Aesop’s Fables is a collection of oral stories and tales by Aesop, who lived in Ancient Greece around 600 B.C.   A new restaurant has opened in Chappaqua that is inspired by traditions of oral storytelling and has adopted that name.  Chef Matthew Cook wants his guests to come and gather around the  table and converse with each other and exchange stories while they enjoy their meal together.   The Chef who was raised in Vermont and trained in NYC, has developed a dining philosophy of using only  fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients to craft his healthy and delicious menu.  The result is quite pleasing.

The interior of the newly remodeled space at Aesop’s Fable has a traditional bar room with dark wooden bar, that leads off to the dining room.  The dining room is an eclectic design with a traditional farmhouse table and chairs in front of a fireplace mantle , then transitions into a more formal looking space with coffered ceiling, fine moldings, and dark wooden tables and chairs. An interesting contrast.  There is a new outdoor space with fire pit, wooded tables and market umbrellas which make for a cozy  spot to enjoy a glass of wine, a craft cocktail and some small plates.

There is a nice list of craft cocktails to enjoy and we indulged ourselves with the Milan, a nice concoction of vodka, blood orange, lemoncello and prosecco.  A sweet way to start things off.

With their offerings changing with the seasons, we sampled some dishes from different parts of the menu.  From the Small Plates we enjoyed the Goat Cheese Croquettes, made with soft fresh goat cheese, herbed bread crumbs and pesto.  Soft and full of flavor.  We followed with the Milk and Honey Crostini comprised of house made fresh ricotta cheese, local honey, toasted walnut, sea salt, and garden fresh mint.  A real tasty combination of fresh flavors.

From the “Aesop’s Market” (seasonal dishes using garden fresh ingredients)   we sampled  the Cauliflower, a wonderful dish of fire roasted cauliflower, parmesan, rosemary bread crumbs, capers and lemon.  It is amazing how ordinary cauliflower can be transformed into a delightful hearty dish by carefully roasting and blending with the right ingredients.   From the same section came Brussel Sprouts, which was again roasted and served au gratin with gruyere .  A very interesting dish and if you are not a fan of Brussel sprouts, this dish may convert you.

 

Wood fired pizza is a big menu item and we observed several tables sharing pies among themselves. We enjoyed the Aesop Pizza comprised of fresh tomato, backyard basil and house pulled mozzarella. The wood fired crust and fresh ingredients made for a nice light dish.  There are 9 different pizzas on the menu with the option (at cost) to have gluten free crust or even dairy free cheese.

Main Courses range from seafood to beef to poultry.  We enjoyed the only pasta dish  on the main course menu which was Summer Pasta, an enjoyable medley of organic Orecchiette pasta, local heirloom tomato, fresh picked basil, garlic, pinenuts, and parmesan.  We were glad we enjoyed this dish as we feel it at the heart of the Chef’s focus on bringing to the table dishes with local and fresh ingredients.

 

Owners Tonin and Sose Veshta and Chef Matthew Cook have brought an interesting new restaurant to the Hudson Valley dining scene.  We look forward to the evolving menu as the seasons change.

So turn off the phone, and gather around the table at Aesop’s Table and enjoy good conversation and great fresh food.

Aesop’s Fable

13 King Street  Chappaqua NY

tel.  914.238.3858  

web:   https://www.aesopsfablerestaurant.com

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The ultimate wine and food event returns to our area.  The Greenwich Wine and Food Festival presented by Serendipity Magazine returns September 22-23.  The festival is a must for foodies and is held water side at the beautiful Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich Ct.

The event features live music, food, wine, beer, spirits, shopping, bookstore on site, celebrity chef demonstrations, and so much more.  It is an amazing event that is a must for foodies and for everyone who loves a good time.

This fabulous celebration will feature food and drink samples from over 100 vendors.  Many are restaurants serving Fairfield and Westchester Counties.

 

What would a food  festival be without celebrity guests and chefs?  This year there will be a host of chefs that will be in attendance and providing fantastic cooking demos in the  demonstration tents.  Among the guests will  Mario Batali (Tarry Lodge, Eataly NYC, etc)  Adam Richman (TV host  Man vs Food) Kathie Lee Gifford,  Alex  Guarnaschelli  ( Butter NYC, Food Network, author),  Mogan Anthony ( Village Social chef -Mt.Kisco and Rye), and many more.

At 4 pm the Bud and Burger tent opens with great burgers being served and plenty of cold beer.   At 5pm the 5th Annual  Burger Burger Battle hosted by Adam Richman will be held as top restaurants compete for best burger.

Also at 4pm the Don Julio Tequila tent opens for the Don Julio South of the Border Fiesta featuring foods from Mexico as well as cocktails.    Empire Casino will be on hand with table games and cocktails under their own tent  starting at 2pm.

No festival is complete without music, and there will be great  acts on the festival stage this year with the Ian Murray Band and the headliner act, Train.  Music starts on stage at  6:30 pm.

Tickets for this must attend event can be purchased here:

https://serendipitysocial.com/product/saturday-general-admission-pass/

See the website for schedules (Special Friday events and  all day Saturday events) as well as tickets for upgraded events being held at the festival

https://serendipitysocial.com/greenwich-wine-food/

21 and older only. No infants or strollers please.  No pets.

Greenwich Wine and Food Festival  by Serendipity Magazine

Roger Sherman Baldwin Park

100 Arch Street  Greenwich Ct     (easy to reach from Interstate 95 exit 3 or by Metro North New Haven line to Greenwich Station- 1 block walk to the park)

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New Paltz is already a Hudson Valley town known for its shops and its variety of dining options.  Now this great destination has welcomed a new comer to downtown, Lola’s Cafe.   Lola’s is already known to Hudson Valley foodies for its location in Poughkeepsie which opened in 2005.   Owned by Chef Ed Kowalski who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.  The culinary theme of the restaurant  is described as “American fast casual” with an emphasis on fresh locally sourced ingredients.

The new location at the corner of Main and North Chestnut Streets in the heart of New Paltz makes it the perfect spot to dine after apple picking or wine tasting on one of the local farms, or hiking up at Mohonk or at Minnewaska State Park.  The newly renovated space has a simple vibe with earth tone colors and the use of natural materials.  Outside on the patio is numerous seating under market umbrellas where you can see the Mohonk Escarpment in the distance.

The menu  contains a full range of items including fresh bowls, wraps, sandwiches, paninis, and a wide range of salads.  Beer and wine is also available with 8 different brews and 7 different varieties of wine.  There are also craft sodas, and some fine ice teas.

The day we visited we sampled several items from the menu.  The Power Bowl was a healthy meal with edamame, mushrooms, over farro and quinoa and served with a fresh ginger carrot vinaigrette.  Very healthy and tasty.  All bowls can add chicken or shrimp for an additional charge.

The Thai wrap was just one of the items on the wrap menu that was composed of grilled chicken, romaine, Asian slaw and a spicy Thai peanut sauce.  The taste was just spicy enough without being overpowering, and the combo of ingredients was very satisfying.

There is a wide assortment of salads offered and we sampled the South Beach Salad.  It included shrimp, mandarins, cherry tomato, dried cranberry, cucumbers, feta cheese, over mixed greens and served with a fresh herb vinaigrette.  Delicious!   For those who like meat in their salad, there  are four other salad options with chicken as an ingredient.

With all this healthy dining we could not leave Lola’s without trying one of their decadent milk shakes.  All shakes use Ronnybrook organic dairy products and local gelato.  If you have the room, you may want to share one!

Lola’s is an excellent new addition to the vibrant  New Paltz dining scene. In the future I hope to visit their Poughkeepsie location  near the Walkway on the Hudson.

Lola’s Cafe

49 Main Street New Paltz, New York   tel:  845.255.6555

https://www.lolascafeandcatering.com

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Bareburger is not just another burger restaurant.  This is an eatery with a mission to provide its customers with a blend of the finest natural ingredients, locally sourced when possible and complimented with great service.

Bareburger  is passionate about the ingredients in its menu items and that translate to delicious dishes.  The Veggies and fruit are all certified organic, and non-gmo.   The meat used in the burgers is from Vermont Country Farm of Fossil Farms and is from cattle that is natural grass grazing animals.   The chicken is from free range, cage free chickens and no steroids or anti biotics.

Even the sauces are made with organic ingredients, non-GMO and cage free eggs.   Soda comes from Maine Root Soda and uses fresh organic ingredients and spices.  The coffee and tea is all free trade and is organic.  Bareburger provides a healthy and satisfying alternative to the usual burger joint.

At our meal we sampled some of the burgers on the menu.  Please note that the menu is not just beef burgers, there is also elk, duck, bison, lamb and turkey.   For the vegetarian and  healthy eater in your party have no fear as there are several tasty and innovative veggie burger options for you as well.

We started our meal with a healthy plate of crispy brussel sprouts, a tasty starter to share with asiago and sea salt.  There are a number of share dishes including fries, chicken tenders and even delicious falafel cups.

We followed up with another healthy option, the Cali Fresh Salad, one of more than 20 salads on the menu .  The delicious and healthy Cali featured baby kale, green hummus, quinoa, grape tomato, alfalfa in a lemon tahini dressing.  Great alone or to share.

You can build your own burger at Bareburger or choose from the list of 15 options.  We sampled the Buckaroo burger featuring beef, brisket, aged cheddar, mushroom and smoke sauce on a brioche bun.  Talk about a tasty combination.  We also shared the healthy So Cal with turkey, cheddar, guacamole, alfafa on a sprout bun.  My first time eating a sprout bun, which is much like a multi grain and was a perfect complement to the burger.

We went vegetarian on the next options with the Farmstead which features a sweet potato and wild rice patty, green hummus, kale, avocado basil dressing in a collard green wrap.  Not your traditional burger for sure but a very fresh and tasty dish.     The Prairie, is a quinoa patty, vegan American cheese, roasted onions, garlic, baby spinach on a sprout bun.  We ordered without the onions and this dish was really delicious and one of my favorite veggie burgers I have sampled in a long time.

 

Bareburger is not just food, but has amazing fresh fruity sodas (we tried the unique blueberry soda) and of course decadent milk shakes.  We sampled the Raspberry Nutella shake and it was loaded with fresh flavor.   There are desserts as well  (8 in all) and you can even build your own shake.

 

Bareburger has something for everyone.  Great organic meats for the carnivore in the family, healthy organic salads,  and other healthy veggie options.   With a laid back vibe, reasonable prices and great service, this is place you will want to return time and time again.

Burgers:  $9.65 to $13.95

Salads: side salads start at $5,  share salads are higher

Sides: $3.50 and up

You can even order on line for pick up at the restaurant.

Bareburger (Ridgefield Ct)

38  Danbury Road Ridgefield, Ct

tel. 203.438.2273

web https://bareburger.com/

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Even if you are a frequent visitor or resident of New York City, you really have not experienced the wonder that is New York until you have seen it in a luxury motor yacht.   Recently we had the great pleasure to tour Manhattan by boat and enjoy a fantastic Sunday Brunch.  This is a three-hour escape that will you will remember long after the yacht ties up back at its pier in Chelsea.

Sunday brunch is just one of the fantastic tours you can take on the Classic Harbor Line.  The fleet has several classic yachts and sailing vessels  and we were able to cruise in high style on the Manhattan II.     The yacht recalls the elegant era of the 1920s motor yachts.  It is 100 feet long  and is outfitted with beautiful polished teak with mahogany accents.  The yacht is enclosed with large panoramic glass windows, glass ceiling, cozy tables, and a full service bar.

On the bow of the vessel is an outdoor area where you can get an unobstructed view of the cityscape and allow the breeze to blow through your hair.

The Manhattan II makes its home port at Chelsea Piers on the west side of Manhattan.  Parking is available there or at private garages located a short walk away.    As the yacht was tied off, and slipped away from the pier, it turned south into the Hudson for our three hour adventure.

We opted for the Sunday Brunch cruise but there are other very interesting cruises available:

• Wine tasting tours
• Wine and cheese tasting
• Champagne Sunset tour
• Architecture tour
• Jazz
• Fall foliage (up the Hudson River)

Our brunch was excellent and served as a buffet and there was plenty of food for the guest that day.  Some of the delicious offerings were pasties, rolls, croissants, quiche fresh fruit,  waffle station and more! And of course a full bar serving mimosas and even local NY craft brews.

The ship is equipped with a state of the art sound system and the knowledgable captain pointed out land marks as well as other points of interest.  This cruise took up down the Hudson to the Statue of Liberty up past Governors Island and into the East River.  Sailing by the ever changing cityscape was fantastic and it is such a great way to experience the city.

The tour took us up the Harlem River where we met the Hudson River and turned south the length of Manhattan Back to Chelsea.  On that day,  a warm sea breeze greeted us as the yacht made its way down river.

The Classic Harbor Line is a special way to see Manhattan and should not be missed.  For more information on this cruise and the many other adventures visit their website.

Classic Harbor Line Cruises

tel. 212.637.1825      web:  https://www.sail-nyc.com/

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With summer in full swing, outdoor dining is a must. A  new restaurant, the Village Beer Garden  is a trendy alfresco spot located at the Port Chester Metro-North Train Station in Port Chester NY.  String lights hang in the open air and fireplaces flicker with flame. The space is filled with communal butcher block tables dotted with red patio umbrellas, and wrapped in steel-glass framing and green shrubbery. f

The restaurant/beer garden is right next to the Port Chester train station and contains two spaces, the indoor glass enclosed area and the spacious outdoor space decorated with string lights, outdoor fire place, ping pong table and dart board.  Both areas make for a great place to gather with friends and enjoy food and drink.  The night we visited we sat outside and enjoyed the warm summer evening as the sun slowly set.

This bustling location offers extensive local craft, imported beers and creative cocktails. We sampled their Sala Sangria, Garden Rum, Southern Lemonade and Montauk Driftwood Ale. Although all beverages were refreshing, the Garden Rum was our favorite. The Garden Rum is comprised of dark & light rum, velvet falernum, lime and pineapple.  Over 20 beers are available including European, domestic and craft offerings.

Bites and appetizers include homemade pretzel nuggets, house pickles honey (dill spears, sriracha carrots, and chili flake French beans), fried cheddar curds, German meatballs, and shrimp cocktail.  The menu is inspired by the fare you would expect at a German Beer Garden, but with innovation one expects from in a modern Westchester eatery.

While enjoying our beverages we munched on Belgian house fries, beer battered onion ring tower, German herb spaetzle (so good!)  and roasted Brussels sprouts & pistachios. The onion ring tower had the perfect crisp and had a sweet note with each crunch. The onion rings and Belgian house fries paired perfectly with a light refreshing  Montauk ale. Afterwards our waiter brought a German potato salad and tomato & cucumber salad to the table. On this warm and sunny day these salads were a great and light addition to the meal.

Sizzling Bratwurst and kielbasa sausages arrived with a tantalizing soft pretzel stick and homemade kraut. I also tasted the crispy chicken schnitzel sandwich. This was a nice and light sandwich on country toast and accompanied with a red cabbage slaw. Veggie burger and mini burger sliders were next on the menu. We raved how delicious the veggie burger sliders tasted. This slider consisted of black bean, mushroom, broccoli, onion, gruyere cheese and house sauce.   It was great to see that vegetarians or health conscious choices so everyone in your party can enjoy the great atmosphere of the Village Beer Garden.

The Village Beer Garden is the newest restaurant from the owners of Rye House (Port Chester), Rye House (NYC) and Sala One Nine (NYC), and is  worthy addition to the dining scene in Westchester.

Village Beer Garden

3 Broad Street (at the Metro North Station)  Port Chester, NY     tel. 914.939.7500

web > https://www.villagebeergarden.com

 

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