & Museum. As you can see, there is a lot to see and do here! When you’re in the Rochester area, make time to visit this fun and educational living history museum.

The Details:

Genesee Country Village & Museum
1410 Flint Hill Road
Mumford, NY 14511
(585) 538-6822

Parking: Free, large parking lot

Hours: 10 AM – 4 PM, Tuesday through Sunday (May through September) Wednesday- Sunday (September & October) The Historic Village and John L. Wehle Gallery are closed for the winter months except for special holiday events. Please check the website for more details as well as for the nature trail hours.

Admission: $18/adult, $15/senior citizens (62+) and college students (w/ID), $10/youth (4-18)
-includes access to the Historic Village, John L. Wehle Gallery and nature trails (please check the website for admission prices for only the gallery or nature trails)

Food: Food and snacks are available on premise at the Depot Restaurant, Freight House Pub and Pavilion Garden Restaurant (summer only).

Tips:

*The Historic Village is very large and you will most likely not be able to do or see everything. Make sure to check out the daily visitor’s guide to plan which timed activities you’d like to visit. They only occur once throughout the day.

*Certain village buildings close between 11 AM and 2 PM for staff lunch breaks. You may want to visit the village before or after those times if you wish to see all the buildings.

*There is a free trolley on weekends (or by advanced registration if needed).

*This attraction requires a lot of walking. Wear sneakers or comfortable shoes.

*These are historic buildings. Most of them are not stroller friendly. You may need to park your stroller outside the building and walk with or hold younger children.

*For an additional fee you can make your own punched-tin ornament or purchase prints at the Printing Office.

*Go to the gift shop at the end of your visit. During the summer it stays open until 4:30 PM, 3o minutes after the museum closes.

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