Sound Shore

Hi folks. Liz here: Here is a report from Arthur Bratone, the owner of Bistro Rollin in Pelham. Take it away, Arthur:

Bistro Rollin was thrilled to host a dinner for Toni Massanés and Jaume Biarnés on Monday Feb. 6th. Ferran Adria Chef/Owner of El Bulli (which is now closed, but was said by many to be the best restaurant in the world) setup the Alicia Foundation in cooperation with the Catalan government in 2003 and they opened for business in 2007.

One of the courses:  Caramelized Nantucket Bay Scallops with Leek Fondue and Potato Duchesse.

Mr. Adria asked one his chefs from El Bulli, Jaume Biarnés, to become Director of Culinary Research at their new state-of-the-art facility outside of Barcelona, and Toni Massanés — a food writer, former chef and food historian — to be the Executive Director. Through our friend, Paul Freedman, a professor of history at Yale, food historian, writer and editor, we had the opportunity to host these gentlemen and great group of friends, writers, and chefs at a fabulous dinner created by Bistro Rollin’s executive chef, Manny Lozano.

We had a great group around the table to enjoy the evening. John Turiano, managing editor of Westchester Magazine, and  Julia Sexton, food editor, joined us. Chef Chris Eddy, executive chef from Winvian Resort, a Relais Chateaux Inn in Litchfield County was with us, as well as a writer for the Associated Press, a filmmaker (winner of the Tribeca Film Festival), an Art Historian friend from Pelham who specializes in Spanish drawings and several other fascinating and fun folks!

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Chef Lozano, assisted by our sous-chef Eric Mauro outdid themselves and put together a stunning multi-course tasting dinner based on what we do so well at Bistro Rollin. Below is a link to the night’s menu. We did not give out menus prior to dinner, Chef Lozano assisted in serving each course and gave a brief description and each course was paired with a wine from our wine list.

Dinner Menu for Toni Massanés and Jaume Biarnés

As we gathered before dinner, we all enjoyed a glass of Montaubret Brut champagne and a selection of house made canapés. Turkish apricots wrapped bacon, Cheese gougere filed with a Mornay sauce. and a sample of our Country Paté on toast. We then moved to the table that you see above. And Chef Lozano, his kitchen crew and our two senior servers brought out the first course.

Oysters with Ginger, Yuzo, Pickled Shallots, Shiso and Cilantro. From the oohs, aahs and smiles these were clearly a hit. The flavors and textures worked perfectly together for a perfect starter. This was served with a Le Craie Sancerre.

More of the exquisite dinner, after the jump.

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The Westchester Burger Company’s newest outlet in Rye Brook really has something for everyone — including vegetarians. After all, why should meat-eaters have all the fun when it comes to burgers!

 

( Tania Savayan / The Journal News )

This ”Greenhouse” burger, an 8-ounce veggie patty, comes with avocado, frisee, caramelized onions and remoulade. I didn’t get to try it — this photo comes from Mary Lynn’s great burger round-up this past Sunday — but I must admit, it looks very tempting indeed.

So that begs the question — Where else can you get a great veggie burger?

Let me know in the comments field (or on Facebook or Twitter). We might use your suggestions in an upcoming story!

 

Chef Maria Reina, who used to cook at Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, is now teaching the art next door at Tarry Market. Tarry Cook Shop, as the program is known, was scheduled to started with sauces on Wednesday and will move on to “Hearty Soups” Dec. 7 and “Saute Basics” Dec. 11. There is also a program for middle-schoolers.

Reina is a personal chef and caterer who also teaches in Rye and Rye Brook.

For more info, head over to her blog, or call (914) 649-9430.

Growlers Beer Bistro, which opened over Labor Day weekend, will have its grand opening ceremony and a ribbon cutting on Saturday Oct. 1. It’s located in the restored Metro North substation called Main Street Depot in downtown Tuckahoe, right across from the train station at the corner of Lake & Main.

Husband-and-wife owners Carrie and Ciaran Cullen, along with co-owners Eric Lorberfeld and Jamie Villarie, say on their web site that the bistro is not a restaurant and it is not a bar, but rather an “intimate, relaxing, hip and jazzy beer-centric Bistro/Lounge.”

Whatever it’s classified as, you’ll find 20 taps with of 16 craft beer lines, 1 cask conditioned ale and 3 red wines (yes wine from a keg). While Vallarie is mainly focusing on US craft beers featuring local New York brewers, Growlers will also carry international brands, and offer beer to go in half gallon brown glass containers known in craft beer circles as “growlers,” which you can bring back and refill.

The menu will focus on local, artisanal ingredients that change with the seasons, and focus on small, shareable plates designed to be pair with the beer.  You’ll find charcuterie, oysters and cheeses, as well as sandwiches, salads, bruschettas and chicharrones. On occasion, some larger dishes will be offered, too. Ciaran Cullen, who trained at the French Culinary Institute, is the chef.

The 411 is coming. Til then: Growlers Beer Bistro, 25 Main St., Tuckahoe. 914-793-0608. growlersbeerbistro.com.

The Rotary Club of the Pelhams is sponsoring a fundraiser called Tastings for Gift of Life VII to benefit children with cardiac needs from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Athletic Club in Pelham Manor. Wine will be provided by Joe Larocca’s French Wine Shop  in Pelham, and the following restaurants will be serving at the event:

Alvin & Friends, New Rochelle
Benjamin’s Steak House, White Plains
Bistro Rollin, Pelham
Blue Moon Mexican Café, Bronxville
Don Coqui, New Rochelle
Elia Taverna, Bronxville
La Fontanella, Pelham
Panera Breads, White Plains
Posto 22, New Rochelle
Provisions, Pelham
Rainwater Grill, Hastings-on-Hudson
Rangoli Indian Cuisine, New Rochelle
Ristorante Buona Sera, Mount Vernon
Siena Restaurant, New Rochelle
Zitoune, Mamaroneck

Tickets are $60, or $75 at the door. For more information, visit the web site or the facebook page here.

It’s been the buzz for months: What was going to fit in the large space vacated by the Rye Ridge movie theater? And then: how the heck will that work? The answer: A gorgeous, red-hued space that is now the Asian bistro Buddha with Hibachi-style tables on one side; regular seating and a sushi station on the other — and food available on both sides.

Submitted photo (forgive the red border).

The menu — like the eatery itself — is huge and varied, with sections devoted to “kitchen beginnings” (Thai crab cake, cold sesame noodles, edamame), “Wok & Grill,” “Sushi Bar Entrees,” “South East Asia, “Hibachi,” “Steamed Health Food,” “House Designed Special Roll” and more. Of particular note: the reasonably priced lunch special: two sushi rolls for $8.50 (three for $11), along with $8 and $9 Wok & Grill specials. A 4 to 6 p.m. Happy Hour was being planned with a special bar menu and discounted drinks.

Details: 1 & 1A Rye Ridge Plaza, 914-481-4651. Open for lunch and dinner daily.

— Jeanne Muchnick

Hot summer days call for cool nights — and the recently redesigned PUB at Doral Arrowwood fits that bill, with 20 specialty ales, a new wrap-around bar, rustic living room space, 14 flat screen TVs, a 538-gallon salt water tank boasting more than 15 exotic fish, and a new list of food and drink options.

Submitted photo.

Getting most attention is the revamped cocktail menu, which features an extensive selection of wines, martinis, signature and seasonal drinks, as well as that aforementioned expanded beer selection. Visitors can also enjoy specials throughout the week, such as Happy Hour 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, featuring half-price appetizers, buy-one-get-one well drinks and $3 selected draft beers. There’s also music, entertainment and dancing every Friday and Saturday night and game day specials. And if that’s not enough, there’s foosball and darts.

Details: 975 Anderson Hill Road, 914-939-5500, www.DoralArrowwood.com. Hours: 2:30 p.m. to midnight Monday to Thursday, 2:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday.

— Jeanne Muchnick

Port Chester prides itself on its big helping of restaurants. But food trucks seem to be causing discomfort.

There’s a rule on the books saying the trucks must move 50 feet every 15 minutes. That’s widely ignored and difficult to enforce. Nine streets are designated off limits, and three years ago there was talk of adding more streets to the list. Not that there are many trucks looking for a spot: Seven food and ice-cream trucks are currently licensed to operate in the village.

Officials are revisiting the issue now that three trucks are parking regularly along Abendroth Avenue. That’s one of the few downtown thoroughfares where they are allowed. Trustee Bart Didden protested what he sees as unfair competition with restaurants that pay property tax.

“They don’t contribute anything to the village coffers, except for maybe the 25 cents that they’re throwing in the meter,” he said during Monday night’s board meeting. That echoed the sentiment of a recent Westmore News column. But actually – as the vendors on Abendroth were quick to point out to me Friday – they pay $450 a year each in license fees. They also noted that they generate sales tax and that they’re an inexpensive option for lunch.

The off-limits areas are: Westchester Avenue, North and South Main Street, Grace Church Street up to Fox Island Road, Midland Avenue, Pearl, and North and South Regent Street. They may not be within 200 feet of a church or school.

What do you think the rules and the fees should be?

New York City, by the way, has cheaper fees but long waiting lists (and ever-expanding menus). And in some places, food trucks are being sought after to help turn a place around.

We know — golf isn’t about food. But everyone has to eat, right??

If you’re at the 2011 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship at Westchester Country?Club in Harrison this week and hunger pangs hit, there are four spots to go. The main concession, next to the 18th fairway and called the Michelob Ultra Grove, has tables with umbrellas, scoreboards and video boards so you won’t miss a moment while you’re lunching on cheeseburgers, turkey clubs and hot dogs. The three other spots — at the 1st tee, the 11th tee/12th green and the 16th green — are more grab-and-go.

But for a nice lunch or dinner nearby??We have a few suggestions for you, like Le Provencal in Mamaroneck, right, and I’ve arranged them from least expensive to most — plus a 19th hole if you’re really in the mood to splurge. The list, after the jump.

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The Waldenbooks in Rye Ridge Shopping Center held out longer than most, but it’s closing as a result of the Borders bankruptcy. Customers were lamenting the loss today. But despite that departure and the lagging economy, the busy shopping center is gaining occupancy with the arrival of new stores: the salad chain Chop’t and the Asian restaurant Buddha are up and running. Indigo Chic boutique opened a couple months ago; the frozen-yogurt place Red Mango is planning to open this winter near the new Chipotle, and Lv2bfit Active Wear, a Go Wireless store and Elevation Burger are also on the way in.

“It’s always been survival of the fittest in retail,” leasing agent Erin Hinchey said. She credits the shopping center’s overall success to the “synergy” of uses there, with visitors coming regularly for groceries, health appointments and dance classes along with the smaller boutiques and restaurants. The center is considered a kind of town square for the surrounding village of Rye Brook.

Given the online competition, a new bookstore is an unlikely prospect, even if customers want it. “I don’t think we’ll be able to duplicate that exact use,” Hinchey said.