lohud.com

Sponsored by:

Small Bites

Food Finds in the Lower Hudson Valley

Liz Johnson

Liz JohnsonWhen she was young, Liz Johnson hated lima beans, onions and liver. Despite growing up in Texas, spicy food took some getting used to, too. Time abroad in France taught her to love stinky cheese, and traveling through Asia and living in Mexico showed her the error of her non-spicy ways. Liz graduated from Clarkstown South High School and got her English degree at SUNY Oswego, where she mostly subsisted on pizza and beer. Since then, her culinary palate improved. (In fact there's nothing she won't taste at least once.) Since she began writing about food for The Journal News in 2000, she's covered restaurants, cooking trends and cocktails — winning two best feature-writing awards for the Association of Food Journalists along the way. She's now the food editor of The Journal News and LoHud.com, a television food correspondent for "The Hudson Valley's NewsCenter Now," on RNN, the Regional News Network, the editor of the annual Wine & Food magazine, a James Beard Foundation restaurant awards judge and a contributor to the food pages of national and regional magazines. She lives in Nyack with her husband on a tiny suburban lot they call their farm — with fruit trees, an herb garden, and a yardful of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, shallots, cucumbers, zucchini, radishes, cabbage, peppers, Brussels sprouts and carrots and four big blueberry bushes.

E-mail Liz Johnson at ewjohnson@lohud.com

Entries written by Liz Johnson

After the World Series, a Steak

November
6

The publicist for Morton’s tells me:
Andy Pettitte celebrated the World Series Championship last evening with a quiet dinner with his family at Morton’s The Steakhouse in White Plains. After a round of applause from surrounding guests, the celebration started with sparkling cider compliments of Morton’s. (Andy does not drink.)  They started with Caesar salads and crabmeat [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 6th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Five-Course Wine Dinner at Trevi in Silver Lake on Nov. 10

November
5

From an email blast:
Together with Duckhorn Wine Company, Trevi Ristorante invites you to attend a Wine Tasting Dinner on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:00 p.m. Frank Barbagallo will present new vintages from Duckhorn Winery,  one of the finest and most priced estates in Napa Valley.
The menu, after the jump.

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 5th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Marcello’s Hosts Culinary Event To Benefit Earthquake Victims

November
4

Marcello’s Restaurant will host a special culinary event on Nov. 8, a meal designed not only to appeal to the taste buds but to help out those in need as well.

The info, from a newsletter blast, after the jump.

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 4th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Video: At Wasabi, Shaking Drinks with Kara Newman of ‘Spice & Ice’

November
3

A story about Kara and her cocktails will appear in tomorrow’s Journal News.  Here’s a sneak peek at the video, though. Be sure to watch til the end for an especially hilarious blooper by yours truly.

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 3rd, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Fundraiser at The Cookery in Dobbs: Four Courses, Plus Wines

November
3

On Nov. 9, there will be a four-course dinner paired with wines at The Cookery in Dobbs, to benefit the Broadway Training Center in Hastings. Ned Towle of the Westchester Wine School will discuss the wines.

All the info, after the jump.

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 3rd, 2009 | 1 Comment »

The First Reports on Frank Pepe’s in Yonkers: Coming Soon!

November
3

I’m off for a couple of days, so I won’t be able to get to the new Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria in Yonkers until next week. Lucky for us, then, that  Jonny and Nikki Giannettino of sundaysauceNY.com have agreed to guest blog their trip for Small Bites readers.

They have a few updates since they posted about [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 3rd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Indoor Farmers Markets at the County Center

November
3

The indoor farmers market are coming back to the Westchester County Center on Sundays through the fall and winter. The dates are Sundays, Nov. 22 and Dec. 20, 2009, and Jan. 3, Feb. 7 and Mar. 28, 2010. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More info, from a press release, after the jump.

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 3rd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Wine Tasting with Vino 100 to Benefit Burke on Nov. 4

November
3

A wine tasting to benefit  Burke Rehabilitation Hospital’s stroke, spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation programs, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (that’s tomorrow!)  in the Rosedale Room, Billings Building No. 4 at 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains.

The fundraiser features Stu Levine of Vino 100, White Plains, who will pour several dozen [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 3rd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

New Chef at William Nicholas and at Willy Nick’s Courtside Cafe at the Saw Mill Club

November
3

The Saw Mill Club, high-end gym and fitness center in Mount Kisco, has a new cafe: Willy Nick’s Courtside Cafe. The cafe is operated by Andy Vitrone and Jeff Goodwin, owners of William Nicholas, the gourmet take-out shop, and Willy Nick’s, the bistro. Both are in Katonah.

Chef Michael Juers will oversee both Willy Nick’s [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 3rd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Wine Tasting To Benefit Cancer Organization at Colonial Terrace on Nov. 10

November
2

Support Connection, which provides support and programs to people affected by breast and ovarian cancer, is holding a wine-tasting and buffet dinner fundrasier at Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt Manor at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. Tickets are $50 and include entertainment by Butch Barbbell’s Streets of the Bronx Band and wines from Marco Vople, the [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 2nd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Beef Recall: Local Trader Joe’s and BJ’s Affected

November
2

This press release just came over my email:

New York Firm Recalls Fresh Ground Beef Products Due
To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

(Released on October 31, 2009) WASHINGTON- Fairbank Farms, an Ashville, NY, establishment, is recalling approximately 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 2nd, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Local Links

November
2

Good morning and happy Monday. I spent the weekend in the city and had a blast. Fried chicken dinner at Momofuku Noodle Bar; pizza at Co.; the Kandinksi retrospective at the Guggenheim and a walk along the High Line in Chelsea.

We started with drinks at Mayaheul, the tequila bar (it’s rather more like a tequila [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on November 2nd, 2009 | 1 Comment »

‘A Taste of Westchester’ Tonight at Westchester Renaissance Hotel

October
28

From an email from Aries Wines & Spirits in White Plains:
In support of Cerebral Palsy, Aries would like to invite you to join us for an international food and wine tasting event. Aries is helping to setup and run A Taste of Westchester, on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 6:30 P.M.

The event will be held [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 28th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Frank Bruni on Growing Up in Westchester

October
28

I exchanged a Q&A with Frank Bruni, the former restaurant critic for the New York Times, and it ran in Monday’s paper, advancing his screening tomorrow of “Moonstruck” at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville. He said he chose “Moonstruck” because the characters reminded him of his own family, and made him realize they’d [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 28th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

One Great Dish: Andy Nusser’s Beet & Goat Cheese ‘Caprese’

October
28

I do this occasional series where I focus on ‘one great dish’ from a chef’s menu and ask him to explain how he makes it. Today, Andy Nusser of Tarry Lodge in Port Chester goes over the (very simple) steps for making his beet and goat cheese “caprese” salad.

Here’s the story that appeared in today’s [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 28th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

New York (pizza) Vs. Philly (cheesesteak)

October
28

Because of the Yanks-Phillies World Series that starts tonight, lots of media (and the mayors) have been doing cheesesteak-cheesecake wagers. I’m glad that for our challenge, we stuck with what really is truly New York: pizza!

So if you read the article in today’s paper — here a link right here — you’ll know that I’ve [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 28th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Local Links

October
26

Good afternoon and happy Monday. I’ve been busy trying to pull together the Philly v. New York food article for Wednesday, so I’m just now getting to the blog. Apologies to all — and look for a post soon. I’m hoping for your involvement in the battle between cheesesteaks and pizzas!

Speaking of pizzas, I made [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 26th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Iron Pizza Chef: Battle of the Pepperoni-Olive

October
23

In the same vein of the Philly v. New York battle that I’m putting together for the food section, my husband and I often have Iron Pizza Chef battles in our own kitchen. We make two pizzas with different toppings and vie for whose came out best. You may remember a battle on the grill [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 23rd, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Sandwiches at Melt in White Plains

October
23

If you follow me on Twitter — it’s Twitter.com/small_bites — you know I was at Melt for lunch yesterday. We got three sandwiches. All were deliciously greasy:

From left to right: Kansas City pastrami with the “bbq”; Smoked brisket with “the mushroom”; and Rosemary pork with the Cuban”.

All that and a bag of chips.

The 411 on [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 23rd, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Jury Duty Lunch No. 4: Wasabi Grill in New City

October
23

The thing about Wasabi Grill: I’ve been there before, and the salmon belly is so good it haunts me. So even though I was tempted by the more “lunchy” things, like a grilled tuna sandwich that looked really delicious, I couldn’t not get the salmon belly. I was trapped:

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 23rd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Iron Chef Competition: Philly Cheesesteak v. New York Pizza? Or…..?

October
22

Help me plan the food section. On the chance that the Yanks take one out of the next three and head to the series, we’re planing a Philly v. New York menu.

Think about it. If all goes as planned, on Sunday, Nov. 1, the Eagles play the Giants at 4 and the Phillies play the [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 22nd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

An Amazing Apple Tart Recipe

October
22

It’s fall and my husband keeps buying apples. This easy recipe for a beautiful tart — from David Tanis’ “A Platter of Figs” — was a great way to use them.

I love the recipe for two reasons. One, it looks so fancy but it’s actually really easy to make. And also because the pastry is [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 22nd, 2009 | 3 Comments »

New from Zuppa in Yonkers

October
20

From an email newsletter:
Ciao Tutti,
With the arrival of cold weather, the falling of leaves and Thanksgiving right around the corner, Zuppa is warming things up!  Our kitchen has been producing some really great dishes lately and I have been adding some awesome cold weather wines.  Check out this packed schedule of things happening between late [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 20th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Jury Duty Lunch No 3: Drop By Gourmet in New City

October
20

I dropped by Drop By Gourmet during my time on jury duty in New City this month. It was busy, busy, busy. I ordered the egg salad and dill with Spanish olives, pimento and watercress on marble rye bread. The sandwich was a revelation. The bread was soft and fresh. The pimento were sweet but [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 20th, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Serious Local Food: 12-Course Dinner at Flying Pig, and 90 Percent Will Come from Cabbage Hill Farm

October
20

Flying Pig on Lexington is holding a farm-tasting dinner on Wednesday the 28th. All the info, from a press release:
Healthy, local, gourmet food and education come together on Wednesday night, October 28th at the Flying Pig on Lexington in Mount Kisco, New York. The restaurant will be featuring a 12 course tasting prepared by sous [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 20th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Opening Soon: The Post Road Ale House in New Rochelle

October
19

The Post Road Ale House, a new American tavern on Hugenot Street in New Rochelle with high ceilings, cherrywood floors and a 25-seat bar, will open Saturday wtih an open house. It will begin serving a regular menu on Sunday.

The owner and chef is Brian MacMenamin, formerly the owner of MacMenamin’s Grill in New Rochelle [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 19th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Altamura in White Plains Will Not Be Opening

October
19

Altamura, the restaurant that was supposed to open in the former Via Quadronno space in White Plains, is not going to be operated by Louis Cappelli.

A quote from Geoff Thompson, the spokesman:
After a thorough examination of a wide range of options for the space including creating its own new restaurant, Altamura, Cappelli Enterprises has concluded [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 19th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Local Links

October
19

Good morning and happy Monday. Even though there wasn’t a bit of snow on the ground, I treated this weekend like we were having a storm in February. The fireplace got a huge workout.

On Friday, I had a friend over and we ate eggplant parmesan by the fire. I got the eggplant at the Piermont [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 19th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Jury Duty Lunch No. 2: Blu Fig in New City

October
15

I tried to go to Blu Fig for dinner during August, but the wait was too long for a table. Last week, more than two months later, I still almost got turned away for lunch. I just got there in time to get the last available table. Blu Fig is one popular place.

And I can [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 15th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Rockland and Westchester Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving?

October
14

A reader writes:
Do you know of any Thanksgiving Day Brunch or Dinner locations in Westchester area?
I know hotels offer this but any restaurants you can recommend that won’t break the bank like Castle on the hudson?
thanks,
I was wondering this myself. If you’re a restaurant, why don’t you post your Thanksgiving information below? If I get [...]

Posted by Liz Johnson on October 14th, 2009 | 14 Comments »

Advertisement
About this blog
Food editor Liz Johnson writes about all things culinary in the Lower Hudson Valley, including restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, farms, and anywhere else you can get a bite — small or not.
Small Bites Podcast | Get iTunes

Daily Email Newsletter:



If you eat something, say something.
Small Bites appreciates all tips. Email Liz Johnson.


Farmer's Market Map





Restaurant finder

Search by name or keyword:






Recent Comments
About the author
Liz JohnsonLiz Johnson When she was young, Liz Johnson hated lima beans, onions and liver. She grew out of that, and even before she began writing about food for The Journal News in 2000, she discovered she loves fricasse, French onion soup and foie gras. READ MORE

Latest Poll
What new restaurant are you most looking forward to trying?
View Results


Highest Rated Recipes
Highest Rated Restaurants


Other recent entries


Links


Small Bites Podcast


www.flickr.com
More photos or video tagged with smallbites on Flickr


Recently Updated LoHud Blogs
Monthly Archives