When we first moved into the home we’d built in Spencertown 16 years ago, we certainly weren’t coming up here for the food. Having reviewed restaurants in New York City for nearly three decades, I was undeniably and unrepentantly spoiled. I mean, The Martindale Diner was fine for a burger but, except for the occasional visit to the warm and welcoming Old Mill in Egremont, I wasn’t finding a lot of eateries worth swooning over. It was puzzling. But having just designed and installed a dream kitchen in the new house, this former caterer was happy to shlep down to…
Tucked into the rolling hills of Ghent, NY, Liberty Farms is a vibrant, multifaceted property that defies the traditional definition of what most people consider a “farm” to be. Co-owned…
Klocke Estate is quite the hot destination. Set over 160 acres, this “soil-to-glass” distillery in Hudson, NY, has become nothing less than a must-visit. Eat atop the estate’s hill while…
During my more than three decades in the restaurant industry in the Hudson Valley, I rarely have time to go skiing. My sport of choice is enjoying the bounty this…
Could it be that juju’s! has cracked the code? The Great Barrington hot spot with a very limited menu (ten items last time I checked) somehow still manages to pack…
Winter in New York City feels like it was made for romance. As the crisp chill of the season sets in, Gotham reveals its coziest corners—picture brownstone tea salons, hidden…
I’ve always enjoyed dressing up. It’s never been an occupational requirement as much as a gratifying choice. But life Upstate is a helluva lot more casual. Well, everywhere is after…
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is more than just a pit stop on your way Upstate. The globally-acclaimed institute offers boot camps and a multitude of classes: cooking, wine…
I’m just back from Hong Kong where I hosted a wine tasting at a humungous outdoor fair called Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival. It was my first trip to…