Jen and Ben Spend A Summer Weekend in the Country. With Us!
The rains ceased and dark clouds drifted east across the river upon Jen and Ben's weekend arrival, a harbinger of the light-hearted calm of a recent weekend ahead at Cafe Drake HRV. J&B brought more than good weather with them, as merriment ensued over the course of two days.
Above, the grounds at Mills Mansion in Staatsburgh, NY. Cafe Drake HRV waddled happily across the grand lawn and through the house tour after a healthy but hardy lunch at Red Hook's Mercato Osteria and Enoteca.
Yes, the Phoenicia Diner lived up to the hype! And after the delish locavore victuals, a quick side tour of the Catskills town of Phoenicia itself once again helped Cafe Drake HRV walk off a super-size lunch.
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| Dinner following a long cocktail hour is the standard welcome gesture for weekend guests at Cafe Drake HRV. Southeast Asian fare was the theme and meals included Cambodian Ground Chicken Stewed with Coconut and Chilies, Marinated Cucumber Salad, Stir-Fried Red Mustard Greens and Mizuna, Chickpea Flour Crepes, Baked Tempeh, Long Bean Salad and Yellow Squash in a Sweet Garlic Sauce. |
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| Dinner was served buffet-style. Above, Jen loaded her plate with plenty of fresh herbs from the garden including rau ram, Thai basil, mint and shiso. |
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| A simple Cambodian preparation of ground free-range chicken braised in coconut milk and spiced with fish sauce, chilies, ginger and garlic. |
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| Smiling but ready to eat! A crisp, un-oaked Chardonnay refreshed palettes while Benifer blessed us with a light, fruity Montepulciano and hearty rose from Provence. |
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| Passing around the herb plate, a tradition all cultures should really borrow from SE Asia. |
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| More food, more wine, more smiles. |
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| Saturday night was all about The Joey Arias Experience at Bard's Spiegeltent in Annandale-on-Hudson. Fantastic performance, Joey! |
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| Lloyd spent much of the weekend like all his other days patrolling the yard perimeter. |
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| We're never abandoned in the kitchen when Benifer blows into town. This time around the dynamic baking duo whipped up a Guinness stout cake with homemade butterscotch sauce. Above, Arabella seems to be happy with just the promise of a bowl of brown rice. |
Yes, the Phoenicia Diner lived up to the hype! And after the delish locavore victuals, a quick side tour of the Catskills town of Phoenicia itself once again helped Cafe Drake HRV walk off a super-size lunch.
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