Willow is the new Charlie Palmer restaurant at Rhinebeck’s Mirbeau Inn and Spa. It’s always a bit risky (and some might say unfair) to hit up a restaurant in the first week. And doubly so on a Friday night. But we were looking forward to trying it--friends had “previewed” it at brunch on the opening weekend and wanted to go for dinner. Unlike recent, much anticipated openings that were hugely disappointing, Willow came through with delicious food. The room is much more formal

Catch 38 is a bright airy take on an upscale seafood shack. It’s definitely upscale, and very much not a shack. There is plenty of good seafood and enough meat options to please carnivores too. This winter Owners, Chef Wesley Dier & Bryn Bahnatka-Dier, decided to close their long time popular restaurant, Local, and change the concept. After months of renovations they recently reopened, and we had to try it. We started with a dozen oysters from the West Coast, 6 each of Totte

If you’re willing to wait out in the rain at the side of a re-purposed Airstream for your lunch, it must be pretty special. And, if the person waiting in the rain is one of your best customers, getting ready to load up because he’s going out of town on a job and won’t be back for a few days, it must be very special! Welcome to Papa’s Best Batch where “it’s all about the product”. I spent a fun afternoon with Jonathan and Jody, buddies since their college days, at their origin

La Paulée is a celebration of the grape harvest in Burgundy. This year Daniel Johnnes is partnering with The Amsterdam to bring you an eveni

For those not familiar, a falafel is a Middle Eastern favorite generally made from mashed chickpeas, spices such as cumin, coriander and fresh herbs. It’s formed into balls or fritters, deep-fried and eaten with or in pita bread. What use to be thought of a niche food eaten only by vegetarians, the falafel has become increasingly more mainstream as people look for fast food options that are fresh and healthy. The fact that the falafel provides a healthier alternative on the