Food and Things » North Fork

LIRR Wine Train Offers N. Fork Wines But Car Odor Mars Experience

Laura Weiss — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:38:26 +0000

Photo: Courtesy MTA.

It sounds like a great idea: a selection of North Fork wines on a specially designated LIRR wine train from Ronkokoma to Greenport.

Only one problem.

How can you drink wine when your gagging from the unappetizing odor wafting through the car from a deoderized restroom?

The wines are from North Fork vineyards (Macari and Duck Walk among them). But the car I traveled on about a month ago—I haven’t been back since so not every car may have this problem— emitted an intense, foul smell. It was eau de toilet mixed with a chemical stench. Long Island Railrod spokesman Sam Zambuto says the odor was caused by disinfectants applied to the lavatory that can seep into the ventilation system.

“Yes, unfortunately it would take away from the experience,” conceded Zambuto, who said the matter had been referred to the LIRR maintenance department.

“When a car is freshly serviced, it has a deodorizer in the rest room.” That scent can be picked up by a car’s ventilation system, he explained. “We’re looking into how this can be eliminated,” Zamputo wrote in an e-mail.

Launched this summer, the Wine Train runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Every week, six different wines are featured and an individual vineyard is showcased.

Assuming this, uh, unappetizing odor is corrected, you have to cheer on the railroad for its efforts on behalf of Long Island wineries. Once the offending stench is banished, it will be nice to sip some North Fork wines while traveling to the bucolic North Fork.

The North Fork Wine Train.

Fridays-only, Memorial Day weekend through the Labor Day weekend.

The North Fork wine train is the 5:21 PM train from Ronkonkoma to Greenport (arriving 6:45 PM) on summer Fridays. Customers coming from NYC can take the 3:55 PM train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma (arriving at 5:16 PM) and transfer at Ronkonkoma to the Wine Train.

The Wines and Vineyards

Six wineries/vineyards and 13 different wines that are featured each Friday. A different vineyard is featured weekly along with two types of wine from that vineyard.

Here’s a complete list of vineyards and wines:

Laurel Lake Vineyards

Red: 2007 Merlot

Intense flavors and full bodied.

White: 2009 Chardonnay

Unwooded chardonnay.

Peconic Bay Vineyards

Red: Nautique Esprit de Rouge

Three different grapes are blended across two different vintages.

White: Nautique Esprit de Blanc

Possesses aromatic qualities that are the result of blending.

Macari Vineyards

Red: Sette

A blend of 50% Merlot & 50% Cabernet Franc.

White: 2010 Early Wine (Chardonnay)

New Release made from 100% Chardonnay grapes.

Pindar Vineyards

Red: Pythagoras

This red was first crafted to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

White: Peacock Chardonnay

Chardonnay with hints of pear and apple and vanilla.

Duck Walk Vineyards

Red: Cabernet Sauvignon

A red with notes of blackberry, currant, and cassis, with a hint of vanilla.

White: Southampton White

Our signature white wine.

Jason Vineyard

Rose: A bouquet of strawberry, cherries and raspberries.

White – Golden Fleece: A blend of Cayuga, Sylvia & Rewriter.

The Best Hot Dog In the New York Area

Laura Weiss — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:39:22 +0000

The Truck. North Fork Table and Inn, Southold, Long Island, NY

What’s the best hot dog in New York? Well, you’ll have to travel a bit to find it. For this beautifully-flavored and sauced hot dog, you’ll need to hop the Jitney or rent a car and travel out to the North Fork of Long Island. There, at a food truck operated by the award-winning North Fork Table and Inn, located in Southold, are some very fine wieners.

These are simply the best dogs I’ve ever eaten.

Normally, you’d have to dish out serious bucks to eat at the Inn, where Gerry Hayden, who used to cook for Aureole, now dishes out excellent locally sourced dishes. Award-winning pastry chef Claudia Fleming (late of the Gramercy Tavern) oversees the pastry operation. Where possible, the couple relies on ingredients grown by local farmers or fished from local waters

The Lunch Truck shines as the single best place to get some quick quality grub on the North Fork. The Hartmann’s Atisan All Beef Hot Dog, comes plain or with a variety of toppings ranging from house-made sauerkraut to bread and butter pickle relish to apple cider vinegar-glazed onion. Then, there’s chorizo chili and pepper jack cheese sauce to throw on top. What a decadent meal that would be!

Even piled high with three toppings—we had sauerkraut, bread and butter pickle relish and onions—the hot dog is an affordable indulgence at $4.50.

I’ve heard the lobster roll (“local when available, but usually Canadian, I’m not gonna lie to ya,” says the truck’s sign) is divine. I plan to try that this weekend. It goes for $16.50.

Still, just the dogs alone are worth the two hour schlep from the city. While you’re on the North Fork, visit some vineyards and shop the abundant farm stands. Right now, asparagus and rhubarb are in season. Strawberries, as sweet as candy, will be coming soon.

How to Find Great Pumpkins on the North Fork, LI

Laura Weiss — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:34:38 +0000

Pumpkins. Photo: Laura B. Weiss

I you’re out this weekend looking for great pumpkins, try Krupski’s Farm on the Main Road in Peconic on the North Fork of Long Island.

Yes, you could settle for the specimins at your local bodega. But you’d miss out on the gorgeous pumpkins at Krupski’s—not to mention their huge and varied selection of winter squash.

Krupski's squash. Photo: Laura B. Weiss

Other places to shop for or pick your own pumpkins on the North Fork include a wealth of stands, says Exploreli. Try some of these:

Harbes Family Farm and Vineyard

Harbes Family Farm Stand

Greenland Family Farms

Labor Day Weekend: North Fork Restaurant Luce & Hawkins Boasts Free Gallery Opening this Sunday

Laura Weiss — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:34:02 +0000

Keith Luce, Chef Luce & Hawkins, Jedediah Hawkins Inn, Jamesport, NY. Photo: keithluce.com

If you’re headed out to North Fork wine country for Labor Day (the vines are dripping grapes!), Luce & Hawkins, the recently installed dining venue in the plush Jedediah Hawkins Inn in tiny Jamesport is reviving up with a gallery opening for local artist Max Moran, Sunday, 4-8pm.

It’ll be held in the inn’s newly renovated barn (no charge!). Plenty of local sparkling wines and buzzed-about dishes like Pastrami Cured Bluefish and North Fork Duck Wings will be on hand. (Yes, they’re luscious; I’ve tried them, twice.)

The classy new hot spot, which began dinner service Mother’s Day and lunch service a month ago, is helmed by local boy and former White Hose Chef, Keith Luce.

Great Pupusas, North Fork, Long Island at Restaurante La Cascada

Laura Weiss — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:43:34 +0000

Great Pupusas at La Cascada, Southold, NY. Photo: Laura B. Weiss

Great pupusas in North Fork wine country? Yes, the Salvadoran street food has migrated east, specifically to Southold. As Edible East End reported recently,Restaurante La Cascada boasts the luscious vegetable- and meat-filled snacks at a restaurant in a strip mall in Southold.

Finding pupusas on the North Fork isn’t all that surprising. After all, the area farms and vineyards attract a fair number of Hispanic farm workers.

On two separate trips, I tried most of the six different pupusas on the menu. I liked the one with the loroco flower, a teardrop shaped Salvadoran plant. My friend Meryl favored the spinach and my husband loved the squash, mushroom, and pork ones.

Each pupusa, buttery and satisfying, is topped with a type of tangy slaw that plays well off the richness of the pupusas.

Both days we visited Restaurante La Cascada we were practically the only gringos in the place. There’s a full menu of standard South American fare–ranging from burritos to quesadillas.

But stick with the pupusas; they’re as large as a small dinner plate.

A single one filled me up. But who can stop at just one, especially at $1.50 apiece?

Not going out to the North Fork? Here are the pupusas in the city that Yelpsters like.

La Cascada
46455 County Road 48
Southold, NY 11971-5043
631 765 8708

Best Potato Chips in NY Area? Try Chips at Southold’s Piping Plover on the North Fork

Laura Weiss — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:08:15 +0000

Potato chips fall into two categories: natural, hand-cut varieties like those offered up at the Piping Plover in Southold on the North Fork of Long Island, or too-salty chips with a taste and texture like cardboard.

At Piping Plover, they make their own potato chips from hand-sliced potatoes. Owner Ken Myers says the dark russet potatoes come from Hallock Farms, a local grower. The potato chips are finished with “a light dusting of garlic, salty and pepper,” he said. There’s also a vinegar and salt variety. The chips come packaged in a simple brown paper bag and cost a couple of bucks.

What we liked: buttery, crispy potatoey chips, with only the lightest sprinkling of salt. These are chips for folks who like their snack to taste like potatoes without much salt or seasoning, definitely my preference. They’re a tad too greasy, but you can take care of that with a paper napkin. Plus, I love how they come scooped into a plain brown paper bag.

What we didn’t like: Hubby: Not enough salt. Daughter: soggy.

The Piping Plover also serves salads, sandwiches and a variety of snack fare.

Piping Plover Cafe

maps.google.com

53345 Route 25
Southold, NY 11971-4643
631 765 5055

New Hotel Set to Open in Greenport on Long Island’s North Fork

Laura Weiss — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:40:05 +0000

Greenport, LI harbor. Photo: Laura B. Weiss.

A new hotel–Bego Azair Hotel–may open any time now, at least that’s the word on the street in Greenport on Long Island’s North Fork.

“Maybe July 1,” said a worker putting what looked to be the finishing touches on the shingled Victorian building when asked about the expected opening date.

The renovated structure, located on Main Street just around the corner from the Greenport Brewery, is decked out in sunny yellow with green trim. No word on the rooms or pricing. It also looks like there will be retail going into the first floor space facing the street.

More info to come. Send me tips about the Bego Azair Hotel.

Best Birthday Cake in NY Area? Greenport’s Butta’ Cakes Delivers Again

Laura Weiss — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:06:08 +0000

Birthday Cake from Butta' Cakes. Photo: Laura B. Weiss

I loathe birthday cake—too sweet, to sticky-icky. But Butta’ Cake’s birthday cake is a thing of joy—no matter what age you’re turning.

(See my review of Butta’ Cakes luscious cupcakes)

For my hubby’s birthday, I ordered a chocolate cake with mocha icing. We’re big fans of the cupcakes from this small East End bakery located in Greenport, LI, but I wasn’t sure their baker could pull off a standard size cake.

What made this birthday cake so outstanding?

The icing: Not too sweet, but sinfully rich. And they must apply it with a fire hose. If you’re an icing freak, this is the birthday cake for you.

The cake: Usually, the cake layers in your run of the mill birthday cake are too dry and/or cloyingly sweet. Butta Cakes’ devil’s food layers are deeply chocolaty and moist.

They’ll do just about any frosting/cake combo you want. These birthday cakes are worth the trip. In fact, why not order one, then stop at on of the North Fork’s wineries for a little vino to top off your celebration?

What are your favorite bakeries for purchasing birthday cakes?

Butta’ Cakes

119 Main St.

Greenport, NY

631 477-6666

North Fork, LI: Early Strawberries Are In

Laura Weiss — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:50:13 +0000

strawberries. Photo: by ~MVI~via flickr.

Strawberries are starting to show up at local farm stands on the North Fork. Krupski’s in Peconic has them. So does Latham’s. Their main farm stand is in Orient; there’s a daily satellite stand in Greenport as well. Pretty soon, Harbes in Mattituck on the North Road will be putting out its berries too.

My vote for best berries is Harbes with Latham’s a close second. And if you want to make a cobbler or shortcake, now’s the time.

Pizza Find: Long Island Pie is Tops

Laura Weiss — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:25:19 +0000

It’s possible to stumble on great pizza in the most unexpected places. Take Mattituck on Long Island’s North Fork where we lucked into The Sicilian and its outstanding pies.

Mattituck is situated in the middle of Long Island’s North Fork. Abundant vineyards? Check. Farmstands brimming with fresh-pick produce? Check. The shimmering waters of the Peconic? Check.

But great pizza?

With its substantial population of Italian Americans, Long Island is prime pizza territory. But the pizza at The Sicilian, a bare bones parlor in an unassuming strip mall, is nothing short of terrific.

Driving back to the city, we stopped at the somewhat dingy pizzeria because it seemed like the only place around to grab a bite to eat. Once inside, we realized we had discovered a hidden gem.

The pizza maker, who barely speaks English, told us he hails from Palermo, Sicily and has been making pies for 41 years. On the wall, toward the back of the place, are vintage black and white photos of the old country, featuring the pizza maker with friends and family.

Authentic? No doubt.

There was a tomato, onion, basil and mozzarella pie in the oven, so we ordered slices, figuring it would be fresh. One bite and we knew we had struck pizza pay dirt. The crust was crispy, the toppings, which included fresh-picked local tomatoes and basil, were impeccably fresh.

“They’re from his garden,” one of the countermen said, pointing to the pizza maker who was shoving another pie in the oven.

I can’t vouch for the pies lined up on the warming tray. “They’ve been sitting here 45 minutes,” the counterman said, shrugging when I asked him if they were as good as the heavenly pizza we had just wolfed down.

So if you’re on the North Fork for the weekend, stop by The Sicilian, where you can also order pasta, heroes, and other standard Italian-American fare.

The Sicilian
55 Route 48 (North Road)
Mattituck, NY 11952
631 298 1947