Harvest on Hudson

As a child, growing up in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, I was familiar with a steady, yearlong rainy season. Aside from the short summer, maybe two weeks in the beginning of August when the temperature would reach the high 70’s, the seasons were not marked by any discernible landscape change. Moving to the Central Coast of California as a teenager my weather simply improved by an average of 25-30 degrees with still no distinction of actualizing the seasons. Fast forward to now... a change of locale as drastic as West Coast to East Coast, and the New York weather will not disappoint me when it comes to experiencing the seasons.

In an attempt at seeing the leaves changing, a friend and I rented a car and headed up the Hudson. Guided only by our trusty iPhones, we followed the river until our attention was grabbed by an open space just outside the Hudson River Museum. The parking lot lined with a glowing, warm palette of foliage overlooking the water set ablaze by a scorching sunset.

Our excursion continued up the watercourse leading us to the fantastically inviting dining room of Harvest on Hudson, a grandiose space in Mediterranean style that allows for large family gatherings as well as relaxed mingling by the bar. We were in the mood for a little ‘nosh and ‘tail so we laid claim to a comfy settee and began to quiz our wonderfully accommodating server to the details of the menu. Starting with a taste test of a couple of wines featured, my friend and I actually ended up choosing the wine the other had requested. A flavorful 2009 Rosé, Sables d’Azur, (Côtes de Provence, France with a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault) surprised me with an aroma of bubblegum (which anyone close to me will attest I have a nostalgic affection for). Furthering the exploratory theme for the day we sampled and shared from the menu a variety of dishes that tempted us. A simmering offering of Brick Oven Baked Garlic Shrimp, the house made Pork Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and Sweet Peppers, a perfectly pounded "Sashimi Style" Tuna with Lemon, Olive Oil and Sea Salt and a lusciously hearty serving of Risotto with Granny Smith Apple & Frisee flavored with Harvest garden thyme, marjoram and grated parmesan. Every nibble more scrumptious than the last!