This is a first for me…so I am very excited! Caroline at First Paris Then Rome has tagged me for a meme. I will list the top 5 places I like to eat in my area. Than I will tag 5 others to participate in the same meme. It will be great fun seeing great answers from all over the globe!
Here is how it works…
1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you. Include the city/state and country you’re in.
Okay. Here goes.
Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, United States)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Lulu (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Chris (Boyne City, Michigan, United States)
AB (Cave Creek, Arizona, United States)
Johnny Yen (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Bubs (Mt Prospect, Illinois, United States)
Mob (Midland, Texas United States)
Yas (Ahwatukee, Arizona USA)
Alicia(Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA)
Tug (Hell, Colorado, USA)
Bond (Memphis, TN, USA)
TopChamp (Glasgow, UK)
Kailani(Honolulu, HI, USA)
Amber (Henderson, TN, USA)
the weirdgirl (San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA)
JChevais (Paris, France)
Gem (Norfolk, VA, USA)
Caroline (Rome, Italy)
Robin (Poughkeepsie, NY, USA)
2. List out your top five favorite places to eat at your location
Well, I bet NONE of you have heard of Poughkeepsie, NY. It’s in the Hudson Valley and very near the Culinary Institute of America, so we actually have lots of great places to eat in my area. I have tried to narrow down my top 5 for you…..
- For a wonderful European cafe feel, complete with homemade breads, pastries, desserts, wonderful sandwich choices on Focaccia bread and the best cafe au lait, I visit the Alternative Baker on the Rondout in Kingston, NY. Essell is lovely and friendly and you can taste the freshness and goodness of each nosh you sample. His lemon cakes are to die for!
- Right around the corner from my house is the Busy Bee Cafe. It is within walking distance, is a small, intimate place that offers a few select choices for starter, entree and dessert. The menu’s are handwritten as well as the wine list. Lunch is bustling, busy and faced paced, but for dinner the lights dim, the candles come out and the place exudes romance. The food is exquisite and the service is just right.
- I was recently introduced to Indian food, and I can’t believe how much I love it. Tanjour, located in Fishkill, NY is a mix of Northern and Southern Indian Cuisine. The dishes are all spicy, but not too spicy, and the amount of food you get is incredible for the price. We always have enough for leftovers. There is always a line to get in(which is a good sign) and even though they are busy, the staff is always smiling, helpful and pleasant.
- My favorite Italian place, Mercato, started out as a little panini shop and market in Red Hook, NY. They recently acquired more space in the same town and have expanded to a full blown restaurant. This is the epitome of a family owned joint, which is why I love it. You can watch Francesco cooking in the open kitchen, while his wife Michele waits tables, takes orders and watches the 2 little ones who are always toddling around. They always make you feel like family here…and I get to practice my Italian here. We once got the privilege of tasting his homemade Limoncello that he grabbed from the fridge one day. The food is fresh every day. The menu is scribbled onto a blackboard and once it is gone, it gets crossed off.
- What list of mine would not be complete without a French Restaurant. Hands down the best in the area is Le Petit Bistro, in the heart of Rhinebeck NY. Classic French food, a helpful maitre d’, a small intimate space and a wine list to die for makes this place special. The food and service is outstanding and half the fun is watching the wait staff in amazement as the dance and weave through the tight spaces between chairs and each other with hot dishes….without one collision. This is my favorite place for a special occasion dinner, and this would also be the most expensive place on my list. Oh la la!
3. Tag five other people (preferably from other countries/states) and let them know they’ve been tagged.
Now for the fun part….. I tag:
Anne at A Foodie Froggy In Paris…in Paris of course
Corey at Tongue in Cheek in the South of France
Merisi’s Vienna for Beginners in Vienna
Carol at Paris Breakfasts in NYC
Yvonne from Cream Puffs in Venice in Toronto,Canada