The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Lange’s Little Store & Deli: A Local Favorite

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Story and Photo By Karen Talbot

langes third

This special deli has earned its recognition as a popular dining “institution” in town. Lange’s is a 50-year success story; its casual atmosphere and very good food attracts diners from in and around Chappaqua. Be ready to talk about the latest issues confronting our town, too, if you’re an “issues oriented” citizen. Lange’s Deli is well known as a favorite hangout for hungry local political figures from current and former Town Board members…to President Bill Clinton.

The most popular offering for Breakfast is bacon, egg and cheese on a roll. For lunch, favorites include the Fresh turkey, Russian dressing and coleslaw on rye bread, or a chicken cutlet on a roll with bacon, mozzarella and roasted peppers. A standout dinner offering is Broasted Chicken, cooked in a pressure cooker, instead of being roasted–an interesting and tasty approach–which you can order in pieces with yummy sides: roasted or mashed potatoes, rice or vegetables. Even though Lange’s is closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas, they do lots of catering for the Holidays…Holiday cookies, fresh carved turkey, etc., a great option if you prefer not to cook a whole turkey with all of the trimmings.

382 King Street, Chappaqua
914-238-3553

Karen Talbot is a Westchester-based personal shopper and restaurant reviewer. The love of cooking runs in her family! Karen’s son Alex and his wife Aki Kamozawa started a food blog “Ideas in Food” in early 2000, and they have just opened “Curiosity Donuts” in the Stockton Market in Stockton, New Jersey.

Le Jardin Du Roi: A Neighborhood Treasure

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Story and Photo By Karen Talbot

jardin

Le Jardin du Roi got its name from its garden for outdoor dining and its King Street location in downtown Chappaqua. This bustling French American eatery is owned by Joe Quartararo, and has been in business for 15 years serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. The restaurant is a neighborhood place with good food, good service and reasonable prices. Joe and his staff want customers to feel like they are coming to his house for a special meal. For breakfast, the most popular item is the Ouef du Roi–poached egg on a goat cheese potato cake over ratatouille. For lunch, Le Croque-monsieur and Le Croque-madame–a traditional grilled French open-face ham and cheese sandwich, served with fries are very popular. The winter dinner menu offers Cassoulet, Veal Stew, and Coq au Vin and there are eight choices of sauces for Les Moules Frites.

The young French chef, Rudy Beltran-Prats, has been with the restaurant for seven years, and loves cooking good food that he would like to eat and share with others. His menu changes every six months and his plans for the Holidays include: Pan Seared Fois Gras and fresh oysters on the half shell. For dessert, Rudy, a former pastry chef, will offer a Buche de Noel and his most popular three chocolate brownie a la Mode with caramel sauce. The restaurant does a large catering business, right through the football season, with the BBQ smoker on the premises where ribs, chicken, brisket and pulled pork are available in larger quantities for delivery or takeout.

95 King Street, Chappaqua
914-238-1368
lejardinchappaqua.com

Karen Talbot is a Westchester-based personal shopper and restaurant reviewer. The love of cooking runs in her family! Karen’s son Alex and his wife Aki Kamozawa started a food blog “Ideas in Food” in early 2000, and they have just opened “Curiosity Donuts” in the Stockton Market in Stockton, New Jersey.

Pazzo Pizza & Trattoria: True Italian Cuisine

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Story and Photo By Karen Talbot

pazzo

Pazzo Pizza & Trattoria is a brand new handsome Tuscan restaurant with stucco stone walls and a tiled floor. It is located in the Armonk Town Center near I-684. Pete Monteleone, the owner, is proud to be the only restaurant in Westchester where you can find the Romana Pizza from Rome, done in true Italian fashion. Chef Andrea Inganito uses “Double O” Italian flour to create this thin crusted square shaped pizza pie. Three popular choices are the Margherita … made with house made fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce, parmigiano cheese and fresh basil…the Calabrese … made with hot soppressata, San Marzano tomatoes, carmelized onions and fontina cheese…and the Contadina … which consists of arugula, prosciutto, San Marzano tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, parmigiano cheese, cherry tomato and buffalo mozzarella. The Romana pizza has eight slices and ranges from $12.95 to $15.95. One slice costs $4.50. They also have traditional pizza in many combinations and a traditional Sicilian which has a thicker crust.

Another specialty of the restaurant are the Panuzzos, which are also made with the special “Double O” Italian flour. These are described as: “Not a sandwich, Not a Panini, but better”…crispy on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside. There are eight choices to choose from: the Puglia … eggplant, zucchini, red peppers, mushrooms, fontina, pesto acetobalsamic is one of the choices and they are all priced at $9.95.

Nick Croce, the Manager, states that Penne Vodka with béchamel tomato sauce and Pappardelle Bolognese with thick noodles, and traditional meat sauce are good pasta choices for dinner. The two dinner chicken offerings that are ordered most are Chicken Capricciosa … boneless with grilled arugula, tomatoes, shaved parmigiano in vinaigrette and Chicken Campagnola … on the bone with Vidalia onion, new potatoes, hot cherry peppers and garlic, rosemary and thyme. Wild Bronzino is an excellent fish entrée done with lemon, mint, extra virgin olive oil and “lentone.” Keep an eye out for special dinner entrees which may be added for the Holidays.

575 Main Street, Armonk
914-273-6999
pazzoarmonk.com

Karen Talbot is a Westchester-based personal shopper and restaurant reviewer. The love of cooking runs in her family! Karen’s son Alex and his wife Aki Kamozawa started a food blog “Ideas in Food” in early 2000, and they have just opened “Curiosity Donuts” in the Stockton Market in Stockton, New Jersey.

Bistro 146: Creative & Elegant

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Story and Photo By Karen Talbot

bistro 146

Marcelo Cheque’s goal when he started his cozy Bistro 146 three years ago, was to bring creative and elegantly prepared seafood dishes to the Pleasantville area at affordable prices, and he seems to have succeeded well on both fronts. Originally from Ecuador, Marcelo is a consummate chef who manages to find the best seafood and freshest produce from local sources. He creates interesting menus that vary with the seasons.

Two notable soups recently on the lunch menu were Butternut Squash Soup with Lobster and a New England Seafood Chowder, filled with halibut, mahi-mahi and scallops in a light cream base with potatoes and fresh herbs. Other excellent choices are the Roasted Beets and Almond Crusted Brie Salad with poached pears and baby spinach in a champagne hazelnut dressing, topped with a piece of grilled salmon cooked to your specifications (which is a nice touch that most restaurants don’t offer). Another creative dish is the Parmesan Crusted Jumbo Shrimp with cherry tomato confit, basil and roasted pepper aioli with buffalo mozzarella and porchini balsamic glaze.

For the Holidays, Marcelo is considering Veal Chop Bordelaise, Colossal Scallops with a pistachio buerre blanc sauce and Broiled Lobster Tails. Marcelo believes that his dishes consist of many balanced flavors, which is how he expresses himself in his cooking style. Bistro 146 also offers a prix fixe lunch with three courses for $19.50 and a prix fixe dinner with three courses for $33, with a free glass of wine. This menu changes every other week.

For non-seafood lovers, there is a unique Domestic Lamb Duo with slow braised meatballs and marinated grilled lamb chops, Pan Roasted Chicken Breast, and an Open Face Steak Sandwich with gorgonzola cheese.

146 Bedford Road, Pleasantville
914-495-3992
bistro146.com

Karen Talbot is a Westchester-based personal shopper and restaurant reviewer. The love of cooking runs in her family! Karen’s son Alex and his wife Aki Kamozawa started a food blog “Ideas in Food” in early 2000, and they have just opened “Curiosity Donuts” in the Stockton Market in Stockton, New Jersey.

Chappaqua Station: A New Farm to Town Café

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Story and Photo By Karen Talbot

chapp station

Taking advantage of great architecture and its historical setting, this is a brand new casual café owned by husband and wife, Peter and Erin Chase and Chef Alan Ashkinaze. Chappaqua Station honors regional farmers, trade fair cooperatives and a sustainable approach to agricultural and dining. The restaurant believes “food, art and education are powerful mediums that connect and unify a community.” Chappaqua Station wants to be the gathering place for people living locally to gather and dine. The menu changes every week as Peter and Erin visit the local Farmers Market and purchase fresh produce for the week’s offerings. It is open every day except Sunday, from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Some popular breakfast choices are homemade cranberry muffins, a farm fresh egg sandwich and omelettes made with fresh vegetables from the Farmers Market. The lunch and dinner menus are the same, featuring some favorites: flatbreads such as the fig marmalade, Maytag blue cheese, almonds and arugula or a salad with curry roasted cauliflower with raisins, pine nuts, capers and peppers. For a heartier entrée, try the Tuna Takaki {seared rare} with a sesame–ginger vinaigrette served with your choice of one of their ten healthy and creative salads. Customers can order food, then sit down at a table and be served. Chappaqua Station is all about using local fresh ingredients.

Some unique things about this eatery: every two months a local artist will be featured and his or her artwork will adorn the walls. Currently Francesco Mastalia’s intriguing black and white photographs are on display. local distilleries from the Hudson Valley as well as from Long Island and Brooklyn are used here. House-made syrups are used to make all of the sodas…such as a peppermint–spiced soda that will be available for the Holidays. And jazz artists from New York, will play most every Saturday night. A featured Holiday cocktail will be Rudolph, consisting of: cranberry infused white whiskey, ginger syrup, lemon juice, a dash of bitters and Blanc de Blanc. The Chappaqua Garden Club will also be decorating Chappaqua Station festively for the Holidays.

1 Station Plaza, Chappaqua
914-861-8001
chappaquastation.com

Karen Talbot is a Westchester-based personal shopper and restaurant reviewer. The love of cooking runs in her family! Karen’s son Alex and his wife Aki Kamozawa started a food blog “Ideas in Food” in early 2000, and they have just opened “Curiosity Donuts” in the Stockton Market in Stockton, New Jersey.