Category Archives: Restaurants

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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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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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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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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Spring Into Hudson Valley Delicious

Posted on March 14, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Kathryn Matthews Winter 2012 is going out with a whimper—actually, with this week’s temperatures hitting the lows 70s—more like a whisper…  But, hey, all the more reason to step out during Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, which spans seven New … Continue reading →

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Cantine Valenti: Stylish Wines from Etna

Posted on February 24, 2012 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Few places in the wine world are as exciting as Sicily. An island of vines since antiquity, and a vintner’s sun-drenched terroir dream, it has experienced a remarkable revolution toward quality wines in recent years, leaving behind the reputation of cheap bulk wines that … Continue reading →

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Wine Country Comer: Paso Robles

Posted on December 30, 2011 by upstatedowntown

By Kathryn Matthews Reminiscing about 2011’s favorite epicurean discoveries, Christopher and I championed our respective “Best …” lists.  One thing we could easily agree upon: how much we enjoyed discovering Paso Robles wine country… 

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Awash in Local Suds: Terrapin’s NY Craft BeerFEST

Posted on August 12, 2011 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Despite a rainy Saturday afternoon, spirits were high at the recent New York State Craft BeerFEST, hosted by Terrapin Restaurant in Staatsburg, NY (Dutchess County). It was a sold out crowd…

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