Birthday Dinner at New World Home Cooking
I slept through the night last night. I woke up around 9:00 AM this morning. I reveled in sleep. The dogs did not wake me up even once during the night to go out. They snuggled up warmly beside me and we all awoke lazily to a dreamy twilight, the kind of soft grey light that streams in on a winter morning in the snow.
My birthday morning began with a dusting of snow on the ground and little pellets of ice falling from the sky. I checked my email and facebook accounts. There is something so heart-warming about waking up to find so many people’s warmth and well-wishes toward you on your birthday. I felt really blessed to have such thoughtful friends and colleagues.
My cousin Michele and I braved the snow as we made our way up to Woodstock, NY. For many decades now, Woodstock has been home to a thriving community of artists, poets, musicians and “new age” thinkers of all walks of life. We walked around town in the slushy snow, stopping in the Tibetan Gift Shop, the New Age bookstore, the shoe store and a few others. We took refuge from the elements in Bread Alone (the organic bread baker and café), where we drank our chai teas and talked about Sir Thomas Moore and his Utopian society. We debated such scandals as whether Shakespeare really wrote his plays, of if he produced them under his name while someone in Elizabeth’s noble court (with inside knowledge of royal society) actually wrote them. The proverbial court is out on that one. The entire day took on a very Northern Exposure-esque feeling to it.
Warmed by the tea and conversation, we wandered back to the book store for tarot card readings. Whether you believe in them or not, having a tarot card reading on your birthday is like making a wish for the coming year. It helps you reflect upon the previous year and meet the next one with joy and focus (depending upon the card reader, of course).
At this point, hunger tugged at us both. We went to a restaurant that Michele really loves just south of Woodstock, called New World Home Cooking. Michele took me there once, many years ago, and I really enjoyed it. However, for some strange reason, I never made it back, until today.
A landmark in the Hudson Valley, New World Home Cooking has graced southern Woodstock for nearly 20 years. I really respect and agree with many of Chef Ric Orlando’s sensibilities. He is a member of the SLOW foods movement. He built the restaurant upon sustainable, local agriculture and produce. Much like I do at home, Chef Orlando tries to use only local and organic ingredients and changes the menu seasonally to accommodate available ingredients.
At dusk on a snowy Sunday afternoon, we pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of this otherwise always-packed restaurant. Like an old friend, the host greeted us warmly. Our server seated us in a cute window table near the kitchen. The restaurant had a half-wall between the dining room and the kitchen, so I found myself watching as the Chef de cuisine and the line cooks worked.
We had the good fortune of a warm and absolutely wonderful server, Anna. She knew everything about the menu and a good bit about the food preparations as well (a quality much respected, but not often found in a server).
With Michele driving, I ordered a glass of Grenache and contemplated the menu. They brought us homemade fociaccia bread with a white bean dip.
Michele and I planned to share a few appetizers. I knew immediately that I would order the homemade country style pate. When I asked Anna what meats they used in the pate, she brought out the Chef de Cuisine, Ryan Viator, to talk with us. Much like our server, Ryan greeted us with warmth and hospitality. He patiently took the time to answer any of our questions.
We also decided to try the Yucca fries.
Anna talked us into trying the fried smelt special, and I am glad that she did! These diminutive delicacies delighted my palate. They served the smelt with a spicy aioli that added just enough kick to the fried fish.
We chatted quite a bit with Anna. She is usually the bartender, and waited tables on occasion. She told us about the funk band that would play disco there on New Year’s Eve and we chatted quite a bit.
For our main course, Michele ordered the Yellow Thai Curry with Gulf Shrimp and house made paperdelli pasta. This is really quite a stunning dish. The mild yellow curry had a slight sweetness to it that delicately balanced the spice. The homemade pasta really shone through.
I tried the boulibase. The first thing I noticed was the squid. I believe it is the mark of truly a quality cook when he or she can prepare squid in a dish with other seafood and have the squid come out soft and tender without the slightest hint of rubbery texture. In fact, all of the shellfish sang with tender freshness. The slightly spicy, earthy broth grounded the dish and gave it balance.
After two glasses of wine and more food than I usually eat, I felt pretty good. We kept chatting with Anna, whom I know we would have fun hanging out and drinking with, and lingered over our meal.
Michele ordered a chocolate cake with raspberry coulis and homemade whipped cream.
I had a swatch of baklava and some cinnamon ice cream (made in neighboring Kingston, NY).
After we paid the bill, we told Anna that today was my birthday. She immediately offered me a birthday shot. How could I refuse?
“Only if you have one with me,” I insisted.
As it was the end of her shift, she arrived moments later with two shots of Petrone and one shot of water (for Michele, the designated driver). Anna made a beautiful toast, and we downed our shots. I knew that we had to come back to this warm and friendly restaurant, often. While the food is excellent and the principals of the restaurant are synergistic with my own, I think what attracts me most its sense of community and fun. We made plans to spend New Year’s there. Between Michele and me, we will get a good group together and have a blast.
Throughout the drive home, I drunkenly sang along to my ipod while Michele navigated the cold, wet and sometimes icy roads home. It is moments like these when I am really glad she is my cousin. We had a great day.
My birthday morning began with a dusting of snow on the ground and little pellets of ice falling from the sky. I checked my email and facebook accounts. There is something so heart-warming about waking up to find so many people’s warmth and well-wishes toward you on your birthday. I felt really blessed to have such thoughtful friends and colleagues.
My cousin Michele and I braved the snow as we made our way up to Woodstock, NY. For many decades now, Woodstock has been home to a thriving community of artists, poets, musicians and “new age” thinkers of all walks of life. We walked around town in the slushy snow, stopping in the Tibetan Gift Shop, the New Age bookstore, the shoe store and a few others. We took refuge from the elements in Bread Alone (the organic bread baker and café), where we drank our chai teas and talked about Sir Thomas Moore and his Utopian society. We debated such scandals as whether Shakespeare really wrote his plays, of if he produced them under his name while someone in Elizabeth’s noble court (with inside knowledge of royal society) actually wrote them. The proverbial court is out on that one. The entire day took on a very Northern Exposure-esque feeling to it.
Warmed by the tea and conversation, we wandered back to the book store for tarot card readings. Whether you believe in them or not, having a tarot card reading on your birthday is like making a wish for the coming year. It helps you reflect upon the previous year and meet the next one with joy and focus (depending upon the card reader, of course).
At this point, hunger tugged at us both. We went to a restaurant that Michele really loves just south of Woodstock, called New World Home Cooking. Michele took me there once, many years ago, and I really enjoyed it. However, for some strange reason, I never made it back, until today.
A landmark in the Hudson Valley, New World Home Cooking has graced southern Woodstock for nearly 20 years. I really respect and agree with many of Chef Ric Orlando’s sensibilities. He is a member of the SLOW foods movement. He built the restaurant upon sustainable, local agriculture and produce. Much like I do at home, Chef Orlando tries to use only local and organic ingredients and changes the menu seasonally to accommodate available ingredients.
At dusk on a snowy Sunday afternoon, we pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of this otherwise always-packed restaurant. Like an old friend, the host greeted us warmly. Our server seated us in a cute window table near the kitchen. The restaurant had a half-wall between the dining room and the kitchen, so I found myself watching as the Chef de cuisine and the line cooks worked.
We had the good fortune of a warm and absolutely wonderful server, Anna. She knew everything about the menu and a good bit about the food preparations as well (a quality much respected, but not often found in a server).
With Michele driving, I ordered a glass of Grenache and contemplated the menu. They brought us homemade fociaccia bread with a white bean dip.
Michele and I planned to share a few appetizers. I knew immediately that I would order the homemade country style pate. When I asked Anna what meats they used in the pate, she brought out the Chef de Cuisine, Ryan Viator, to talk with us. Much like our server, Ryan greeted us with warmth and hospitality. He patiently took the time to answer any of our questions.
We also decided to try the Yucca fries.
Anna talked us into trying the fried smelt special, and I am glad that she did! These diminutive delicacies delighted my palate. They served the smelt with a spicy aioli that added just enough kick to the fried fish.
We chatted quite a bit with Anna. She is usually the bartender, and waited tables on occasion. She told us about the funk band that would play disco there on New Year’s Eve and we chatted quite a bit.
For our main course, Michele ordered the Yellow Thai Curry with Gulf Shrimp and house made paperdelli pasta. This is really quite a stunning dish. The mild yellow curry had a slight sweetness to it that delicately balanced the spice. The homemade pasta really shone through.
I tried the boulibase. The first thing I noticed was the squid. I believe it is the mark of truly a quality cook when he or she can prepare squid in a dish with other seafood and have the squid come out soft and tender without the slightest hint of rubbery texture. In fact, all of the shellfish sang with tender freshness. The slightly spicy, earthy broth grounded the dish and gave it balance.
After two glasses of wine and more food than I usually eat, I felt pretty good. We kept chatting with Anna, whom I know we would have fun hanging out and drinking with, and lingered over our meal.
Michele ordered a chocolate cake with raspberry coulis and homemade whipped cream.
I had a swatch of baklava and some cinnamon ice cream (made in neighboring Kingston, NY).
After we paid the bill, we told Anna that today was my birthday. She immediately offered me a birthday shot. How could I refuse?
“Only if you have one with me,” I insisted.
As it was the end of her shift, she arrived moments later with two shots of Petrone and one shot of water (for Michele, the designated driver). Anna made a beautiful toast, and we downed our shots. I knew that we had to come back to this warm and friendly restaurant, often. While the food is excellent and the principals of the restaurant are synergistic with my own, I think what attracts me most its sense of community and fun. We made plans to spend New Year’s there. Between Michele and me, we will get a good group together and have a blast.
Throughout the drive home, I drunkenly sang along to my ipod while Michele navigated the cold, wet and sometimes icy roads home. It is moments like these when I am really glad she is my cousin. We had a great day.
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