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Five on Friday {August 12, 2022}

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

I can’t believe how quickly summer is going. It’s crazy to think that the kids start their sports tryouts/practices in less than two weeks. My daughter’s been busy working and they’ve both been hanging out with friends, enjoying the last couple of weeks of summer. Here are five from this week:

1. New kitten – Sunday we went to our local SPCA and adopted a kitten. Meet Blackjack. He joins our other two cats, who are NOT fans of him. He’s already brought lots of joy for the rest of us though. This is one of the rare times that he stayed still enough for me to get a picture!

2. Green Chimneys – Saturday we visited Green Chimneys in Brewster. Two years ago in June, during the height of the pandemic, we rescued two baby hawks from our backyard. They fell out of a nest in a tree and were unable to fly. Green Chimneys ended taking them in. We are not sure if the two Broad-winged hawks were our baby rescues. But we were finally able to visit. They have lots of other rescue animals, most of which are birds, that were fun to see.

3. Red Rooster – Red Rooster in Brewster has been open since the 1960’s. I remember having a mini-golf party here when I was younger. It’s been ages since we were in the area so we stopped for lunch. It was way too hot to play mini-golf, but ice cream was perfect!  

4. Reading – This week I finished reading Local Girl Missing by Mary Kubrick. This was a good mystery/suspense read that had me engaged. 

5. Cooking – This week our dinner menu included Blue Cheese Stuffed Portobello Burgers with Grilled Corn and Crispy Shallots. These were really good! Since the kids don’t like mushrooms they had regular burgers.

6. Watching – This weekend we watched the movie Downtown Abbey: A New Era. Although we never finished watching the season, it was nice to see them wrap everything up.

ICYMI this week on the blog: 

Wednesday I posted Cooking Lately: July.

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

Cooking Lately: July

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Our lax summer schedules have afforded me the luxury of being able to cook intricate recipes. However, with the sweltering temps, I’ve had no desire to turn the oven on. Instead of the weekly menu plans that I used to post here many moons ago, I thought I’d share a monthly “Cooking Lately” post.

I want to share only the good recipes that have graced our dinner table throughout the month. I know how difficult it is figuring out what to cook for dinner. While I do plan out a menu for the week to help keep me sane and organized, not all the recipes I choose are winners! I plan on sharing just the recipes that we have tried and are family approved!

Since Trader Joe’s just opened a new location nearby, I feel like I’ll be eating and cooking a lot of their prepared foods and ingredients. This will be especially true in the fall which is our family’s busy season. Fellow Trader Joe’s fans may be interested in this Instagram account that I found. I haven’t made anything yet, but I have bookmarked a bunch of Anna’s recipes!

Just a note about our family’s diet and the types of recipes that I cook: my teenage daughter is a vegetarian. My husband and I are both pescatarians, although he eats a lot less seafood than I do. My teenage son is the only meat eater in the house, so you won’t find any meat recipes here. You’ll find vegetarian, sometimes vegan and the occasional pescatarian recipes.

Here are some of our July recipe recommendations: 

Blueberry French Toast Casserole – This month we celebrated my son’s 14th birthday with a brunch-themed family celebration. Breakfast is his favorite meal. Among several dishes, I made this Blueberry French Toast Casserole that everyone was raving about. 

Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon – My husband and I had a rare weeknight where it was just the two of us for dinner. We made this recipe with Parmesan Spinach Couscous. This was such a tasty dish but I think I’ll serve it over pasta next time.

Halloumi Hummus Bowls – I used Trader Joe’s Pearled couscous. Instead of halloumi I used crumbled feta which is a cheaper and easier to find alternative. I added some red onion and I thought it needed a dressing so we topped our bowls with Wishbone Lemon Vinaigrette. This recipes has little to no actual cooking involved and is perfect for hot summer nights.

Peach Goat Cheese Salad – I made this salad for lunch one week and it will keep making appearances until peach season is over. There’s a bit of prep with the ingredients but it’s so tasty! And it’s a fraction of the cost to make it at home versus buying a salad for lunch.

Sheet Pan Cauliflower Fajitas – These fajitas are on repeat in our house and I probably make them about once a month. They are easy to make and a quick meal. To save time, I sometimes purchase a packet of fajita seasoning or use the Penzeys fajita seasoning, when I have it. I serve these with sour cream, salsa and/or guacamole.

Smoky Shiitake Quesadillas with Avocado Cream Sauce – My husband ended up cooking this dinner, since I was at our daughter’s summer league field hockey game. Instead of shiitake mushrooms I had bought regular white button mushrooms that worked perfectly fine in this recipe. The avocado cream and pickled onions really helped make the dish.

Summer Coconut Chickpea Curry – This recipe is a great way to use some of the summer zucchini and squash that always seems to be abundant around this time of year. Some of the edits I made to this recipe include omitting the tahini and the halloumi cheese. I served the curry over basmati rice with some store-bought naan.

Quick and Easy Meals

Usually once a week, and sometimes more, I have a quick and easy meal. These meals use either prepared foods or require little to no prep. This month’s quick and easy meals included:

*Pierogies and roasted broccoli

*Breakfast burritos – (scrambled eggs, cheese, hash brown and chorizo rolled in a tortilla served with salsa and sometimes prepared guacamole, if I have it)

*Burgers and fries (I use whatever burgers I find on sale – Beyond burgers, Boca Burgers, etc.).

What have you been cooking lately?

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Five on Friday {August 5, 2022}

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Hello Friday! Summer is flying by with the first week of August in the books. It’s been so hot that I don’t want to be outside. But we are trying to make the best of the time we have. Here are five from this week:

1. Untermyer Gardens – This free garden in Yonkers is so beautiful! One of my husband’s college friends was in town this weekend and we took him here. This place never gets old for me!

2. Yonkers Brewing – After our visit to Untermyer we visited Yonkers Brewing Co. This was my first time here. My husband ordered a flight but said the sour was his favorite.

3. Reading – This week I finished reading two books: The Change by Kirsten Miller and Meant to Be by Emily Giffen. Both were 4 star reads for me. The Change started slow and took a bit to get into. But once it picked up I enjoyed it. I also really enjoyed Meant to Be. I’ve read most of Giffen’s books and have really liked almost all of them.

4. Cooking – This week I made Roasted Cauliflower Pitas with Zhoug sauce. I bought the zhoug sauce from Trader Joe’s but should have made it. The sauce was way too spicy for my liking and if I made it myself I could have controlled the heat. I made Vegan BBQ Beef Bowls (see below) and I also made Sweet and Spicy Tofu Noodles. Thursday dinner was just my husband and son so they had burgers (one MorningStar Farms and one regular beef) and fries. 

5. Watching – Haven’t watched anything new and exciting this week. I watched the newest episode of The Bachelorette and some episodes of Vanderpump Rules! I don’t watch Netflix very much and saw that a new season of Virgin River had come out. I realized that I hadn’t finished season 3, so I also started watching that again. Would love any recommendations of new shows to watch!

6. Dinner Party – Not a dinner party per se, but my daughter had six friends over and I cooked dinner for them all. She had been trying to have a dinner get-together since the beginning of the summer. After a previous cancellation it finally happened. I made BBQ Beef Bowls (I had both regular ground beef and Trader Joe’s Beefless Crumbles). I had never made this recipe before which was risky, but it seemed pretty fail proof. Plus they could all customize their bowls based on what they like. For dessert I made brownies (from a box) and had an ice cream sundae bar. I was so busy that no pics were taken!

7. Girls Night Out – This week I had two dinners out with friends. They were both much needed! It’s so nice catching up with these women that I don’t get to see very often. Saturday night I went to Wild Fusion and enjoyed this shrimp with eggplant. Last night I went to Savannah’s.

8. First Concert – Last night my daughter went to her first concert in the city with a friend and the friend’s older sister. It was a big deal, since this was her first time taking the train and going into the city without us.  She saw Ross Lynch and The Driver Era at Pier 17…..and I had no idea who he was! LOL!

ICYMI this week on the blog: 

Thursday I posted August Events in Westchester County.

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

August Events in Westchester County

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Summer is still going strong.  Soak up all the fun with these August Events in Westchester County (and the surrounding area). Check back often as we continue to update this post. Please email Nancy at NYFoodieFamily@gmail.com with any calendar additions.
As always, please check directly with the venue for the most up-to-date information.

Comedy:

Levity Live (West Nyack – Palisade Center) Enjoy a comedy show at Levity Live. Upcoming shows include Pat McGann (August 4-6), Steve Byrne (August 11-13), Jon Lovitz (August 16-17), Ryan Long (Aug. 18), Adele Givens (August 19-21), Josh Johnson (August 25) Lavell Crawford (August 26-27)  *Check the site for the full lineup

August 25: (Peekskill) Bored Teachers Summer Comedy Tour at Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 7:30 PM. Tickets $35-$55.

Date Night/Girls Night Out:

Karaoke Mondays (Rye) Barley Beach House 8 PM – 11 PM. Grab our friends and sing your heart out!

Eat & Drink:

Taste of Westchester Cooking Demo Classes: (restaurants throughout Westchester County) enjoy cooking demos from local chefs and then sample their creations.  Remaining August classes include:  The 808 Bistro (August 6th), Zwilling J.A. Henckels Cooking Studio (August 8th, August 13th), Saltaire Oyster Bar (August 11th), The Horse & Hound Inn (August 17th), Fatt Root Asian Kitchen (August 20th), El Barrio (August 23rd)

August 6th – (Elmsford) Captain Lawrence Summer Seafood Boil. This is a rain or shine event. Enjoy live music and lots of food!

August 11 – (New Rochelle) Mediterranean Cruise Night at Dubrovnik Restaurant: Explore the flavors of Portugal, Spain, France, Croatia and Italy. 6:30 PM – 10 PM, 5-course dinner, $80/person 

August 16 – (Rye) Barley Beach House Reggae Rum Punch Party. 6 PM – 9 PM. Celebrate National Rum Day at The Barley Beach House. Enjoy unlimited tastings of their secret island rum punch cocktails. Dance to live music by Royal Khaoz and eat from the Island Buffet. 21+ to party. Tickets: General admission $55, Group rate (6 tickets for the price of 5): $45.85, Designated Driver $20

Openings:

Freddy’s Restaurant (Pleasantville) had their soft opening this week. This is the newest restaurant from Chef Matthew Safarowic and his wife Christina Drake Safarowic. Check out their menu of modern American tavern fare.

ONGOING:

Tuesday:

Augie’s Prime Cut (Mohegan Lake)  has a Tuesday Prime Rib special. From 3 PM to close diners can enjoy a 12 oz. prime rib with choice of potatoes or rice for $19.95.

Taco Tuesday deal at Donjito (Scarsdale) 3 tacos for $12 plus beer and margarita specials.

Wednesday:

Wine Wednesdays at The Bit (Dobbs Ferry). Enjoy 50% off almost all bottles of wine.

Divino Cucina Italiana (Hastings) has Vegan Wednesdays. Every Wednesday they have a special vegan menu.

The Railhouse 10803 (Pelham) has New York Strip Wednesdays. Enjoy a New York Strip steak, roasted potatoes and asparagus with Argentinean Chimichurri for $15! Dine in only.

Friday:

Sunset Beach Dinner at The Barley Beach House (Rye). Fridays 7 PM – 10 PM. $30 food buffet, cash bar. First come first serve.

Fairs & Festivals:

August 2-7: Ulster County Fair (New Paltz) August 4: 10 AM – 10 PM, August 5 & 6: 10 AM – 11 PM, August 7: 10 AM – 8 PM. Free Parking. Pay one price: $20/person or purchase online $18/person includes rides, shows and entertainment

August 5-7 & August 12-14: Barton Orchards Sunflower Festival (Poughquag) Enjoy the five-acre sunflower field filled with 11 different varieties of sunflowers. Enjoy a hay ride up to the field and enjoy live music and the Tap Room during your visit. Guests are encouraged to bring their own small gardening shears to cut their sunflowers, as our supply is very limited due to a shortage from our supplier. Shears will be available for rent during the festival on a first come first serve basis. They are offering LIMITED discounted early bird pricing before the event. Once the Early Bird discounted tickets have sold out, the price will increase. Free Parking. Fridays: 4 PM – 9 PM Saturdays: 11 AM – 9 PM Sundays: 11 AM – 6 PM. Early Bird tickets currently available: $17/adults, $12/children (ages 4-12) + service fees. Includes 2 flowers.

August 6-7: Bear Mountain Native American Powwow (Harriman State Park) Presented by the RedHawk Native American Arts Council. From the website: “Bear Mountain Pow Wow is a full contest Pow Wow attracting over 500 Native American artists, educators, singers, dancers and performing groups from across the Americas. Over 40 artist booths selling crafts, jewelry, food and more.  Other highlights of the event include authentic cuisine: buffalo burgers, venison stew and corn soup. Visitors can interact with representatives from tribes of the Lakota, Navajo, Mohawk, Seneca, Cherokee, Aztec, Mayan, Samoan, Hawaiian and many more. There is a tipi raising.” 11 AM – 7 PM. This is a rain or shine event. Tickets: $15/adults and teens (13+), $10/senior citizens, students with ID, children 6-12, $45/family 4-pack for 2 adults, 2 children ages 6-12, Free/children 5 and under. Tickets purchased online have service fees. Tickets can be purchased at the gate – cash only. Free parking, Rain or shine.

August 6–7: Putnam County Wine & Food Fest (Mayor’s Park – Cold Spring) August 6: 11 AM – 6 PM, August 7: 11 AM – 5 PM. From the website, the two-day event, “features hard cider, spirts, wineries, arts and crafts, food vendors, cooking and mixologist demonstrations, children activities and live music.”Tickets in advance: $30/person, $12/designated drver. Tickets day of: $40/person, Free/children under 12. Rain or Shine. Parking at Haldane High School w/free shuttle to event.

August 7: India Cultural Celebration (Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla) 12 PM – 6 PM, Festivals will be held rain or shine. Seating is informal; bring blankets or folding chairs for seating on the lawn.

August 16-18: Hudson Valley Filmfest (Warwick) Enjoy a three-night program of curated short films at the legendary Warwick Drive-in Movie Theater. Receptions held each night at Pennings Farm & Cidery 
with live music, food & drinks, and the presentation of awards. 

August 20-21: Mid-Hudson Comic Con (Poughkeepsie) August 20: 10 AM – 6 PM, August 21: 10 AM – 4 PM. Cosplay contest, celebs and guest artists, tabletop gaming, exhibitors, panels and more. Tickets: VIP/$100 (This VIP pass includes the weekend pass which gets you in both days! Mid-Hudson Comic Con August 20-21, 2022! EXCLUSIVES: Mid-Hudson Comic Con special wearable lanyard badge with double sided artwork, posters, T-SHIRT (card in your bag needs to brought to MHCC official shirt table [location: TBA] where you pick up your t-shirt size), and 5 exclusive prints for the show by Robert Bruno, Jay Mooers & Morgan Rouche! 2 random comic books from Marvel or DC, which one will you get?! Posters, swag donated by Netflix, Dreamworks, and more! VERY VERY VERY limited amount of these tickets to behold!), Saturday Day Pass/$23, Sunday Day Pass/$20, Kids Ticket (ages 7-15)/$15 each day, Kids 6 and under/Free.

August 21: Jewish American Festival (Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla) 12 PM – 6 PM, Festivals will be held rain or shine. Seating is informal; bring blankets or folding chairs for seating on the lawn.

August 23 – 28: Dutchess County Fair (Rhinebeck) Visit the 176th Dutchess County Fair. Enjoy entertainment, animals, rides, music and more. Daily Fair Hours: Tues-Sat 10:00 AM-10:00 PM | Sun 10:00AM-8:00PM Rides Run Daily: Tues-Sat 10:00 AM-10:00 PM | Sun 10:00AM-8:00PM, Online Presale Tickets: Adult Admission: $13.50 + $1.50 convenience fee online, Ride All Day Wristbands: $25 + $1.50 convenience fee. Day of/At the Gate Tickets: Adult Admission: $18, Ride All Day Wristbands: $30 Children under 11 free. Parking Free.

August 27-28: Hudson River Seafood Festival (Beacon) Riverfront Park in Beacon. 1 PM – 6 PM. From the website: “Expect a day of lobster rolls, baked clams, and/or raw  seafood bar with oysters, clams and delicious seafood salads. Check out our fried seafood bar with choices like fried shrimp, scallops, and fried clams! Not a seafood lover? Check out our awesome array of barbecue, taco and a large variety of food trucks and restaurants also catering to the vegan and gluten-free clientele. There will also be some of the best craft beers, local wines of the Hudson Valley as well as ciders and seltzers, and a variety of soft drinks. Make sure to get your Tickets it  could possibly sell out early. Be sure you leave room for dessert because we will have cupcakes, cheesecakes, ice cream, Italian ices, and huge selection of sweet treats!” General admission $20, 4-pack General admission $70, Craft Brew ticket $55, King of the Sea VIP $109

August 28: Muslim Heritage Festival (Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla) 12 PM – 6 PM, Festivals will be held rain or shine. Seating is informal; bring blankets or folding chairs for seating on the lawn.

Kids & Family Fun:

All Month long: 2nd Annual Putnam County History Hunt (Putnam County) Travel around Putnam County and get introduced to the historical sites and buildings located throughout the county. Upon completion, participants will be entered into a random drawing to win the grand prize, which will be awarded on September 1st, 2022. Children 18 and under will receive a participation prize.

August 5, 12, 19: Summer Fridays at the Hudson River Museum (Yonkers) Enjoy pay-what-you-wish admission from 5 PM – 7 PM. Free planetarium show at 6 PM.

August 6: Ozland Festival (Peekskill) Presented by Antonia Arts, this event celebrates all things Wizard of Oz. The day will include art, poetry, a performance by the Wiz Kids, the “Wizard of Oz” films and more. 12 PM – 6 PM, South Street in Peekskill.

August 6: Sand Art Competition (Glen Island Beach, New Rochelle), 11 AM – 4 PM, participation free. Parking and admission fees apply.

August 13 (Mount Vernon) DJ Day at Wilson’s Woods Pool. 12 PM – 4 PM. 

August 14 (Yonkers) DJ Day at Sprain Ridge Pool. 12 PM – 4 PM. 

August 13 (Cross County Center, Yonkers) Kid’s Rock & Roll on the Green with Rock & Roll Playhouse. Hip hop show, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

August 17 (Valhalla) Westchester County Parks Screening Under the Stars. Boss Baby: Family Business, 2021 (PG) Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla.Movies begin at sundown. Refreshments for sale. Bring blanket or chairs. Parking and admission free.

August 20 (White Plains) DJ Day at Saxon Woods Pool 12 PM – 4 PM. 

August 21 (Ossining) Discover Teatown Monthly Hike. Enjoy a guided hike as you discover Teatown. 10 AM – 12 PM. This experience is perfect for everyone aged 5 and older, and anyone who wants to start learning about the magic of Teatown. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Bring water, light snacks, and wear supportive, comfortable shoes such as sneakers. No flip flops. This event will be lead in English and Spanish. This event is free to attend, although parking is $7, which helps with reservation maintenance.

August 21 (Yonkers) DJ Day at The Brook at Tibbett 12 PM – 4 PM. 

August 22-26 & August 29-31 (Pizzazzles at the Jefferson Valley Mall, Yorktown Heights) Pizzazzles Palooza – your kids will enjoy lots of fun from water slides, painting, games, ice cream and more. 9 AM – 5 PM daily. Ages 4ish -10ish. Drop off only. $400/child for entire Palooza or $90 per day. Advance registration required.

August 23 (Bethel, NY) Encanto: The Family Sing Along Film Concert at Bethel Woods. 7:30 PM. Tickets: $25-$75

August 27 (New Rochelle) DJ Day at Glen Island Beach 12 PM – 4 PM. 

August 27-28 (Montgomery, NY) 2022 New York Air Show at the Orange County Airport. See the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the F-16 Viper Demo Team, the West Point Parachute Team and more during this two day weekend event. Tickets: $35 – $189. Opening ceremonies begin at 11 AM.

August 28 (Mount Vernon) DJ Day at Wilson’s Woods Pool 12 PM – 4 PM. 

Live Music & Performances:

Bethel Woods: (Bethel, NY) A little further to travel but some great musicians worth checking out play here. In August you can see: Foreigner w/special guest star Don Felder (August 7), Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson & Family, ZZ Top, Zach Bryan, Charley Crockett, The War and Treaty, and Particle Kid (August 13), Brandi Carlile (August 19), Santana with Earth, Wind & Fire (August 21), The Beach Boys w/The Temptations (August 25), Gavin DeGraw (August 31). *Check the site for the full lineup

Capitol Theatre: (Port Chester) August’s lineup includes: Steely Dan (August 10-13), The Avett Brothers (August 27-28), Ben Folds (August 31). *Check the site for the full lineup

Paramount Hudson Valley Theater: (Peekskill) August’s lineup includes: The Felice Brothers with Skullcrusher and The Dan Zlotnick Band (August 6). *Check the site for the full lineup

August 5 (Yonkers) Summer Amphitheater Series at the Hudson River Museum. The Afro-Peruvian Ensemble performs at 8 PM. Admission is free.

August 6 (White Plains) BRAATA Folk Singers 2 PM, Court Street (between Main St. & Martine Ave.)  Join us for an afternoon performance with The Braata Folk Singers, including dance, and call-and-response singing. The group is a proud ambassador of, and the foremost authority on, Jamaican and Caribbean folk music performance in the United States. Co-presented by ArtsWestchester and the Thomas H. Slater Center as part of the “188th  Year of Jamaican Emancipation and 60th Anniversary Independence Day Celebration”

August 6 (Yonkers) Summer Amphitheater Series at the Hudson River Museum. Trombonist and jazz performer Clifton Anderson performs at 8 PM. Admission is free.

August 7  (Yonkers) The Athenians at Untermyer Gardens perform the best of opera and Broadway. Performance takes place in the Walled Garden Amphitheater. 5 PM – 6 PM. Tickets $40.

August 9 (Mount Vernon) City of Mount Vernon: Summer Breeze featuring WUZA-WUZA African Music & Dance Ensemble. 6:30 PM at City Hall Plaza (1 Roosevelt Square North). New York’s leading Ghanaian dance and drum ensemble, WUZA-WUZA, is known for its representations of Ghana’s many different ethnic traditions, including the rich diversity of West African music, dance and culture. The ensemble features leading Ghanaian drummers and dancers living in the United States, including world-renowned choreographer Yawuza Alhassan, former Ghana National Dance Ensemble members Mariama Gariba and Esther D. Angel, and master drummers Horla Kutte, Baba Buhari and Kofi Kuube Saeed. Co-presented by ArtsWestchester and the City of Mount Vernon in conjunction with the “Mt. Vernon Summer Breeze Series” (Rain Date: August 11)

August 12 (Yonkers) Summer Amphitheater Series at the Hudson River Museum. Cherish the Ladies: An Evening of Irish Music performs at 8 PM. Admission is free.

August 13: (Yonkers) Summer Amphitheater Series at the Hudson River Museum. Getting to Know You: Mind Reading Under the Stars with magician Andy Gershenzon at 8 PM. Admission is free.

August 13 (Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla) The Robison Summer Concert Series: David Clark’s ALL ABOUT JOEL at Kensico Dam Plaza. Gates open at 6 PM, tickets $10/person

August 17: (Harbor Island Park, Mamaroneck) Concert in the Park featuring Hollis Brown. Free, 7 PM. Food trucks on-site. Bring chairs/blankets. Free parking at Harbor Island Park after 4:30 PM. Rain Date: Thursday, August 18 at 7 PM.

August 19: (Yonkers) Summer Amphitheater Series at the Hudson River Museum. Natyamudra Classical Indian Dance performs at 8 PM. Admission is free.

August 20: (Sleepy Hollow) Dia De La Cultura Ecuatoriana / Day of Ecuadorian Culture. 3-8 PM at Barnhart Park. Join us for an afternoon of Ecuadorian music, dance, food and craft, along with family-friendly presentations that feature traditional Ecuadorian costumes and the indigenous Kitchwa language. Guests are welcome to bring your lawn chair or picnic blanket to enjoy the performance. Co-presented by ArtsWestchester and the Village of Sleepy Hollow. (Rain Date: August 21)

August 26 (Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla) The Robison Summer Concert Series: 45 Riots and SAGE at Kensico Dam Plaza. Gates open at 6 PM, tickets $10/person.

Fitness:

Tuesdays: (Cross County Center, Yonkers) Zumba Classes on the Green with Guillermo Ruiz, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Free.

August 17, 24 and 31 (Eastchester) YogaSix is hosting three Outdoor Yoga: Sip and Flow classes in August with Cece and Elyse. $20 each class with a free frosé drink after class.

1

Five on Friday {July 29, 2022}

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com
This post contains affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for additional info.

Happy Friday! Last Saturday my husband and I got up at 4:45 AM so we could drive over 3 hours to pick our son up from Boy Scout camp since pickup was at 9 AM. We then turned around and drove 3+ hours home! What a morning! But we had most of the day left when we got back home. In other exciting news, my daughter got her first job! She’s working at our local Shoprite in the Shop From Home Dept. We are all happy that she will be making money to support her expensive teenage lifestyle! Here are five from this week:

1. Trader Joe’s– A Trader Joe’s opened last week and it’s only about 15 minutes away. While I didn’t go opening day, my daughter and I did stop by Saturday night and picked some things up. Would love to know your TJ favorites!

2. Brunch at Goosefeather – Sunday my husband and I were hosted for brunch at Goosefeather in Tarrytown. This is celebrity chef Dale Talde’s Westchester County restaurant. Everything was delicious but this shrimp toast was one of my faves.

3. Reading – This week I finished reading Other People’s Houses by Abby Waxman. It was an enjoyable read about a suburban neighborhood and the secrets of a group of families.

4. Cooking – This week I made Halloumi Hummus Bowls, but used feta since I couldn’t find Halloumi at my Shoprite. Crispy Gnocchi and Tomato Panzanella Salad was also tasty. I called it Crispy Gnocchi Caprese when the kids asked what was for dinner. I also made Sheet Pan Cauliflower Fajitas and our quick and easy dinner was pierogies with roasted broccoli.

5. Watching – Saturday night we watched Morbius and it was pretty bad! 

I’ve also been watching Vanderpump Rules on Hulu. I watched this show when it first came out on Bravo but never watched all the seasons. I’ve started over from the beginning. It’s pretty bad and it’s so staged, but somehow I’m still watching.

6. Eating – We devoured these Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups. It was only 99 cents for the bag! 

My daughter also picked out these Bamba puffed corn peanut snacks that are dipped in dark chocolate. These disappeared quickly as well!

7. Drinking – MIZO hard lemonade pouches. Don’t these remind you of the Capri Suns from childhood? These are definitely not kid-friendly! I wrote about these for Guilty Eats and was sent samples. I’ve only tried the Blackberry Lychee so far. They aren’t bad! They are sweet and the alcohol flavor isn’t strong.

ICYMI – This week on the blog:

Thursday I posted about the return of Brunch at Goosefeather.

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

Brunch is Back at Goosefeather!

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com
Thank you to Goosefeather for hosting us. As always, all opinions are our own.

Since its September 2019 opening, Goosefeather has been one of Westchester County’s go-to restaurants for date nights, birthdays and anniversary celebrations. When the Tarrytown restaurant first opened, Chef Dale Talde served his seasonal and modernized Cantonese dishes at both weekend brunch and dinner. The restaurant closed temporarily during COVID and reopened serving only dinner. Earlier this month, Goosefeather finally brought back weekend brunch.

Brunch

On Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM – 2:30 PM, guests can once again enjoy some unique menu offerings that don’t exist on the dinner menu. My husband and I recently visited and were able to sample several of the new dishes. 

The brunch menu has a small selection of cocktails, such as a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or a Goosefeather Sangria or Bellini. My husband ordered the David Lo Pan, which is made with gin, strega, Oolong tea and Yuzu-ade. He was pleasantly surprised at both the name of the cocktail and how delicious it was. 

The brunch menu features some favorites from the dinner menu like the Dry-aged beef potstickers, Crispy Shrimp Bao and Sweet Summer Corn. Similar to dinner, the brunch menu encourages diners to order several different dishes to share. There are three sections to the menu: “Bao”, “Smaller” and “Bigger”. Before the food is served, a small vessels of soy sauce and chili garlic oil are delivered to the table.

We were able to enjoy two different bao of the three available on the menu. The Classic Chilled Lobster Bao was a unique Cantonese twist to the seasonal summer lobster roll. We also shared the Market Mushroom Bao with pickled star fruit and Umami butter. This vegetarian dish is one of several on the menu. The bao are served in taco holders, making them easy to pick up and enjoy.

We had two “smaller” dishes, one of which was my absolute favorite. This Shrimp Toast is made with milk bread and topped with a sunny side up egg and nori. The toast had a nice crunch and was filled with shrimp. While the egg and nori flakes were a nice addition, I could have eaten multiple slices of just the toast. The Gem Salad was topped with 8 Treasure Spice and Parmigiano. This is one of the lighter dishes on the menu and one of several vegan and gluten-free selections. While we enjoyed everything we ate, the Gem Salad is probably the least interesting item that we sampled.

We shared two of the “bigger” dishes.  The Smoked Salmon Fried Rice has bits of scrambled egg and is mixed with Crème Fraîche. A generous sprinkle of Everything Bagel Spice and dill finish the dish. This was the only dish that I tried with and without some of the chili garlic sauce. While I usually enjoy a little spice on my fried rice, I found it to overpower the smoked salmon fried rice and preferred it without. The Grilled Asparagus Salad is a lighter dish. The asparagus had a nice smokiness and was topped with lump crab, a XO sauce romesco and a 6 minute egg.

Although we do not eat meat, we noticed the Kung Pao Chicken & Mochi Waffles is a very popular dish. Almost every table ordered it during our visit and it looked really tasty! Other meat-forward brunch only dishes include Crispy Pork Wontons, Fried Chicken Dumplings and Goosefeather Double Cheeseburgers. 

Hopefully you save room for dessert. We enjoyed sharing the Goosefeather Sundae which featured a vanilla ice cream and lemon sorbet garnished with half an ice cream cookie sandwich. It is large enough to share and was the perfect ending to end our delicious meal. There is one other dessert option, the Hong Kong Milk Tea Tiramisu which sounds very interesting.

There are enough brunch-only dishes that guests who have previously enjoyed dinner at Goosefeather can come for brunch and experience all different menu items. Regardless of whether you visit for brunch or dinner, know you are in for a delicious meal.

The Chef

Chef Dale Talde is probably most recognized from his appearances as a contestant on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef”. The James Beard nominated chef has also written a cookbook, Asian American, which can be purchased at the restaurant. Besides overseeing his restaurant, Chef Talde also hosts the show “All Up In My Grill” on the food and travel video network, Tastemade.

The Restaurant

According to a press release, “the name for Goosefeather is taken from an ancient Chinese proverb which embodies the idea of thoughtful gift-giving.”

Goosefeather is housed on the bottom floor of the King Mansion on the Tarrytown Estate and dates back to around 1840. There are four dining rooms, an intimate bar area and outdoor dining space as well. On our visit, my husband and I dined in the library room which includes much of the original woodwork. Staying on theme, your check is delivered at the end of your meal in a book. The ceilings of all of the rooms are decorated with replicas of artist Joan Miró’s work, which presents a unique contrast between the historical mansion and the colorful, abstract art. My husband and I applaud the decorator who designed the bathrooms, giving them a fun take on the restaurant’s name. 

For those looking to enjoy some weekend evening cocktails the Front Lawn Bar has also made a return to Goosefeather. Open Friday nights from 5 PM-10 PM and Saturdays from 6 PM – 10 PM guests can enjoy drinks on the Front Lawn. The bar serves canned spirits including cocktails, wine and beer. Bottle service is also available. On Saturday nights guests can move and groove to the tunes played by the DJ. 

The  Details:
Goosefeather at Tarrytown House Estate
49 E. Sunnyside Lane
Tarrytown, NY 10591
(914) 829-5454
website

Hours:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Thursday: 5 PM – 10 PM
Friday: 5 PM – 10:30 PM
Saturday: 11 AM – 2:30 PM and 4 PM – 10:30 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 2:30 PM and 4 PM – 8 PM

Reservations can be made online via Resy or by calling the restaurant. 

Parking: Ample parking throughout the property. 

Price: Dishes range from $13.50-$28.50 each

2

Five on Friday {July 22, 2022}

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Hello Weekend! It was scorching this week with temps in the mid-90’s! I did not walk at all during my lunch break this week. We dropped my son off at Camp Read Boy Scout camp on Sunday where he’s been for the week. We have no communication with him, so I’m really hoping he’s had a good week. We get up super early tomorrow to go pick him up and we’ll find out then! Here are five from this week:

1. Birthday Dinner – Saturday the four of us went out to dinner for my son’s birthday. The final celebration! He wanted dumplings and Dairy Queen….such a teen! So we went to Palace Dumplings, our favorite dumpling restaurant. After we went to Dairy Queen and he got a Caramel Cheesecake Blizzard and pretzels in cheese sauce.

2. Saratoga Spa State Park- Sunday on the way home from dropping our son off at camp, my husband and I stopped at Saratoga Spa State Park. It was nice to walk and stretch our legs for a bit and we got to visit some of the mineral springs in the park and taste the water (not good in my opinion!).

3. Reading – This week I finished reading Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen. It was a quick, okay read.

4. Cooking – This Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon was really good! We made Parmesan Spinach Couscous to serve with it and spooned the extra sauce on top. These Smoky Shiitake Quesadillas With Avocado Cream were also really good! We made them using regular mushrooms.

5. Watching – I haven’t watched a lot of TV this week. I watched the second episode of The Bachelorette and my husband and I are almost caught up on Only Murders in the Building. 

6. Eating – After our drive to and from camp on Sunday night we were too exhausted to cook. We ordered Thai takeout from Bangkok Spice. We enjoyed this Pad Thai, fried calamari, vegetable red curry and pineapple fried rice. We hadn’t had Thai in so long and it was so good!

ICYMI – This week on the blog:

Thursday I posted about Two Way Brewing Company.

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

Two Way Brewing Company {Beacon}

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Beacon has always been one of my favorite Hudson Valley towns. This small city is filled with lots of restaurants, shops and hiking trails. It also boasts three breweries and a distillery. On a recent visit, my husband and I explored a new-to-us brewery: Two Way Brewing Company. Located at 18 West Main Street, it’s within walking distance of the Beacon train station. We realized that we need to venture off of Main Street more often so we don’t miss hidden gems like this.

THE BREWERY

Two Way Brewing Company was founded in 2014 by Michael O’Herron. According to the brewery’s website, O’Herron named it “after the “two way” Hudson River. The river is technically an estuary, which is a mixture of fresh water and salty seawater. There are about two high tides and two low tides throughout the day.” Their logo is a graphic depiction of this phenomenon.

The brewery has both indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor seating includes stools at the bar and high tables as well as some sofas and a couple of regular tables. The outdoor seating area has several tables and chairs with umbrellas. These tables get filled up quickly on nice days! There is a game room in the back that has a pool table, darts and foosball with plenty of additional seating. There is also a bookcase filled with all kinds of board games that will keep you occupied for hours.

All of the beers served at Two Way Brewing are brewed onsite next to the tap room. They serve a rotating menu of craft beverages, one of which is a cider. They are all made on-site. My husband ordered a beer flight, which includes four, 4.7 oz. Tasters for $11, to be able to sample a variety. He sampled the Climb High P.A.(IPA), Confusion (Saison), Highlands Haze (IPA) and Tooth of The Lion (German Hefeweisen). Although they don’t label each glass in the flight, you can identify them based on their location on the horizontal menu board (left to right).

For those ordering Crowlers (32 oz. cans for $9) to go, the brewery has a very cool canning system, which they use only as needed, for the freshest possible beer. The cans are labeled, filled and sealed in their special machine, all within minutes.

THE FOOD

Since I’m not a big beer drinker, I like to visit breweries for the food. Popcorn is provided to patrons free of charge. It’s freshly popped and perfectly salted. The food for Two Way Brewing Company is provided by The Flying Jib and made onsite. Ordering can easily be done via a QR code. They have a small but interesting menu with a couple of vegetarian options. We enjoyed Korean Fried Broccoli, Patatas Bravas and The Classic sandwich (arugula, sun-dried tomato pesto and fresh mozzarella) that was served with waffle fries. Everything was delicious.

THE ENTERTAINMENT

Two Way Brewing Company has live music on most Friday and Saturday evenings. They also have trivia on Thursday evenings from 7 PM – 9 PM. Check their website to get all the details on their upcoming events.

Enjoy a hot summer day with a pint or a flight from Two Way Brewing Company!

The Details:

Two Way Brewing Company
18 West Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508
website

Brewery Hours: Open Monday – Wednesday 4 PM – 9 PM
Thursday 4 PM – 10 PM
Friday and Saturday 12 PM – 11 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM

Kitchen Hours: Closed Monday – Wednesday
Thursday and Friday 4 PM – 10 PM
Saturday 12 PM -10 PM
Sunday 1 PM – 8 PM

Parking: There is free parking in the parking lot adjacent to the brewery or on the street

Price: A flight of four, 4.7 oz. Tasters costs $11
Pints are priced between $6-$8

*The brewery is within walking distance from the Beacon Train Station

2

Five on Friday {July 15, 2022}

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com
This post contains affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for additional info.

Happy Friday! I cannot believe how quickly the summer is flying by! This week my son turned 14. He’s been taller than me for awhile but this weekend we realized he’s the same height as my husband! We were all surprised and questioned when that happened!! This weekend we are going to go out to eat as a family for his birthday and then Sunday we drop him off to Boy Scout camp for a week. Here are five from this week:

1. Family birthday celebration – Sunday we had family over to celebrate my son’s birthday. We went with a brunch theme since breakfast is his favorite. I made this Blueberry French Toast Casserole, a Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole and we had a bagel platter with cream cheese and lox (his request). 

2. Hastings-on-Hudson– Saturday morning my husband and I got up early and visited a new to us town in Westchester County, Hastings-on-Hudson. We started our day at the Farmers Market and then visited Clockwork Records. I got a lobster roll from Bread and Brine. Then we walked around the town for a bit and ended our visit at Penny Lick Ice Cream. It’s fun exploring new towns in our area and hope to plan more of these days.

3. Reading – This week I finished reading The Great Believers by Rebecca Makai. This was a slow read that felt like it took me forever to finish. It’s about a group of friends in Chicago during the AIDS crisis in the 80’s. Not a light summer read!

4. Cooking – this week’s dinners included this Summer Coconut Chickpea Curry, breakfast burritos and BBQ Tofu Tostadas. 

5. Watching – Saturday my husband and I watched the movie Turning Red. This is Pixar’s first film that was solely directed by a woman. It was a cute film.

I finished The Bear on Hulu and started watching the newest season of The Bachelorette. It’s been a couple of seasons since I watched The Bachelor/The Bachelorette so I’m not familiar with Gabby or Rachel. But I can already tell having two Bachelorettes is going to be a disaster.

6. Friend Birthday Celebration – Yesterday my son had a small friends get together at Spins Hudson to celebrate his birthday. They went to the arcade and had some pizza. Nothing huge and not an organized party through the venue. It was a much more casual teen get-together.

7. Summer League – This week I was at the fields every night Sunday through Thursday for either a soccer or a field hockey game! I enjoy watching the kids play and this is great practice for the fall sports season. I felt bad for them since it was so hot this week!

ICYMI this week on the blog:

Tuesday I shared my June reads.

Thursday I shared Where to Find a Lobster Roll in Westchester County.

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

Try a Lobster Roll From One of These Westchester County Restaurants

Posted on by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com
Lobster Roll from Bread & Brine

Lobster rolls = summer. Eating one of these with a view of the ocean, for me, defines the season. Those of us who can’t make it to the coastal areas of New England this summer can still enjoy one of these delicious treats nearer to home. Many Westchester County restaurants serve lobster rolls during the warmer months (and many throughout the year). The prices are all pretty comparable. You just have to decide how far you are willing to travel and whether you want a chilled, mayo-based, Maine-style roll or a hot, buttery, Connecticut-style roll. 

As always, please check directly with the restaurant for the most up-to-date pricing and availability.

Apiary at the Library (Scarsdale) – ($24.95) on a bun with chips

The Boathouse (Ossining) – (Market Price) Chunks of lobster in a tarragon aioli on a buttered roll

Bread and Brine (Hastings) – ($29) Choice of Maine or Connecticut-style, bag of potato chips included

Chef Rob on Wheels (Yorktown and Westchester County) ($24) Chef Rob’s food truck is usually parked outside Yorktown Town Hall Tuesday through Saturday, but he also caters private events and can be found at local fairs and festivals. Lobster rolls can be ordered Butter Poached (Succulent claw and knuckle lobster meat, poached in warm butter and served atop a butter-griddled split top hot dog bun) or The Original (Succulent claw and knuckle lobster meat, tossed in our special spiced lemon mayo and fresh crunchy celery, served atop a butter griddled split top hot dog bun).

Cousins Maine Lobster – (Food Truck that frequents Westchester County) – ($23) Choose between Maine-style (Maine lobster, served chilled, touch of mayo, on a New England Roll) or Connecticut-style (Maine lobster, served warm with butter and lemon, on a New England roll). You can make it a combo with a drink and a side for an additional cost.

Dobbs Ferry Lobster Guys (Dobbs Ferry) – ($24.95) Their Maine-style is served cold, on a grilled and buttered bun. The lobster is typically dressed in a light mayo, with light salt & pepper. Their Connecticut-style uses hot lobster meat and is served buttered.

Half Moon (Dobbs Ferry) – ($40) buttered roll, mayonnaise, tarragon

Hudson Grille (White Plains) – ($26) Celery, shredded carrots, mayo, potato roll, fries

KEE Oyster House (White Plains) – ($32) stuffed in a branded roll and served with Old Bay chips

Kelly’s Sea Level (Rye) – ($27.95) Maine-style (North Atlantic lobster meat piled on a buttered roll drizzled with Old Bay mayo with a side of fries and cole slaw) or Connecticut-style (North Atlantic lobster meat in warm, melted butter piled on a toaster roll with a side of fries and cole slaw)

Lexington Square Cafe (Mount Kisco) – ($31) Mayonnaise, Celery, Lemon Juice, Chives, with Pomme Frites

Milton Point Provisions (Rye) – ($28) Connecticut or Maine-style, served on a Brioche Bun

Ocean House (Croton-on-Hudson) – ($28) Lobster Roll Box includes a Cup o’ Chowda & a Bag o’ Chips

Purdy’s Farmer and the Fish (North Salem) – ($29) warm & buttered or cool with cukes

Red Hat on the River (Irvington) – ($36) “Maine Style” fresh lobster dressed with lemon aioli, celery, chives, butter toasted brioche roll, choice of greens or frites (available Wednesdays after 4 PM through Saturdays) 

RiverMarket Bar & Kitchen (Tarrytown) – ($34) warm butter poached lobster roll, fries, house-made butter pickles

The Rye Grill and Bar (Rye) – ($28) New England Roll, Bib Lettuce, Sweet Potato Fries

Saltaire Oyster Bar (Port Chester) – ($38) Butter Poached lobster, Toasted New England Roll, Pickled Celery, Garden Herbs

Tavern at Croton Landing (Croton on Hudson) – ($29.95) Maine style served on a potato bun with either fries or chips.

Washington Irving Boat Club (Tarrytown) – ($32.95) They offer both Maine and Connecticut-style rolls, served with fries.

Wellington’s Grill (Harrison) – ($25) Fresh lobster on a toasted buttered jumbo roll with a side of drawn butter and French fries

What type of lobster roll do you prefer? Maine-style or Connecticut-style? Have you tried any of these? Any favorites?

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