Hudson House Inn

This place reminds me of something. It reminds me of a very successful uncle that reached his peak, and is now coasting his way into his twighlight. There must have been a time when the kitchen at Hudson House bustled with new energy and excitement, but now it's just churning out plates and enjoying it's reputation.

Worse things can happen to a restaurant and Inn on the banks of the Hudson river. You've got a view of West Point, a very quaint town square and developed public space on the water across the street. The staff works their tails off, and when they go back next year to finish High School, they'll have a high end joint to put on their applications to the CIA in Poughkeepsie. Let me tell you it's still worth the trip.

The menu reads like 1999. The plaques on the walls confirm your suspicion. The food is fresh and the wine list is just a little better than garden variety crap you get an hour or so south in NYC. I went mid level with an Arrowood 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. We featured Arrowood one month two years ago for our wine club, our comment box didnt overflow with praise or complaints. It's nice they found a national distributor. It's lame they sold out.

If you know a master chef who isnt living up to his potential, or someone with mad money who wants to park it in an ideal location, you should reach out to the owners of HH. I dont know their situation, but a breathe of fresh air might be the key to restoring this hidden gem.

"Dish" Red Bank New Jersey

This doesnt have to be a long post. This restaurant was expensive, and the food was good.

It's in a good location, in a cool town, and they're BYOB. I brought a Bourassa Carneros Chardonnay, and that was the gold brick of the evening.

Started with mussels.. they were ok. A tad cool, but they made them for me without garlic so I just ate them. I had the Tuscan Stew for an entree. A whole bunch more mussels, a few pieces of shrimp, and a scallop or two. There might have been a clam in there, nothing popped. It wasnt bad, but I think by the time the two person waitstaff started to rush us (and two other tables) out the door, I had forgotten what I had eaten.

My guest had some sort of pasta. I remember mostly that it was almost $30 and had something to do with strangling a member of the clergy for a name. She picked at it, so did I. Whatever.

Not going back to Dish. There are zillions of other dining options in this town, and if I'm going to spend $100 at a BYOB, you're going to let me sit there until I've closed the deal.

When the Music's Over

I realize the above photo has little to do the final espisode of "The Sopranos", but this character from season 1 (episode 12) has always stuck in my mind. She represented so many things, and all of them good.

Last night's finale. Interesting. Lots of stuff. Everybody who guessed, was wrong. I was wrong (see previous blog post). I was pretty certain I was going to be right, but I was really wrong. Just like everyone else.

Ok, enough of the stutter point writing style, I'm sick of it. I want to make some observations. Did anyone notice Paulie's rant about Cat's.. and how they suck the life out of babies? Then the cat sits and stares at Chris Moltinsanti's picture all day? Any connection to Tony sucking the life out of Chris? How about the guy in the Trucker Cap in Holstein's diner in the final scene? I couldnt help but think about Frank Whaley's incredible performance with Danny Devito and Jack Nicholson in "Hoffa". Waiting at the edge of your seat as Meadow tried to park her IS250... try and tell me you werent going out of your head. I was.

I always had this guilty obsession with The Sopranos. Obviously I lived my life around Sunday nights for the past 8 years, but at the same time I resented the free association people would make with all of us with the vowel on the end of our name from New Jersey. I suppose you have to take the good with the bad. I always charged them with being criminals, and not people to idolize, but they're also just putting on a play.. and you always sympathize with people you know.... you just can't help it.

I'm not sure if I'm glad it's over. I dont know what to feel. The ending with "Dont Stop Believin" by Journey.. and then no music with the credits. What's that about? Come to your own conclusions? Move on with your life? Who knows. David Chase is a nut. Now he's made history, I'm sure his parents are very proud.