On The Road: Catskill Mountain Foodie High

Memorial Day Weekend: American Flags, cheap beer, BBQ’s. and truncated weekends away with family and friends.  I journeyed to the vacation destination of my youth.  Nestled near the town of Catskill is The Baliwick Discovery Zoo, a place I highly recommend for animal lovers with a hankering to hand carrots to capuchins and camels.   I worked up an appetite feeding this big guy way too many of my farm fresh carrots.

Megan meets Camel, Megan feeds camel, carrot goooooood

Baliwick Ranch and Discovery Zoo

118 Castle Road

Catskill, NY 12414

(518) 678-5665

http://www.bailiwickranch.com/home.html

As you can see, I make the camels work for it.  Obviously, nothing spells stretching your arm repeatedly over a dirt moat like some good old fashioned greasy pizza.  Luckily, I didn't have to drive very far to find the perfect place.  Just down the road a bit is Angela's Pizzeria and Brewery.

The out-side of Angela's

Angela’s Pizzeria & Brewery

4545 NY Route 32

Catskill, NY 12414

(518) 678-9275

www.angelaspizzeriabrewery.com

I remember this destination as The Pioneer Pancake House back in the late eighties, early nineties.   After missing my annual jaunt a few years running I was pleasantly surprised to visit this restaurant and find the unique and interesting transition from pancake palace to Italian hot spot, to hybrid pizzeria brewery.  The menu is extensive and full of palatable choices. 

To split we ordered a massive calzone and pizza with the full intention that leftovers would abound and we couldn’t have been more right.  With five different fillings, it was tight between The Godfather Calzone brimming with ricotta, ham, salami, pepperoni and mozzarella and The Calzone De La Casa with ricotta, roasted garlic, sausage, spinach and mozzarella.  We ended up going with the latter.  The large version of this dish was half the size of a small table top. 

Calzone the size of half a pizza

Their specialty pizza featuring such fetching items as The Garlic Knot Pie and The Bambino, loaded with meatballs, extra cheese made it harder to choose than agreeing to the right finalist for the third season of American Idol.  We settled on The C.B.R. with grilled chicken, bacon ranch dressing and Mozzarella.  It. Was. Delicious.  If anything the only thing wrong with Angela’s Pizzeria & Brewery is that it isn’t closer to NYC so I can call them on Friday and have them deliver to me.  Actually, given my recent decision to train for a half marathon maybe I don’t want that.

However, their Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company travels to beer festivals closer to home.  They had three of their beers available on tap which all had an excellent rich flavor that paired nicely with the pizza.  I requested the most popular which was the Kiskatom Brown Ale.  Inspired by the local Native American Mohican word for hickory nut, or Kiskatom it’s a dark brown ale with a hint of nuttiness and chocolate malt.  I followed it with The Mamma Mia Maibock which suggests the name comes from the fact that after a couple of these beverages you’ll coo “mama mia”……due to the high alcohol content after a couple of these you may cry “a cab, a cab, my kingdom for a cab”.  All joking aside, I think The Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company has a very bright future and if you happen upon a local beer festival and see their name stop by and try it out.  You won’t be disappointed.  Better yet, if you’re looking for a quiet off road destination consider visiting The Catskill region and making a pit stop.  Their growlers of The Rip Van Winkle will leave you growling for more.

Take It To Go

On the second day, I traveled down to the land of peace, love, and floor length bohemian dresses.  Woodstock has become a destination for city folk and upstate locals alike.  I chose to sample two of their foodtractions.  For brunch we stopped at Oriole 9, a quaint packed little joint featuring farm to table entrees brimming with rich bold flavors.

The out-side of Oriole 9

Oriole 9

17 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY

12498

(845) 679-5763

http://www.oriole9.com/index.html 

Upon entering, it features three massive chalkboards that give the diners the option to answer the question, before I die….  My favorite response was the person who wanted the iPhone 5C, they obviously didn't place enough faith in their longevity.

I opted for The Italian Breakfast which was two eggs, any style, garlic toast, sofrito sauce served with a side salad.  It had a twinge of spice and obeyed the mission statement of the restaurant by all being very fresh.

Oriole 9's Italian Breakfast

As a side, I couldn't help myself from sampling the falafel.  I'm a sucker for Mediterranean cuisine.  A plate of olives and hummus will keep me happy for days.  The falafel was crisp with a nice dab of tziki.

falafel

The coffee mugs were like something out of a Friend's episode.  Massive and inviting, there is an extensive selection of brews to choose from.  I was very tempted to delve into the Affogato, espresso and home made vanilla ice-cream but as I looked at my watch which was still very much before 12pm reason set in and instead ordered Cafe con Panna: espresso with homemade whip cream.

Cafe con Panna: delicioso!!

After peering up at the daily board of specials I noted they had a rhubarb pie, I asked after it and the waitress immediately suggested instead their homemade dutch apple.  When in Rome, I had to say yes. The dutch apple pie was served with a scoop of their fresh vanilla ice-cream so I guess I surrendered to early morning ice-cream temptation after all.

Dutch apple pie with homemade vanilla ice-cream

After letting my stomach rest for all of two hours.  I happened upon a Food Network celebrity right in the midst of my vacation paradise.  Could I ask for anything more?

A groovy cupcake establishment

Peace, Love, & Cupcakes

 54F Tinker Street

PO Box 594

Woodstock, NY 12498

(845) 247-3687

http://www.woodstockcupcakes.com

I decided to take some of her Food Network award winning old fashioned chocolate cake with yummy rich chocolate frosting and yet another award winning delicacy, The Hippie Chipper Sandwich Cookie.    Two cookies with a creamy peanut butter pretzel truffle filling.  It was rich and delightful.  It's the kind of cookie that you split with a friend.  The next time you're looking for a little peace, love, and flavor for days stop by this adorable bakery right off the man street in Woodstock.  

One of my final food pit stops came at a diner right out of a Coca Cola ad.  Betty's Place is as traditional as Sunday night dinner, and when you're looking for cuisine slapped right off the griddle and onto your hot plate look no further.

So quaint, your grandma might come out that door any minute

Betty's Place

1122 Main Street

Leeds, NY 12451

(518) 943-1266

http://www.yelp.com/biz/bettys-too-leeds

Burger Challenge!!!

No off the road upstate eatery is complete without a drumroll please!  Eating challenge!!  After consuming fifteen chili taco's in an hour at Taco King in West Hempstead, NY I have my eyes set on other ways to lovingly torture my tonsils.  Total disclosure, I have competed and indeed won myself a t-shirt and a place on the Betty's Big Mouth Burger hall of fame.  However, they recently moved all the old Polaroids into a photo album and there's always room for improvement.  If you're looking for a food challenge and an afternoon of feeling like you have a burger baby in your belly try this.  You'll have the t-shirt to prove your prowess and a place on their wall of fame.  

Maple Walnut Pancakes

Betty's specializes in their breakfasts and it's nothing short of good down home diner cooking at it's finest.  I suggest you try their delicious maple walnut pancakes.  The portions are big so if you stop here  plan to eat very little the rest of the day or have space for the to go bag in the backseat.  

Traditional Hungry Man

This summer, whether you need a daycation or a few days of R&R take a break and visit The Catksills.  With a plethora of lazy activities as well as dishes to brag to your friends about it's worth the two hour car ride.  Just don't leave your growler of Rip Van Winkle brew behind, you'll be wanting that when you get back to the chaos of home.

Cody's La Jolla: Brunch With a View

Cody's La Jolla

8030 Girard Ave.

La Jolla, CA92037

Open 8-3 daily

Breakfast offered until 11

Brunch options all day 

Cody's delivers everything you want out of a beachside spot, offering breakfast, lunch, and all day brunch options, and best of all a killer view of La Jolla. So many of the breakfast options looked tempting, I will definitely be heading back early to be able to access those, and to get in on their boozy beverages I missed this visit. I suggest all you San Diegans check it out, just head over on a weekday so you can linger a while, and follow it up with a hike or some sea lion viewing! 

Healthy Breakfast Salad with a View 

Even though every part of me wanted to indulge, I found some sort of willpower and went with a menu option I had never seen before but piqued my interest: 

The Healthy Breakfast Salad. 

This was a light and crisp option, perfect for mid day; with spinach and mixed greens, zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, and asparagus, and topped with sonoma chèvre,  two poached eggs and tossed in a light and tangy lemon basil vinaigrette. 

I have never been a poached egg person, but this salad made me a believer, and left me room to indulge in too many bites of my friend's french toast. 

Awesome French Toast 

 Heather has a french toast addiction, and I'm definitely not mad about it. While originally deciding on pancakes, they unfortunately weren't available, but I'd hardly call this french toast settling. Thick slices of challah with candied walnuts, fresh strawberries, and marscapone honey butter, it was everything you want from brunch. 

The important job of instagramming french toast 

Followed by a hike on the cliffs and this insane view

Pretty perfect for a Wednesday afternoon! 

#TankedTuesdays: The Anchor

I have to give a shout-out to The Anchor in Venice, it's been consistently great. I used the Cover app a while back to find The Anchor, which is still somewhat new to the Main Street scene in Venice. 

Please note: Always check in with theanchorvenice.com to see the most current Happy Hour menu and promotions. 

Download the Cover app to get $10 off your first purchase. 

The Anchor 

235 Main St

Venice, CA 90291

(310) 664-9696

theanchorvenice.com

Pictured: The Anchor's exterior

Pictured: A bottle of their Sauvignon Blanc - 50% off on #TankedTuesdays

I was so lucky to come in on a Tuesday night at 5:50 PM. I landed just in time get happy hour items ordered and I got their promotion #TankedTuesdays where bottles of wine are half off at 6 PM. Perfect timing.  

Pictured: Daily Oysters

I loved the port vibe this restaurant has. It also helps that there was a perfect amount of sea breeze that kicked in right as I sat down. I was stoked to see all the draft beers were only $5, so I chose the St. Archer White Ale, which went with my oceanic treats perfectly. The daily oysters were Kumamoto, which came with a side of grapefruit vinaigrette, grapefruit lemons and horseradish. These oysters were fresh shucked, a little sweet and juicy in texture.  

Pictured: Mussels with Green Curry and Chinese Sausage 

Seriously Foodies, the New Zealand mussels are so plump and juicy and they soak up the green curry sauce so well. There's also a sweet Chinese sausage and tons of cilantro. The green curry sauce/broth is what really made it for me. It's just amazing. This is the best mussel dish in Venice for sure. Be sure to order a side of bread to soak it all up. 

Pictured: Charcuterie Plate with Cheese Plate

The Happy Hour plates are $5 each. You can choose either Charcuterie or Cheese, I decided on both. If I see Truffle Tremor cheese on the menu, I have to order it. I discovered this cheese on my trip to Leavenworth, WA and I've been a fan ever since. I paired it with their Bresaola, which is an air-dried, salted beef. I pictured the truffle going better with duck or pork, but the server assured be it'd be great. He was totally right. I also topped the crostini with the cheese, bresaola and their berry compote. The flavors together were salty, creamy and tart. I also loved topping the crostini with the compote and jalapeños. 

Pictured: The Anchor Lobster Roll

I was so glad to see their lobster roll is a little bigger than the ones I've eaten in the past. The bun is toasted soft, lightly buttered, then topped with lobster and shaved black truffle. It also has hints of truffle salt in the mix of the lobster. The lobster was fresh, has that traditional delicate texture and was a little bit sweet.  

The Anchor is known for having a fantastic brunch, which I can't wait to taste. I have heard that the chicken and waffles are bafflingly good so I will be back to review that. If you check out their website, theanchorvenice.com, there are a lot of promotions. 

Download the Cover app to get $10 off your first purchase. 

Happy 2nd Anniversary Funky Buddha Brewery

Funky Buddha Brewery

1201 NE 38th Street

Oakland Park, FL 33334

954-440-0046

https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/

Happy anniversary Funky Buddha Brewery!  

The warehouse brewery located in Oakland Park, Florida celebrated its second year with an old-school block party style bash. The festivities included an all-day street festival complete with bands, food trucks, and, of course, beer.  This extravaganza featured Funky Buddha’s everyday drafts as well as dozens of limited and special release beers.

There were several food trucks on hand and while I did not sample every cuisine, I did treat myself to a unique craft beer, an amazing entree and a cool dessert.

Just beyond the festival gates, I was immediately greeted by one of the more unique food concepts I have ever seen. Ever heard of cake pops? Well, local eatery Cutie Pie Pops put a spin on that concept and with pie pops. Yes. Pies on a stick. They were offering cherry, apple and a few other varieties.

Since this was my first time at Funky Buddha, I wanted to make sure I sampled a beer that was unique to the location. I read through the extensive beer list and choose a beer that would mix my love of breakfast with my love of dark ale. Drumroll please….

I had the French Toast Double Brown Ale and it was amazing. I love Ambers and Dark Ales, but I usually choose the lighter varieties like Hefeweizen or Golden Ale. It’s hot in this Florida sun and dark beer reminds of fall days in the Midwest. I guess that's why I took it back to my Midwestern roots and choose something bold. The French Toast Double Brown Ale delivered. It had a cinnamon-like taste on first sip that spiked into a taste similar to a Red Ale before settling into the full-bodied bitterness of a Brown Ale. With this beer, Funky Buddha Brewery definitely earned a fan in me.

I made my way to the food trucks after finishing my beer. There were several that offered numerous types of cuisines. There was gourmet pizza made in a food truck with a full-service brick oven, standard American cuisine of hot dogs and fries and so much more.

There were a lot of great choices but I settled on the food truck located all the way at the end of the festival. No matter where I go, I am determined to find the hidden gem. Rolling Chefs of the Palm Beaches offered a simple but interesting menu. I decided on the ahi tuna salad with chipotle raspberry dressing. I have never had ahi tuna, ever, and I have to say the Rolling Chefs of the Palm Beaches made it so well, I feel like I’ve been missing out on biggest thing since bread. It was so good I started doing on-the-spot promotion, sending people to their food truck.

They have several other food trucks located around the city and you can “like” their Facebook page for more information on where they will be this summer. You can follow them on the Food Truck Finder USA app as well.

By the time I finished my salad it was seriously smoking hot outside and I wanted to cool down with something light, refreshing and fruity. Enter Pop Lab. They specialize in making delicious all natural, handcrafted ice pops.

I had the strawberry lemonade pop and it did just the trick to cool me down. It was less of a popsicle and more flavored ice, which is why I enjoyed it so much. This pop had a subtle lemon flavor, but was heavier on the strawberry taste. And just look at those chunks of fresh strawberries tucked inside. Believe me, it tasted as good as it looks.

Funky Buddha Brewery put one on heck of a festival and I’m glad I could make it out. If you are a serious beer lover and ever find yourself in the Fort Lauderdale area, be sure to check them out. You won’t be disappointed!

#SummerWithWolfgang: Wolfgang Puck Catering's Summer BBQ in DTLA

I am so fortunate to have been on the guest list for Wolfgang Puck Catering's Summer BBQ. The rooftop party was held at L.A. Live in Downtown LA, which is such a beautiful venue. It's elegant and has a picturesque skyline view. This view reminds me of how much I love the grit and the glam of DTLA. The guests were friendly and fun. I didn't even get side eye for making the waiters let me take so many pictures of the treats they were supposed to be serving. The catering food and service was on par with what you'd expect from the name Wolfgang Puck.

I'm going to take you all on a journey of the event through pictures. Enjoy! 

You have to enter L.A. Live through the Grammy Museum. I'm a Swiftie, so I geeked out pretty hard at this. 

Loved my swine t-shirt made on-site by Hit + Run. Cute and Cozy. 

Loved the ice bucket style sodas. There Mexican Cokes and handcrafted sodas. The Cherry Peach soda was the biggest hit. 

This is the Garden Collins cocktail that was being served. Very light and refreshing.

There were plenty of carnivorous options. Yes, that's Beer Can Chicken. 

The Chefs were hard at work grilling for us. 

The day may have started out overcast but it brightened up in time for the event. 

Chicharrones with a blue cheese dressing, celery and drizzled with buffalo sauce. 

Strawberry Bruschetta: Crostini topped with strawberries, slivered almonds and a little spinach. Perfect for a hot Summer day. 

Duck Rillettes wrapped with Watermelon Radish.

  

One of my all-time favorites salads, grilled Caeser salad. Grilling the romaine brings a smokiness out of the lettuce. It's a must try. 

This is the most adorable Crudités set up I've ever seen. The Crudités are kept crisp by filling the pot with ice, and stuffing them in, as if you were gardening. The bucket of ranch is so cute too. 

Traditional Caprese with a twist: The Heirloom tomatoes were paired with peach to add a touch of sweetness. 

This event had fun games, including corn holing. I can't type that with a straight face... 

I decided to take a surf and turf approach. Top left: Pork topped with a chimichurri sauce. Top right: Lobster with corn puree. Bottom: Candied Bacon 

All of these were awesome and the candied bacon really got my respect by not being too sticky. 

Onto the dessert portion: Flambé banana on top of Nutella pudding.

So tiny, yet so powerful: This was a red velvet wrap. The wrap was the cake and the filling was the cream cheese frosting. It's like a mini-magical crepe. 

It got a little chilly so I ended my food binge with a cappuccino from Long Shot Coffee. 

I had to leave before sundown. A view of the Hotel Figeroa. And Arnold. 

Thanks for looking! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @girlsonfoodblog to see our other food pics.