Rye Cooks

Top Chefs of Westchester at Mt. Kisco Country Club

The United Way of Westchester and Putnam Counties hosted their third annual Top Chef evening this past Tuesday night and we were invited to take part in a culinary whirlwind.

Participating restaurants included 42 at the Ritz-Carlton, Benjamin Steakhouse, Crabtree's Kittle House, Bellizi, Cafe of Love, Le Chateau, Lexington Square Cafe, Mt. Kisco Seafood, Myong Gourmet, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company and Hilltop Wines & Spirits.

The raw bar offered by Mt. Kisco Seafood was festive and the perfect way to start the evening. We stocked up immediately and found a lovely table outside overlooking the golf course.

Happiness Is...conveniently located (for me) in Greenwich went all out with a menu of five tasting items. My favorite was the beef quesadilla triangles drizzled with sour cream and salsa. The bite sized desserts were amazing, the black-eyed-susan mini cupcakes were so pretty, and the brownies were simply, but deeply, delicious.

Lexington Square Cafe also made a splash with the Robiola with Mushroom Strudel and White Truffle oil.  I didn't know what "robiola" was, and just looked it up and although I am still not clear, it was a wonderful appetizer and we went back for seconds.

The proceeds went to United Way's Teach Me to Fish..Work Skills for Life initiative.  This initiave offers free training for unemployed people to become NYS licensed home health care aides, offers mentoring for towards teaching careers, and other job skills and job placement opportunities.

The evening was lighthearted and fun, perhaps easy to do when the food sparkles and the wine and beer flow.  It was exciting to be a part of it all.

Bar Taco, Port Chester, NY

On this quintessential winter day, Suzy and I found the perfect summer restaurant.  It is Bar Taco, located at 11 Willet Street, Port Chester, NY.

It was fantastic in the dead of winter and it is going to be the perfect place to go this summer.  It is decorated in a really laid back surfer style, huge photos on the wall, lots of unfinished wood everywhere: the huge bar, the tables and benches, everything it seems.

Big windows and a triple wide garage door open up to a patio with a sitting area including blue fleece blankets for wrapping up around the firepit.

It makes me want to have a party there.  Just for existing, for using the waterfront the way it should be used, for having great margaritas in a small unassuming rocks glasses. 

For having fried fish tacos, 3 for $7.

Maybe a launch party for Show #3??

 

Harvest on the Hudson

This weekend we went out for an anniversary dinner at a place far, far away in Hastings on the Hudson.  Funny how you can go 20 miles from Rye and it is a matter of 3 highways to get there.  Harvest is known for sophisticated, local, organic offerings.

Although we had a 6:00pm reservation, (NO laughing, why oh why would be go to a place on the Hudson river, surrounded by gardens in the dark?), it was quite crowded with three simultaneous parties in progress.

We must have had that, please, please, it is an anniversary dinner, no kids screeching look about us, so the hostess seated us only somewhat near a sedate celebration of a 60th birthday.  Our corner table was lovely, the waitress had a actual opinion on the food and she steered us very competently through a delicious meal.

Appetizers were portabello mushroom polenta and figs with a balsamic glaze.

I can't believe I have gone so many years without appreciating the fig.  I claim to dislike only raisins, but really other similarly textured foods, olives and dates come to mind, make me physically uncomfortable. I always assumed figs were in the same back-of-the-neck-crawling category.

The first time I had figs was a couple of years ago, when we were invited to a dinner at the celebrated Rao's on 114th Street.  At that time, the figs were served plain and were allegedly fresh off a tree from the backyard of the owner of the restaurant. I say "allegedly" in a purely conversational sense, of course...! 

Now I have a craving for halved fresh fig, a small scoop of gorgonzola and a drizzle of balsamic.  How long do you think it takes to grow a fig tree?  

Jelly Donuts

In past years, we would pick up the kids on the last day of school and head out to the Atlantic Terrace in Montauk, NY.  Otherwise known as The End.  Montauk is the laid back, shoes not always required, part of the east end of Long Island. I did recently read in the Times that even Montauk is becoming an address to have. Hard to believe, but I digress.

My focus here is the Montauk Bake Shoppe.  Inexplicable, that extra pe.  Anyway, the most amazing jelly croissants are sold here.  Or really, jelly twists, with some of the extra crispy sugar getting caught in the twist.  The jelly is a lurid pinkish red.  It is almost unappetizing in its brightness.  However, one bite and you can lose your mind in the sensational taste.

A good friend is currently out in Montauk and (hilariously), called me for DIRECTIONS to the Montauk Bake Shoppe.  I did my best (it's a little past that bookstore, not yet at the really big surf shop) and I truly hope we did not lose cell phone contact when I answered YES, I would love you to bring some home for me.  YES!  I will pick up your newspapers, water your plants, etc, just bring me back some of those psychedelic jelly twists!!

What We Crave: The Mango Shrimp at Coyote Flaco

Camarones con mango at Coyote Flaco on Midland Ave.  ©Rye Cooks

We caught up on the show over ceviche and the mango shrimp (above) at Coyote Flaco, that terrific, tiny Mexican Restaurant across from Pathmark on Midland Avenue in Port Chester.  They have two small dining rooms, an outdoor patio, and a pick-up window if you want to order ahead.

That 11:30 Craving...

Traditional Tuna sandwich from June and Ho.  ©Suzy Allman

Here's the "Traditional Tuna" from June and Ho, which is anything but traditional.  It's 11:30 in the morning and I'm hungry, and if there's one sandwich I crave more than any other in town, it's this:  tuna salad on a raisin walnut multigrain bread, wrapped in plastic for freshness, kept nice and cool.  Simple and perfect.

Day Boat Cafe

Day Boat Cafe, in Irvington, NY.  ©Suzy Allman/New York Times

Frankie and Johnnie's Steakhouse owner, Gus Panopoulos, has a new venture in Irvington: Day Boat Cafe.  I photographed the Day Boat last week for the today's review in the New York Times and am happy to say they fared well with critic Alice Gabriel -- happy, because that means I can show my face there again when I'm craving the mussels.

I was amazed when, at the On The Way Cafe yesterday, one of the waitresses recognized me.  It turns out she also waitresses at the Day Boat evenings -- an unbelievable feat of staying on your feet -- and was working the night we went.  She's good. (Alice agrees: "Service was standout, from amiable bartenders to focused waiters.")

Chowder Sampler, left, includes New England, Manhattan, and Corn and Lobster Chowders.  Right, the dining room. ©Suzy Allman/New York Times

Mussels in white wine and shallots.  ©Suzy Allman/New York Times

We Go Back To On The Way Cafe

...and after only one day! This time, we noticed the coffee machine is up and running, and icy, bottled Pellegrino water sits on every table.

Pellegrino water, and table settings that are at once rustic and refined, with brown butcher paper and white tablecloths. ©Suzy Allman

What we love: the grilled vegetable wrap, and in that we are not alone.  Chef Joseph Mortelliti says he makes the pizza-crust wrap himself every morning, but can't seem to make enough to keep up with demand.

Our favorite: the grilled vegetable wrap, with asparagus, mushrooms, peppers and onions, at On The Way Cafe.  ©Suzy Allman 

We also love that the Cafe is packed, and hope it stays busy after the opening-week buzz dies down.   There are two expert, easy-going but energetic waitresses who seem to be on top of things, even with a full house on a Friday afternoon. 

The new owners of the On The Way Cafe installed new oak floors and painted the wainscoting a chocolate color.  ©Suzy Allman

Frisee makes frisky with a salad of fresh pear, candied walnuts and beets, in a horseradish dressing. ©Suzy Allman

Open-face grilled cheese and tomato, with French fries. ©Suzy Allman

Desserts are not on the menu yet but will be in the near future.  Look for cheesecake, and home-made cream puffs.

If you've been into the new Cafe, post a comment and let us know what your experience was like!

Excuse: Thursday Morning Meeting

Another excuse for a morning meeting:  the carrot cake fingers from the Cornerstone Bakery, on Milton Road.

Like eating a slice of fabulously moist and flavourful, not-too-dense cake, only teeny-tiny.

That's also the theme of Rye Cooks, Episode 2: Very small.  The tiniest kitchen in Rye?  It's probably on a boat, so we'll be breaking into one.  We also have a bunny wedding (honestly), and our new favorite segment, Guy Cooks, in which our cameraman uses any excuse to get away from two women to go cooking on his own -- as IF! -- and this time, he's using the engine of his car as a hotplate.

And our slide show of pictures from the new On the Way Cafe is coming tomorrow -- they just don't know it yet.

New On the Way Cafe Opens

10-oz bacon burger and fries, from On The Way Cafe

Oh yes.  We have waited a long time, those of us who used to walk the dogs at Rye Town Park, ditch them at home, and then meet for coffee at the counter of the OTWC at Forest Ave and Playland Parkway.  It reopened today.

All new decor, owners, menu.  I stopped in for a cup this afternoon, watching as the new coffee bean grinder was installed and sitting tight for the first -- the very first -- cup of just-ground coffee.  

In Australia you get your fish and chips wrapped in the Telegraph; in New York maybe take-out comes in the Post but the new Cafe is more of a Wall Street Journal place. For this picture I used this morning's sports section of the New York Times because the pictures are so SMALL in that particular section, I don't have to worry about ink on the bun.