Take me out to the ballgame – Yankee Stadium
This Sunday, my husband decided to surprise our children with tickets to the Yankee game. Our son was so excited; he could hardly sleep the night before. If he could get dressed that fast every morning, we might have a chance of having breakfast in our kitchen instead of in the car racing to school before the first bell.
Getting to the new stadium (I can’t help but to refer to it as the new stadium even though it opened in 2009) is a breeze, and the trip itself is a huge hit with the kids. We took the express train from Tarrytown and were in our seats in well under an hour.
Nothing is healthy about eating at the stadium, but unless someone discovers a new anthem for baseball, I am not going to be the one to tell my daughter she can’t have peanuts and cracker jacks.
The tickets can be expensive, but there are still some great seats that are relatively well priced. It’s sort of disappointing to see the number of empty seats directly behind home plate while the rest of the stadium is packed, but money makes the world go round, and my son is just excited to be in the same place as Derek Jeter (regardless of where he sits).
As the warm weather seems to be here for the season, I highly recommend getting out with your children for a day at the ballpark. Whether it’s the Yankees, The Rockland Boulders (a minor league professional baseball team in Ramapo, NY), or your town’s little league team, a day at the stadium is fun for everyone.
“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest.”― Ernest Hemingway
I was beginning to feel like I would never be able to retire my winter coat, but this weekend Rivermarket Bar and Kitchen opened their patio for brunch, and I could finally see a hint of spring. And when spring arrives, so do the lobster rolls. I couldn’t resist, and I was not disappointed. Max and Olivia shared the Country French Toast with seasonal compote and North Country Bacon.
We are pretty frequent patrons of Rivermarket. The menu is extensive and has many options for your little ones. I’m not sure if Rivermarket has a dedicated children’s menu. The portions are generous (Max and Olivia share their meals), but it would be too much food for one child and definitely a pricey kids meal. In addition to trying the French toast, our children have also tried the Potato Gnocchi, Ricotta Gnudi (think “nude” ravioli or filling without the pasta), and the Hemlock Hill Pasture Raised Roast Chicken. For those with adventurous eaters, the Steamed Maine Mussels are a good choice (warning – they are spicy).
Overall, Rivermarket is another good choice for dining with little ones. Now that the weather is getting nicer, I suspect my family will be their more often. Good food, great view, and after lunch you can take everyone over to Pierson Park and the Scenic Hudson Riverwalk.
Rivermarket Bar and Kitchen
127 W Main St.
Tarrytown, NY 10591
914.631.3100
What Are You Making For Dinner Tonight?
Planning what your are going to make for dinner can be such a daunting task. Well, it doesn’t have to be.
A few months ago, I saw a Groupon for Blue Apron and signed up. I was not sure what to expect, but I wanted something that would help me get healthy, homemade dinner on the table during the week. Something that didn’t take hours to prepare.
So far, my family and I have been extremely satisfied with Blue Apron. Even if you hate to cook, the meals don’t take much time or effort. All of the ingredients are provided, along with detailed cooking instructions and pictures (I love when pictures are provided with a recipe). You are now able to request meals based on your dietary preferences. However, unless it is for medical or religious reasons, I would recommend having an open mind with the recipes. Some of my favorite meals have been ones that I thought I might not enjoy or that might take too long to prepare.
All of the ingredients are fresh, and the meals have been delicious. The portions are extremely generous. No meal has taken more than 45/50 minutes to prepare (from prep to table). If it took any longer, it was because I had my children helping. Another bonus – having kids help with the cooking makes them excited for dinner.
Not having to think or plan dinner a few nights a week has been a huge time saver for me.
A Camping We Will Go
As the first day of camp approaches, excitement fills our house. Along with the excitement comes the stress. Just when I think we have gotten to a good place with our routine, something changes. I now have to figure out how I am going to get breakfast incorporated into our already-tight morning schedule. How am I going to get Max up, dressed, fed, and out the door in time for the bus (not to mention get myself dressed for work and my daughter dressed for daycare)? Putting Olivia aside (her dad can, hopefully, step up and handle her), the thought of finding time for breakfast is really making me nervous.
I’ve spent time on the internet and flipped through a few cookbooks in search of recipes. Below is the first recipe I’m going to try. Will let you know how it works!
I’m sure many of you, particularly those with school-age children, are probably laughing at me. You already know that the summer will be great, and our evenings will be filled with fun camp stories. So, with all the excitement and stress, the first day of camp can’t come fast enough.
Granola
6 cups flaked or rolled oats
2 cups oat bran
1/2 cup flax seeds, coarsely ground
1/2 cup coconut, flaked or shaved (optional)
1 cup chopped nuts (almonds or pecans)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (to taste)
2 to 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon (to taste)
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup mild honey, such as clover
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 to 2 cups raisins (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Toss together all of the dry ingredients except the raisins in a very large bowl. Combine the oil, honey and vanilla in a saucepan or in a measuring cup, and warm over low heat or heat at 50 percent power in a microwave. Do not let the mixture come to a simmer. Stir into the dry ingredients. Stir to coat evenly.
2. Spread the granola mixture on the sheet pans, and bake for about 45 minutes to one hour until golden, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes and switching the pans from lower to middle racks. Remove from the heat, stir in the raisins if using, and allow to cool on the pans. Store in well sealed jars, bags or containers.
Makes about 2 1/2 quarts.
(Recipe by Martha Rose Shulman)
Happy Birthday Maxwell and Olivia!
This year, in lieu of a big birthday party for Max and Olivia, my husband and I decided to take them on a family vacation. The criteria for our trip were that it had to be something kid friendly without being too kiddy, and the flight needed to be under 4 hours. Max is old enough to handle a long flight (thank you iPad), but I wasn’t sure how well Olivia would do. We decided on the St. Regis Bahia Beach located in Puerto Rico. Flights – 3 hours 30 minutes (direct from New York to San Juan), and the hotel was amazing. Criteria met, and the trip pleasantly exceeded our expectations.
When booking our reservation, I noted that we were traveling for a special occasion. About a week before our trip, the concierge contacted me to ask if Max or Olivia had any food allergies, as they wanted to have a birthday cake for them in our room when we arrived. Not even on vacation yet and the hotel was already plus one.
Despite my worries, Olivia was well behaved on the plane. We rented a car, thinking we might want to explore other areas around the hotel, but never needed to leave. The hotel was beautiful, the staff was very helpful and attentive, and the amenities were perfect for both children and adults.
Since this blog is dedicated to dining options for children, that is where I will focus the rest of my review. Being a Starwood Preferred Guest® member we were offered the Kids Pass Program. It is an all-inclusive dining program. I wasn’t 100% sure we would benefit from the program, so we decided to pass; however, in hindsight, at a $25 daily rate, we should have taken advantage of the program for Max. The hotel features two dining options (this is an area the resort may want to consider expanding). Because we were visiting during a holiday weekend, the hotel’s poolside restaurant, normally only serving lunch was also open for a breakfast buffet (which alone would’ve made the Kid Pass worth it – oh well, next time). Fern (a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant) is their formal dining option, and it doesn’t disappoint. We had breakfast and dinner there twice. The cuisine, according to the website, is Regional/International. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available, and the views of the beach are amazing. One night Max and Olivia shared the salmon and green bean entrée and LOVED it. To be honest, I had the same entree and there wasn’t much not to like. The second dining option, Molasses, was located at the golf clubhouse and is the slightly more casual dining option. I believe they also begin serving dinner earlier, so it becomes a go-to for families with little ones. The outdoor patio also features beautiful views of the ocean, but don’t forget to bring the bug spray. As for the children’s menu, Molasses offers Caribbean food, including one of our favorites, the chicken mofongo. Olivia loved the side plantains.
Overall, the trip was a success, and Max and Olivia enjoyed their birthday vacations. Max claims his favorite part of the trip was riding in the front seat of the golf cart to dinner, and Olivia claims her favorite part of the trip was swimming with the iguanas (yes – they actually get in the pool). I would highly recommend staying at the St. Regis Bahia Beach. However, don’t make the same mistake we did – take the Kids Pass.
At this point, our family has completely outgrown the table at my grandmother’s house. That, however, never stops us from gathering there for a hearty home cooked meal. The adults and the younger children squeeze at the main table, while the two older great-grandchildren have been relocated to a small card table set up as the children’s table. Not sure what we are going to do when my sister’s new twins graduate from sitting in their bucket car seats on the floor.
Our table at Italian Kitchen wasn’t much larger, but the food was just as hearty. There is no children’s menu, but there are options. We started with a grilled pizza with robiola cheese, speck and arugula and an order of arancini (sicilian for fried rice ball). That alone was plenty for Max and Olivia, but my husband and I also had our entrees. I had the pappardelle con bolognese and my husband had the roasted hanger steak. Both delicious. So much so, I think Olivia ate most of my order (and she is our picky eater).
Good luck getting a reservation. At this point – word has gotten out, and they are packed. You can usually still get a 5:30 reservation on opentable and, in my opinion, with children, the earlier the better. Just another similarity to Nonna’s. Don’t all Sunday dinners start early?
Italian Kitchen
698 Saw Mill River Road
Ardsley, NY 10502
914.693.5400
Exciting Update – Tarry Tavern
My husband and I went back to Tarry Tavern with some friends that came up from the city for dinner. Towards the end of our meal the owner, Henry Cabral, was making his rounds to each table. As he was visiting with each table, I was working up the courage to talk to him about my blog. I was pleasantly surprised–he was extremely interested in the blog’s concept and was willing to meet with me to discuss my ideas.
On Thursday I met with Henry and, in my opinion, we had a very productive meeting. Tarry Tavern will now offer a specific children’s menu with items that we collectively choose from their dinner menu. Items were chosen with both children and the chefs in mind. In all fairness to chefs, not all menu items can easily be prepared in smaller portions. My family has personally tried many of the items the menu will feature. I am very excited about the proposed menu, and I hope you will take your little ones to Tarry Tavern to try it out.
Many thanks to Henry for meeting with me and for being open about the concept. I know he is taking a risk by not offering the typical children’s menu, but I believe it will prove to be a success for him and his customers alike (adults and children).
The new menu is forthcoming. I will post a copy when it is available.
Bon AppeTots!
Tarry Tavern
27 N. Main Street
Tarrytown, NY 10591
http://tarrytavern.com/
914.631.7227
Tarry Tavern – Anything But A Tavern
Any time there is a new restaurant in the Rivertowns, I get excited. So when Tarry Tavern originally opened, I was there pretty quickly. Unfortunately, I may have gone too early. There were a few disappointments that led me to stay away. However, I am happy to report that, after a friend’s request, I returned. What a difference—I’m glad I went.
There is no children’s menu, but don’t worry. We have returned multiple times, and I am happy to report there are several items on the regular menu that our children love. Two of their favorites include the Butternut Squash and Pear Ravioli and the Maine Sea Scallops over Butternut Squash Risotto. Both entrees would be too large for one child, but they are the perfect size for two to share. I have ordered both for myself, at one point or another, and have loved both. The last time we went, after Max and Olivia shared the Ravioli, our waiter asked if he could offer them dessert. Not on the menu, he brought each of them a huge bowl of fresh plums, tangerines, apples and pears. The time before that, it was a variety of berries. I plan to introduce myself to the manager on my next visit. The staff is super friendly, and so willing to work with their patrons, that I am hoping to see if I can work with them to create a children’s menu. As I mentioned earlier, I normally have both Max and Olivia with me, so sharing from the regular menu works. Hopefully we can produce something that works for the restaurant and their guests. Wish me luck.
Tarry Tavern
27 N. Main Street
Tarrytown, NY 10591
http://tarrytavern.com/
914.631.7227
Calorie Detective – Really Makes You Think
With the help of a science lab, the filmmaker Casey Neistat finds that calorie listings on food labels can be highly inaccurate.
Bridge View Tavern – Sleepy Hollow
Sorry it has been so long since my last post. My family has been to many great places, but finding the time to sit down and collect my thoughts has been a challenge. Anyway, enough with the excuses. I promise…okay… I will try to update more frequently.
I wanted to start back with a small local bar my son loves to visit – Bridge View Tavern. The staff is always friendly and the food is never a disappointment. The children’s menu consist of your standards: chicken fingers, hamburgers, and mac and cheese. In their defense, it is a bar, and bar food is what they serve. However, they also have great soups and other alternatives which have been good options for our children. If they are offering the beef barley soup, I suggest getting a bowl for your child and for you. It is delicious. Other regular menu items we have enjoyed include the vegetable chili, pulled pork sliders, and the veggie burger.
The mac and cheese is awesome and I also highly recommend the wings. My husband has searched high and low for the best wings in Westchester. I am happy to say we found them right in our neighborhood – making Bridge View Tavern his home away from home.
Bridge View Tavern
226 Beekman Avenue
Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
914.332.0078
bonappetots.com 