Hudson:
Susan Simon’s Guide to her Favorite Places to Eat and Shop in Hudson
Susan
Simon is a James Beard award-winning cookbook author, a freelance journalist,
she writes a weekly food column for newspapers in Columbia County and Greene
County called “Susan Simon Says – Food for Thought”. She still writes for her
old paper and magazine on Nantucket, and is a former caterer. She moved to Hudson three years ago, from
New York City “kicking and screaming” - it was difficult to leave the City -
but, right now is very happy that she did. She has quickly become involved with
the both food community, and the literacy community in the public schools. Below Susan shares her address book of
favorite places in and around Hudson.
Catskill
Mill Food Truck: What a discovery - the best use of local produce that I have
eaten in the area. Vietnamese inspired food; Banh Mi made with local sausage,
local barbequed chicken, Garbanzo Tofu, Coconut Noodles with Poached Chicken. Chef
Hannah Black has really made great, great use of the local products, especially
the herbs and leaves that are so prominent in Vietnamese food.
Farmer’s Wife: Is in
Southern Columbia County – first it’s a beautiful drive to get there - it’s a
great “slam-the-screen-door” kind of place with delicious breakfasts and lunches,
and wonderful baked goods. They have a smoker in the back yard where they smoke
the beef for their mouth-watering brisket sandwiches. They also make wonderful
buttermilk fried chicken.
Local 111: Is a
restaurant about fifteen minutes outside Hudson, owned by a very young chef,
Josephine Proul who prides herself on using all local ingredients. Her food is
very fresh and imaginative. The space, a converted service station is welcoming
and friendly.
Henry: Is the brainchild of the artist Nancy Shaver
and she considers the shop a part of her art work. She collects quirky things, which she sells
in her shop. You can buy interestingly-shaped
old finials, vintage Japanese fabric, rope, spool furniture, and Navajo rugs.
She has a unique eye. She is part of the
Robert Gober show at MoMa right now.
Rural Residence: Is one
of the oldest house wares shops in Hudson. They carry a variety of things. I
buy Diptque scented candles, bees wax tapers there. It’s a good spot to buy gifts: beautiful
embossed birthday cards, quilted jewelry cases, a great variety of books, and little
packets for seeds.
Rogerson's: Is an old
fashioned hardware store in the center of Hudson - you don’t have to go out to
the mall. My favorite thing to buy there
is jute twine. Not only do I like to use
the twine to wrap around packages, and bunches of flowers, the roll is also a
beautiful object. I have keys made there, and buy brass numbers. Rogerson's is everything that you dreamed a
hardware store should be.
Tractor Supply: Tractor
Supply, as the name implies, is the place to get everything for your tractor,
and for your farm. You can get reins for your horses, you can get fences to
keep your chickens in, and in the spring time you can also buy baby chicks. But, I buy, Levi’s there. They carry Oshkosh
clothing, great, all-weather boots, and sometimes I buy things for my garden. I
love going to Tractor Supply, I love the atmosphere.
2 Note: Is a new shop in town, two women, both
musicians (that’s the reason for the name - 2 Note). Their shop was in Portland
Maine before they moved to Hudson. They
make botanical beauty products; hand soap, shampoo, shaving cream, shower gel,
all sorts of things for to freshen your home, and insect repellents. Each group
of items comes in different scent combinations - I am particularly fond of Aria
– a mix of Moroccan rose, grapefruit and Vetiver.
Tommy’s: I go to Tommy’s for a pedicure, but its more
than just a pedicure, because he gives the best leg massage that I have ever
had. He massages with all sorts of
creams, sloughs off the dead skin, and puts hot rocks on your legs just before
he puts on the polish on your toenails.
You can also have wonderful manicures and facials there.
Bonfiglio and Bread: Bonfiglio and Bread is a bakery that happened because, “necessity
is the mother of invention”, Gaby Gulielmetti and Rachel Sanzone moved to
Hudson from the City and found themselves in the need of good bread. They started
out by making baguettes in their basement and graduated to this bakery that has
the most delicious bread. I am fond of the filone with sesame seeds, quinoa
bread, and I love the cinnamon swirl which is like a brioche bread with
cinnamon swirl through it and then a crackling sugar glaze on top. I love
breakfast there, especially the bowl of avocados, yogurt, and croutons with
poached eggs, chili oil and lime zest on top; the delicious pizzas, sandwiches
and seasonal salads for lunch. Their tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Can’t
be beat. Their amazing pasties - they make croissants and all their turnovers
with Kouign Aman dough which is so buttery and flaky; almond, ham and cheese,
chocolate, and the crispest croissants.
Hudson Food Studio. A relatively new restaurant in Hudson which
serves a kind of Pan - Asian food. The chef/owner, David Chicane, has had many
restaurants in other locations, in New York State and in New Hampshire. He makes good Asian-inspired food; Sesame-crusted
Tofu with local Greens, Crab Cakes, and Spring Rolls, all with fresh ingredients
that he sources from nearby farmers.
Grazin’ Diner: Here’s the place to go when you are in the
mood for a good burger and you want to be ethical about it. The burgers at this 50s-style diner are made
from grass fed cattle that have all kinds of government seals of approval. The
delicious burgers come with fries that are made from Columbia County potatoes,
and there is always some sort a pickle on the plate. There are more than burgers
on the menu - they make wonderful onion and chicken soups. They also have something for vegetarians, a
mushroom burger.
Finch: A great collection of things for the home,
and gifts. They carry John Derian,
Astier de Villate, scented candles, various Eau de Parfum, a beautiful
collection of handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry, well-chosen books, garden
accessories, Mid-Century furniture pieces, and lamps.
Lick: Is an ice cream
parlor on lower Warren Street and it is the bane of my existence, I love ice
cream and Lick carries absolutely delicious ice cream with ever changing
flavors. Each time I go in there, there
is always something new to taste - I‘m very fond of the Chocolate Halvah, and I
love the Cleopatra which is toasted coconut with a swirl of date puree through
it. The place is painted shocking pink
on the inside, which immediately puts you into a good mood.
Les Indiennes. Is an outlet for their own label, beautiful,
very elegant, hand blocked - on top-quality muslin - Indian designs that are
made up into yardage, pillowcases, curtains, duvet covers, quilts, coverlets,
napkins, and tablecloths. They’ve just begun to carry their own wallpaper
as well. Excellent deals on discontinued
items.
Pondside Nursery: Has a wonderful selection of annuals,
perennials and plants for the shade. I
have a lot of shade in my back yard and I like their choices of unusual and
interesting plants. Plus they have a very helpful staff.
Hudson Mercantile: Has a
small shop on Warren Street and a huge spot on Allen Street. They carry vintage items, antiques,
Mid-Century Modern, and reproduction pieces, in their enormous, as big as a
football field, filled-to-the-brim space.
Hudson Farmer’s Market:
The Hudson Farmer’s Market is every Saturday morning from May to November, then
it moves indoors to the rectory at Christ Church for the winter time. There are between twenty and thirty vendors,
of all kinds of things; bread, flowers, produce, prepared foods, cheese, meat,
and herbs. I am particularly fond of
Cedaroth Farm’s flowers and Chaseholm Farm Creamery which makes a very tasty
selection of cow’s milk cheese at their farm in Southern Columbia County. Chaseholm brings their neighbor Jack’s
charcuterie as well, which is called Jacuterie.
I like all the produce farmers; they are almost all organic, or as
organic as they can be.
Hudson Farmer’s Market - Chaseholm Farm Creamery - cheese
Hudson Farmer’s Market - Jacuterie - charcuterie
Hudson Farmer’s Market - Cedaroth
Farm - flowers
Claverack Agway: Is the place I go for all of Allegra’s food.
Allegra is my dog. The store has two
resident labs, Dodge and Raya, who greet us when we come there. I also buy garden hoses, seeds, fertilizer,
and refill the gas tank for my outdoor grill at the Claverack Agway.
Above. Allegra.
