Weekend Update

I apologize for not writing sooner.  It's been a busy few weeks. It was my intention to have a post today about this week's Boyz Wednesday night dinner at a new restaurant in Ulster, but that turned out to be a disappointment.  Since it is our policy to only post positive comments about restaurants, we shall remain silent.  Except for this one question - What are they thinking?  This place is a multi-million dollar venue with gorgeous space, spectacular river views, a kitchen ready for a prime time film crew, and valet parking.  I suppose there is a reason that professional critics wait a few months for a kitchen to loose its wobbles (and the kitchen has lots of wobbles).  But the wine list?  I have a better selection on my kitchen counter just from the bottles my friends brought to dinner last weekend; and my friends are cheap.  Anyway - we will give them time to work out the kinks, revisit, and report back.  If it is good, you'll read about it here.  If it is bad, you'll see it on our Facebook page.
We did have some wonderful meals recently at some of our favorite haunts, which included lunch yesterday at Ship Lantern in Milton, and a visit to Aroma Osteria last Tuesday.  Bull and Buddha did a spectacular job with the Bardavon gala (with Diana Ross) post theater party last Sunday night. A good time was had by all, or at least those fortunate enough to get a ticket.  This was one of those shows when the good tickets were sold out to members before they were even released to the public, so it pays to be a member! (and keep an eye on the Bardavon's Facebook Page.)
We have a few suggestions from our friends on Twitter for future restaurant visits.  @mymelange wants to hear about Agriturismo in Pine Plains, a new venue that seems to be on a lot of people's radar.  @Beacongal wrote last night about Billy Joe's Rib Works in Newburgh.  BBQ being very close to my heart, we will move this one up to the top of the hit list for a visit in the near future.  Summer is right around the corner.        
Lastly, I need to ask a favor regarding reader comments left on Rambler.  Last week's emails also brought a Cease & Desist order from a lawyer representing a local restaurant. Apparently they took issue with a reader's suggestion that they had to be laundering money to stay in business.  Go figure.  In any event, last week we also had to deal with tsunamis, nuclear meltdowns, bartenders who can't make martinis, missiles in Libya, rockets in Gaza, another foot of snow in my driveway in Schroon Lake, and Michele Bachmann considering a run for president.  I can do without the letters from lawyers.  Be nice!

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Toad Holly Pub, Tillson, NY

713 Route 32
Tillson, NY

Kitchen open Tuesday through Sunday
Bar open 7 Days
Sunday Brunch

Reservations: 845 658 2097

To answer the first question - yes, there are toads on the property. And, apparently, holly.

We love to hear about new restaurant openings, and were very happy to hear about the Toad Holly Pub, just south of the village of Rosendale on Route 32.  Professional restaurant critics always give a new place a few months to "work out the kinks",  but we are not critics, and we are certainly not professional, so we rounded up the Boyz and stopped in last Wednesday for dinner.  Word gets around quickly in these parts; we found a full bar upon our arrival.
The building that houses the pub and restaurant is newly constructed, on space that was formerly Cappy's.  The bar area has its own separate entrance, and is physically separated from the dining room, which looks to seat around 60 diners.  The dining room was empty when we arrived. Thirty minutes later, the bartender asked if we would require a table for dinner. I peeked inside the dining room again and it had exactly one  table left.  Friends that had stopped by the bar to say hello were actually shut out and ended up eating in the bar.  Good news travels fast.

Table Scraps / Hudson Valley - 2011 James Beard Awards

The nice lady on the other end of the phone was explaining why they would not be able to accommodate my request for a private luncheon at Red Hook's Mercato Osteria on on March 23rd.  "Unfortunately Francesco will be preparing for his dinner at the James Beard House which takes place the next day".  "Oh," I stammered, "I understand".

I knew the guy was good.  We all know Francesco is talented, but isn't it nice to hear that the rest of the world is catching on to what we already knew.  I went to the James Beard Foundation website, and saw that this year's nominees included not only Mercato's Francesco Buitoni, but also included a few other Hudson Valley favorite sons.  The Beard Foundation Awards are considered the Academy Awards of the culinary world, and it will be fun to watch as some of our own are honored.  The national recognition is well deserved.  We should all be rooting for the following nominees:

Northeast Region - Best Chef
Francesco Buitoni, Mercato, Red Hook, NY
Serge Madikians, Serevan, Amenia, NY
Daniel Nilsson, DA/ BA, Hudson, NY


Rising Star Chef of the Year
Eric Gabrynowicz, Restaurant North, Armonk, NY

If you do stop in please let our readers know about your visit in the comments section.

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