Author Archives: upstatedowntown

Wild Horse (Winery) Rides into NYC

Posted on August 24, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Wild Horse Winery, a California Central Coast wine operation based in Templeton, CA (near Paso Robles), is best known for its Pinot Noirs…and its familiar galloping mustang image on its bottles. Last week, I had the opportunity … Continue reading →

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Star of a Stellar Vintage: 2011 Willi Schaefer Riesling

Posted on July 24, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews The dog days of summer have arrived with a thud, and August is still to come. In this hot, sticky weather, you want a wine that’s light (especially on the alcohol), lively on the palate and long on the fruit. A savvy … Continue reading →

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Two Boots Bard: Dude Food, Suds and Tunes

Posted on July 19, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Kathryn Matthews Meat. Cheese. Crust. Beer. Righteous pizza attracts most guys—and a lot of girls.  Add live music to the mix, and it’s dude heaven. Two Boots, a Cajun-Italian eatery founded downtown (the East Village) in 1987, has delivered … Continue reading →

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Poughkeepsie’s Culinary Cornerstone: The Artist’s Palate

Posted on July 9, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Poughkeepsie, NY, a once-thriving river town on the Hudson, but long economically depressed, is often our gateway to upstate New York, via the Metro North train. But when we first bought our farmhouse in Dutchess County, there … Continue reading →

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Luna 61: Clean Vegetarian “Speaks” Good Asian

Posted on June 20, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Kathryn Matthews After a recent meal at Luna 61, a 17-year-old eclectic vegetarian restaurant in Tivoli, New York, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that husband-and-wife owners Debra and Peter Maisel, were able to deliver what I hadn’t been … Continue reading →

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Chateau Monbousquet 1995: Aging (and Drinking) Nicely

Posted on June 13, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews In our ever faster, more frenetic world, the patience (and pocketbook, for mere mortals) required for stocking a cellar full of age-worthy wines — great Barolo, Burgundy, Brunello or Bordeaux, for example — and then waiting a decade or more for them … Continue reading →

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Bloom Times in the Hudson Valley

Posted on May 25, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Every year is different, but as springs go, 2012 has been quite the rollercoaster in the Hudson Valley. After virtually no winter, March shattered records for warmth, remained unusually dry and generated historically early blooms — plum trees, … Continue reading →

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Go Down to CrossRoads (in Hillsdale)

Posted on May 15, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews “Farm-to-table” has become a buzzword for many restaurants in the Hudson Valley — and around the country. And while it’s a great trend to support, using local and/or organic ingredients doesn’t always guarantee a great dining experience. One Hudson Valley … Continue reading →

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Vegging Out at Liberty…

Posted on April 29, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Kathryn Matthews …is not top-of-mind for most who come here. At the newish Liberty Public House in Rhinebeck, the red, white and blue-themed décor is eye-catching and fun.  And, on a menu that salutes Americana favorites, the “Liberty Burger … Continue reading →

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Off the Beaten Foodie Path: Another Fork in the Road

Posted on April 14, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Kathryn Matthews Surprise parties?  Cringe.  Surprise visits (as in “I’m downstairs in the lobby!”)?  Uh-uh. Don’t you dare.  Surprise gifts?  Unless you know my taste and size—I’d rather you didn’t… Obviously, I’m not big on surprises—unless they’re delicious. Our … Continue reading →

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