Restaurant Review: Amici's in Poughkeepsie

Mike and I celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary last week. We were lucky enough to have my in-laws watch the kids so we can go out for a nice dinner. We live in the Hudson Valley area which has a lot wonderful restaurants to try out. It is really hard to top last years celebration of lunch at the CIA and a winery visit.

So I asked my neighbor for suggestions. She first asked me if I liked olives (YES) and then told me about an appetizer the restaurants has...to be honest I was already sold on going there for dinner. Then she told me about a dessert they have...cannoli creamed filled zeppoles...OK if I wasn't sold before I was definitely sold now.

Amici's Restaurant

For appetizer we had:

Fried Gorgonzola Stuffed Olives with Vermouth Aioli* Queen olives stuffed with creamy gorgonzola, rolled in fresh bread crumbs and lightly fried


Flash Fried Calamari with Two Sauces Fresh squid, dusted and fried, served with spicy marinara and creamy garlic horseradish dip

For Entrees we had:

Pork Shank “Osso Bucco” Slow cooked and matched with Ricotta Polenta and seasonal vegetables with red wine braising sauce.

I had a special called Unwrapped scallops with bacon that was served with pencil thin asparagus.

For Dessert we shared a plate full of Cannoli Cream stuffed Zeppoles. They were NOT on the menu but I had to ask about them since they were one of the reason we picked this place. The waitress talked to the chef and he said he would make them.

(The best picture I could get)

Review: I am in love with this place now because the food was SO good and the location is awesome. It is just about two blocks from the Hudson River which was nice for a pre-meal walk. We tried a new bottle of wine (totally forget the name) which was super yummy! The olive appetizer was hands down one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life...then came dessert and Mike said that was THE best dessert he has ever had in his life. It was really to die for and I can't get it out of my mind. I need to lose about 15 lbs before I can go back there and have it again!

A Cafe Visit

Last week Mike had off from work and I wanted to do something other then running errands. So we decided to take a trip to the Culinary Institute of America (which is down the road from us) since the casual dining restaurant is only open Monday thru Friday.

We had lunch at the Apple Pie Bakery Cafe and I really wish I brought my camera with me. I did get a picture of my lunch on my phone but I don't know how to get that on here. Mike and I both had the same thing because I couldn't decide what I wanted fast enough...I did bring home the menu so I can study it and get something different the next time. We had a grilled Reuben Panini with french fries...oh my I think it was the best one I have ever had. Even the fries were and experience with the three different dipping sauces it came with (ketchup, aioli and malt vinegar). Just the right amount of stuff on the panini and it didn't fall apart when you bite into it.

I have to say that my expectation of the CIA was high but they delivered in every way. I can't wait to go back and sample more of it. We didn't get to have dessert there which looked so good because the little one was acting up. We are also going to try at one point to eat in one of the fancier restaurants but that requires some planning since reservations have to be made at least a month in advance if not more.

Restaurant Review: Aroma Osteria

This past Sunday was my 6 year wedding anniversary. Mike and I always celebrate with going out to dinner but we always like to go to a new restaurant each time. Since we just moved up to the Hudson Valley area we were totally excited to try a restaurant up there. For those of you who don't know the Culinary Institute of America is located in this region...so you know there has to be some really good places to eat up here.

Our first choice was of course to try out one the of restaurants at the CIA but you need to make reservation like 2 months if not more in advance which we didn't do. Mike got some really good recommendation from a sales guy he works with...if he doesn't know a good place then what kind of sales guy is he...you know what I mean.

So we went to Aroma Osteria in Wappingers Falls which was REALLY REALLY good. It is on the pricey side so this is a strictly special occasion place for us. They have an excellent wine list with varying prices. The only thing that I was a little disappointed with was the dessert selection (I always save room for dessert). Overall we would be very happy to go back to this restaurant and can't wait to try another restaurant they own called Il Barilotto which seems a little bit lower key but still looks nice from the website.

I said to Mike the next place we go out for dinner and they have Carpaccio on the menu I am getting it. I love the show Top Chef and they are always making it...so I had to see what it was all about. I had for an appetizer Carpaccio Di Manzo Tartufato which is: Thinly Sliced Rare Beef With Arugula, Parmigiano Reggiano & White Truffle Aiioli. This was my favorite part of the meal.