Eat Drink Local Week, presented by Edible publications throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region, is a celebration of the local food chain – a restaurant week with a mission!

Participating restaurants will offer prix fixe or supplemental menus highlighting Hudson Valley-sourced foods and produce throughout the week, as well as at least one New York wine, beer and spirit.

At Terrapin, you’ll have the chance to create a delicious Hudson Valley 2-course prix fixe dining experience (available Sunday-Friday), by selecting from a choice of 4 appetizers and 4 entrees. Each option will showcase ingredients from some of our favorite local farms, whose ingredients you’ll always find on our menus. Here’s an idea of what you’ll find on this year’s prix fixe: Hawthorne Valley Farm Cheeses, Feather Ridge Farm Eggs and Chicken, Sky Farms Greens, Coach Farm Goat Cheese, Migliorelli Farm Vegetables, Mead Orchards Berries and Cherries, Quattro’s Game Farm Poultry and so much more!

The full menu will be posted shortly at www.terrapinrestaurant.com/events. Call soon to make your reservations, as it’s sure to be a busy week with all the great local food we’re cooking up!

or call us at 845-876-3330 for reservations.

And remember, Eat Drink Local Always!

Be forewarned – when you join us for dinner this Saturday (October 30) anyone or anything might be providing you service – from Vampires to Gorillas to Fairies – you’re likely to see all sorts of Halloween creatures at Terrapin!

Our service staff will be dressed in costume, and we encourage you to wear yours as well.

While you’re here, try some of our favorite Halloween Spirits:

Wasabi Bloody Mary
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Brooklyn Brewery Oktoberfest

Have a fun & safe Halloween!

The Hudson Valley saw its first snowfall last night… a sign that we should begin thinking about the holidays? Not to rush the fall season, but before we know it, the Holiday Season will have arrived. Thanksgiving is already less than a month away. Here is an idea of what Terrapin has planned for the holidays. We’d love to be a part of your celebrations!

Thanksgiving Day: Terrapin will be offering ready to serve, traditional Thanksgiving Dinners To-Go. Orders must be placed ahead of time (family-style or a la carte), and can be picked up at the restaurant on Thanksgiving. Whole turkeys (all natural, raised with no hormones or antibiotics) and vegetarian options will be available. See the menu and pricing here. Terrapin Red Bistro & Terrapin Dining will be closed.

Christmas Eve: Terrapin will offer a 3-course Christmas Eve Prix Fixe dinner menu. A 2-course menu option will also be available for reservations earlier or later in the evening. Details and pricing will follow shortly.

Christas Day: Terrapin will be closed.

New Year’s Eve: Terrapin will be offering a prix fixe dinner menu and champagne toast in our main dining room.

Holiday Beer Dinner: Terrapin will once again host our holiday beer dinner, featuring a hearty meal paired with seasonal and special edition holiday beers. Save the dates – December 20, 21 &22!

Private Parties: Terrapin dining room is available for private holiday parties and events for up to 60 people during the day (room must be cleared by 4pm). Call Terrapin at 845-876-3330. Terrapin Catering at Dinsmore is also a great venue for larger scale holiday events. Call our catering director Hugh at 845-889-8831.

Terrapin is now serving our fall menu, featuring brand new dishes and seasonal favorites! Here are some of the dishes you can look forward to trying this fall:

porchetta sandwich – thin sliced house made porchetta – pork loin wrapped with pork belly, cured then roasted and served on a ciabatta roll with manchego cheese, arugula and green olive tapenade

maple-bacon roasted almonds with sea salt

golden nugget squash soup

roasted beet and green bean salad – toasted almonds, chatham sheepherding company ricotta and aged sherry vinaigrette

thai seasoned chopped local sirloin in lettuce pockets with tangy dipping sauce – mint, cilantro, lemongrass and thai chiles

pumpkin ravioli – pecans, oven dried tomatoes and brown butter-sherry sauce

grand marnier shrimp and linguini - with pine nuts, sugar snap peas and an orange-shallot cream sauce

grilled salmon with apricot-ancho chile glaze – plantain tamale and sautéed sugar snap peas

local venison bolognese – red wine, tomato and carrots, with a touch of cream

hudson valley venison medallions with juniper demi-glace – goat cheese polenta

You can view all our delicious offerings on our Bistro Menu and Dining Room Menu Pages. And don’t forget, we always offer our Organic Kid’s Menu for those under 12!

A gourmet dinner by Terrapin Catering
in the enchanting vineyard setting of Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
Saturday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Make Your Reservations Today!

The evening will start at 6:30 p.m. at Millbrook Vineyards’ Water’s Edge Pavilion with wine and passed and stationary hors d’oeuvres. Enjoy the sounds of live jazz music while you soak in the beautiful views. Around 7:30 p.m. the festivities move to tables set in the vineyard where you will dine among the vines on a delicious buffet dinner.

$95 per person, plus tax.

*In the event of rain, the dinner will be held in our loft.
Call Millbrook Winery at (845) 677-8383 ext. 17 for reservations.
Seating is limited and reservations are needed by Monday, July 18, 2011.

PASSED HORS D’OEUVRES

Seafood Ceviche in a Cucumber Cup with Cilantro
Roasted Mission Figs with Roquefort
Barbecued Duck Quesadilla with Mango and Avocado Salsa
Coconut Ginger Crab Cake
Belgian Endive with Candied Walnuts and D’auvergne Blue Cheese Drizzled with Balsamic Syrup
Shots of Sweet Pea Soup with Wasabi Crème Fraiche

DISPLAYED APPETIZERS

Baskets of Snap Beans and Asparagus with a Gorgonzola Vinaigrette
Petite Falafel with Tzatziki and Hummus
Chile Dusted Jicama Sticks with Lime Zest
Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa with Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
Antipasto with Shaved Parma Ham, Pepperoncini, Marinated Mushrooms, Caper Berries, Wedges of Asiago and Cured Olives

DINNER

Traditional Caesar Salad with Hearts of Organic Romaine Lettuce, Chili Dusted Croutons, Anchovies with a Creamy Garlic Dressing
Grilled Brazilian Beef Kabobs with Sofrito
Horseradish Crusted Ahi Tuna with Wasabi Guacamole
Skewered Chicken Provencal with Yellow Squash, Red Peppers, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Vidalia Onions and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Panzanella with Shucked Local Corn, Red Onions, Calamata Olives and Tomatoes
Toasted Orzo with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Fire Roasted Artichoke Hearts and a Basil Pesto with Shaved Asiago
House Made Ciabatta with Villa Pillo Olive Oil

HORS D’OEUVRES & DINNER TO BE PAIRED WITH A SELECTION OF MILLBROOK’S FINEST WINES

DESSERT

Chocolate Explosion Cake
with Skewered Tropical and Domestic Fruit and Whipped Cream
Coffee & Tea Service

Celebrate Summer – with Local Food!

Join us for Edible Hudson Valley’s Eat Drink Local week from June 24-30, 2011. We’ll be serving a two-course menu full of ingredients from local farms and producers.

In conjunction, our first Hudson Valley Farm Dinner of the season will be held on June 28-30. The farm dinner will be an enhanced version of our Eat Drink Local menu, with the option to make it a 3-course menu including a special Hudson Valley dessert!

Both menus feature dishes that showcase ingredients sourced locally, from Gill Farm, Northwind Farm, Sky Farm, Nettle Meadow and many more… Reservations are highly recommended, please reserve online or call 845-876-3330.

appetizer choices

gill farm asparagus and sweet pea soup
northwind farm bacon bits and parmesan crust

northwind farm smoked ham and adirondack cheese co. aged cheddar croquette
chef’s garden kohlrabi slaw and grey mouse farm mustard
(only available for farm dinner, june 28-30)

northwind farm rabbit rillette in phyllo
sky farm mesclun salad with balsamic vinaigrette

sky farm baby arugula salad with nettle meadow goat cheese wontons
roasted red & yellow bell peppers and a sesame vinaigrette

hudson valley farmer’s salad
migliorelli farm baby carrots and sugar snap peas, fingerling potatoes, baby zucchini,
and sweet corn with chatham sheepherding company ricotta and a dijon vinaigrette

entrée choices

hudson valley farmer’s pasta
gemelli with zucchini, yellow squash, kale, gill farm english peas
with chatham sheepherding company ricotta sauce

northwind farms oven-roasted half free-range chicken
garlic mashed potatoes, gill farm swiss chard and sauce chasseur

northwind farm peking duck with hudson valley wild berry compote
“salt & pepper” basmati and wild rice, gill farm spinach

sliced hudson valley cattle company sirloin steak
served with terrapin’s own horseradish steak sauce and crispy fresh-cut fries

dessert

chef’s garden lavender and hudson valley fresh flan
rosemary tuille, mead farm macerated tart cherries
(only available for farm dinner, june 28-30)

2-course edible restaurant week prix fixe menu, available june 24-30 for $29/person
3-course hudson valley farm dinner prix fixe menu, available june 28-30 for $36/person

Recommended New York State Wines Pairings

white wines
clinton vineyards 2010 seyval blanc
millbrook 2009 chardonnay

red wines
brotherhood winery pinot noir
millbrook 2008 cabernet franc

dessert wine
hunt country 2007 late harvest vignoles

We are very proud and excited to announce that BeerFEST will be returning for a fifth year this August. The event is scheduled to be held at Terrapin Catering in Staatsburgh, NY, overlooking Dinsmore Golf Course with spectacular views of the Hudson Valley, on August 6, 2011 from 2pm-8pm. Each year BeerFEST draws a unique crowd of beer lovers, from casual tasters to professionals and home brewers. This year, in addition to over one-hundred samples of the finest craft beers brewed in New York State by more than twenty brewers, attendees will have the opportunity to taste special, limited release pours as part of the festival’s fifth anniversary celebration.

“The idea behind the annual New York State BeerFEST is not only to promote New York State, but also to showcase and to raise awareness of the quality of what is available from New York, thus making it easier for establishments across New York State and the entire country to serve and support New York Beer” says Terrapin’s Beverage Manager, Chris “BevMan” Carbone.

All beers at the festival are brewed in New York State, and representatives from most of the breweries involved will be present to guide novice and expert tasters alike. BeerFEST 2010 included tastings from Bluepoint Brewery, Brooklyn Ales, Butternuts, Browns, Captain Lawrence Brewery, Chatham Brewery, Cooperstown, Defiant, Ellicottville, Fire Island, Hyde Park Brewery, Ithaca, Keegan Ales, Kelso, Lake Placid, Mendocino, Middle Ages, Ommegang, Saranac, Olde Saratoga, Schmaltz, Sixpoint, Southampton, Southern Tier, Wagner Valley and Warwick Valley. These breweries have all been invited to return to the festival this year. Interested brewers are welcome to contact the restaurant for more information.

Tickets to BeerFEST 2011 will include beer sampling (including special release tastings), all-you-can-eat innovative Terrapin barbeque (with vegetarian friendly options available) and musical entertainment. Designated driver tickets will be available at a discounted price. Tickets will be available beginning July 1, 2011 at Terrapin Restaurant (6426 Montgomery Street, Rhinebeck, NY) or by calling 845-876-3330. Ticket prices will be $35/person or $19/designated driver (no beer tasting included). Tickets are expected to be available (but not guaranteed) at the event doors for $39/person.

We are so excited that spring is finally here and outdoor dining in Rhinebeck is back! Our patio will now be open for lunch and dinner (assuming the weather cooperates of course…). And late last week we began serving our new spring menu. Take a peek at some of the new items this season:

vegetable fritters with sweet basil aioli
red and yellow bell peppers, portobellos, onions, green and yellow summer squash and eggplant

crab cakes with chipotle remoulade
shiitake mushrooms and sesame seeds

croque monsieur (“mister crunchy”)
classic french sandwich of ham, gruyere & raclette cheese, and béchamel sauce

asparagus and sweet pea soup
parmesan crust

smoked trout and spring vegetable salad
asparagus, frisèe, fingerling potatoes, and other seasonal spring veggies with truffle dressing

northwind farm bratwurst and cheddar quesadilla
stout braised onions and smoked red bell pepper sauce

artichoke and ricotta ravioli
asparagus and light garlic cream sauce

tagliatelli with braised rabbit, brussels sprouts and asparagus
marsala, tomato and carrots

linguini with manila clams, guanciale and mild green chiles
white wine, garlic and light cream sauce

grilled salmon with artichoke sauce
roasted fingerling potatoes and sautéed asparagus

oven roast half chicken chasseur
mushroom and bacon demi-glace, spring vegetables and roasted garlic mashed potatoes

grilled lamb chops with pistachio-thai basil pesto
goat cheese polenta

The new bistro and dining room menus are available in full on our website.

Come and join us any day of the week. The bistro is open from 11:30am – late night daily, and the dining room serves dinner from 5pm-9pm seven days a week.

So what have I been up to since February? Lots of planning to create lots of fun for you!

First I’ll mention our newest dinner series, which I’m sure some of you are already familiar with – the Hudson Valley Farm & New York State Beer Dinner series! We’ve done wine pairing dinners and other similar events in the past… but for me this dinner series is especially exciting because it focuses on LOCAL ingredients. Local products to create a delicious menu paired with only the best of New York State Craft beers by the Bev Man himself, Chris Carbone. The inaugural dinner planned for July 22 sold out within a few days, but not to worry, an August dinner is in the works. The July dinner is featuring a lot of great farmers who we work with on a regular basis – Migliorelli Farms (http://www.migliorelli.com/) will provide many of the vegetables or fruits, including peaches, arugula, squash blossoms and cherries; Old Chatham Sheep Herding Company (http://www.blacksheepcheese.com/) for camembert; Sprout Creek Farm (http://www.sproutcreekfarm.org/) for Toussant Cheese; Northwind Farms Chicken (http://northwindfarmsallnatural.com/); and Hudson Valley Fresh (http://hudsonvalleyfresh.com/) dairy products. I really support these local farmers and their products, and even if you can’t make it to our farm dinner, I’d encourage you to try their products. Farm to Table can happen in your kitchen too! And don’t forget to grab a great New York State beer – that’s half the fun!

Keeping with the theme of local goodness – the Hudson Valley Green Festival on September 4th that I mentioned back in February is in full swing! You can get your tickets now through the website, www.hudsonvalleygreenfestival.com. We were able to get a great line up of bands including Blues Traveler, Donna the Buffalo and Amos Lee, as well as some local stars (Voodelic, the Lindsey Rakers Band… check the website for a full list). More than just a music fest though, the festival will have a full farmer’s market featuring all local products on site, as well as over 20 vendors with Hudson Valley products. There will even be a pavilion for Hudson Valley companies who work with alternative energy. So bring the family, come to eat, drink and have fun, but don’t forget to take a minute and check out some of the local resources we have to live a little bit greener and support the well being of the Hudson Valley.

And that’s just some of what’s been happening at Terrapin, but I’ll save more for another post soon.

Chef Kroner