Filed under: Restaurants
We took the kids to try Rain Water Grill (19 Main St. in Hastings on Hudson, NY) Monday night, after learning that it had been opened by the parents of one of A.’s friends. We’re not familiar with Hastings (it looks like a cute town to walk through), but found the restaurant easily and were glad to see a municipal parking lot next door (25¢ per half hour, but not on Sundays or holidays).
I adore the way this restaurant is decorated — chocolate brown wood, slate blue walls, and just an overall comfortable but stylish vibe. There were some whimsical touches like these salt and pepper dishes (different on each table) as well. Upbeat jazz was playing in the background, causing G. to periodically dance in his seat. “It sounds like the music from The Princess and the Frog!,” he said. It’s the kind of place you feel comfortable taking the kids, yet the adults get a nice dinner as well. There were other tables of families and some of just adults (including a birthday dinner) while we were eating.
J. ordered a burger with caramelized onions and Gorgonzola (there are several gourmet combinations on the menu, or make your own), which was served on a brioche bun with hand-made french fries that were excellent. The burger passed muster with my tough critic as well — the basic, unadorned burger is 10 oz. and $11. I had a Pear Salad ($10) plus chicken, which was mixed greens, sliced grilled pear, dried cranberries, Gorgonzola, and candied nuts in a balsamic vinaigrette. The salad itself is an appetizer, and you can add chicken, shrimp, or steak for another $5. 
That’s literally what they did — they plopped a grilled, sliced chicken breast (perfectly cooked) on top of a smallish, starter-sized plate of salad. It was a little awkward to eat because the plate was crowded. I would have preferred that the +$5 turned the salad into a true entree, on a larger plate with a little more greens (the other ingredients were plentiful enough already, I thought).
We ordered plain pasta for the boys, but there was a miscommunication with the waiter and he brought two dishes of sauced pasta instead. He insisted, once, that that was indeed what I had ordered before he offered to bring out two corrected meals quickly. Which he did — they were out fast enough that the kids didn’t even have time to kvetch about it. He was really on his game, because when it came time for the kids’ sundaes (they came with the meal), he brought them each a shot glass of chocolate syrup that they could pour on themselves — very prescient of him, especially since one boy wanted it and one wasn’t sure. I was impressed that he thought to do that, and his attention to our kids’ needs (OK, strict preferences) made our meal easier and more pleasant. And amusing, when A. tried to convince J. to drink the chocolate syrup straight from the shot glass.
We all really enjoyed the dinner. The food was carefully prepared and very fresh, and I’m sorry Rain Water Grill isn’t closer to our home; it’s a place we would definitely choose again.
If you go, note that some of the prices on the online menu are slightly lower than the menu we were given in the restaurant on January 18.
January 20, 2010
Cravings Eats & Treats, at 549 North State Rd. in Briarcliff Manor, NY, was just opened by my friend Erica a couple of weeks ago, and already G. is hooked on the frozen yogurt. In fact, I’m sure it’s the yogurt that had everyone buzzing about Cravings before it even opened. Aside from baked goods, sandwiches, salads, and soups, they also offer up to 6 flavors of Frogurt at a time, including the elusive slightly-sour, slightly-sweet “plain” — the same kind Bloomingdale’s serves. A small yogurt, which is more than just a kid-sized portion, starts at $3, with a long list of toppings (melba sauce, M&Ms, dried cranberries, etc.) for 50 cents each or fresh fruit for a dollar.
I’m most interested in going back for the Hale and Hearty Soup — Cravings offers three kinds a day. The Sweet Corn Chowder (gluten free, surprisingly) smelled delicious, and I like that the soups are all-natural, with ingredients I’d use in my own kitchen. A 12 oz. portion starts at $3.95, going up to $9.50 for a quart.
There were a number of guys buying salads to go the last time I was in the store. You build your own, starting with a choice of iceberg, romaine, spinach or mixed greens. Then top it with everything from hearts of palm (a favorite of mine) to mushrooms to roasted red peppers. A small salad, which includes 2 toppings plus dressing, starts at $6.95. You can add some protein on top if you’d like: roasted turkey, chicken, and tuna are available. Unique sandwiches, like a Greek salad in a pita, and paninis round out the light meal offerings.
Don’t forget the bakery — I can give you a rundown though I haven’t sampled any of it yet. Cravings has muffins, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, scones, and more. Plus, they do special orders and seasonal items — they had honey cake for Rosh Hashanah, for example.
I like the vibe of this place, shabby chic but with crisp, clean edges. You’re instantly comfortable when you step inside:
That’s my little guy eating Frogurt at the back of the store (vanilla with rainbow sprinkles). You can see that in addition to all their food offerings, Cravings is something of a gift shop as well. What caught my eye were a range of cute baking kits from Sassafras. I’d never seen them before and thought they’d make an original birthday gift.
Cravings is really a take away cafe, although there are a couple of benches with small tables. They’re right across the street from Terra Rustica, and on the way to Club Fit — I expect they’ll get plenty of business from people going to and from the gym. You can reach Cravings Eats & Treats at 914-944-4622.
September 21, 2009
I have two favorite salads at one of our local Italian restaurants, Paese Pasta & Pizza in Briarcliff Manor. The Toscana is arugula, sliced pears, roasted peppers, goat cheese, and thinly-sliced red onions in a honey-sweetened balsamic vinaigrette. The Mediterranean is red oak leaf lettuce mixed with grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and diced Granny Smith apples in a sherry vinaigrette. They never disappoint.
I used the gorgeous head of red lettuce from our farm share this week to make a copycat Mediterranean salad for Saturday’s lunch, and served it with a wheat ciabatta. J. was kind enough to wash, spin, and chop the lettuce, and then I added a pint of halved grape tomatoes, a jar of drained Kalamatas, two diced Granny Smiths, and a whole lot of crumbled bleu cheese instead of the feta. We dressed it with a simple olive oil & balsamic vinegar combo, plus some salt and pepper. It was very good, but not great. I think Paese’s dressing may be sweeter, perhaps with some honey added — I will have to pay better attention next time.
Unfortunately, the leftovers didn’t keep well. By Sunday the salad was a soggy mess, and the saltiness of the olives and cheese overwhelmed the sweetness of the apples. Good thing we made a huge dent in it when it was still fresh on Saturday.
June 14, 2009
- Another “we deliver” farm share serving Westchester county, aptly named Farm Share. The veggies are certified organic, and tomorrow is the last day to sign up for a spring/summer share.
- Need more than just your organic veggies? I came across an ad for Greater Organic Foods recently, which basically acts like a Whole Foods-type personal shopper, delivering groceries to your door in BPA-free packaging. (Man, I am a sucker for a beautifully designed Web site!) It’s not a service I’m in the market for, but I like looking through their suggested menus anyway.
- Table Local Market in Bedford Hills, NY is on my short list of places I want to try to both shop and eat. Table is built as a year-round farmer’s market, featuring bread, cheese, meat, prepared foods and of course, fruit and vegetables from local producers. The NY Times recently wrote them up, too: “A Farm Market in a Store.” I plan to drag some friends up there with me this summer.
June 11, 2009
J. and I went to see Demetri Martin at the Tarrytown Music Hall on Saturday night, and we wanted to grab a quick, early dinner beforehand. I had read on Small Bites about a new restaurant, Sweet Grass Grill opening on Main St. in Tarrytown, just across and down from the Music Hall. In fact, the restaurant just opened this past Friday night, and at 5:30 in the evening — just their second night in business — we were able to walk in and sit right down. (more…)
April 19, 2009
Mmmm, cupcakes! Flour & Sun Bakery opened at 19 Washington Ave. in Pleasantville recently — it’s in the space formerly occupied by the kitchen-gadget store Steel Mandolin, and across from MacArthur’s. When I stopped by on Friday, almost all the cupcakes gave a nod to St. Patrick’s Day, either with green-tinted frosting or ingredients like Guinness stout.
I bought 6 cupcakes for $17.25. Ouch. Regular cupcakes cost $2.75, specialty cupcakes are $3, and some with liquor in them go up to $3.35 apiece. These are the same size as cupcakes you’d bake at home — 2½” in diameter, with lots of height from the frosting. The store has a few seats at a counter that looks out onto the street, and they sell coffee, tea, and milk too.
The thing that struck me the most about all the cupcakes is that they were restrained in their sweetness. There was none of that supermarket-type, clench-your-jaw reaction from the sugar in the frosting. To me, this made them taste much more like a treat I’d craft in my own home: high quality, good ingredients, made thoughtfully.
My official tasting panel included both boys, my parents, and me — we cut the cupcakes into quarters so we could each get a taste of most of them. Overall, we all liked them a lot and having them for dessert felt like a special treat. Cupcakes — any cupcakes — are just a happy food. They remind us of birthdays and childhood and other easy, simple pleasures. It is hard to go wrong with a frosted cupcake!
Clockwise, starting from the top and ending in the center, here’s what we tried: (more…)
March 14, 2009
- There’s a new cupcake bakery in Pleasantville, NY! Flour & Sun Bakery is having its grand opening on the 21st, but it’s open now. I bought a half dozen assorted cupcakes today — I’ll taste test them with my parents and the boys after dinner tonight. (Denise, the owner, sealed my box with a sticker so I’m not tempted to sneak one beforehand.) I’m particularly excited about the chocolate Guinness with vanilla buttercream.
- GoPicnic seems almost too good to be true: ready to eat meals, all-natural and with no high-fructose corn syrup or trans fats, all in a cool package. Kosher, vegan, and gluten-free varieties are available. Seems like you can only buy them online right now. I can see these being terrific if you’re on airplanes a lot, are taking a road trip, or just have a very busy schedule with kids where you’re eating in the car between activities.
- I can’t stop reading about food storage and emergency preparedness. I’m not interested in extensive food storage for our household, but the organizational aspect of it appeals to me! Check out Shelf Reliance, which sells a wide range of freeze-dried foods and some can rotation systems for the very serious stockpiler. Jodi and Julie’s Food Storage Made Easy blog is also a fascinating read.
March 13, 2009
Today is my birthday! Saturday night, J. took me out for a birthday dinner date at La Esquina. It looks like a tiny taco joint from the outside, and it is — but there’s also a hidden subterranean restaurant, the brasserie. To get there, you have to enter the taqueria and go through a door that reads “No Admittance/Employees Only,” down a grimy staircase, and through the kitchen. (more…)
January 27, 2009
My family once ate at Baang in Greenwich, CT to celebrate a birthday. I remember sharing the crispy spinach, which was simply fresh spinach, deep-fried and salted. It was delicious and certainly memorable — our dinner there was probably ten years ago.
This roasted kale is the same idea, but with much less oil. I followed directions I found online, but reduced the salt by half. (Even J., who is a total salt lover, thought it was plenty salty as I prepared it.) You’ll wind up with a nice big pile of greens, thin and crisp, almost like papery kale fries.
That’s one nice thing about cooking the kale in the oven: you don’t lose a lot of the bulk of the greens, even as they crisp up. I’m always disappointed by the yield when I saute my greens — a huge bunch gets reduced down to a few tablespoons, it seems. Not so with this recipe. At the end of the day, though, it’s still a huge plate of kale. This recipe doesn’t keep well, as the kale gets soggy and tastes way too salty as it cools. We made our way through about half the batch, and that was enough for us.
October 10, 2008
There’s a great ice cream shop in Croton on Hudson called The Blue Pig — they make their own ice cream in the store, which is only open seasonally. J. and I never call it by its real name, though, preferring instead to refer to it as The Pink Giraffe, The Red Gorilla, The Green Raccoon, or whatever other color/animal combination we feel like that day.
I was pretty amused when I noticed a new ice cream shop in Ossining across from the Landmark Diner on Route 9. It’s called The Purple Monkey. Really. It just opened last week and I took the boys in one afternoon for a treat. The Purple Monkey sells Gifford’s ice cream and Frogurt-brand frozen yogurt. A small cup of ice cream (one enormous scoop — too much for a child and plenty for an adult) was $2.69.
There are 10 seats in the shop, and the flavors range from the scary-looking Maine Lobster Tracks (which includes “lobster-colored” chocolate cups) to the usual vanilla, chocolate (G.’s favorite), and mint chocolate chip (A.’s choice).
My favorite part? An all-purple sprinkle option, to match the store’s namesake.
September 12, 2008
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I'm Dara, the Chick in the Kitchen. Living in the suburbs of Manhattan with my two boys, ages 5 and 7, and husband. Trying to feed my family something more diverse than a different shape of pasta each night. Read more 