Month: January 2020

Madonia: a fresh take on classic Mediterranean dishes

/ I On The Valley / Leave a comment

IMG_0805

We recently dined at a local restaurant for the first time.  Madonia is located just over the  Westchester border on Long Ridge Road in Stamford.  Three staff members  are the new owners and are carrying on the tradition of good food and service.  The menu is Mediterranean with dishes from Italy, France and Spain.

The space is divided into distinct areas with the cozy bar with tavern tables, the main dining room with a soft color palette and hardwood floors, a small private wine cellar room with a wall of glass and yet another room that is perfect for parties.

As part of a media event we were able to sample some dishes from the new menu.   Appetizers are numerous with many seafood selections available.  We enjoyed the excellent Gnocchi with  shaved asparagus, peas, mint-zucchini pesto. A hardy dish which infuses new flavors in the classic Italian dish.

IMG_4261

Gnocchi

 

The Golden Baked Mushroom was a unique item and delicious as well. It is filled with broccoli, potato and pecorino.   The classic Eggplant Rolantini has been updated and featured two cheeses, both ricotta and prosciutto, and served in a rosé sauce.  Appetizers run $12-$21.

IMG_4278 (2)

Golden Baked Mushrooms

There are four salads on the menu for the healthy minded or the vegetarian in your dining party. We sampled the Field Green salad which featured sweet tones as it was prepared with cranberries, candied pecans, thinly slicedpears, and tossed in an apple balsamic vinaigrette.  Salads are $12-$14.

Main dishes include a wide variety of pasta dishes with something for everyone. Also included in the Mains are  beef, seafood and chicken selections.  We sampled the New York Strip drizzled with jalapeño oil.  Our favorite  was the delicious Alaskan Salmon, sliced in pieces and served in a honey-herb verjus,  and a medley of butternut squash mashed potatoes and mixed veggies.  A delicious and healthy dish.   Mains run $25-$28 and pasta dishes start at $21.

IMG_4285 (3)

Alaskan Salmon

What impressed us most at Madonia is the wide selection of dishes on the menu and an emphasis of infusing classic dishes from the Mediterranean with flavors.

Madonia

1297 Long Ridge Road Stamford Ct

tel. 203.322.8870

web  https://www.madoniarestaurant.com/

 

 

Taste of Fairfield Winter Fest: great way to chase away the Winter blues

/ I On The Valley / Leave a comment

taste of fairfield winter

Looking for something to do this coming weekend?  There will be no football on Sunday and if you are looking for something different then The Taste Of Fairfield-Winter Fest may be the perfect way to take care of the winter blues. The event is on Sunday January 26th from 1 pm to 4p.m.

Taste of Fairfield-Winter Fest  is a great event that brings together in one place restaurants, wineries, distillers, craft brewers and markets.  Samples of their products will be available to taste for all attendees.   I attended the fall Taste of Fairfield event a few months back and had a great time.

The focus of this event will be on comfort food, party food and other great food and beverages you might serve at your own party.   The Fest is indoors at the beautiful Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield Ct.  This is a great party space and in addition to the food there will be live music bowling, stand-up comedy and even roving entertainment. A special VIP ticket can be purchased to have early access to the event and to the Lenox Jewelers VIP lounge from noon to 1 PM. VIP ticket holders may enter the $500 Lenox Jewelers prize giveaway.

taste of fairfield winter 2

In addition to fine and comfort cuisine, craft cocktails, wine, craft beer, and sweets, there will be fun for the whole family in the four-lane bowling alley and with the comedians from Fairfield Comedy Club who will perform at 1:30 PM. AR Workshop sponsors an interactive kids’ craft area with a terrific take-home craft.  Sounds like a great afternoon!

Tickets:  $50 in advance.  $100 for VIP tickets which includes open bar and access to the private lounge. Parking is free!  Two dozen restaurants and business will be serving tastes and sips of there wares.  The event benefits the local efforts of charity partner Operation Hope of Fairfield.

Taste of Fairfield -Winter Fest is a production of Town Vibe, the publisher of great local magazines in Fairfield, Westchester, and Litchfield Counties.

for tickets and info

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-fairfield-winterfest-2020-tickets-77923847325

 

Taste Of Fairfield-Winter Fest

Brooklawn Country Club

500 Algonquin Road Fairfield Ct.

 

Like I On the Valley on facebook  http://www.facebook.com/ionthevalley

instagram join our over  13,000 followers  @i_on_the_valley

Dylan Lauren sweetens the Bedford Playhouse with her book and sweets!

/ I On The Valley / Leave a comment

18-b7208e3b

On January 20th, 2020 the Bedford Playhouse hosted Dylan Lauren, entrepreneur and CEO of Dylan’s Candy Bar.    Dylan  is a Westchester resident and is the daughter of famed designer, Ralph Lauren.  When she was 6 years of age, Dylan dreamed of opening her own candy store as she was inspired by the film “Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory”.  In 2001 Dylan’s dream was realized when she opened “Dylan’s Candy Bar” in New York City.   Dylan’s Candy Bar offers the largest selection of candies and candy related gift items from around the world and has become a destination for both residents and tourists.

Photos by- Peter T Michaelis 79

Dylan also has written a book about her experiences in “Unwrap Your Sweet Life”.  In her appearance at the playhouse attendees filled the main theater to greet Dylan.  She was interviewed by moderator and filmmaker Dyllan McGee and discussed her life, her business and book.   Audience members were able to participate in a Q & A session after the discussion.

IMG_3255

The event continued with  a meet and greet with the Dylan Lauren and attendees were given an autographed copy of her book.   The fun continued in the cafe where a mini version of Dylan’s Candy Bar was set up and attendees were able to sample some sweet treats.  What a great event!

This event is just one of the many fun events at the Playhouse.   The Bedford Playhouse is more than just a cinema, it provides a vibrant cultural and social space for members of the community.  Stayed tuned to I On The Valley for more events coming to the Bedford Playhouse.  You can also check out their website (link below), or better yet become a playhouse member.  See you at the movies!

IMG_3288

So wonderful to meet Dylan Lauren at such a great venue

 

The Bedford Playhouse

633 Old Post Rd, Bedford, NY 10506

web  https://bedfordplayhouse.org

like I on the Valley on facebook  http://www.facebook.com/ionthevalley

instagram  join our over 13,000 followers  @i_on_the_valley

 

 

 

Lend Me A Tenor: the Tony award winning comedy will have you laughing all night

/ I On The Valley / Leave a comment

ClownMaggiesml

A hilarious mad cap comedy is now on stage at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. Lend Me A Tenor is a departure from the main stage musicals that have made the WBT famous.   Lend me a Tenor was first produced on the  West End (London) in 1986  and on Broadway  in 1989.  The play was nominated for nine Tony awards, and won two.    It also was nominated for six Drama Desk awards and won four.  Now this comedy is on stage until January 24th.  It is truly in the style of modern British comedy with exaggerated acting, physical comedy, over the top characters and a clever set that is a vital part of the story.

LMATquartet

Buckle your seat belts as you may just fall out of your seat from laughing too hard!   The play is set in a hotel suite in Cleveland Ohio in 1934.  An internationally famous opera tenor, Tito Merelli is coming to Cleveland to perform the famous role of Pagliacci the clown.   His anticipated arrival is a huge event for the local theater which is betting their season on this perfomance.  Merelli is quite the ladies man and when he arrives we discover that the women in the play are all trying to seduce him.   Act One soon gets turned on his head as Merelli mixes too many sleeping pills and wine.  The theater manager  fearing that his star is dead asks his assistant Max to don the make up and costume of Pagliacci and assume his role that very evening on stage.

The stage is an integral part of the comedy.  The stage is one large hotel suite with a partial wall that divides the bedroom from the sitting area.  The audience can see all the action in both rooms but the characters cannot.   There are also 5 doors that exit the room, two to closets, one to the bathroom and two to the corridor.  These doors are part of this very over the top physical comedy as the actors race in and out of the doors.   Act Two turns the whole story on its head.  Is Merelli the tenor really dead?  Or just in a deep sleep.  Is there room for two operatic  clowns in this comedy?  You will have to see to find out.

LMATCAST-1

Starring: Joey Sorge as Tito, J.D. Daw as Max, Molly McCaskill as Maggie, Hannah Jane McMurray as Diana, Sam Seferian as the Bellhop, Tregoney Shepherd as Julia and Kathy Voytko as Maria

Excellent direction by Harry Bouvy, Set Design by Steve Loftus, Lighting by Andrew Gmoser, Sound by Mark Zuckerman, Costumes by Keith Nielsen, Wigs by Gerard Kelly, Victor Lukas is the PSM, Duane McDevitt is the ASM/male standby. Lisa Tiso is the Producer.

The play runs through January 26th 2020 and is a must see.    WBT is running a special for this production that you can access by calling the theater.  Buy a ticket and WBT  will  treat you to their delicious 3-course served dinner with a selection of entrees for FREE!

Enjoy the show, with dinner, for the regular show-only price of $57
Valid for performances on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings and Sunday Matinees.

Call the Box Office at 914-592-2222  and ask for the DINNER DEAL!

WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATER

One Broadway Plaza Elmsford NY

https://www.broadwaytheatre.com

Like I On The Valley on Facebook   http://www.facebook.com/ionthevalley

Join our over 13,000 loyal instagram followers !  @i_on_the_valley