Food & Drink Events for May
First Friday Feasts to benefit the Chatham Chickens
May 6
The last of three dinners to benefit the Chatham Chickens, a Chatham Real Food Market Co-op educational initiative. A group of 12 young adults and mentors are raising heritage breed chickens for healthy egg production. The chickens will be raised on non-GMO feed, and will be free-running and pastured in season. A team of talented chefs and local food system advocates will collaborate to bring you the feasts. Past feasts have included local cheddar polenta, cornmeal-encrusted pork chops, and a spinach salad with pea shoots. In the spirit of spring, May’s feast is geared to be barbeque themed. 7pm, $50/35 for members, reservations required. www.chefsconsortium.com.
Fifth Annual Rip Van Winkle Wine and Cheese Festival
May 7
As the afternoon sun descends on the Hudson River at Catskill Point Park, walk from tent to tent; sample hand-crafted wine from nine Hudson Valley wineries and vineyards that will be present including Hudson-Chatham Winery, Knapp Vineyard, and Cascade Mountain Winery. Complement that glass with some Acorn Hill homemade cheese, or a hand-dipped strawberry from Tom’s soft serve Ice Cream & Candy. In addition to artisanal wines, cheeses, and foods, a number of local vendors will be selling jewelry, farm-stand products, fresh flowers, and crafts. Live music by Lex Gray and Crooked Toe throughout the day. 1–6pm, $20 admission includes a souvenir glass and unlimited tastings. Contact Brenda for tickets at (518) 965-5208; or tickets are also available at Mahalo on Main Street, Catskill.
Beer and Cheese Pairing Dinner at HopHeads
May 10
The recently opened HopHeads Craft Beer Market & Tasting Bar in High Falls offers six rotating taps of microbrews from around New York and around the country. Brewery Ommegang will be visiting Hopheads to present a five-course beer and local cheese pairing. The evening will feature Ommegang’s five staple year-round beers: The Rare Vos Amber Ale will be paired with Hudson Red Alsatian Muenster; the Ommegang Abbey Ale with a Berkshire Blue cheese, the bright and lively Hennepin will be paired with an Old Chatham Camembert cheese, the Three Philosophers Quadrupel will be paired with the Three Sisters cheese. And finally the Witte Ale—a summer seasonal that won a silver medal winner at the 2008 World Beer Cup—will be paired with Eclipse goat cheese. 5:30–7:30pm; $25 per person.
(845) 687-4750; www.hopheadscafe.com; www.ommegang.com.
A Taste of Greater Newburgh
May 15
First settled in the 18th century, Newburgh has a diverse history and population, with influences coming from many different countries. This cultural mash-up can be seen in the great variety of restaurants around Newburgh today. A Taste of Greater Newburgh is an opportunity for Hudson Valley Residents to sample the best dishes Newburgh eateries have to offer. Some of this year’s 12 participants include: Gus’s Tavern (German-American), Machu Picchu (Peruvian), Red Ginger Sushi (Japanese), Avocado (Mexican-American), Beebs (New American), Leo’s (Italian) and many more. 12:30-2:30pm, $30. Mount Saint Mary College. www.tasteofgreaternewburgh.com.
Butchery 101: A Five-Day Master Class
May 22–26
Fleisher’s Grass-fed and Organic Meats in Kingston is at the cutting edge of the local-sustainable-meat movement. They’re now offering that knowledge to you; with a five-day, hands-on course that covers everything from knife and cutting skills to anatomy and understanding the local food system. The event will begin by getting acquainted with the shop, cutting and sawing demos, and a knife skills workshop. Don’t worry, you won’t be just watching for long. On the second day, participants will take part in hands-on sausage making, and lamb demos. The last days of the class bring sustainability lectures, farm field trips, optional chicken slaughters, knife skills evaluation, and more. 9am–5pm, $2,100 (Includes breakfast and lunch daily and all materials); www.fleishers.com.
The last of three dinners to benefit the Chatham Chickens, a Chatham Real Food Market Co-op educational initiative. A group of 12 young adults and mentors are raising heritage breed chickens for healthy egg production. The chickens will be raised on non-GMO feed, and will be free-running and pastured in season. A team of talented chefs and local food system advocates will collaborate to bring you the feasts. Past feasts have included local cheddar polenta, cornmeal-encrusted pork chops, and a spinach salad with pea shoots. In the spirit of spring, May’s feast is geared to be barbeque themed. 7pm, $50/35 for members, reservations required. www.chefsconsortium.com.
Fifth Annual Rip Van Winkle Wine and Cheese Festival
May 7
As the afternoon sun descends on the Hudson River at Catskill Point Park, walk from tent to tent; sample hand-crafted wine from nine Hudson Valley wineries and vineyards that will be present including Hudson-Chatham Winery, Knapp Vineyard, and Cascade Mountain Winery. Complement that glass with some Acorn Hill homemade cheese, or a hand-dipped strawberry from Tom’s soft serve Ice Cream & Candy. In addition to artisanal wines, cheeses, and foods, a number of local vendors will be selling jewelry, farm-stand products, fresh flowers, and crafts. Live music by Lex Gray and Crooked Toe throughout the day. 1–6pm, $20 admission includes a souvenir glass and unlimited tastings. Contact Brenda for tickets at (518) 965-5208; or tickets are also available at Mahalo on Main Street, Catskill.
Beer and Cheese Pairing Dinner at HopHeads
May 10
The recently opened HopHeads Craft Beer Market & Tasting Bar in High Falls offers six rotating taps of microbrews from around New York and around the country. Brewery Ommegang will be visiting Hopheads to present a five-course beer and local cheese pairing. The evening will feature Ommegang’s five staple year-round beers: The Rare Vos Amber Ale will be paired with Hudson Red Alsatian Muenster; the Ommegang Abbey Ale with a Berkshire Blue cheese, the bright and lively Hennepin will be paired with an Old Chatham Camembert cheese, the Three Philosophers Quadrupel will be paired with the Three Sisters cheese. And finally the Witte Ale—a summer seasonal that won a silver medal winner at the 2008 World Beer Cup—will be paired with Eclipse goat cheese. 5:30–7:30pm; $25 per person.
(845) 687-4750; www.hopheadscafe.com; www.ommegang.com.
A Taste of Greater Newburgh
May 15
First settled in the 18th century, Newburgh has a diverse history and population, with influences coming from many different countries. This cultural mash-up can be seen in the great variety of restaurants around Newburgh today. A Taste of Greater Newburgh is an opportunity for Hudson Valley Residents to sample the best dishes Newburgh eateries have to offer. Some of this year’s 12 participants include: Gus’s Tavern (German-American), Machu Picchu (Peruvian), Red Ginger Sushi (Japanese), Avocado (Mexican-American), Beebs (New American), Leo’s (Italian) and many more. 12:30-2:30pm, $30. Mount Saint Mary College. www.tasteofgreaternewburgh.com.
Butchery 101: A Five-Day Master Class
May 22–26
Fleisher’s Grass-fed and Organic Meats in Kingston is at the cutting edge of the local-sustainable-meat movement. They’re now offering that knowledge to you; with a five-day, hands-on course that covers everything from knife and cutting skills to anatomy and understanding the local food system. The event will begin by getting acquainted with the shop, cutting and sawing demos, and a knife skills workshop. Don’t worry, you won’t be just watching for long. On the second day, participants will take part in hands-on sausage making, and lamb demos. The last days of the class bring sustainability lectures, farm field trips, optional chicken slaughters, knife skills evaluation, and more. 9am–5pm, $2,100 (Includes breakfast and lunch daily and all materials); www.fleishers.com.
