The village of Rhinebeck is a real gem in the heart of the Hudson Valley.  With its history, shops, galleries, architecture and fine dining, it is a great day or weekend destination.  Gigi Trattoria is one of the restaurants that should be on your “to dine” list if you are in the area.  Gigi Trattoria is the perfect place to eat with its innovative  Mediterranean menu and emphasis on sourcing its ingredients from a host of local Hudson Valley growers and purveyors.

Laura Pensiero is the owner and creative force behind Gigi, is a chef, a nutritionist, and an author of three cookbooks.   Gigi Trattoria opened in 2001 and was one of the first restaurants in the Hudson valley to source the bulk of its ingredients from local farmers, growers, ranchers,  and purveyors.

Her book “Hudson Valley Mediterranean: The Gigi Good Food Cookbook” showcases her passion for fresh local ingredients as well as her approach to healthy and flavorful eating.

 

 

 

Starters:  We started with a dish that could easily be an entree as well.  The Gigi Skizza is a flatbread pizza topped with fresh ingredients.  We sampled the Bianca Skizza which was a perfectly executed blend of shaved pears, fig compote, goat cheese mozzarella, arugula and truffle oil, sitting on a thin crispy crust.  This combination of sweet, creamy and savory toppings in contrast to the crusty dough was a real delight.

The Caesar Salad is a nice take on the classic with red and green romaine, homemade caesar dressing, razor thin slices of fresh parmesan cheese, and ciabatta croutons.   A real nice and healthy choice for an appetizer.

The Main Course:   the homemade pastas are available as an entree or in smaller portions. Gluten free brown rice penne is a nice substitute  if requested.  I indulged in the mouth watering tagliatelle with beef and pork ragu and fresh ricotta.  This was  pasta was an excellent choice as it was made fresh in house and it simply melted in your mouth.  A real comfort food.

 

Our main entree was the Fazio Farm chicken with summer succatash which was light, fresh and a healthy choice.  It was pan roasted with sweet local corn, fava beans, cherry tomatoes and summer squash.  I also ordered a side of quinoa tabbouleh which is a fine example of a healthy grain with a fun and tasty twist.  It was a perfect pairing.

 

There is a list of interesting cocktails which we did not sample on this visit.  The staff made suggestions for wine pairings at each course and we were happy they did as they truly complimented our meal.  There is a happy hour at the bar from 5-6pm several nights a week.

 

The restaurant which is housed in a former commercial space right in downtown  Rhinebeck has three separate dining areas.  The outside space is sunlit and faces the street and is great way to spend the afternoon or evening.  Large umbrellas shield diners from the sun.  The bar room with has seating as well and large windows illuminate the space.  The rear dining area is a long rectangular space with warm color  palette for the walls and floor which echo the Mediterranean theme.

The walls are also adorned with art from local artists which reflect the artistic vibe not only of the menu but the Rhinebeck community as well.  Indeed as we dined, a local artist whose works were on display was enjoying a drink in the corner of the bar.   The staff was plentiful , very friendly and attentive.  Menu changes seasonally.

For a fresh modern approach to Mediterranean cuisine, you need to dine at Gigi Trattoria in Rhinebeck.

 

 

Gigi Trattoria

6422 Montgomery Street Rhinebeck New York   ( easily accessible via the Taconic State Parkway)

phone:  845-876-1007

http://www.gigitrattoria.com/

 

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The food and wine event of the year is coming to Greenwich September 23-24.  The Greenwich Wine and Food Festival presented by Serendipity Magazine returns to Roger Sherman Baldwin Park (on Greenwich Harbor).

For foodies this is an amazing event with food, wine, specialty dinners, cocktails,demonstrations, famous chefs and live music featuring reggae star Ziggy Marley.  The setting for the event in a beautiful park overlooking the water is very special

.Saturday is the main event and there will be the Grand Tasting Tent from 12 noon to 5pm.  There will be over 150 food and beverage vendors serving their delicious wares.   Participants are from Greenwich and the surrounding area including Westchester County.   Some of the participating vendors will be: Rye House, Campagna (Bedford Post Inn), Village Social, Wuji, Benjamin Steak House, East End, Saltaire, Sonora, The Ginger Man, 273 Kitchen, Farmer and the Fish, Truck, Rosemary and Vine, Aux Delices, Rowayton Seafood, and many more.  Some of the above restaurants have already been reviewed by       I On the Valley and we look forward to seeing them at this amazing event.

There will be specialty food tents all day with the Ultimate Sandwich Tent from 5pm to 8:30 pm, a Grill Masters Tent featuring Bar-b-que from  4pm to 8:30pm and a South of the Border Tent featuring Mexican dishes open from 6pm to 8:30pm.

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The fun goes on all day with the Empire City Casino tent featuring casino table games.  Live  music kicks off at 6:30 pm at the Pepsi Music Stage with reggae star Ziggy Marley followed by Old Crow Medicine Show.

This is an event not to miss.

Tickets: $150.00 for a Saturday all day pass,  for more info including special dinners, and VIP packages see   http://serendipitysocial.com/greenwich-wine-food/tickets/

For more information:

Where: Roger Sherman Baldwin Park   100 Arch Street (Right off exit 3, Route I-95) Greenwich Ct

 

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A fun event will be held on Saturday September 10, 2016 at Ryder Farm in North Salem NY.   A “Seasonal Supper with Hayfields” will be held at the farm from 6 pm to 9pm.   It will feature a true farm-to-table meal as you dine outdoors at the farm at large communal tables.  All items on the multi course menu will be locally sourced with fresh ingredients supplied by the North Salem High School Community Garden, Ryder Farm, Snow Hill Farm, Deep Roots and Three Ponds Farm.  There will be even ice cream from Bluebird Ice Cream of Cross River.

As part of the evening guests will be entertained by two entertainers, Grace McLean and Brittain Ashford.     Grace McLean is a singer, actress, writer and teacher who has performed off Broadway, and performs her own original music both as a solo artist and with her band Grace McLean and Them Apples.  She has performed all over the world and can be found playing gigs in NYC at Joe’s Pub, 54 Below and other venues.

Brittain Ashford is a singer songwriter.  She performs with bands such as Ghost Quartet and Prairie Empire and appeared off Broadway in “Nashasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812″.  She has also released two albums.

The food for the evening is brought to you by Hayfields, a locally owned and operated store in North Salem, NY.  Hayfields specializes in gardening, fresh produce, dry goods, high-quality baked goods, small bites and delicious coffee and smoothies.

The event helps  promote SPACE at Ryder Farm.   SPACE on Ryder Farm is a non-profit artist residency program located on the grounds of Ryder Farm.  SPACE creates an environment singular in its ability to invigorate artists and innovators and their work, and contributes to the sustainability and resourceful preservation of one of the oldest organic family farms on the East Coast.

For more information about SPACE  please visit :

http://www.spaceonryderfarm.org/#home

For information and tickets to the Seasonal Supper: 

http://www.spaceonryderfarm.org/upcoming-events/2016/3/12/seasonal-supper

Ryder Farm

406 Starr Ridge Road Brewster, NY, 10509

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The 15th annual Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest will return once again to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck New York on September 10th and 11th 2016.   The fest is a celebration of wines from New York State, with an emphasis on some of the wonderful wines from the Hudson Valley.   Wines from all regions of New York will be available to sample and since the Fest is a farm market, visitors will be able to purchase bottles of wine from their favorite growers.

In 2015 there were 50 different vineyards in attendance.

 

 

 

There are also wine seminars,including food and wine parings, and wine and cheese pairings.

 

Any foodie knows that there has been an explosion in the last few years in the craft beer industry and New York State has seen its share of new brewers open their doors.  There will be a Beer Pavillion at the Fest and last year there were 14 breweries present.  There is also local Hard Cider to sample as well as local Distilled spirits.

The event is not all liquids, as there are food vendors throughout the fest and many have samples for attendees to try.   There is also the Food Truck Court with several different food trucks serving pizza, Mexican dishes, and more.  There is outdoor seating as well under the tents for dining.

Tickets are $40 at the door.  Also available in advance for a small discount at their website below.  So come out to the Fest!

 

Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest

Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck New York

for tickets and much more info:   http://www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com/

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The Bedford Playhouse, a fixture in Bedford Village for decades was saved last year from being converted from a cinema to retail space.  The historic theater is undergoing renovations but donations are still needed to bring the vision of the theater as a vibrant community hub to life.

On Friday August 26, 2016  The Bedford Playhouse will host an wonderful star studded evening with local performers including Glenn Close, Paul Shaffer, Chevy Chase, Robert Klein, Jeffrey Tambor and Chazz Palminteri.    There will also be a musical performance by singer Marissa Mc Gowan who will be introduced by the widow of the late Marvin Hamlisch.

The newly renovated and transformed Bedford Playhouse will now have three separate theaters.  The main theater will be a 250 seat state of the art theater, the second will be a smaller intimate theater for screening independent, family, and foreign films and a third space which will be for screenings, education, and small theatrical performances.   There will also be a small cafe.

So help the Playhouse in its final fundraising push and enjoy an evening out with some local celebrities.

When:  August 26, 2016

Where: Harvey School Walker Center for the  Arts   260 Jay Street Katonah NY

Cost : $300   to purchase  http://www.bedfordplayhouse.org/events

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