THIS YEAR MY HUSBAND AND I WANTED TO EXPLORE. Sure we’ve been to Europe, the Middle East, even to the middle of the ocean for our honeymoon but we had yet to conquer our own backyard–the Hudson Valley. When I got word that a hip new lodge opened offering clean beauty amenities and kombucha on tap, I was sold. Read on for my top healthy picks.


HOTEL

Scribners Catskill Lodge

Where: Hunter Mountain

What To Order: This new millenial-style inn recently opened and has attracted tons of hip, in-the-know city folk looking for a woodsy getaway. I’m obsessed with the contemporary rustic interiors and their lobby book selection (Cabin Porn, that’s a thing) and their in-house restaurant Prospect has super yummy local fare like homemade granola served with almond milk and even house made kombucha tea on tap–I love the grapefruit and watermelon flavor! The best part? The views. Our room was faced directly across from Hunter Mountain, which in the winter is super convenient for the ski crowd and in summer is just a super lush looker.

Tip: Ransack the lobby’s sundries bar, which carries clean beauty toiletries from Tom’s and Ursa Major. Their own rosemary peppermint handwash is a must for a souvenir.


JUICE BARS

Little Apple Juice Bar

Where: Woodstock

What to Order: I like to do a Make Your Own and I get kale, pineapple, ginger, and celery.


RESTAURANTS

  1.  Garden Cafe

Where: Woodstock

What To Order: A hippie Mecca, I look forward to lunch at this bright little cafe every time! My husband even will eat vegan too since it’s so yummy.
-Portobello Panini on Focaccia
-Tempeh BLT with Avocado
-Ceaser Salad (without almonds!)
Tip: Get the cornbread to go!

3. Cucina

Where: Woodstock

What To Order:
-Gluten-free penne puttanesca with spicy tomato sauce
-Side of broccoli rabe, white bean sides and rosemary fries!
-And if you’re not completely gluten-free, I highly recommend the house-made focaccia 😉

4. Yum Yum Noodle

Where: Woodstock

What To Order:
-The kale peanut salad (sooo good!!)
-I love to build my own bowl here and I get the gluten-free rice noodles in vegan curry coconut broth with no tofu, then a dash of spicy tobirashi
-Pad Thai with gluten-free rice noodles (I like to add extra sriracha to this)

5. Baba Louie’s Sourdough Pizza Hudson

Where: Hudson

What To Order: The amazing thing about this pizza joint is all the crusts are thin and sourdough! How awesome. There are so many options here it’s hard to decide. The salads are gynormous (I like the classic ceaser, which doesn’t have cheese in the dressing). As for pizzas, you could get the Vegatazione, which has an epic amount of veggies (just ask without chevre and tofu). I like to build my own the classic sourdough crust (they offer gluten-free sourdough and spelt too), with mushrooms, vegan cheese and arugula. They make delicious vegan soups too!

6. Cinnamon Indian Cuisine

Where: Rhinebeck

What To Order: 

7. Le Gamin Country 

Where: Hudson

What To Order:

8. Peekamoose Bar & Grill 

Where: Big Indian

What To Order:
-The sauteed lacinato kale side is so good here, I like to order that with the broccoli rabe side and the french fries, which are so good. I start with the mixed greens salad, which they serve a nice heaping portion of. The organic Malbec isn’t bad too 😉

 


MARKETS

  1. Circle W General Store

Where: Near Kaaterskill Falls

What To Get: The Niobe Sandwich, chockfull of veggies with housemade tahini on local bread!

 2. Saugerties Brine Barrel 

Where: Saugerties

What To Get: Pickles! Duh. I love the new and sour ones and they have a great selection of olives including my fave, Castelvatrano.

3. Bread Alone 

Where: Woodstock and Rhinebeck

What To Get: I always keep a loaf of the French or San Francisco sourdough in the freezer because it’s that good. They have a usual stand at the Union Square Farmer’s market and the one in the West Village on Saturdays but it’s always fun to go to the mothership 🙂

4, Bard College Farmers Market 

Where: Red Hook

What To Get: Run by the students at Bard College, this beautifully appointed farm stand has it all and so gorgeously merchandised.

5. Vinnie’s Farm Market

Where: Saugerties

What To Get: My husband and I discovered this farmstand on our drive upstate and the selection is a bit of a hodgepodge (cheese curds, live turkies and super sugary dried fruits) but I’m obsessed with the house made spreads Vinnie and his son make all year. Get the eggplant and the spicy mushroom, which you can spread on sandwiches, veggie burgers and even into pasta sauce. I always wish I stocked up on more. Yum!

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