I imagine that whenever a “Kingstonian” (native Kingston resident) is asked about some of our more popular cultural attractions, the Senate House comes quickly to mind.  This simple stone home was our state’s first Senate House starting in 1777.  It is a great example of the Dutch architecture which was prominent as Kingston and surrounding villages and towns were being colonized in the mid-1600′s.  A walk through uptown’s historic Stockade District will uncover numerous charming buildings from this period in our history.  Many of these homes have been painstakingly restored and preserved and have earned their way onto the National Register of Historic Places, our nation’s official list of cultural resources which have been deemed worthy of preservation.

Another excellent spot to visit for a taste of “the Kingston from years gone by” is the the Strand, located in the downtown neighborhood of our community.  ”The Strand,” as the Rondout-West Strand Historic District is commonly known, sits on the Rondout Creek just before it empties into the Hudson River in the tidal area where the Rondout Lighthouse stands.  The Strand is a popular destination for visitors both by land and water and is home of the Teal and the Rip Van Winkle, both of which are Hudson River cruise ships.  Two must-see attractions located on the Rondout are the Hudson River Maritime Museum and the Trolley Museum of New York.  Of course not everything that makes Kingston remarkable is rooted in our centuries-old history.  There are plenty of things happening currently which enrich our community and offer opportunities for enjoyment.  Located in the Kingston Corridor (the passageway from downtown to uptown) is the Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC).  This 1500-seat theater is a National Register property built in 1927 and still serving our community with a variety of shows and performances throughout the year.  Back in the uptown area, locals and visitors alike can enjoy all that the Kingston Farmer’s Market has to offer every Saturday morning from May through October.  The Hudson Valley is known for its abundance of farmlands and our Farmer’s Market is the best way to access a multitude of fresh and local produce and products at one time.  Along with farms, our city is surrounded by every outdoor enthusiasts dream–mountains for climbing or skiing, trails for biking or hiking, and a network of rivers, streams and lakes for swimming or boating.  I feel very fortunate to live in a place that has so much to offer and I hope you’ll get a chance to experience some of these attractions when you’re in town.  And as always…after a day full of activity, there is no better place to relax than at the Hillside Manor Restaurant.  We serve freshly made, locally-inspired meals every Wednesday through Sunday.  We can accommodate parties of up to 30 in our main dining room and have a variety of private rooms for parties of 30 to 300 guests.  We hope to see you soon!

Price is $65.00 per person which includes hors d’oeuvres, salad, soup, appetizer, entree, dessert, coffee, all beer & wine, tax and gratuity. Reservations are recommended, 331-4386.

Cocktail Reception will feature a variety of wines from local vineyards and Kingston’s own Keegan Ales.

Menu to be announced (depending on harvest). Here’s a look at what was served last year:

Hors d’oeuvres include:
Whole Roasted Suckling Pig (Rifton raised & butchered)
Davenport Farm Gazpacho Shooters
Hudson Valley Cheese Plate with Wright’s Farm assorted fruits
Bread Alone Crostini with Davenport vine ripe tomatoes

First Course (please select one)
Migliorelli tri-colored baby beets with arugala and Coach Farm goat cheese
or
Gill Farm Chilled Carrot-Ginger Soup

Second Course (enjoy all!)
Summer Salad with local veggies & lettuces
drizzled with Hillside’s own roasted red pepper dressing
Vine-ripened tomatoes, simply salted
Bread Alone bread basket

Main Course (please select one)
Fleisher’s Beef Tenderloin
with Summer Root vegetables & Wallkill View Farm Corn
Fleisher’s 1/2 Free Range Chicken, roasted with local herbs
with Wallkill View Farm Finger Eggplants & Corn
Summer Vegetable Pasta
made from Bella Pasta, with local Mushroom, zucchini, squash,
yellow peppers, sugar snap peas; tossed in oil & garlic

Dessert (please select one)
Saunderskill berry tartlet served with Jane’s Homemade Ice Cream
or
Catskill Creme Brulee made with local free range dairy products

Emeril Lagasse was the honoree at this year’s event, but that didn’t stop the celebrity chef from joining 39 culinary superstars to serve small bites of his best food to almost 800 attendees enjoying the evening.  The walkaround tasting featured offerings from some of the biggest names in the restaurant world today — New York heavy hitters including Marcus Samuelsson (Blue Parrot; Red Rooster), Missy Robbins (A Voce), Sara Jenkins (Porchetta; Porsena), David Pasternack (Esca), Daniel Boulud (Daniel) and Marc Forgione (Marc Forgione) all participated in the event, handing out their dishes and prepping alongside their sous-chefs in the blazing July heat.  The appearance of both Martha Stewart and Richard Gere in the crowd added an element of surreality as the night wore on.

Hillside Manor Senior Partner and Events Coordinator, Jim Demosthenes, looks forward to Chefs and Champagne every year because it offers him a chance to meet some of the most innovative men and women in the restaurant industry and bring their ideas home to the Hillside .   A few of his favorite dishes from this year were the Grilled  Lamb Ribs with Sherry-Honey Gastrique and Minted Yogurt Sauce put out by Daniel Boulud, of Michelin 3-star fame; the Corn Panna Cotta with Marjoram and Chanterelles offered by Kerry Heffernan of South Gate at Essex House in NYC; and Top Chef alum Zac Young’s Lemon Meringue Pie with Disco Blueberries.  Perhaps his most memorable interaction of the day was talking to Maria Loi, one of Greece’s best-known chefs and cooking authors.  Maria is the host of several popular cooking shows and set to open her first state-side eatery, Loi, in Manhattan this fall.  After sharing stories about their beloved Greece, Maria and Jim spoke at length about Mediterranean cuisine and exchanged family recipes from the Old World.

For a complete listing of reception chefs and menu items visit the James Beard website.

All medical-related professionals are welcome to come and enjoy a night at the Hillside Manor with free hors d’oeuvres, music & dancing.  The festivities begin at 7:00pm and feature DJ Carl Dayton for entertainment.  There will be a wide variety of delicious finger foods to munch on and a large assortment of drink specials at the cash bar.  We’ll cap the night off with a prize raffle to honor one lucky medical community guest.

A work ID badge is required for FREE admittance to this event.  Our guests of honor are welcome to bring family and friends who are not members of the medical community for a $10.00 cover charge.  This nominal fee allows these friends and family full access to all of the food, drink specials & entertainment at the event.

Reservations are appreciated but walk-ins always welcome.  Parties of 10 or more are asked to make reservations so that we can accommodate your seating needs.  Call 331-4386.

Dine at the Hillside Manor any Tuesday through Sunday during this time period and enjoy a 4 course prix-fixe dinner for $28.00!  Select an appetizer, house salad, entree and dessert from our Restaurant Week Menu for just $28.00!  And perhaps the best part is….receive a FREE bottle of WINE with every 2 prix-fixe meals that you enjoy!

This special is not going to last. March 14-27 only. Reservations recommended but walk-ins always welcome! 331-4386.

“Above all else, friends should possess the rare gift of sitting.  They should be able, no eager, to sit for hours…three, four, six…over a meal of soup and wine and cheese, as well as one of twenty fabulous courses.  then, with good friends of such attributes, and good food on the board, and good wine in the pitcher, we may well ask…when shall we live if not now?”  —M.F.K. Fisher, author & food enthusiast

This event will be held on Friday, December 31st from 8:00pm to 12:30am.  Enjoy a delicious sit down dinner.  There will be a DJ and dancing for your entertainment.  Ring in the New Year with a midnight celebration.  Cash bar available.

Reservations are a MUST as this event is always sold out.  The party is limited to 200 guests so we encourage all interested persons to RSVP to 331-4386 as soon as possible.  Please–no more than 10 reservations under one name.