Strip Steak at Restaurant Kinsley
Kingston
Kingston’s new restaurant and hotel executes approachable food at an exceptional level. The crowning jewel of the seasonal menu is the strip steak, a sizeable cut with an amber sear. Its perfectly pink interior is made sublime with a bearnaise sauce. Chicories and poached figs add a bittersweet flourish on top, and a side of creamed corn will have you renotching your belt — but man, is it worth it.
Corn Esquites at The Spy Social Eatery & Bar
High Falls
Elotes, or grilled Mexican corn on the cob, have been all the rage lately, and for good reason: smoky, sweet corn gets slathered in mayo and butter before a snowstorm of cotija cheese, chili powder, lime juice, and cilantro coats the cob in deliciousness. Esquites, essentially a shaved elote served in a bowl, contains all of the flavor and none of the hassle. The Spy’s version is only available for a short window, so don’t miss out.
Duck Quesadilla at Terrapin
Rhinebeck
Let’s be real…summer is the time to kick forks and knives to the curb and dive into food with your hands. This little number from Terrapin elevates the typical cheesy tortilla dish with succulent, braised duck from La Belle Farm, as well as red onions and fontina cheese. Served with mango-avocado salsa, this quesadilla arrives just begging to be torn apart — just don’t forget to snap a shot of that cheese pull.
Ceviche at Lil’ Deb’s Oasis
Hudson
Carla Perez-Gallardo and Hannah Black’s Hudson hotspot has garnered acclaim the media world over (including a James Beard Award nomination last year) for many reasons, one of them being ceviche del dia, a staple on their menu. With a rotating cast of ingredients, this never-boring seafood salad has adopted all shapes from fresh yellow-fin tuna with golden beets, tomatillos, and pink celery in an orange-chile agua to scallops with carrot, celery, radish, potato, and carrot agua.
Fro-Yo at Toppings (or at home!)
New Windsor, Wappingers Falls
When the hankering hits, there’s no replacement for a fro-yo run. Aside from favorites like vanilla, California tart, and chocolate, Toppings swaps out its fro-yo selection regularly for specialty flavors like creamsicle, toasted marshmallow, or key lime. But dare we say it? The toppings are more important than the yogurt and, with more than 50 to choose from, you’re not likely to shake off this sugar rush anytime soon. Thanks to delivery options through DoorDash and Uber Eats, Toppings has you covered no matter which Netflix show you’re in the middle of binging — Stranger Things or otherwise.
