Wildlife, design, food & drink, travel, real estate, country characters, adventures, waterfalls.
All in Food and Drink
Darlings Roadhouse in Tillson is our secret weapon as we travel to and from the Catskills. Their maximalist decor—deep blue walls, velvet couches that stand in for dining chairs, checkerboard floors, a disco ball—is as much fun as their menu, which includes hot pink, beet-pickled, deviled eggs, creamy mac and cheese, great cocktails, crave-worthy desserts, and plenty of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and kid-friendly options.
Weiss Ferments is arguably the best brewery experience in the Catskills. I'm not here to pit their beers against Suarez or West Kill, but if you're seeking the secret garden of biergartens, an idyllic, off-the-beaten-path spot with a lush snack menu served alongside beers that capture the wild-herb freshness of the mountain air and pour it into a glass, then Weiss Ferments ought to be on your radar.
At Casa Latina, a homey Mexican spot tucked into a alleyway in the Village of Catskill, margaritas are served in cactus-stemmed glasses, chili pepper lights twinkle behind the bar, and a self-serve fridge is stocked with a wide array of Jarritos flavors. Located in Brandow Alley, its patio has been transformed into a miniature tropical escape, a potted plant paradise complete with dinner-plate dahlias and spiky dracaenas.
The egg sandwich at See and Be goes above and beyond the basic BEC. Made-to-order with the freshest possible ingredients, this spectacular, fully customizable Catskills breakfast sandwich is worth a drive to Cairo, but it really should come with a warning: It may forever ruin the bacon-egg-and-cheese from your go-to corner bodega. (Side note: It can even be vegan-ized!)
Inquiring Minds Bookstore and Coffee House sells new books alongside used books, has a super kids section as well as a giant grown-up selection, and pours notably delicious coffee, tea, and lemonade. When it’s too cold or too hot or too rainy to enjoy the outdoors, this Saugerties book shop can really save the day.
Left Bank Ciders in Catskill, NY makes small-batch hard apple cider from local apples, some foraged and some shared by neighbors who’ve inherited orchards of 100-year-old heritage apple trees. Their ciders are more complex and less sweet than your typical American on-tap cider—and they also serve local non-alcoholic cider, for any non-drinkers in tow.
Tanners Boat House, a New England seafood shack in Tannersville, has lobster rolls, lakeside views, a little beach with canoe, kayak, paddle board, and tube rentals, a giant playground next door, beer, wine, booze, and a trolley to take you back to town. This is their first summer of operation and it’s 2022’s best new full-service family-friendly destination in the Catskills.
Did you know that Sfoglini makes all of their pasta in the quaint Hudson Valley town of Coxsackie? Sfoglini makes fun, colorful pasta shapes, combining American ingredients with Italian techniques. The result is a rustic, rough-textured pasta that clings to sauce far better than its slippery, mass-produced supermarket counterparts.
Red Star Cafe has opened as Cairo’s first coffee house. It’s literally a house, complete with a breezy porch, a wide and welcoming indoor seating area, and a back-corner study nook. Plus, it’s the only spot in town with an espresso machine and free WiFi, and in these parts, that’s a pretty big deal.
With a counter-service menu of baked goods (flaky croissants, brownies with fun toppings, muffins) and simple grab-and-go fare (salads, yogurt parfaits, hummus cups), Red Star hits the spot, whether you’re wrangling a couple of kids or just toting a laptop.
Don’t go to Disney World for the food. Go to Disney for the rides and princess-sightings, and eat the silliest, sweetest, weirdest, most delicious things you can while you’re there. A Brooklyn food critic shares favorite Disney food and drinks, plus offers tips on booking hot tables, and makes the most of club level dining at the Disney resorts.
A new Catskills ice cream shop is taking milkshakes to the next level. At Cutie’s Sweets & Treats in Cairo, the rims of old-fashioned milkshake glasses are rolled in cake frosting, which works as a sugary glue to blanket with candy, sprinkles, popcorn, or graham cracker crumbs. Then, the glasses are filled with creamy shakes and piled high with treats.
Serving Catskills-brewed craft beer, wine, cocktails, and a full food menu, Cairo's Old Factory Brewing Company has what you need, whether you’re looking to bring all your friends to a ginormous sports bar or just want to sip a local beer on their breezy 95-foot porch. Plus, they've got a kids menu and brunch deal for early birds.
Mansion + Reed, our favorite general store in the Hudson Valley, is now serving some of the best coffee for miles around. The owners, twin sisters Lia and Justine Post, pour a fine cup of cappuccino, a smooth and chocolatey cold brew, and signature espresso drinks like the Maple Cinnamon Latte, made with a shot local syrup, a sprinkle of spicy Ceylon cinnamon, and oat milk or Ronnybrook farm creamline milk. It’s caffeine heaven, and when it gets too hot for a steamy latte, you can order it iced.
