Upstate NY Weekend
Chamomile Ice Cream, Concord Grape Sherbet, Dream Crepes, Antiques Interludes, Garden Report
I just came back from a weekend in upstate New York with a friend who had a baker’s errand to run, so we tacked on a trip to mainly eat and look at antiques. I wrote a little about my last visit to the Hudson Valley area here. This time I returned to all of my favourite places plus a couple of new ones. Highlights include: the above pictured PERFECT dessert from Stissing House, cartoon grape sherbet, a wedge salad in America’s oldest hotel, a garden of poppies in colours I’ve never seen before, marble fruit, an alternative to grilled cheese and one of the best scones I’ve ever had.
Friday
After arriving Friday evening we headed to dinner at Cafe Mutton, who recently started doing table service. Highlights from dinner include fried gai lan in smoked eel sauce (fave bite of the meal!), lettuces in lemon vinaigrette, braised lamb shank with torn bread and chard (so much depth in that broth!) and for dessert, rhubarb fool and three sticks of shortbread.
Saturday
First thing on Saturday we went to Mel The Bakery, which Patti had on her list to visit. They mill their Rye, Einkorn, Barley, and Sorghum in house and I wanted to order just about everything. They also had a little grocery section full of things like salted black currant preserves, French butter, mustards, and lots of grains to take home (I chose a box of Hayden Flour Mills Farmer’s porridge).
We sampled the Tart Cherry and Pistachio Scone (easily one of the best scones I’ve ever had), Ginger and Pine Nut cookie, Kouign-Amann and a smoked salmon sandwich on focaccia sprinkled everything bagel spice (10/10).
Antiques Interlude:
Churchtown Dairy Garden Report: