Author Archives: upstatedowntown

Culinary Heirloom: The Cricket Tea Room Cook Book

Posted on January 16, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews It’s funny sometimes how the mind works, and how certain thoughts can lead to action. The subject of this post — The Cricket Tea Room Cook Book — was co-authored by my Great-Great Aunt, Tona Webb Perry, and served … Continue reading →

Posted in At Our Farmhouse, Bookshelf, Home Baking, Home Cooking, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Tuscan Value: the Maremma

Posted on November 11, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Tuscan wines, like Chianti (in its many iterations), the esteemed Brunello di Montalcino and the “Super Tuscans” (such as Sassicaia and Antinori’s Tignanello), are well-known on these shores, at least among cognoscenti. Less familiar, but sources of distinct value, are some of … Continue reading →

Posted in NYC Events, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wine Media Guild Does…Cider!

Posted on October 16, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews It may sound a bit like “man biting dog”, but at the Wine Media Guild of New York’s (WMG) recent October tasting/lunch, the focus was on…cider! Justifiably so. “Hard” (i.e. alcoholic) cider is one of the hottest beverage … Continue reading →

Posted in At Our Farmhouse, Beer + Cider, Hudson Valley, NY craft beverages, NYC Events, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2015 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition: Millbrook, Robibero Share Top Honor

Posted on September 15, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Stop the presses! For the first time since the award was originated four years ago, Millbrook Vineyard and Winery, the Hudson Valley’s perennial wine flagship, was not the sole Hudson Valley Winery of the Year winner at … Continue reading →

Posted in NY craft beverages, NY wine, Spirits + Cocktails, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Riesling’s New York Winning Streak Ends…

Posted on August 14, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews …but probably not for long. Yet for the first time since 2008, and only the third time since 2000, Riesling was not the grape of the NY Governor’s Cup winner (i.e. the “Best in Show) at the New … Continue reading →

Posted in NY craft beverages, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unexpected Plums? Clafouti!

Posted on August 4, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Our ancient red plum tree served as an early muse here at Upstate-Downtown. And we’ve received lots of plum goodness from it over the years. It has, unfortunately, fallen on hard times recently, a victim of “black knot” plum tree disease and … Continue reading →

Posted in At Our Farmhouse, Food, Home Baking, Hudson Valley, Local Food | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Serious Summer Pink (and Other Food/Wine Matters)

Posted on June 29, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews I had tarragon on the brain. We have a perennial patch of tarragon upstate, and this summer, it has produced like no other year. Normally, I have to constrain Kathryn from pillaging the entire clump in one … Continue reading →

Posted in At Our Farmhouse, Food, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ramp Fest Hudson 2015: Gone in a Flash

Posted on May 8, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews On one of the most beautiful days of the year upstate (so far), the fifth annual Ramp Fest, a culinary celebration of “the wild onion of myth and mystery”, took place last Saturday (5/2/15) at  Basilica Hudson in Hudson, NY. … Continue reading →

Posted in Eco-friendly Products, Environment, Food, Hudson Valley, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cali Vintners Walking the Green Talk

Posted on April 15, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews The severe drought in California is making not only headlines, but also for some tough, long-term choices. Perhaps this is only a nasty — and lengthy — cyclical drought, and the rains will return, as they have in the past. But that’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Eco-friendly Products, Environment, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Alsatian April Fools’ (for the Wine Media Guild)

Posted on April 3, 2015 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews At the Wine Media Guild’s (WMG) recent lunch on April 1, 2015 at Felidia, there was no fooling around: the theme was Alsace, featuring the aromatic, earthy and food-friendly white varietal wines it produces so well — … Continue reading →

Posted in Eco-friendly Products, NYC Events, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment