Wild Hive Café in Clinton Corners (Dutchess County, NY)-
A few minutes east of the Salt Point Turnpike exit of the Taconic State Parkway brings the traveler to what may be the planet’s best Grilled Cheese sandwich, and a remarkable alternative to Fast Food America. The day’s lunch specials at this friendly café included an irresistible “Adult Grilled Cheese”: sautéed seasonal greens, onions, a local Hudson Red cheese that was soft, ripe and delectably melted on the finest and freshest onion rye. The bread, made with flour milled from local Hudson Valley grains, would knock Jerry Seinfeld’s socks off. He should leave all the Big Apple rye breads to the little old ladies on New York City’s upper west side, journey north to Clinton Corners, and stock up with the Wild Hive Café’s ryes, and be the better for it. This café is a breath of fresh air, literally and metaphorically. Unlike the fast food giants, here you truly know the source of your food. The café’s breakfast and lunch menus include many tempting possibilities, with very reasonable pricing especially given the quality and freshness of the food, which also would leave Mr. Seinfeld sockless: an egg sandwich on a brioche bun for $4.00. According to a note on the menu, the Café’s “own happy chickens lay these eggs, which we then scramble for you and add [local] Harpersfield’s hops tilsit cheese on a brioche bun [made with local grains].” There’s a palpable feeling at The Wild Hive Café that the operators are helping to build a community and create local jobs in picturesque Clinton Corners. Nonetheless, a mere traveler heading down to NYC on the Taconic State Parkway is made to feel welcome, and sweets [e.g., a chocolate oatmeal walnut bar and a raspberry Linzer cookie] for take away make for a nice reminder of the stop later in the day. As I finished my sandwich and perfect cup of coffee (made from Dean’s Beans, organic and fair traded), a friendly woman was bringing into the café, a huge basket of just-picked strawberries, local and organic. There was joy in her eyes as she mentioned her pleasure in picking the ripe berries at the Thompson-Finch Farm in nearby Ancram (Columbia County) www.thompsonfinch.com . It seems certain she would make wonderful use of them in pastries and dishes to be served at the Wild Hive Café in the weeks ahead (FB 6/2/10). [Wild Hive Cafe, 2411 Salt Point Turnpike, Clinton Corners, NY, 845.266.5863, Breakfast and Lunch: Weds-Sun 8:00AM-4:00PM (bakery/store to 5:00PM) www.wildhivefarm.com ]
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