By Lauren Drummond
Putnam County, situated just sixty miles north of Manhattan, is a short drive north on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. There are endless things to do whether you’re looking for family fun, holding a conference, taking a group tour, having a company team-building experience or just want a short getaway. Putnam County, from its eastern borders teeming with lakes and farmland, charming villages, B&B’s, beautiful country byways and protected heritage sites, to its western shoreline on the Hudson River, is a jewel among the Empire State’s counties.
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You can find almost anything you want in our fine county, from theater groups such as the Hudson Valley Shakespeare festival to art galleries to boat rides from MacDonald Marine located off Lake Mahopac which offers a number of renting options to a taste of maple syrup at Niese’s Maple Farm, the largest Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere when you visit the Chuang Yen Monastery, a national religious heritage research center located in Carmel.
You can also find an ever-increasing array of restaurants here from Farm to Table, Japanese, Italian, Indian, Mexican, Seafood, Chinese and a host of others to whet your appetite.
Here are some of my favorites:
Patterson, NY
A classic Italian-American establishment located in Patterson, NY. Abruzzi Trattoria is an inviting neighborhood trattoria. Abruzzi’s owner Andreas Lazanas opened the restaurant in March 2013 and comes from a long family lineage of restaurant owners including the proprietors behind Four Brothers Pizza. The restaurant hosts private parties and also has a patio for outdoor dining that features a menu including pasta, pizza, and grilled items, penne with crumbled sausage and Parmesan cream, pork chops with escarole and cippolini. https://www.facebook.com/abruzzitrattoria
Brewster, NY
Located in Brewster, NY, this is an American farm to table restaurant with the setting of a renovated barn; the atmosphere is casual yet sophisticated. It has an awesome patio for outdoor dining. Owners, Rich and Cassie Parente host seasonal festivals; special dinners like pig roasts and clam bakes; and live music performances. The cuisine features tender bourbon-braised short ribs with creamy mashed potatoes and delightfully sweet caramelized carrots. http://clocktowergrill.com.
Brewster, NY
Located in Brewster, NY, Jaipore features a rich color which brings a touch of India’s palaces to this lofty mid-19th-century mansion once occupied by the Charlie Chaplin Studios; with attractive dining areas, bar and lounge. The service is excellent and the cuisine ranges from vegetable and shrimp dishes like ragara, uthappam, lassani gobi, yellow dal, nan, pudina paratha, Mangalore prawn, shrimp malai kebab and other Indian dishes. http://www.jaiporenyc.com.
Brewster, NY
Las Mananitas serves fine Mexican food and is located in Brewster, NY. Their rustic yet fine architecture surrounds you while taking in the aroma of fresh Mexican cuisine such as Tapatías, a soft corn tortillas dipped in red huajillo sauce, filled with fresh cheese and onion mix; Salmón a la talla, a grilled marinated salmon fillet with huajillo sauce and yam puree, Rojas, a soft corn tortillas dipped in red tomato sauce, filled with chicken. Their large dining area with stone fireplace provides a comfortable and spacious dining atmosphere. Enjoy the breathtaking water views and relax at the bar area with a domestic or imported beer, glass of wine or one of our special margaritas. http://www.lasmananitasrestaurant.com.
Cold Spring, NY
Le Bouchon Brasserie serves French food and is located in Cold Spring, NY. Le Bouchon Brasserie, chef-owner Pascal Graff also offers a porch for outdoor dining and a lovely garden. They boast an excellent cuisine serving classic favorites such as steak frites, cassoulet, moules, and more favorites, in a charming atmosphere where everything is “very French”. http://www.yelp.com/biz/brasserie-le-bouchon-cold-spring
Mahopac, NY
Located in the center of Mahopac, Rick’s serves up Mahopac’s finest foods with exciting dishes and unique ambiance. At Rick’s, every dish is created using only the freshest, finest ingredients. They serve only the choicest cuts of seafood. Every dish is made to order from sole francese, rainbow trout almandine; horseradish crusted Chilean Sea Bass, lobster and shrimp Newburgh and other traditional seafood entries. http://www.ricksseafood.com
Brewster, NY
The Arch is owned by George Seitz and was originally a private home in the 1930’s s located in Brewster, NY. A driveway through an evergreen forest stops at the lovely garden approach to the front steps of this beautifully maintained and appointed country home. The restaurant has been in business for over 40 years offering consistently excellent cuisine in a truly elegant romantic country restaurant. Savor Eclectic-French cuisine where the menu features seasonal specials made with the freshest ingredients from toasted coconut soufflé traditional Wiener Schnitzel with Lemon, Capers and Anchovy, calf’s liver with apples, Crisp Onions and Bacon Filet of Sole Citrus with Fresh Herbs, Pork Osso Buco with Spaetzle, Sliced Steak with Sauce Bordelaise and Garlic Mashed Potato. http://www.archrestaurant.com.
Garrison, NY
Located in Garrison, NY and recognized as a premier dining venue in the Hudson Valley since its opening in 2004. Its seasonal American cuisine, which showcases ingredients from their own two-acre Garrison Farm as well as from other farmers in the region, is a tribute to their efforts to include many locally grown, raised and prepared food products. You can be seated in their comfortably elegant dining room or out on the terrace, both with magnificent views of the Hudson Highlands; while you dine including the duck breast and foie gras, pice-crusted rack of Colorado lamb with plum tomatoes, asparagus, and Berkshire Pork Chop. http://www.thegarrison.com.
