Pure Pizza

If you're a pizza purist then go to Little Vincent's in Huntington. The place is small and crowded, and the lights are annoyingly bright (you might need sunglasses), but you won't care once you eat the pizza. Thin and crisp, with the perfect amount of sauce, the cheese pizza at Little Vincent's is the best on Long Island. Anyone who says otherwise is LYING! Almost every time you go to Little Vincent's, you'll hear someone say out loud how much they love the place.

Ate already? That's okay because Little Vincent's is open until 2:00 am every day except Friday, when it closes at 4:00am! Stop here on your way home from work, after a long day in NYC or after a night out in Huntington. Whether you're eating the pie sober or sauced, this pizza wins the cheese pie prize.

PIZZERIA LOCATION

329 New york Avenue

Huntington, NY 11743

631-423-9620

Long Island Daycation

With high gas prices and limited time, daycations seem to be all the rage these days. If you're planning one, we've got a suggestion. Start your day in Centerport with lunch at the Mill Pond House, which is located just off of Route 25A. Call in advance to make a reservation to sit outside, overlooking the pond. All of the outdoor seating (and even the indoor window seating) is lovely, but there is a spot that we think is the best in the house. A small deck area, with about two tables, is located on the second floor. If you can get a seat there, you'll feel like you have the restaurant, and the view, all to yourself. Since the larger table seats at least four, and the smaller seats two, you'll most likely need to have the appropriate number of people in your party to reserve one, or both, spots. If not, you'll still have a great time eating on the patio downstairs or having a drink at the tiki bar.

For lunch we recommend ordering off the Lunch Menu (although you can also order from the Sushi or Raw Bar menu). When you order from the Lunch Menu, you'll get a complete meal for $18.95. The Crabcake Sandwich is good (we prefer it without the bread, which is a bit larger than the cake) and the Apple Crumb dessert with ice cream is a nice way to end the meal. 

Don't worry about being rushed. The staff gives you plenty of time to sit, eat a leisurely meal and enjoy the view. While the food isn't bad, it's the view you'll enjoy most. 

Speaking of views, the area is filled with interesting little beaches and sites. When you've relaxed enough at the Mill Pond, we suggest you explore by taking a ride to one of the local beaches in Asharoken. Take Asharoken Avenue until it turns into Eaton's Neck Road, then follow the signs near the end of the road for the beach. This is one of our favorite beaches because it is somewhat secluded and there is ample parking. For non-residents, the parking fee is $15.00. 

When you're ready to leave the beach, exit to your right, make another quick right into the cul-de-sac. Look for the interesting sculptures on the beach. 

When you've completed your tour (because unfortunately all good vacations must come to an end), follow the cul-de-sac out to Eaton's Neck Road and back to Asharoken Avenue. You will eventually find your way back to 25A where you can head east or west to get back home. 

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

437 East Main Street

Centerport, NY 11721

631-261-7663

millpondrestaurant.com

Enjoy Your Independence!

Valencia Tavern

The only thing that might remind you of Spain at Valencia Tavern (and it's a stretch) is the large sculpture of a bull chained to the ground out front. Other than that, the outside of this bar is pretty unremarkable, and that's probably the way the patrons and owner would like to keep it. If you're looking for a trendy place to show you your face, go somewhere else. Valencia Tavern is the real deal. That's why we like it.  

You can only grasp the full charm of this truly local meeting place by going inside (don't be afraid). Black and white pictures of an old Huntington hang on the walls. Above the bar there are signs that say things like "shoes and shirts required, bras and panties optional" and "time flies when you're having rum."

To keep you busy while you drink, there's a pool and shuffle puck table (and you better know how to play). In a little room with a fireplace, there's also a dart board with numerous trophies (there are obviously some champion players at Valencia - who knew?), and a Galaga and Ms. PacMan video game (how 1980's).

The staff is funny and friendly and the customers range from bikers to middle-aged local residents to young patrons. With all the wanna-be trendy spots turning up in the area, it's nice to know that a place like Valencia Tavern exists. If you like hanging out with the locals and good friends, good drinks and a good time are your main priorities, then this is the place for you. 

Cheers.

TAVERN LOCATION:

236 Wall Street

Huntington, NY 11743

631-351-9694

Cold Spring Harbor

There's definitely too much to say about Cold Spring Harbor in a single blog post, but we'll do our best to give you an overview. Having mainly been a port town (well, hamlet really) in the mid-nineteenth century, Cold Spring Harbor became a tourist location after the whaling economy began to dwindle around 1860. Located on Long Island's North Shore, Cold Spring Harbor was originally named for the natural spring that still flows there. And, if you like to hit the bottle (the water bottle that is), you can fill your empties with the stuff. We can't promise any fountain of youth or anything (honestly we really don't even know for sure if the water is clean), but c'mon, a natural spring right here on Long Island, that's cool, don't you think? 

We've also heard that, at one time, Cold Spring Harbor had several hotels. Today it seems the Swan View Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn is the only one. The size and style of each room varies - we've had a tour. If you will be staying here, you should visit first. Since the hotel is convenient to Northport, Huntington and Laurel Hollow, it could be a good place to book for guests attending a local wedding in these nearby towns. 

More recently, Cold Spring Harbor has become known because of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - the place where THE noble laureate JAMES WATSON was director! If you're unfamiliar with Cold Spring Harbor Labs, we suggest you check out their website and visit them for a tour. The details may be found at their site.

Cold Spring Harbor is also home to the Dolan DNA Learning Center, the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium so there are some big lessons to be learned in this tiny little town! But, if you're too cool for school, you may choose to hike, dine or shop instead.

You can take a hike in Cold Spring Harbor State Park. The entrance, with its steep, hilly steps, is reminiscent of the Dipsea Trail in Mill Valley, California. Home to great horned owls, red-tailed hawks and other interesting birds, this park is a nice place for birders. The park is also the start of the northern trailhead of the Nassau/Suffolk Greenbelt Trail, which extends for 19.2 miles to end on the South Shore of Long Island. That's right, you can walk from the North to South Shore (you would definitely need more than a day for this)! 

If you'd rather chill instead of trek, spend a few hours on Main Street where you'll find interesting shops and restaurants. 

Gourmet Goddess (which also happens to be one of our favorite places in Cold Spring Harbor) is worth visiting for the decoration alone. The store sells very unique adult and kid's clothing as well as specialty sweets. 

In terms of restaurants, Trattoria Grasso has a small, but nice bar and live jazz in the evenings. The oysters, drinks and desserts are good (we like them better than the meals). 105 Harbor is a little pricy, but the view of the harbor makes a seafood meal worth it if you're sitting in front of the window. 

And, for those of you who live in the area (or just really love libraries), Cold Spring Harbor Library is the nicest one on Long Island (we're not fooling around).  Sporting a huge reading room, a lovely fireplace and rows of windows, this library makes you feel like you're in the reading room of a Long Island Gold Coast mansion (nothing wrong with pretending). Curl up with a book and stop every so often to take in the beautiful views of the water.

House of Dosas

House of Dosas is basically heaven for any hungry vegetarian craving authentic South Indian cuisine, but the omnivores seem to like the delicious Dosas (thin rice crepes) and Uthappam (pancake made from rice and lentil flour) just as well, if not better (trust us - we've seen the eating in action). Located in Hicksville, Long Island, House of Dosas should not be missed by anyone who enjoys good Indian food. 

The main reason to have a meal at House of Dosas is because it's delicious, but once you try the place, the wide selection of Dosa and Uthappam on the menu, the friendly staff and the reasonable prices (ranging from $3.50 for an appetizer to $9.95 for a meal) will have you going back for more...and more...and more.

Some of our favorites include (but are definitely not limited to) the Vada (fried lentil doughnuts), the Masala Dosa stuffed with onion and potato and the Plain Uthappam (why mess with a good thing, sometimes it's nice to keep it simple). These are served with Sambar and Coconut Chutney, which add a nice kick.  

We also like the Mixed Vegetable Uthappam with onion, chili, coriander and peas. And, for those of you who like it hot (and yeah, that would be very), get the Gunpowder Masala Dosa, which is spread with spicy chutney.

What more can we say? Dosas are damn good! 

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

416 Broadway

Hicksville, NY 11801

516-938-7517

CSA = Community Supported Awesomeness

Community Supported Awesomeness is what we like to call Golden Earthworm Farm's Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA). With twelve years of farming and seven seasons of CSA, this certified organic Long Island farm is expanding to get as many fresh produce to the locals as possible, and we couldn't be happier about that! Through Golden Earthworm's CSA program, we receive a box of luscious vegetables every week for 26 weeks and, with every batch, it just gets better and better! 

Protected by a North Fork land preservation program, Golden Earthworm Farm rests on two pieces of beautiful land in Jamesport that you can feel good about. The eighty acres currently in production are farmed organically so the goodness spreads from the farm, to the food and through the community.

To say we've been satisfied with the program (which is now in it's third week of the summer share season) is an understatement. So far from Earthworm we've tasted delicious Red Radishes, Baby and Bunched Arugula, Boston Lettuce, Spinach, Rhubarb, Swiss Chard, Toscano Kale, Romaine Lettuce, Green Crisp Lettuce, Cilantro, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Sugar Snap Peas, Garlic Scapes and Strawberries. If vegetables could talk, the ones from Golden Earthworm would jump out of the box telling tales of the good life on Long Island's North Fork - they have that spa glow that can only come from spending the perfect amount of time soaking up the sun and getting pampered and hydrated! Of course they taste as good as they look - Mmmmmm!

While the 2008 CSA program is full for this season (sorry folks), you should prepare to partake next year by tasting Golden Earthworm's grand greens from their farmstand in Jamesport or at the Saturday farmer's market in Huntington, Islip or Port Washington. 

For those of you coming out to the East End for the summer, the ride home from Jamesport provides the perfect opportunity to grab some vegetables to bring back with you to the city.  

For others who live in Queens, learn more about the farmer's markets and CSA programs in your area.

Golden Earthworm, thanks for making every week, well, golden! Now if we can only get Briermere Farms to throw a pie into every share, life would almost be perfect.

FARM LOCATION:

652 Peconic Bay Boulevard

Jamesport, NY 11947

631-722-3302

goldenearthworm.com