4th of July Weekend Extravaganza





above photos: The house awaits the arrival of guests on a rainy and gusty Thursday evening. Yes, Cafe Drake HRV possesses a personal, palpable energy.




A late-night, Thai-themed arrival dinner greeted guests visiting Cafe Drake HRV: spicy chili gimlets, stir-fried hearts of palm with peppers and lime leaves (seen above), broiled coconut chicken with molasses-black pepper sauce, marinated cucumber salad, jasmine rice, roasted eggplant and an herb platter from the garden of mint, Thai basil, rau ram, borage flowers and nasturtium leaves and flowers.



above photos: Cocktail Time is always Fun Time at Cafe Drake HRV. After a couple of nights of exotic alcoholic libations it's always sensible to return to a classic, like the martinis seen above, enjoyed with Sichuan pepper fried peas.












above photos: After a leisurely brunch of omelets, Croque Monsieurs and roasted chicken with preserved lemons at Rhinebeck's Arielle bistro, Jen, Ben and Connie joined us for a stroll through the house and grounds at Wilderstein Historic Site. As evident above, exterior views rivaled if not surpassed the sumptuous interiors.




above photos: Of course Grilling Madness ensued over the weekend with Italian and Merguez sausages, flank steak, eggplant, garlic scapes, yellow squash, onions, kohlrabi, corn and homemade flat breads all spending time over the coals. Other meals at home included hand-rolled - by Ben T. - pizza and a wild mushroom saute from Ruske. Jen also outdid herself with a deliriously high chocolate-mint and whipped cream icebox cake!













above photos: Lunch at Mexican Radio in Hudson, NY, the usual drooling-with-desire window shopping on Warren St and after, Frederic Church's majestic estate high above the Hudson River - Olana.

AND FROM THE INSPIRED LENS OF BEN TERZIANI:

Wilderstein

Lloyd on Garden Patrol

Burger with fresh goat cheese, pickled onion and tahini-za'atar fries at Another Fork in the Road in Milan, NY. Other inspired lunches over the holiday included Diamond Mills (Saugerties) and the always charming Murray's in Tivoli.
One of these days we'll get this naughty kitten off the kitchen island!

Olana. Hudson, NY

Another one of Jen's dizzy spells!

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