Photo by KoMaSeMo.
There’s nothing quite like brunch. It goes beyond breakfast, blending savory and sweet, coffee and cocktails, in a way that feels celebratory yet relaxed. It’s generous without being formal—perfect for welcoming the season.
Brunch is ideal for casual spring entertaining on your deck, porch, or patio. Let the budding trees and fresh air set the scene. Even better, most dishes can be prepared ahead—quiche baked, hash prepped, smoothie toppings chopped—so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests.
Here, straight out of the Rondout Valley—home of fabulous farm-fresh everything—are recipes from local master chefs guaranteed to delight. (And of course, to truly experience them, visit each establishment and taste the master’s version.)
TO ROUND OUT YOUR SPREAD beyond the quiche, hash, and smoothie bowl (recipes here), consider:
• Spring greens salad
• Smoked salmon platter
• Herbed frittata
• Biscuits or croissants
• Yogurt parfaits
• Fresh fruit salad
• Deviled eggs
• Baked French toast
• Pancakes or waffles
• Mimosas or bellinis
Set it out buffet-style, keep the coffee flowing, and let everyone linger. Spring brunch is about ease, abundance, and gathering in the open air.
Photo by Davey Gravy.
Photo by Alleko.
Chef Ty Baughman makes quiche every day at The Roost in Stone Ridge. “People might think a quiche can only be cheddar, broccoli, and bacon, but you can put whatever you like in it,” he says. “At the restaurant, we do something different every day and just put that day’s quiche on the board. Once you have the custard, you can flex it—fresh herbs, dried herbs, meat or no meat, any veggie you like.”
chef ty’s signature quiche from the roost
Serves 6
Prep: 30 min- Cook: 35-40 min
ingredients
• One 9-inch pie crust, blind baked (baked without filling)
• 1-1/2 cups eggs, beaten to liquid
• 1-1/2 cups heavy cream
• 2 tbsp grated Pecorino, Romano, or cheese of your choice
• 1/2 cup of your choice of flavorings (meat or veggies)
• Salt, black pepper, herbs, and spices to taste
directions
Combine ingredients, pour into prebaked pie crust and bake at 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes, until center is cooked. Up the road at High Falls Cafe on the Kingston/Marbletown border, Chef Brian Gribbon makes his Marigold Hash—a satisfying side that can also shine as a main topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise, says Buffy Gribbon.
Photo by MS Photographic.
chef brian of high falls cafe's marigold hash
- Serves 6-8
- Prep: 15 min
- Cook: 60-75 min
ingredients
• 2-3 diced beets, a mix of golden and red, or either
• 2 diced sweet potatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 2-3 gold or baking potatoes
• 3 strips bacon (can be omitted for veggie version)
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
directions
1. Peel and cube gold potatoes; boil 15 minutes until fork-tender, then drain. Roast sweet potatoes and beets at 300°F for 40–45 minutes until tender. Cook bacon until just under crisp; remove. Sauté onion in the same pan (or in olive oil if skiping bacon) until translucent.
2. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add bacon and onion; cook briefly. Stir in gold potatoes and cook over medium-high, breaking up slightly to crisp. Add roasted sweet potatoes and beets; reduce heat and sauté until heated through and browned to taste. Serve hot. And here’s a blast of health and sweetness from Adams Fairacre Farms,offering standout produce and more in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Wappingers Falls, Newburgh, and Middletown.
Photo by Dannko.
blue berry mango smoothie bowl
À la Adams Fairacre Farms
- Serves 1
- Prep: 5 min
- Cook: 3 min
ingredients
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup frozen mangoes
• 1/2 avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tbsp unsalted almond butter
• Dash cinnamon
• 2 tsp maple syrup
• (Optional toppings) blueberries, banana, cashews, coconut flakes, or chia seeds
directions
1.Place blueberries, mango, avocado, almond milk, almond butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon into a food processor and blend until smooth. It will be very thick.
2.Pour smoothie into a bowl and add your favorite toppings—blueberries, banana, cashews, coconut flakes, or chia seeds are all wonderful.
Brunch at Brio's Restaurant.
Chicken Pot Pie by Blue Mountain Bistro-to-Go.
Belgian Waffle by Brickmen Kitchen + Bar.
out to brunch
Some days, you just want to go have somebody fix you some fabulous brunch fare. Here’s our insider’s guide to the places that make brunch beautiful.
Some of these places serve specific, often sumptuous, brunch on weekend mornings. (Everybody knows 1 pm is still “morning” on a brunch sort of day.) Others just offer the kind of menu from which you can construct a tasty brunch. All of these choices open no later than 11 am.
As always with our super-creative restaurant folk, menus change frequently, and it’s worth a visit to the website to get the latest information. Bon appétit!
BLUE MOUNTAIN BISTRO-TO-GO in Kingston is a great spot to grab a brunch picnic. They serve up feel-good takeout that will satisfy and delight you every time. Try their famous daily-made Chicken Pot Pie, a comforting classic filled with tender chicken, vegetables, and rich, savory gravy wrapped in a perfectly flaky crust. bluemountainbistro.com
BRICKMEN KITCHEN + BAR in Kingston serves a Sunday brunch menu from 10-2. The restaurant pairs vintage charm with sweeping Catskills views, creating a cozy-yet-refined spot to linger over good food. Try the Belgian Waffle with fresh mixed berries and Chantilly cream, or the Lobster Benedict. brickmenkingston.com
Brunch at Cafe Mio.
Food by Cherries.
Brunch Buffet at The Cornell.
Fancy Fig, Green Apple and Brie by The Common Good.
BRIO'S PIZZERIA & RESTAURANT in Phoenicia is a casual, wonderful feature of the village’s Main Street that’s got a delicious menu of breakfast choices served till 3 pm and does all their baking in-house. Try the Philly Cheese Steak Skillet or some “Big Mike’s” Avocado Toast. briosny.com
CAFE MIO in Gardiner serves local fare with flair from an open kitchen where you can watch the magic being made. They do breakfast all day, so you can brunch when you wanna brunch. Try the Veggie Tofu Scramble or the Banana Bacon French Toast. miogardiner.com
CHERRIESin Stone Ridge offers handmade ice cream and gourmet candy in a curated general store alongside yummy wraps and sandwiches. Try Melinda’s Mediterranean Kale Salad for an energizing brunch option: fresh chopped romaine paired with shredded carrots, cucumbers, pickled red onion, tomato wedges, and feta cheese crumbles, served with a tzatziki vinaigrette dressing on the side. cherriesnewyork.com
THE COMMON GOOD Ellenville takes pride in offering a community space to share good books, art, and ideas over tasty refreshments. They’ve got wonderful coffee and cocktails, along with superb scones and paninis. Try the Fancy Fig, Green Apple, and Brie for a brunch you won’t forget. thecommongoodny.com
THE CORNELL RESTAURANT + BAR in Kingston, situated right on the Rondout, pays homage to the city’s history of steamboats and honest work. They serve a brunch buffet from 10-2 that features a waffle/pancake station, omelet station, and carving station, and you can add unlimited Mimosas for $20.00.cornellkingston.com
Bombolone and coffee at Kingston Social.
Arepas Benedict at Gigi's Trattoria.
Corned Beef Hash and Eggs Benedict from High Falls Cafe.
Brunch at Hutton Brickyard's Edgewood Restaurant
GIGI TRATTORIA located in Rhinebeck’s Montgomery Row, serves up a Mediterranean Sunday Brunch menu packed with sweet and savory goodies. Try the Arepas Benedict: Venezuelan corn cakes, poached eggs, crispy soppressata, avocado, and Hollandaise sauce—or some Snickerdoodle French Toast with cinnamon-vanilla whipped cream and local maple syrup. gigihudsonvalley.com
HIGH FALLS CAFE in Marbletown is a classic community pub accented with great vibes, and they cook up breakfast/brunch fare on Sundays from 9 till 1. Try the house-made corned beef hash and/or Eggs Benedict with house-made Hollandaise.highfallscafe.com
HUTTON BRICKYARDS/EDGEWOOD RESTAURANT Kingston is a riverside treat—a reimagined industrial site that’s now peacefully elegant. They’ve got a delicious brunch menu on weekend mornings, and you can add “bottomless bubbles”—champagne, Mimosas, or Bellinis—for $30. Try the Bruléed Brioche French Toast. huttonbrickyards.com
KINGSTON SOCIAL NY Kingston is fun, friendly, and full of charm—a vibrant spot where art, community, and good taste meet. Sip a perfectly pulled espresso or a velvety cappuccino and pair it with classic Italian sweets like a filled cornetto or a pillowy bombolone. kingstonsocialny.com
Cannoli at La Deliziosa.
Grits and Eggs by Mill & Main Restaurant.
Brunch at Main Course Marketplace.
Grilled Cheese at Olsen & Co.
LA DELIZIOSA in Poughkeepsie is an old-world-style Italian pastry shop serving a variety of decadent dessert treats handcrafted from the freshest local ingredients. Try their cannoli; it’s as good as any you’ll find in New York City or maybe even Sicily. And they open at 8:30 for early brunchers craving something sweet and sassy. ladeliziosany.com
MAIN COURSE CATERING + MARKETPLACE in New Paltz was one of the birthplaces of our foodie revolution and still stands out. They serve brunch on Sundays from 9 till 3. Hungry? Try the Farmer’s Harvest Breakfast featuring scrambled Feather Ridge Farm eggs, buttermilk biscuit, chicken apple sausage, nitrate-free bacon, Wright’s Farm preserves, home fries, and mixed green salad. maincoursecatering.com
MILL & MAIN RESTAURANT in Kerhonkson blends Italian and Caribbean influences with the freshest local ingredients in its New American menu. They serve splendid brunch fare from 10 to 3 on Saturday and Sunday. Start off with some warm cinnamon rolls or a Dubai chocolate croissant, then feast on grits and eggs or try a smoked salmon bagelwich with tomato, red onion, dill, capers and arugula. millmain.com
OLSEN & COMPANY Saugerties offers delicious breakfasty/brunchy choices served with some of the finest coffee you’ll find on Planet Earth. Try the cheese & toast, featuring Hawthorne Valley fresh cheese on sourdough with evoo; you can add lox and/or red onion if you like. olsenandcompany.com
Bananas Foster French Toast.
Brunch at The Roost.
Brunch at Savona's Trattoria.
Brunch at Sportsman's Alamo Cantina.
SAUNDERSKILL FARMS in Accord is a charming farmstand and café serving up fresh, local breakfast favorites in a relaxed country setting. Grab a classic egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwich, a bagel with cream cheese and lox, and a hot coffee before browsing the farm market. saunderskill.com
TETTA’S MARKET in Olivebridge is a longtime local favorite—part country store, part café, and always welcoming. Grab a fresh coffee and a classic egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwich, or pick up a muffin or pastry before heading out for the day. tettasmarket.com
THE PARISH in New Paltz serves a weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 am with New Orleans-inspired morning fare. Try their savory Egg Sandwich or their indulgent Bananas Foster French Toast—perfect for a relaxed weekend brunch with bold flavors and creative twists on classic breakfast dishes. theparishrestaurant.com
THE ROOSTin Stone Ridge has loads of fresh homemade goodies and serves breakfast till 3 every day, in case you’re brunching late-ish. Treat yourself to warm cinnamon apple bread and coffee while you await your Farmer’s Hash—sauteed potato, bacon, and crumbled sourdough toast topped with 2 sunny eggs, accompanied by breakfast greens. theroostinstoneridge.com
SAVONA’S TRATTORIA has locations in Kingston, Red Hook, Poughkeepsie, and Hudson, all four of them serving up a scrumptious Sunday brunch from 11 to 3—Harney & Sons handcrafted local teas, four coffee variations, a mimosa bar with ten different choices, and more. Try the Sicilian street breakfast sandwich: pan-fried soppressata, fried egg, baby spinach, and melted mozzarella on house-made semolina bread, with a side of Italian herb-roasted potatoes. savonas.com
SPORTSMAN’S ALAMO CANTINAin Phoenicia is a time-honored and locally loved watering hole; Babe Ruth used to stop here when he came up to do some fly fishing. Try the Country Skillet—eggs scrambled with potato, sausage, bacon, ham, onions, mushrooms, and cheddar, served with house-made toasted asiago bread. alamo-cantina.com
