Shorts aren't just for days at the park any more....
May 17, 2013
Tailored shorts are all the rage this spring. Ranging in fabrics from leather to embellished silk to lace, shorts have been revolutionized and are now totally appropriate for date nights out. The key to getting it right is the length — not too short but not too long — to show off the right amount of leg. Add to that the golden rule of balance. When wearing this season’s mid-thigh shorts, don’t go skimpy on top too. Paired with a tank and blazer, linen sweater or my go-to, a denim shirt, shorts can be a chic, sophisticated look with flats or wedges.
Here are a few of my top pics this spring. These are not your mama’s shorts…
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The Golden Knives Challenge is a fun twist on dining out.
May 9, 2013
The Golden Knives Challenge, Westchester’s first cooking challenge featuring local chefs, started this Tuesday, May 7, and continues for the next 2 weeks. Located at a pop-up restaurant at The Lodge at Hudson Harbor in Tarrytown, an attractive space with floor to ceiling windows and barn doors, you can join the fun and pretend like you’re Padma and Tom! Each night two chefs battle it out with an appetizer, main course and dessert and at the end of the meal, votes are cast for the winner.
We had the pleasure of attending the first night with Chefs Alex Sze (Juniper in Hastings-on-Hudson) and Carl Van Dekker (Village Dog in Tarrytown). The meal was much more fun than the usual restaurant experience. We knew the chefs were on their game since this was a contest. Plus, there is something exciting about knowing that a chef is trying to impress. The courses were perfectly sized so you could enjoy all of them and the ingredients were varied so it was small plate heaven. We even tasted a vegetable for the first time – ramps, otherwise known as a spring onion or a wild leek. The ramps were especially tasty the way Carl Van Dekker prepared them: creamed with cotechino (sausage) and polenta and in a salad as part of his Trio of Peas. [...]
Our favorite local eateries and recipes from the past year.
May 8, 2013
Although we’re technically no longer Manhattanites, we’re pretty lucky to have an abundance of culinary delights to choose from right in our backyard. Whether looking for a romantic bistro for a date night, a quick spot to grab a salad with the girls in between carpool, or a friendly place where your five year old’s temper tantrum won’t make you banned for life, this Best of Yum feature highlights some of our favorite local restaurants — and at home recipes — that made our mouths water.
Let’s raise a glass to our sponsors below…thank you for filling our bellies with your delicious eats and for making us city transplants feel like we never left the big apple.
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Suddenly, Scarsdale is a restaurant town.
March 27, 2013
People who live in Scarsdale have grown accustomed to driving to other towns for a good meal. Not anymore. In the last several months, a Middle Eastern wine bar has opened here. So has a smoothie spot and a popular farm-to-table Italian restaurant. Today, Scarsdale has everything you need for a weekend of delicious eats and family fun.
Savona proves that simple, rustic food can be the very best. I took my family for dinner and was expecting another good Italian restaurant. But as soon as I saw the farm-to-table menu, I was looking forward to a great meal and that’s what we had. Savona is the darling of Westchester Magazine — they recently featured it as one of the best new restaurants in the county.
Start you meal with a sampler of crostini. Our favorite had pancetta, caramelized onion, and pecorino topped with a fried egg. My girls shared the Pasta Bolognese with fresh pasta and it was so flavorful I found myself tasting it over and over. My grilled Branzino came with an olive and mixed peppers tapenade and perfectly cooked asparagus. My husband devoured his Osso Buco. Savona works fine for young kids because they serve pizza, but the decor is sexy and sophisticated. Next time, I’ll get a babysitter and enjoy my meal even more. 2 Chase Road, Scarsdale; 914-798-0550 Hours: lunch, Mon to Fri 11:30 am-2:30 pm, dinner, Sun to Thurs 5 pm-10 pm, Fri and Sat 5 pm-11 pm. [...]
At this waterfront tango, you can't help but get close to your partner.
March 20, 2013
Penguin Plunge, The Full Monty, Maple Sugaring, and a One-Man Circus!
February 28, 2013
There is no shortage of fabulously fun winter events this first weekend in March! Check out our calendar for full event listings, and check our top picks below!
This Saturday, March 2, dress warm and pack your towels, for Irvington’s Penguin Plunge at Matthiessen Park Beach in Irvington. At 11:30am, join in the fun as community residents and friends will take the plunge in the freezing Hudson River to raise money for Irvington’s Parks and Recreation programs. Find out more info, pledge and support your penguin peeps here. Matthiessen Park, Irvington. [...]
You don't have to be in Hollywood to walk the red carpet.
February 23, 2013
Forget watching the Academy Awards from your couch. Several area venues are throwing Oscar parties of their own on Sunday, February 24. From a night of glamour at The Avon Theatre in Stamford to a viewing party at a local Irish neighborhood bar, we have every taste covered.
Dust off your favorite LBG and join the Avon Theatre Film Center‘s The Oscars at The Avon from 7 – 11:30pm. Walk the red carpet, nosh on food and cocktails, fill out your ballots and watch the Academy Awards telecast. $100 for non-members and $75 for members. Call for reservations. 272 Bedford St, Stamford, CT; 203-661-0321 [...]
Both are kid-friendly with plenty of grown up fare.
February 22, 2013
Bonefish Grill, a new steak and seafood restaurant that opened on Monday at Ridge Hill in Yonkers, wasn’t what I expected. The chain started in Florida, so I figured that it was going to be a kitschy seafood house with fish nets and buoys on the walls, a place you’d stumble into on your way down to the Keys. Instead, I was met with sleek lines, dim lighting, white tablecloths — and really, really good food. There’s one heck of a drink list too. (I highly recommend the Black Cherry Guava Mojito — yum — or the Pomegranate Martini.)
Don’t be fooled by Bonefish’s fancy face: You can still bring the kids. Bonefish Grill gets the balance just right. It’s sophisticated enough after 7pm to spend a date night, but they’ve got plenty of high chairs and great kids fish options ($8.95 for grilled tilapia kids meal) to beckon you in for lunch or an early dinner with the little ones. There are lots of big booths too, if you’ve got a few children to pile into a table. (Plus, you’re going to want a taste of the addictive Bang Bang shrimp, shown above.) [...]
What's new, and the best of what's already open.
February 16, 2013
With Bonefish Grill coming soon and a variety of additional restaurants already open, Ridge Hill is quickly becoming a destination for dining out. Plan on bringing the kids. All of the restaurants at the outdoor megamall in Yonkers are kid-friendly — if not in food, then in spirit. Plus, you can sneak in a little shopping before or after lunch, or take the kids to the soon-to-open Legoland! (One caveat: These restaurants are known to have long waits at peak times, so plan accordingly.)
Here’s the dish on where to eat, who has the best kids menu, and where you can get a great lunch for less than 8 bucks. [...]
Think: casual, fun and spontaneous.
February 9, 2013
Do you roll your eyes at Valentine’s Day just a little? Even if I love a restaurant, a prix fixe dinner on February 14 can feel… well, cheesy. For this Valentine’s Day I’m suggesting something different – a wine bar that serves small plates or tapas. I want delicious bites of food, fabulous wine and the love of my life sitting very close. Call ahead for reservations since this is a busy night!
Bar’Lees in Mamaroneck has a menu of luscious, seasonal small plates with suggested wine pairings plus an extensive wine and whiskey selection. Don’t miss their thin crust pizza with balsamic, caramelized Asian pear, ricotta cheese and arugula drizzled with honey. 157 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck; 914-630-7512
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I witnessed this "gastronomic perversion" and I'm seriously tempted.
January 26, 2013
We were having dinner at The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry recently and suddenly the lights flashed on and off. I looked over at the long table of about ten people and saw how they strained to see the arrival of… the pig. The Swine Dinner is described as “gastronomic perversion and barbarism” on The Cookery’s website and the star of the show is an entire pig, roasted with a honey glaze. From where I sat I could see the perfect browned and glistening pig. It looked incredible. And this is coming from a person who loves bacon, but not so much pork. Especially a whole pig.
The chef and owner, David DiBari, carved the pig at their table and I saw the plates being passed around. I heard someone say, “Who wants the ear?” and a woman received what looked like, from where I was sitting, an ear. She said “It’s crispy,” and chomped away. I was very happy with what I was eating (grilled Branzino fish and perfectly crispy potatoes), but I couldn’t help but stare at this group of laughing, reveling, feasting, diners. I looked back about 30 minutes later and they were all getting up and cutting into the pig themselves. It did look a little barbaric. But, in a good way. [...]
Try a beer over the Hudson and a host of scrumptious comfort food.
January 9, 2013
Bridge View Tavern has something for everyone. The foodie loves the house smoked meats like pulled pork, brisket, wings and ribs. The beer aficionado comes for the rotating selection of over 20 beers on tap and growlers to take home. Enjoy wine on tap, wine lovers, and sports fans, you’ve got several TVs playing the game of the day. (But they weren’t intrusive for someone like me who doesn’t want to watch the game.) Others come for the spectacular views of the river (even if it’s a tad industrial with the old GM plant right in view). And kids love the kids menu with pot of super cheesy mac and cheese.
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