Chef/owner Al DiMeglio, formerly of Rubirosa, Olana and Osteria del Circo, has opened this new restaurant on Broadway in Williamsburg. We tried it last week and were very pleased. It’s definitely worth the trip from Manhattan, just one stop into Brooklyn on the M train.

The menu consists mostly of appetizers, plate-size pizzas, and pastas, with just four main course options. Prices are quite reasonable for the generous portions. We put together a meal of three dishes which we shared, starting with bone marrow oreganata and grilled bread, then bucatini with rabbit ragu, and for the main course, roasted chicken. Al comped us a Margherita pizza because he wanted us to sample it. The reviewer from the New Yorker thought it was unexciting, but we disagree (it may also be that what she had was not the final version, as Al has been experimenting with different types of flour). We really liked the crust, which has a deeper flavor of wheat than that of Rubirosa, without being overpowering.

Update:

Returned the other night for the “Dine in Brooklyn” restaurant week special, $28 for 3 courses. The place was mobbed. I started with the meatball appetizer, which was a large portion and very good, but the big hit was the mozzarella, which I can’t even describe except to say this is exceptional, a must have. For the main course, Al let us try the lamb even though it was not on the prix-fixe, since we had already had the chicken the previous time. This was an extremely flavorful dish. We had ice cream for dessert, one each of the banana bread and the blueberry. These were great, but the star of the show was the panna cotta (not on the prix-fixe but he wanted us to try it). Hard to describe exactly, but it was like no other panna cotta I have ever had. There was an orange gelatin on top, and orange peel, in a sauce of orange. I don’t know how it was described on the menu, but I can say it was one of the best desserts I’ve had in some time.

I started my series on the Hudson Valley last Winter, and have featured many aspects of life in and around Hudson, NY.  Imagine how pleased I was to discover that the New York Times shares my enthusiasm:

My next installment will focus on upcoming events and activities for the fall season, unquestionably the most beautiful time of the year.

UPDATE —-  OFF MARKET AS OF 9/1/17

Visit my web page to see my other listings:

https://www.wohlfarth.com/agent/robert-rems-29.html

Chicken Run is a local favorite and a restaurant we like very much. In five years it has grown into a hugely successful enterprise, and it is now seeking a new owner, either as a turnkey operation with an excellent staff in place, or to customize to your own vision. Windham is a busy year-round resort area two hours North of New York City.

I’ve been hearing a lot lately about people holding “destination” weddings in Columbia County. They love the beautiful settings, mountain and river views and the history of the region, and it is generally less expensive than the New York metropolitan area. It’s close enough that some guests can make it in a day trip, and there are plenty of places to stay overnight for those coming from farther away (See my earlier post on places to stay in the area).

Following are five possibilities for wedding locations:

The Hill, Livingston

http://hudsonvalleyweddings.net/

Oak Hill, Livingston

http://www.livingstonwedding.com/weddings.html

Northwood, Germantown

http://www.aprivateestate.com/index.html

The Greens at Copake Country Club, Copake

http://www.thegreensatcopake.com/#!about-the-greens/c9z6

Basilica Hudson, Hudson

http://basilicahudson.org

Click on the image below to view, and enlarge as needed:

Update:

When I originally posted the report below, it was known as Bakar at Back Bar. Now it is simply Back Bar. but is still serving wonderful Malaysian food.

Bakar at Back Bar is a new restaurant from Zak Pelaccio, formerly of Fatty Crab in Manhattan, and currently owner-chef of Fish and Game in Hudson. With the opening of Bakar, Pelaccio is revisiting the Malaysian food he made popular at Fatty Crab. Unlike the very expensive Fish and Game, Bakar is moderately priced, with a limited menu consisting of small plates all well under $20. We made a very substantial meal of four plates plus two orders of rice. Dishes were curried crab with fish balls and rice noodles, bok choy with squid, spicy pork laab, and fried chicken. The indoor-outdoor setting looks like something out of Bushwick, as does most of the clientele. Service is a bit spotty, but pleasant. Once our order was taken, the food was well-paced and servers attentive.  Finding food this delicious and imaginative in Manhattan is not difficult, but in Hudson it was next to impossible, until now.  Give it a try.

http://www.347backbar.com/

For my recent birthday, we were looking for something a little more special than the places on our usual list. Nothing super high-end, which we have come to appreciate less and less over the years, but a place with atmosphere, top-quality food, great wine, and really good service. We had only been to Maialino once, several years ago, and had enjoyed it, so I thought this would be the perfect occasion to experience it again. It did not disappoint.

Note that prices are more reasonable than they appear on the menu as there is no tipping, so the service is built into the price.

I started with tripe in tomato sauce, while Stanley had the crispy suckling pig face. I love tripe, but the pig face, with its wonderful crisp skin and rich meat, takes the prize. For the main course we shared the whole roasted rabbit. I was expecting a whole rabbit, and wondering how they would get all the parts to come out right, as when I cook a rabbit I make the different parts in different ways. As it turns out, they brought out a plate of parts, including thin strips of leg meat with skin, the loin, which had been pan-roasted as I would have done, liver and kidneys lightly sauteed, and the best part, sausage made from the leg meat and broccoli rabe, something I could never have duplicated at home. Served on a bed of Swiss chard, it was truly a wonderful dish. We also ordered a side of mushrooms, which was heavenly.

Last year I posted a comparison of Hanjan and Oiji:

Hanjan vs. Oiji – A Tale of Two Koreas

Then I received a Blackboard Eats deal recently for Do Hwa, so I was delighted to be able to compare another Korean place, particularly as it’s right in our neighborhood.  We had actually been to Do Hwa a few years ago, and though the food was good, we never felt compelled to return. Maybe we just didn’t try the best dishes. Having been there twice in the last month, I have to say this is really, really good, and quite reasonable even at full price.

I like that the menu is large, and the generous portions make it great for sharing. Among the appetizers, the seafood pancake and the pork ribs are exceptional. A nice assortment of side dishes and kimchi are served with main courses. We’ve had both the barbecued beef and barbecued pork, served with lettuces leaves to roll it up in, the fried chicken in a light, fluffy batter with jalapeno sauce, and the spicy sauteed squid. We loved every one of these.

I would go so far as to say I prefer Do Hwa over Oigi, though the styles are a bit different. We will definitely be making this a regular stop.

http://www.dohwanyc.com/

Columbia County is full of historic treasures, gorgeous scenery and quaint villages. In addition to the city of Hudson, there are many places of interest. Here are some ideas:

Olana

No trip to Hudson would be complete without a visit to Olana, home of the renowned 19th Century landscape painter Frederic Church. The house is open for tours from May 15 through October. The grounds can be visisted any time.

Home

Cedar Grove

The Thomas Cole, home just across the river in Catskill, while in no way as spectacular as Olana, is also worth a visit. Cole was an early 19th Century painter, and Frederic Church was a student of his. The house is open from May through October.

Home

Lindenwald

The home of Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States, is in Kinderhook, about 15 miles North of Hudson. The restored house is open from mid-May through October. The nearby village of Kinderhook is filled with historic homes, most in pristine condition, definitely worth driving through.

https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/presidents/van_buren_lindenwald.html

Also in Kinderhook is the Jack Shainman gallery, housed in a former school. It is currently featuring an exhibit of works by several contemporary artists, and is open Saturdays from 11 to 5.

http://www.jackshainman.com/school/

If you find yourself in Kinderhook at dinner time (or lunch Tuesday to Friday), consider the Carolina House:

The charming log building with its wooden booths and fireplaces is worth a stop for creative cooking based on Southern traditions, with Southwestern and Caribbean accents.

http://carolinahouserestaurant.com/

Clermont

Built in 1782 in Germantown, on the Hudson River about 10 miles South of Hudson, Clermont was the home of the Livingston family. It is open from mid-April through December.

http://nysparks.com/historic-sites/16/details.aspx

Art Omi – The Fields Sculpture Park

The Omi International Arts Center in Ghent, about 15 miles Northeast of Hudson, has a 60-acre sculpture park containing more than 80 sculptures. The visitors’ center includes an indoor gallery and a cafe. The sculpture park is open year-round.

http://www.omiartscenter.org/

Museum of Firefighting – Hudson

The FASNY Museum of Firefighting houses the world’s largest collection of firefighting artifacts. Open all year.

FASNY Museum of Firefighting

Rodgers Book Barn – Hillsdale

http://www.rodgersbookbarn.com/

The Book Barn is a very special place with a huge selection of high-quality used books at great prices. You could spend hours browsing and buying here. Here is a blog post that describes it very well:

The Book Barn — a magical place for real books

Crossroads Food Shop – Hillsdale

Crossroads is a great place to have breakfast or lunch. Great food from local producers, very reasonable. You order and pay at the counter and the food is brought to your table. Open Wednesday through Sunday.

http://www.crossroadsfoodshop.com/

More to come! I will be posting more sightseeing, driving tours, restaurants, etc. shortly.  Stay tuned.

Click on the image below to view, and enlarge as needed: