Home of Woodstock Chimes
Woodstock Chimes’ headquarters is located in the heart of the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York State. Our facility is in the watershed of New York City’s pure reservoir system and we are surrounded by the beautiful Catskill Mountains. The Hudson River. which inspired many artists and musicians throughout the years, is also nearby. The area is rich in the arts, offering many galleries and concert venues. Our region also offers a wonderful variety of locally produced foods and spirits. If you find yourself in the area, I would like to recommend a few of my culinary favorites.
Bakery
Bread Alone
– Bread Alone Bakery / Café (breadalone.com)
Located in Boiceville, Woodstock, Rhinebeck and soon in Kingston offers a huge variety of organic breads,
pastries and more. They also have cafés which offer great meals and espresso drinks. The Bread Alone Logo was designed by our famous local friend Milton Glaser (he also created the “I Love NY” graphic and campaign). Say hi to Dan or Sharon for me.
Bread Alone
“Bread Alone Bakery began with a simple loaf; handcrafted organic with the finest grains. We have grown to include three cafés and have spread the simple goodness of bread from NYC to the Berkshires. Stop by our cafés, market booths or shop online for fresh gift baskets and more!” Dan Leader, Baker / Founder.
Mexican
Taco Juan
– Taco Juan’s Restaurant, Woodstock
If you like great burritos and cheese nachos, you must check out Taco Juan’s. Located in the heart of Woodstock, this small location offers many things to eat including super delicious locally produced Jane’s Ice Cream. Simple ambience but the rest of the village makes up for that. A few doors down, you’ll find one of the largest selections of Woodstock Chimes in the country at Topka. Say hi to Bob for me.
Armadillo
– Armadillo Restaurant, Kingston (armadillos.net)
This quaint hang has the best Margaritas in town. The cuisine is a nice blend of Southwest and Mexican and the fish is excellent. My favorite is the tuna. They have a lot of vegetarian choices too. The owner is a social activist working with the community to help others. They are dog friendly, so bring Fido and let him enjoy the outdoor patio with you. Say hi to Meryl for me.
Pizza
– LaFlorentina Restaurant, Kingston (laflorentina.net).
They have been making spectacular northern Italian style gourmet pizzas in their wood-fired stone oven long before the craze and continue to be consistent in quality. They also make their own pastas and offer a selection of wine and beers. We love their lentil soup! I always order the Mauceri stuffed pizza (filled with spinach and ricotta, its center topped with red cabbage; served with porcini mushroom or sesame sauce.) Say hi to Ammar for me.
New American Cuisine
Bear Cafe
– Bear Café Restaurant, Bearsville / Woodstock (bearcafe.com)
This is a world class restaurant located on the grounds of the former Bearsville Recording Studio. The studios were founded by Albert Grossman who managed the many local groups in the 1960’s such as Bob Dylan; Janis Joplin; Jimmie Hendrix; Peter, Paul and Mary, to name a few. They all recorded at the Bearsville Studios along with the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. The performers needed a place to eat, so the Bear Café was created. A great people watching spot. Say hi to Peter for me.
American Eclectic Cuisine
– Depuy Canal House, High Falls (depuycanalhouse.com)
The New York Times gave Chef John Novi a four star rating in 1970 and the Canal House has been receiving high praise ever since. Housed in the historic 1797 Stone House Tavern, you can dine among John’s wealth of antiques and even sit at a long table in the kitchen to observe this artistic chef do his thing. The Sunday Brunch is so good, you might consider it a religious experience. Say hi to John for me.
Asian
There are so many great Asian restaurants, I’ll just name a few here:
– Yum-Yum Noodle Bar in Woodstock and Kingston (yumyumnoodlebar.com)
– Wok and Roll Japanese Sushi in Woodstock (live music six nights a week)
– Kyoto Sushi in Kingston (kyotokingston.com)
– Kodomo Sushi and Hibachi Grill with two locations Kingston (kodomony.com)
Tell them the windchime guy sent you.
Out the Way, Incredible in Many Ways (with music at nights often)
– Yoma Café in West Shokan on Rt 28A serves home-cooked meals to order. Breakfast through dinner. Say hi to Mary for me. BYOB
– The Country Inn in Krumville / Olivebridge (krumville.com). The food is excellent but you might want to go there for the hundreds of beers from around the world, including dozens on tap such as Chimay from Belgium. Say hi to Peter for me.
Rosendale Cafe
– The Rosendale Café in Rosendale, of course (rosendalecafe.com). If you are a vegetarian, you won’t have to ask if it has meat in anything because it won’t. Everything is quite delicious and they serve beer and wine. Say hi to Susan and Mark for me.
Local Produce and Gourmet Foods
Sunflower Natural Foods
– Sunflower Natural Foods, Woodstock and Rhinebeck (sunflowernatural.com)
All of their food additions since 2013 are certified organic and Non-GMO. Their new location across the river in Rhinebeck has a fantastic café. The owners are very community-minded and support local growers and artists. You’ll find a huge selection of Herbal Remedies and Vitamins there with a knowledgeable staff to assist you. Say hi to Bob for me.
Adams Fairacre Farms
– Adams Fairacre Farms has four locations in Kingston, Wappinger’s Falls, Poughkeepsie and Newburgh (adamsfarms.com)
Adams carries produce from many of the local farms as well as cheeses from around the world. They also feature Bread Alone Breads and Woodstock Chimes.
Take Out
Blue Mountain Bistro
Blue Mountain Bistro To Go (bluemountainbistro.com)
– An amazing deli with a pastry and espresso counter. Say hi to Richard and Maryanne for me. Here’s what they have to say about their offerings:
• Local, artisanal, and hand-crafted foods such as homemade cheeses, soups, desserts, dressings, marinades, vinegars, spreads, preserves, honeys, syrups and other goods from our gourmet food store
• Fresh available organic produce from local Hudson Valley area farms
• Grass-fed beef and locally-raised chicken in prepared meals
• Healthy foods that are prepared on premise and free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats
• The Mediterranean way of eating with an emphasis on flavor derived from fresh herbs, garlic and olive oil
• Food that is prepared with love and care in the “slow food” tradition with the ease of a “to go” option!
• An ever-changing seasonal take-away menu as well as favorite gourmet menu staples at affordable prices
• Being a resource for good living and entertaining for our vibrant Hudson Valley and Catskills Mountain community
If you find yourself in Woodstock or Rhinebeck, have dinner at one of these places (there are many other great restaurants in both towns) and then check out Upstate Films. They show great films you won’t find at the Mall and their popcorn is actually good! Rosendale still has one of the few single screen theaters in the country as well. Enjoy and let me know what you think about these places!
