HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Stick a Fork in It

Listen up because this place is goooooood. We finally had the chance to go to Norfork Table and Inn in Southhold. This refurbished restaurant and inn has four rooms that seem to be occupied all of the time. When you taste the food, you realize why.

We arrived slightly early so we sat at the bar and had some yummy drinks. There were three of us and we all enjoyed different cocktails. Not only did they taste good, but they also looked picture perfect.

Once we sat down in the dining room and reviewed the menus, we quickly realized that ordering was going to be tough. We all wanted EVERYTHING on the menu. It took us a little while to decide but, in the end, we each selected an appetizer, main course and dessert.

The salads were delicious. The Assorted Roasted Baby Beet Salad with Goat Cheese was particularly noteworthy. The beets were sweet and tasty (which makes sense because they practically walked to the restaurant from the farm down the street). The Tuna Sashimi was fresh and flavorful.

For entrees, we ordered fish. When the plates arrived, we started fighting like immature children over which one of us made the best selection. Truth is, ALL of them qualified. Despite our very full bellies, and the large size of each dish, we practically licked our plates.

The menu changes regularly, but we had Sea Bass, Tuna and Halibut. Each fish was served over a different vegetable or legume, and the sauces were delectable. With entrees like this, we couldn't resist dessert. We honestly were thinking "How can you top this?"

We played with the idea of getting one sweet dish to share but, when we looked at the menu, no one wanted to share anything!

The most interesting dessert was the Tapioca pudding. The pecan tart and beignets were very good too. In fact (and we can't believe we're admitting this), we had extra beignets so we took a few home. That has to be the first time we've ever taken a dessert in a doggy bag.

Hopefully the photos can provide a window into how good this meal really was. It may seem expensive (about $85 to $95 a head), but it truly is worth it. All we can say is you gotta try it! Oh, and be SURE to make reservations, even if your party is small!

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

The North Fork Table and Inn

57225 Main Road

Southold, NY 11971

PH: 631-765-0177

FAX: 631-765-0179

www.northforktableandinn.com

Pub Grub

We haven't forgotten about you. We were just waiting until we found something that deserved mention. For those of you who like pub grub, we think you'll find this post worth the wait.

The Brass Rail, not to be confused with strip clubs of the same name, is located in Locust Valley, Long Island. This hip little Gastro Pub sports a cool and casual atmosphere with good food, good drinks and an attentive wait staff. We've gone back several times, and we always seem to find something else we like.

Some of our favorite dishes include the Oxtail Sloppy Joe, Cajun Seared Shrimp, Stuffed Artichoke, The Gardener, Grilled Bronzino and the Grilled Scottish Salmon.

The nice thing about the food at The Brass Rail is that there is something for everyone, in every size. You can select a small plate, an entree or a side - yay for the Gastro Pub!

So, if you're in Locust Valley and you're looking for some pub grub, The Brass Rail is the place for you.

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

107 Forest Avenue

Locust Valley, NY 11560

Phone:516-723-9103

www.thebrassraillocustvalley.com

Mascot Dock

If you're looking for something to do outdoors in the Patchogue/Holbrook area, we've got just the place - Mascot Dock and the adjacent Shorefront Park. This is a great place to sit and enjoy views of the Great South Bay, watch ferries to Fire Island, or just relax on a park bench. Kids will also enjoy watching people crab and fish along the dock!

If you're hungry, eat at Lombardi's on the Bay. Both places are right in the park area. Nancy's is a take-out type of place serving crab cakes and other seafood treats. We haven't tried Nancy's yet but, judging by the lines, it must be delicious. We did eat at Lombardi's on the Bay and we really enjoyed their VERY generous (and tasty) portions. The Salad with Grilled Salmon, Chicken Caprese Sandwich and Spaghetti with Meatballs were all good.

PARK and RESTAURANT LOCATION:

600 South Ocean Avenue

Patchogue, NY

Oh Captain

THIS LOCATION IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED

There's a new seafood restaurant in town and it's darn good. Not only can you get good food at the Greek Captain Seafood Restaurant in Huntington Station, but you also get a lot of it.

Speaking from experience, our personal favorites from the menu include the Grilled Salmon over Salad for $12.99 (it's HUGE) and the Sauteed Shrimps and Scallops with Vegetables over rice or pasta (complete dinner $11.99). Sources tell us that the Fried Calamari is also delicious (we'll try it next time).

If you're looking for a formal dining experience, or if you like having wine or a cocktail with your meal, this isn't the place for you (we don't think they've got a liquor license). But, if you're looking for tasty food, large portions and quick meals, you must try Greek Captain Seafood Restaurant. You'll thank us and the captain.

GREEK CAPTAIN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT LOCATION:

195 Walt Whitman Road

Huntington Station, NY 11746

FAX: 631-629-4255

www.GreekCaptain.com

IMAC Closes

It is our job to inform our readers about the wonderful places to go and things to see on Long Island. Last year we told you about the IMAC Theater in Huntington (IMAC). This wonderful venue provided Long Islanders (and those from all over) with some truly phenomenal concerts and shows for almost 30 years. There is no question that the IMAC brought musical legends to Long Island, and that the theater itself was a cultural center. That is why we are sad to report that this very special Long Island theater closed permanently this month.

Some of you may already have heard about this, but we felt we needed to post this information not only to inform our readers about the closing, but to let the folks at IMAC know that the theater will be missed. Thank you for sharing your stage with us over the years.

LIV A Little

Now you can put the "Long Island" back into your Long Island Iced Tea with LIV Vodka. Distilled and bottled in Baiting Hollow, LIV (rhymes with jive) Vodka is made from 100% potatoes, which are grown right on the North Fork! 

This local distillery, said to be the first on Long Island since the 1800s, is housed within an historic barn, which was restored from 2001-2006. 

To have your vodka and drink it too, stop at the barn, located at 2182 Sound Avenue in Baiting Hollow. If you're not going to be in the area, you can also find LIV Vodka at various restaurants and stores, including Stew Leonard's in Farmingdale.

You should also know that LIV Vodka was compared to Grey Goose and Chopin in a 2008 blind taste test conducted by LI Business News, and it passed with flying colors. Scoring an 85, LIV got some Strong Island points for its texture, smoothness, aroma and finish. We've had it alone and in mixed drinks and agree that the stuff is good (and we're not just saying that because we like supporting our local businesses). Do yourself a favor and, the next time you head out to Long Island's wine country, try some of Long Island's Vodka too.

DISTILLERY LOCATION:

LIV Vodka

2182 Sound Avenue

Baiting Hollow, NY  11933

631-630-9322 

www.lispirits.com

 

Buffalo Roam...on Long Island

Spring is really here and we've already taken several rides out to Long Island's North Fork looking for interesting places to see and things to do so that we can keep sharing this information with you! 

You'll never believe what we discovered on our last trip - buffalo! That's right folks. Buffalo roam on Long Island!

Don't let anyone tell you that the only way to see buffalo is to go to Yellowstone National Park (although we have to admit, Yellowstone is pretty cool and you should definitely go if you get the chance)! That said, seeing buffalo right here on Long Island is definitely a unique experience.

To locate the buffalo, head to Roanoke Avenue. As you're driving on Roanoke, you will come to a sign for a farm. Turn here. From the road, through the fence, you can watch the animals grazing. We were lucky enough to observe some babies last weekend - so cute!

Get Oriented at Orient Beach State Park

Many of you may not be brave enough to hit the beach in Orient Point in the winter, but for those of you who like the outdoors and don't mind the cold (or the fact that the snack bar is closed this time of year), this eastern-most point on the North Fork of Long Island is beautiful all year around. 

According to our friends at WikipediA, this park was designated a National Natural Landmark in April, 1980. It's home to a rare forest containing red cedar black-jack oak trees and prickly-pear cactus. You can walk along the wood deck that overlooks Gardiner's Bay and take in the beautiful views.  On a clear day you might see Gardiner's Island and the Montauk Peninsula in the distance (we did).

We had a great time collecting shells, listening to the waves and watching the birds. 

Whether you head to Orient Beach State Park in the winter or summer, we're sure you'll like what you see.

ORIENT BEACH STATE PARK:

At East end of North County Road (25) on the North Fork

Greenport

THIS LOCATION IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED

We like the snow in the winter, and we certainly have been getting a lot of it this year! One thing is for sure though, Long Island looks lovely covered in white. Snow shouldn't deter you from heading east. In fact, this is a great time of year to enjoy Long Island's East End - you'll have the place all to yourselves (no annoying crowds folks). 

Our suggestion this week - Greenport.

Once a whaling and ship building village, Greenport is a lovely place to spend the day or the weekend. You'll enjoy just walking around and visiting the quaint shops and eateries including the Greenport Tea Company, Verbena and other shops. 

Also stroll along the waterfront where you'll see a large bronze sculpture of an Osprey by Roberto Julio Bessin. It commemorates the Americans who lost their lives during the September 11th attack in 2001.

You'll see, the ground doesn't have to be green to enjoy the North Fork town of Greenport.