One of the tastiest Italian food staples that graces the Cafe Bocca menu is pizza. And though there are six different pizza varieties, one thing that you’ll notice is the lack of creative concoctions. You won’t find a Hawaiian version with ham and pineapple or one with bacon, dripping in ranch dressing.
Nope, only traditional toppings that you’d find in Italy. He prefers to keep it simple.
Cafe Bocca’s pizza selections include:
1. Keep it simple. Less is more.
2. Use a good pizza dough. You can’t have good pizza if you don’t start with the right dough as a base. The pizza dough at the cafe is made fresh daily and freshly made dough makes the best pie.
3. Always use the best ingredients you can afford. High-quality translates to intense flavors. Top notch extra-virgin olive oil; fresh, ripe tomotoes; plump rounds of moist mozzarella – not the shredded stuff you find in a plastic package; fragrant green leaves torn from a basil plant as opposed to dried flakes.
4. For best results for home cooking – cook your pizza on a baking sheet, lightly coated with olive oil at very high temps to replicate a traditional pizza oven. And always bake after you place your toppings, not before.
Erik has made it super easy for home cooks to try their hand at pizza making! Not only can you buy fresh pizza dough at Cafe Bocca – but you can pick up all the same mouthwatering, fresh ingredients Erik uses to make your own tasty pie right in your own kitchen.
Which is your favorite Cafe Bocca pizza? Share your pizza-making tips in the comments!
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Robin Locker Lacey is a travel consultant for Italy and France, freelance writer, photographer and foodie. On her blog, My Mélange, she features info on her favorite cities, travel essays, photos, restaurant and hotel recommendations, recipes and travel tips. As the self-professed Queen of the Carry-on Bag, she offers practical advice for traveling light. She is addicted to social media – you can follow her on Twitter @MyMelange or join her Facebook community.
One of the coolest new seasonal attractions to arrive in the Hudson Valley is docked within walking distance of both the Poughkeepie train station and The Walkway over the Hudson. Empire Cruise Lines, the only company that sails from Poughkeepsie, offers a wide selection of scenic river cruises on the Hudson aboard their 60 ft double decked boat called the M/V Mystère.
The Mystère, which operates from May through October, offers two-hour sightseeing cruises, sunset wine cruises featuring local wines, as well as lunch and dinner cruises. The boat is also available for special events, weddings, private parties and hosts a plethora of themed cruise events like a Theater Cruise and one serving High Tea.
Recently I spoke with Jeff Pyle, President of Empire Cruise Lines and Captain of the Mystère, who told me a bit about his philosophy and how the partnership with Cafe Bocca came to fruition.
Jeff explained his goal is for Empire to be known for having the best food and best service on any boat in New York. He is passionate about the Hudson Valley and placing a large focus on sustainable agriculture is very important to him.
Jeff admited that he wanted to be extremely selective in who he chose to cater the food aboard the Mystère. At the suggestion of tourism officials, an initial meeting to discuss details relating to the cruise plans took place at Cafe Bocca, unknown to him at the time.
After many yuumy return visits, Jeff not only loved the food and Erik’s committment to supporting local farmers when possible, but also Erik’s freindly and accomodating nature when it came to relating to his customers. It reminded Jeff of his own style of customer service.
So, it was a natural fit for Captain Jeff to reach out and partner with Erik, who shared the common interest of preparing delicious food and ‘keeping it local’. Erik helped design and create the menus for lunch and dinner cruises and will also be catering private and special events on the boat. That means 90-95% of all the food served on the cruises will be made by the Cafe Bocca team.
Lunch and dinner service during the cruise will be top-notch and will feature ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. The current lunch menu and dinner menu is set, but is subject to change seasonally based on what is available.
Cafe Bocca’s food will make its first appearance aboard the Mystère on a special Mother’s Day Cruise, slated for May 12th. Other plans include a carnival cruise, which will feature a Brazilian menu and a fun body painting cruise this summer.
Reservations are required for all lunch, dinner and themed cruises, and can be booked on-line or by calling 866-797-9024.
Hope to see you on board for some fun and tasty cruising along the beautiful Hudson River!
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With all the fabulous foodie haunts in the Hudson Valley, the one thing I find lacking is a good burger joint. Sure there are many a diner or restaurant with a burger on the menu, and popular chains like Five Guys, but a decent burger with good quality beef? Yeah, kind of hard to find. And one that focuses solely on the farm-to-table concept? Almost non-existent.
Enter Poppy’s.
Located on Main Street in Beacon, Poppy’s has been serving up top quality burgers since 2009. Chef Paul Yeaple, who competed on the Food Network’s Chopped, wanted to focus on local ingredients in order to support the community. Especially the beef.
As such, all the juicy burgers are made with 100% grass-fed beef that is sourced locally from nearby Keirnan Farm in Gardiner, New York.
Menu offerings are short, to the point and showcase what they do best. Burgers. Hand-cut Fries. Sweet Potato Chips.
The four staple burgers include:
Add-ons like a fried organic egg, hickory smoked bacon, jalapenos and two kinds of aioli, allow you to kick an already tasty burger up a few notches at a slight additional cost. Fans of barbecue sauce rave about their homemade version which isn’t too hot, and nicely sweet.
Vegetarians won’t feel left out of the experience because Poppy’s also serves up a tasty homemade bean-based veggie burger alternative.
Daily specials grace the blackboard and a nice selection of local beer is available to wash it all down.
Keeping with the simple, no-frills and sustainable theme, you won’t the food served on trays or plates that need to be washed. Instead, orders arrive wrapped and bagged in brown paper whether you opt to dine-in or take away.
You’ll likely pay a bit more for these burgers than your typical fast-food joint, but it’s worth it to taste the love in this humanely-raised beef.
It’s no wonder this gem was awarded Best of the Hudson Valley in both 2009 and 2010.
So, the next time you are craving a local burger, head to Poppy’s. And make sure you ask for extra napkins…. you’re gonna need them.
Poppy’s 184 Main Street Beacon, NY 12508 Open Fri – Mon from 12pm – 8pm
Where is your favorite place to get a burger in the Valley?
If you’re an Italian wine lover, I am sure you’ve heard the name Banfi before. They are a very well-known Italian wine producer and importer with over 3o different varieties of red, white and dessert wine in their portfolio.
But did you also know they are responsible for Riunite, that sparkling Lambrusco wine that rocketed to stardom as the #1 imported American wine in 1976? I can still hear that catchy slogan from the commerical ”Riunite on ice, that’s nice”.
I learned that and other interesting facts when I recently attended a Banfi wine tasting dinner as part of a winter dining series at the Culinary Institute of America.
Between the tasting and dinner, we sampled about ten different Banfi wines, but one in particular stood out from the crowd; the highly sought after Brunello di Montalcino.
This particular wine, made wholly of meticulously selected Sangiovese grapes, is aged for a minimum of four years, two in Slavonian oak, before being released. The result is a full-bodied, smooth, velvety, complex wine with an intense ruby red color and a touch of spice. We tasted the 2006 vintage, which was a stellar year.
Some of the other descriptive adjectives used to describe this wine were elegant, intense and luscious. Flavors included violet, vanilla, licorice, cassis and black cherry.
Banfi’s wine ambassador who presented and led the tasting elaborated on the reason Rosso di Montalcino (referred to as a baby Brunello and only aged for one year) was actually created. He joked, “Four years is a long time without wine, we needed something else to drink while waiting for the Brunello to mature.”
During dinner, the Brunello di Montalcino was paired with a wonderful Agnello Arrosto alle Olive, roasted leg of lamb with olives and potato, which married perfectly. Aside from lamb, Brunello pairs well with aged cheeses, wild game and red meat.
Banfi Brunello which retails at prices upward of $50 is a splurge but the above-mentioned Rosso di Montalcino is a good alternative at about half to one-third the cost. And though they don’t have the same flavor profile, Banfi reds like Centine Rosso or Col di Sasso offer excellent value.
Check your local wine stores for Banfi wines. You’ll find a good selection at both Arlington Wine and Liquor and Viscount.
Do you have a favorite Banfi wine? Share yours in the comments!
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During the past several months, I’ve had the pleasure of making many new friends here at the Cafe. It’s been an exciting adventure so far, and I’m eager to see what the coming months leading into Spring & Summer have in store for us.
Our neighborhood organization, “Friends of Little Italy Poughkeepsie”, or (FLIP) has continued to evolve, and a formal executive board is in development.
In Spring, when the buds begin to swell, it will mark the return of not only warm weather, but Empire Cruise Lines and their vessel, the M/V Mystere. We will offer catering options aboard the boat, in addition to what we do on land. Captain Jeffrey Pyle, a Poughkeepsie native has brought something very wonderful to Poughkeepsie’s Shores, and I hope everyone continues to support him, as the second season arrives beginning May 5, 2012.
For those of you who know me, you will know I have a true affection for Italian Music, Opera and that of the “Great American Songbook”. Actually, a visit to the Cafe, and you’ll hear those styles of music, not the typical “piped-in” music of many locations.
We’ve recently repainted the Cafe interior, now featuring artwork by Maryellen Mahar. Maryellen has also created a very unique mural for one of our walls, and we open her exhibit January 29th, with an official reception.
In March, we celebrate our third year anniversary, and will celebrate in style with a special appearance by Venetian Singer / Songwriter Giada Valenti.
Look toward more blog entries in the coming days, and more information on the most recent goings-on within Cafe Bocca and the Hudson Valley! We will also have Robin from Melange Travel as a guest blogger now aboard Cafe Bocca’s website. Robin will write about all things Italian & New York, covering food, wine and travel throughout Italy & the Hudson River Valley. – Erik
We’re working overtime all throughout the month of December on catered events, both on and off premise. Our phone has been ringing daily with new customer inquiries for projects from now through New Years. If you are interested in having us assist you with your event, please give us a call!
Also, for your dessert needs, we encourage the support of our local business neighbors Caffe Aurora & La Deliziosa. They are long-standing bakeries here in “Little Italy Poughkeepsie “.
It’s been an exciting couple of weeks here at Cafe Bocca. Tomorrow Cafe Bocca will participate in the ” Best of the Hudson Valley ” Party at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel. We were named ” Best Panini ” in the Hudson Valley by Hudson Valley Magazine, a very prestigious honor! So, thank you to the Magazine, and all the voters who cast their ballots for us!
On October 2nd, we were part of the 2nd ” A Taste of Little Italy “, which drew an easy 5,000 guests to the Mount Carmel / Little Italy Neighborhood of Poughkeepsie. An amazing Italian flag was installed on the street, central to the original Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church & School, which were the basis to our community, and the reason for ” Little Italy’s existence here in Poughkeepsie. It’s a very fine visual from the Walkway Over The Hudson, and now further helps our neighborhood gain a better identity. The next phase will be to paint the three Mount Carmel Place Fire Hydrants red, white & green, which will accentuate our Italian Identity further.
One of the most exciting elements of our event October 2nd, was the opportunity to help bring the Tenor Christopher Macchio to Poughkeepsie, who sang at the Festival, as well as the beautiful, talented Singer, Songwriter Giada Valenti who performed at Mt. Carmel Church. The gifts of voice, what a beautiful thing! The crowds truly embraced both performers, as they did with our other daytime talents; Salvo, Mark Raisch, and The Karma Dogs.
Our next projects, ” Let’s Mix It Up “, a FLIP Fundraiser at The Villa Borghese is coming up on November 18th in Wappingers Falls, which is sponsored by The Porco Family, Villa Borghese & La Deliziosa Pastry Shoppe. We will be donating art pieces and other fun gift ideas for Christmas Gift Giving. There’ll be a cash bar, silent auction, cocktails, and much fun. Tickets are $30 in advance, or $35 at the door and 100% of proceeds will benefit the FLIP Fund, or Friends of Little Italy Fund, which is set-up through the Community Foundation of Dutchess Co. We’re also planning ‘ Christmas In Little Italy “, in December. So more discussions will emerge with that over the next couple of days.
Keep checking back for more!
In a matter of weeks, Mount Carmel Place and lower Mill Street will be lined with a vast, scope of vendors from the Poughkeepsie Area in celebration of Italian Heritage Month in Poughkeepsie’s Little Italy. Organized by The Friends of Little Italy Poughkeepsie aka FLIP, the upcoming “A Taste of Little Italy” will entice all who attend with some of the freshest, Italian Food the Poughkeepsie Area has to offer.
As the momentum of the event builds, our vendor list continues to grow. Many traveling Rt. 9 near Marist College have taken notice of the colorful banners that hang over Rt. 9 on the Hoffman Street Bridge. We’re working aggressively On Facebook to promote the events that day which include performances by local blues band The Karma Dogs, Sax Player Salvo, DJ Johnny V, as well as DJ’s from Turning Point Entertainment. City of Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik will open with special remarks, accompanied by First Ward Councilman Thomas Parise. Several of the food vendors on-board with this tribute to Italian-American Poughkeepsie are Andy’s Place, Cosimo’s Trattoria, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, who will serve fried dough and zeppole, The Italian Center, Caffe Aurora, La Deliziosa Pastry Shoppe, Soul Dog, Delafield’s Restaurant, Karma Lounge, Adams Fairacre Farms, Tousey Winery, The Milanese Restaurant, Main Street Pizza, Elia’s Catering and others. We also have numerous specialty food retailers, and sponsor booths joining us that day; such as LCS Facilities Group who has been a huge supporter of what we at “FLIP” have been working towards, ItalyMondo!, a group based in Amsterdam, NY that specializes in Genealogical Research and dual citizenship to Italy & the US, Empire Cruise Lines, NIDO, Innerlight Health Spa, and a number of others. Our non-vendor sponsors include; Roll Magazine, Harmon & Castella Printing, TJ’s Pizza, Marist College, The Recycle Depot, The Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home, Miami Shine Cleaners and others too.
As the day progresses the sights, sounds, and smells will hit a crescendo with a historic music concert being held in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. At 6:30pm the doors to OLMC will open to guests for the scheduled 7pm start-time for monumental concert event. We will welcome to Poughkeepsie the incomparable singer, songwriter Giada Valenti. Giada is a keynote performer on the red carpet at the annual Columbus Day Parade in NYC, as well as special events hosted by the National Order Sons of Italy and the National Italian American Foundation. In 2012, Giada will debut at Carnegie Hall, so I implore all who read this to take advantage of this regal event, which will be staged in the altar area of the Church. Our suggested donation of $10 per person, which will go to the Flip Fund, and to OLMC. If you are interested in obtaining more information; please contact Erik Morabito, at Cafe Bocca.
Giada Valenti
Saturday September 17th, the Friends of Little Italy will hold a Penny Social in the lower level of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Spearheaded by FLIP Committee Members Nancy Forrest and Connie Laguzza, this event will help us bring in funds for the upcoming ” A Taste of Little Italy.
On Sunday September 18th, we’ll host 25 for $25, a very interesting concept created by artist Franc Palaia as a fundraiser for FLIP or the Friends of Little Italy Poughkeepsie and the upcoming “A Taste of Little Italy “, slated for October 2nd. Limited to 25 guests, with an admission fee of $25 this reception will give each ticket holder the chance to pick a donated art or collectable item valued at $25 or more. The first ticket holder whose number is picked gets the choice of 1 of 25 items, the second person gets to pick 1 of the 24 remaining items, and so on.
These two creative events are two examples of the creativity and dedication by our “FLIP” Members. If anyone is interested in participating or attending, call the Cafe!
I had the pleasure of meeting photographer and instructor Joel Weisbrod a few months back. We’re currently exhibiting an amazing collection of his work comprised of two trips he made to Italy. He takes us on a journey to Rome, Florence, Venice and other cities throughout Italy. It is apparent, through the comments of our customers, that is show is perfect for Cafe Bocca. Visit Italy while in Poughkeepsie’s Little Italy! You can visit Joel’s website:
