“Wherever you are in the world, you are at home when tea is served.”
Earlene Grey
According to the The UK Tea & Infusions Association 84% of the UK population drinks tea every day. Tea is my favourite drink as well. These pictures were taken in London at I believe at the outdoor seating of an Arab restaurant.
I love how they repurposed these old teapots into flower vases. It combines the British love of tea with their love of flowers.
What do you think, are these teapots your cup of tea?
I do not make restaurant posts too often. I love off the beaten path or hole in the wall places as I usually find the tastiest food there. The place I stopped at last weekend is off the beaten track and has great food. I think Pop- Eez Smoke deserves a shout out.
My GPS took me on a different route from New Paltz to another destination than it has before. When I passed the signs for BBQ and brunch on a farm, I knew I had to turn back and see what it was about. Pop-Eez is located on 2098 Bruynswick Road in Wallkill, NY. Pop- Eez is open weekends 10-3 from May- November. They also do catering for events.
Their kitchen and walk up ordering window is in the red building, while the indoor seating is in the green building. The offer outdoor seating at picnic tables behind the green building.
As the first signs show, Pop-Eez is on the grounds of the Patchwork Quilt Farm and Inn at the Ridge Bed and Breakfast. The inn was built in 1796 and is furnished with pieces acquired from that time period and shortly thereafter.
I was told no seed oils or processed sugar are used when they cook. They use local maple syrup or honey. They use apple wood to smoke the meats. In addition many of the vegetables they get from the farm or source locally in season.
They advertise as Texas style smoked BBQ. I lived in Texas a few years and found when I returned I had difficulty locating restaurants that offered food authentic to what I tasted in Texas. Pop-Eez’s smoked chicken sandwich tasted authentic, which is a rare find in New York. It is on a farm, and as their sign says organically grown. The chef, Sal, I was told was in the first graduating class of the CIA, the Culinary Institute of America. Sal and Bev run the inn. Sal’s son, Justin, runs the farm and restaurant.
I ordered the smoked chicken sliders, which came with slaw and they threw in zucchini. I also ordered the vegetable dumpling that comes with scallions and mustard. All were divine. I appreciate restaurants that include good quality vegetables with the meal. As you can see I decided to eat at one of the outdoor picnic tables which come with umbrellas.
Other offerings on their menu include: smoked brisket sandwich, smoked brisket tacos, or shiitake tacos. They also have meals that include cornbread which include smoked brisket and smoked pork ribs, or meals with smoked sausage or hot dogs with brisket. Desserts include pie, pastries, and cornbread with berries.
On another trip I ordered the cornbread with berries for dessert. They use hand whipped cream made on the premises for this dessert.
The chef makes and sells his own hot sauce, which is on the lower end of spicy hot. The house sauce, I’m told, is what started it all. It is cayenne based, fermented hot sauce. No cooking is involved in making it and there are no additives. As you can see in the picture of the bottle, the seeds and skins of the pepper are in the bottle.
The grounds behind the restaurant are lovely with views of ponds and the Shawangunk Mountains. The Adirondack chairs shown above are on a pond with lotus flowers currently in bloom.
This is a resident rooster, Champion, who wanders the grounds. He is harmless and even posed for some pictures. They have more chickens penned up near the inn.
This is Chuck, the resident pit master, greeter, Maître d’, and crumber. This dog is very friendly, greeted me at my car, sat next to me while I ate (most likely on crumb duty) and posed for pictures. No worries, he is very well behaved.
This restaurant, farm, and inn support Heroic Food, an organization that helps veterans by training them in agricultural trades and farming in preparation for jobs in the food sector. The farm has employed people in this program.
If you are into Texas style smoked BBQ, want some farm fresh food included in your meal, a meal overseen by a CIA trained chef, or want to support a business that helps veterans stop by Pop-Eez BBQ. The views from the property are the added bonus.
For more information click on the link below to see Pop-Eez on Facebook.
The Horse & Guardsman, which opened in November of 2021, is a pub worth visiting, not just because of its location, but its decor and food. The pub honours the King’s Horse Guard who are stationed nearby.
This pub had a lineup waiting to get in. Because they had a full house, I did not take pictures inside of the decor or architecture. Unless there are not many people, I do not attempt inside pictures. The pub has lovely decor in honour of its namesake the Horse Guardsmen. There are paintings , photos, and other artifacts related to the King’s Horse Guards.
I like the way they displayed the flag. Most pubs have the flag in some form outside or inside. It is also on the pub sign below.
Some pubs may be more modern in terms of food choices, but many like this pub also will have some of the traditional British foods. This pub has some interesting savoury pies on the menu and also has gluten free items to choose from. They do roasts on Sunday. In my opinion their variety of menu choices should have almost everyone covered.
The Horse and Guardsman pub is on Whitehall. South of the pub on the same street is the Royal Horse Guards and the Household Calvary Museum. Going north from the pub is Trafalgar Square. Across the street and not far is the street Great Scotland Yard, named for the police service.
If you are visiting Trafalgar Square, the Royal Horse Guards, or the Household Calvary Museum it is worth stopping at the pub for a bite to eat and to see the decor. This pub highlights one of the iconic things about England, the Horse Guards.
I have seen a lot of different set ups for outdoor seating in NYC. I made a post about some of them 1-2 years ago. This one that I came across a few months ago is my favourite one.
They put this one inside an old bus. I guess this may be easier than constructing one out of wood that you would have to eventually remove. When the time comes, they can drive this one away to another location. Having this inside a bus negates having to put up barriers.
I believe this was on 8th Avenue north of 34th Street and south of Times Square. It could have been on a different avenue though.
I think this was a creative take on outdoor seating that made the dining experience more unique. What do you think?
What are the COVID rules for eating out in NYC? If you want to eat inside a restaurant you need to show proof of vaccination. Otherwise, you can order take out or it appears eat outside. A lot of restaurants in NYC have built outdoor structures to accommodate diners for distancing.
Many have plants to give diners more privacy and to make the space more eye appealing. Many have roofs and or windows.
If you are coming to NYC, be aware of the rules. You can only eat inside if you are fully vaccinated. Come out and support these local restaurants. Many others did not survive the lockdowns.
This trip was killing two birds with one stone. I needed to go to this location to get a part for a roof rack. It has been hard to get every part I needed since the start of COVID. I have been hearing there is a worldwide metal shortage and of course many companies do not have all their workers back so production is slow. I went to Mountainman’s Saratoga kayaking location to get the last part and have it installed. I wanted to find a place in the area to kayak after I made that long trek and low and behold there was a kayak launch on the same grounds as Mountainman.
This kayak launch is owned by Kayak Shak. My understanding is they own the property the other neighbouring businesses on the water are on. The address is 251 County Route 67 (or Stafford Bridge Road) Saratoga Springs, NY. You can get there without going the town of Saratoga. The way my GPS sent me was through a rural area. The cost for someone with their own kayak was $10. If you are renting a single kayak or paddle board (SUP) the coast is $25 dollars for three hours. They have another deal for renting for a longer period of time. They do not allow dogs, so leave them at home. This business advertises they have paddle board (SUP) yoga on Saturday mornings.
It is two miles I was told to Saratoga Lake from this boat launch. I believe they said you could paddle up the creek in the opposite direction 5 miles. I decided to go to Saratoga Lake.
I did not take many pictures on my trip out to the lake. The sky got dark and my goal was to get to the next bridge, close to the lake before the storm came through. I made it under the bridge justo in time and hung out there until it was over with some fishermen.
There are some marinas in different spots. One marina has a campground with RVs/campers viewable from the water.
Since a lot of the land on one side is marshy and not developed you can observe gulls, geese and Great Blue Herons along the way. As always do not get too close. I have a long lens and crop the photos quite a bit.
After my trip it was dinner time. I decided to look at the menu of the pizza place on the same grounds as the boat launch, Harvest and Hearth Wood Fired Artisian Pizza, and they indeed had gluten free options. Any pizza on their menu can be ordered with a gluten-free (cauliflower) crust. I ordered the Epiphany. This pizza had kalamata olives, fire roasted peppers, red onions, organic rosemary, mozzarella and goat cheese. If you are lactose intolerant you may need to ask if it can be made with just the goat cheese. It was very delicious! Their hours are Tuesday- Saturday 4:30-9. To learn more about this pizza place go to the link for it down at the bottom.
During the week in the afternoon there were not many boats or jets skis out until you got close to the lake. Most of my trip I saw fellow kayakers and those on paddleboards.
I like this location for several reasons. Firstly, what is available on the grounds is convenient. You have a shop that sells paddling supplies, a pizza place, the boat launch, restrooms, and a park. If you have friends who want to go but don’t have their own kayak, they can rent. Also you can go two directions. So it makes for two different trip choices. In addition, the chance to view wildlife is always a plus to me. During the week it is fairly quiet with few motorboats. The short of it is I would return to this location.
Get out and experience nature. Get some exercise along the way. It will help you maintain your health.
Mountainman Outdoor Supply is the largest dealer in paddlesports in New York State from what I understand. https://www.mountainmanoutdoors.com/store-locations.html
To learn more about the wood fired pizza: https://www.harvestandhearth.com
To reserve a kayak or SUP at Kayak Shak: https://www.kayakshak.com/?utm_source=Saratoga.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=microsite&utm_campaign=Saratoga.com
Are you heading to Hits on the Hudson, the Garlic Festival, the Saugerties Lighthouse, or just want to pull off the New York State Thruway to walk around and grab some good food? Saugerties is at Exit 20 of the New York State Thruway and besides these attractions it has many antique shops and many fine little restaurants. One I am particularly fond of is Bina’s Cafe.
Bina’s Cafe is at 78 Partition Street in the village of Saugerties. This is in the heart of the business area with many nice little shops and eateries. Bina’s serves some American style dishes as well as a few Indian/Pakistani choices. If you are adventurous but your travel mate is not, you could satisfy both people at this restaurant.
I have been to this spot a few times. Once I tried Indian Style scrambled eggs from the breakfast menu. . They make it with scallions, onions, ginger, red bell peppers and traditional spices. As with anything on the menu, if a certain ingredient does to fancy you, they can leave it out of the dish when they prepare it for you. It was a delicious take on scrambled eggs. Other breakfast choices on their menu include American style breakfast sandwiches, omelets, French toast, Indian Style Tofu, and breakfast burritos. They have a variety of bread choices including gluten free.
On another trip I ordered the Mango Lassi. This is a smoothie that the owner makes with homemade yogurt and mango. It was Devine.
My favourite item to order is the vegan sandwich, It includes grilled zucchini, squash, red bell peppers, and pesto on ciabatta bread. It is a very health choice. You can get your sandwiches with fries or a salad. Other choices on the lunch menu include burger, wings buffalo chicken wrap, salad, falafel, gyro, chicken tikka sandwich, and for kids chicken tenders and grilled cheese.
If you are planning to see the Butterfly Street Art or explore the other things that draw people to Saugerties stop by Bina’s Cafe. You won’t be disappointed.
What hotel near Boston has a lot of Christmas spirit? Are you looking to plan a trip to the Boston area or North Shore in December? I highly recommend the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
The Beauport has a nice location. Its on the beach in Gloucester. Its a short drive to Rockport, an artsy town on the sea. Marvelous sunrises and sunsets are to be had in their rooms facing the water. It is really a great location all year long.
The Beauport had numerous holiday displays. They had multiple Christmas trees up stairs and down. The seating around the two fireplaces, one in the bar area and one outside the restaurant is grand. The mantles are decorated beautifully for the season.
The Beauport is about the only gig in town on Christmas Day for food. I was told the only other option was Chinese. They had the choice between a four course meal or something off their menu. They were booked at the restaurant in advance, but no worries. I was able to order food at the bar which included the four course dinner if that is what you fancied.
The service at this hotel is top notch. They have doormen that will assist you. They have a van service. The drivers will take you to where you want to go locally for free. I used them twice since I messed up my foot prior to my trip and wanted to walk as little a possible. It also helped me get to know the area from a local before I tried to drive around and explore. You woke up Christmas morning to a large candy cane hanging on your door and they came around at night offering chocolates. They had a nice store within the hotel that was open even on Christmas selling snacks, lovely gift items, clothing, etc.
This trip was last minute so to speak. I am trying to finish some photo projects for a class. I may have booked the room a day or two in advance. What I paid was much less than their regular rates in the warmer months.
If you want a quiet vacation with lovely decor, great service, delicious food, and marvelous views, stay at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, Massachusetts. I highly recommend it.
Have you ever wondered where great writers have set up their office? Have you ever wondered where they get the inspiration to write? If you are a Harry Potter fan, one location the author J.K. Rowling worked on writing the series was The Elephant House in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Rowling took a lot of her inspiration for the books from different locations in Edinburgh. So if you plan to visit some of these locations, add the Elephant House to your itinerary.
There are new articles about Rowling posted in the restaurant as well as photos of her working on the story lines for the series.
As the name suggests, this restaurant has an elephant theme. There are elephants around the restaurant. There are elephant figurines, posters, and even an elephant chair in the restaurant. They also encourage you to donate to a charity that benefits elephants.
I went with a friend who is a big Harry Potter fan. We ate lunch, although they are known for their coffee and pastries/ desserts we were told.
If you would like to see a location J.K. Rowling penned the Harry Potter series visit The Elephant house in Edinburgh, Scotland. See where a great writer worked and have a cup of coffee or more.
Did you know Manhattan has a Korea Town? Do you know where it is? Which restaurant has decor that makes you feel you are in Korea? Jongro BBQ can transport you to Asia.
Korea Town, also known as K-Town, is south of the Empire State Building. It is on 32nd Street roughly between Broadway and 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The neighborhood has several restaurants. The first few I walked into that were on street level were packed on a Sunday afternoon. I decided to try Jongro- which was on the second floor of a building at 22 West 32nd Street. I was pleasantly surprised.
The decor of the restaurant brings you to Korea. I lived in Korea for two years and it reminded me of a restaurant in the country we stopped in on the way back from hiking a mountain. Jongro BBQ has antique items from Korea on the walls and on poles. They have old signage, a post box, and a vintage delivery bike to name a few. They also constructed areas of the restaurant to look like architecture you would find in Korea.
This is a BBQ, so you will find cooker areas on the tables. I am supposed to avoid beef and pork. A lot of items on the menu include those things. However, they did have my old standby, BeBimBop. This dish can be served hot or cold. I like it both ways. They only serve it cold at Jongro. It was excellent. I asked for it with egg on top instead of beef and they obliged. The rest of the dish is vegetables and rice. They had a couple of other items on the menu if you did not want a meat dish.
If you are visiting Manhattan and want to eat Korean food or something healthy, head to Jongro BBQ. Enjoy the decor while you are there. It is one of the gems of Korea Town.
You can visit there website at: http://www.jongrobbqny.com
Sharon's Iconic Travel Photography Blog 