Hudson Valley Restaurant Week - Dining at Crave

It is Hudson Valley Restaurant Week where you can go dine out for lunch and dinner, three courses and fixed pricing $20.95/$29.95 respectively.  Last week I had the opportunity to dine at two restaurants for dinner and one for lunch.  I'll begin with my first meal out which was at Crave in Poughkeepsie.

Crave is owned by Eddie Kowalski and next door is Lola's which Eddie owns as well and is gourmet take-out and catering.  This isn't the first time I've eaten at Crave and I've also been privileged enough to be at social engagements where Eddie has catered the food.  All I must say is beyond excellent.

Dining out at Crave last Wednesday was special.  Our waiter happened to be a son of a childhood friend.  Through the years I have watched Zack grow up and he's is turned into a fine young gentleman.  What makes me feel really old is Zack is now a Culinary Institute of America graduate.   One of the people we were dining with asked Zack a question about the menu, which was what is "sous vide"? Zack did an excellent job in explaining it.  (Cathy and Michael - his CIA education, worth every penny.) It was a pleasure having Zack as our waiter.  He took great care of us.

Now onto the meal which was wonderful and enjoyed by all.

We began dinner with a bottle of Whitecliff Riesling

A little smoked salmon on herb cream cheese with couscous

GNUDI - Sprout Creek Ricotta/tomato tartar/shallot/chive/Asiago.  (Fantastic)

Paul enjoed the Warm Vichychois -local potato/sweet corn thimbale/ smoked trout

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Our second bottle of wine (there were 6 of us) Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes

I don't want you to think we went right to dessert.  I had the Pork Menage A Trois (Gingersnap crusted sous vide pork tenderloin/pan seared pork torchon/pulled pork & aged cheddar smashed potato/smoked cherry-crown maple gastripue) which was very good and Paul had the To-Pho(Carrot-ginger consomme, edamame, glass noodles, scallions, radish, sesame, korean barbeque tofu)  The Surgf & Turf and Brick Chicken were also ordered at our table.  We had representation from all entrees, however, my phone was giving me issues and everyone began to eat.  So we skip right to dessert by then I was full, but always have a little room for dessert

Frozen Coffee Beignet which were very good!

Honey Lavendar Creme Brule (Fantastic, although the top wasn't as caramelized as I would have liked. 

Once again between all 6 of us there was representation from all dessert selections.  The meal was wonderful and so was our company and the wait staff.