Tag: #MangoLassi

Red Pepper Rises

A lot of restaurants struggled through the pandemic. Some suffered due to lack of people willing to work, lack of availability of supplies, or lack of customers. Some that were family run were able to plug on and thrive. Red Pepper Diner, a family run Sri Lankan restaurant, is one of the fortunate restaurants to make it through.

Location Change

Red Pepper Diner changed locations in February. They are now in a red brick building at 441 Fishkill Avenue (Route 52) in Beacon, NY, next to the Dollar Store.

Sri Lankan Spices

Some of the typical spices used in Sri Lankan food include the following: cumin, cinnamon, red chilli pepper, black pepper, cloves, cardamoms, turmeric, fennel seeds, curry leaves, pandan leaves, lemon grass, and coriander.

Sri Lankan Tea
Sri Lankan Tea (Ceylon) with Jaggery

This tea is Ceylon tea that is grown in Sri Lanka. It comes with milk, but if you want it without just ask. I prefer it with milk. It also includes kithul and is flavoured with ginger. Kithul jaggery is unrefined sugar made from the sap of the fishtail palm tree (or jaggery palm).

Mango Lassi
Mango Lassi

Mango Lassi is a drink whose two major ingredients are yogurt and mango. Think of a healthy smoothie.

Deviled Chicken

Most items are gluten free and dairy free. Be sure to ask to be sure.

Rice Noodles with Vegetables
Pol Roti with Coconut Sambol

Pol Roti is a vegan appetiser with coconut sambol.

Hoppers
Hoppers- I was able to try one of these during the Friday night buffet.

Hoppers are bowl-shaped pancakes cooked in a wok. They are made with rice flour, coconut milk and egg can be added in the middle. It is very thin and crunchy.

Sri Lankan Fried Rice
Watalappan

Watalappan is a custard made of coconut milk, palm sugar, cashews, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, and nutmeg. It is very delicious!

Buffet
They have multiple items in a buffet on Friday nights. Offerings may vary from week to week.

During Covid they did not have a buffet. When they opened their new location in February, Red Pepper Diner started offering a buffet on Friday nights.

If you are traveling on I-84, visiting DIA in Beacon, or traveling through the Hudson Valley, stop by Red Pepper Diner’s new location. The food is flavourful and healthy.

For more information, check out their Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057134334582

Bina’s Cafe

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.

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