Category Archives: Cuisine

Some years ago, my then boyfriend and I went trekking in India’s western Himalayas. We were in an area that had no roads; rice from the lowlands was transported in canvas sacks on the backs of sheep being herded into the … Continue reading →

The transition to a New Year is a time for hope in a rosy future — a future assured by resolutions often made under the influence of alcohol (or subsequent hangover). Not surprisingly, such lofty intentions are generally abandoned by January third. Nonetheless, certain New … Continue reading →

Necessity has often been cited as the maternal parent of invention, and like all clichés, there is enough truth there to give the saying real staying power. Another truth, which has never achieved cliché status — but should — is, “all cooking is chemistry.” … Continue reading →

The Hudson Valley is apple country, and has been since the Dutch settled here in the seventeenth century. The huge seasonal bounty of apples was an important part of the survival strategy before the advent of artificial refrigeration. There was, of course, plenty of natural refrigeration available… Continue reading →

This paper was read to a meeting of the Red Hook Historical Society, Red Hook, New York, 19 May 2013. Society members and local restaurants recreated many of the period dishes mentioned in the paper, making the event a festive occasion of which … Continue reading →

Chef Josh Kroner has been a driving force behind the farm to table movement in the Hudson Valley since he opened his first restaurant in 1998. As executive Chef/​​Owner of Terrapin Restaurant, voted Best Restaurant in Dutchess County in 2010 & … Continue reading →

Roll recently invited a few prominent Hudson Valley chefs to contribute some of their favorite recipes to our Cuisine pages. The first to respond was Gianni Scappin, chef/​​co-​​​​owner of Cucina in Woodstock and Market Street Cafe in Rhinebeck. Gianni Scappin was … Continue reading →

The males of most species are cantankerous beasts, prone to excessive displays and aggressive behavior (think of the garish plumage of peacocks or birds of paradise, and the chest-​​​​thumping of silver-​​​​back gorillas). Human males, still relatively unevolved, are prime examples — and … Continue reading →