winter 2024 | Warming Comfort Foods

November 03, 2024

A good winter meal warms you from the inside out. After a chilly day that feels endless because dark comes so early you feel like you’re working in the dead of night, why not let someone else do the cooking? Our local restaurants have just the thing; their seasonally inspired menus accent the best of what’s available fresh at this time of year and what will keep you healthy while supplying the right kind of calories.

Photo by Mia Stern

It’s great to cook with seasonal ingredients at home, too; many winter foods do well in the slow cooker. But there’s a lot to be said for dining out. Our local indie restaurants are bursting with creative culinary talent, and sampling their dishes will infuse your own efforts with fresh ideas. And the experience of sitting down for a warm and nourishing blast of expert hospitality, letting someone wait on you, can be as nourishing to the psyche as these winter foods are to your immune system. Warm hospitality is known to be both preventative and curative for those at risk of either cabin fever or winter blues So scan wintertime menus for warming winter goodies like these that will stick to your ribs and leave you purring with contentment:

Photo by Max Griss

Root vegetables are packed with nutrients and fiber. They’re rich in antioxidants and support heart health and healthy gut bacteria; our bodies have been thriving on root veggies since the dawn of agriculture. So look for dishes that make good use of beets, carrots, potatoes, yams, turnips, celery root, Dutch parsley, and horseradish. They often star in soups and stews.

Speaking of soups and stews, there’s a reason we love them in winter. The slow cooking involved creates a glorious blend of flavors that is something entirely new and different; the rich broth or gravy feels like it’s seeping from your tummy into the very marrow of your bones, thawing your chills from the inside out. Soups and stews also offer chefs great opportunities to make the most of warming spices like pepper, turmeric, cumin, cloves, and ginger, the winter rock stars of Ayurvedic eating. (Ayurveda, in case you aren’t aware, simply means “the science of life.”) Ayurvedic eating seeks to balance the life forces.

Curried food is another wintertime standout that can drive away the chill and the hunger pangs at the same time. Often found in Indian and Thai recipes, a spicy curry can clear your sinuses, and even milder varieties are nourishing and delicious.

Photo by Daniela Relovborrce

Chili finds its way onto lots of local menus year round, but it’s never better than in wintertime, when the warming peppers and filling, nourishing beans will knock the cold right out of you. Lots of places offer vegan and vegetarian chili choices.

Photo by Maddi Bazzocco

Photo by Sean Bernstein

Hot drinks might be the fastest route to taking the chill off. Hot cocoa is a source of antioxidants and flavonoids, which are good for your heart and brain. Coffee and tea, with or without caffeine, help us survive and stay centered: green tea is soothing to a sore throat; chai is refreshing and energizing; and oolong tea—rich in antioxidants—is great for bone health and can help you avoid putting on excess weight.

Alcoholic beverages during winter sports are obviously not a great idea—everything is slippery enough as it is. But the right alcoholic beverage after the winter sports are done can be restorative and lovely. Some places put a hot toddy choice or two on the winter drinks menu. But don’t overlook the winter classics like Irish coffee, hearty red wine, and citrus-infused and spiced drinks. Two fingers of brandy or cognac to top off a hearty meal? Yes, please!

Discover a world of flavors in the Hudson Valley! From classic American fare to exotic international cuisines, our region boasts a diverse culinary scene. Our restaurant advertisers offer a variety of dining experiences to suit every taste and budget. Whether you're craving a juicy steak, the freshest sushi, or the perfect pizza, you'll find it all right here. Explore our list of top restaurants by cuisine and find your next favorite dining spot.

FUSION

Brickmen Kitchen + Bar, Kingston
Chef Zach, Private Chef
Mill & Main Restaurant, Kerhonkson
Olsen & Company, Saugerties
Runa Bistro, New Paltz
Seconds Restaurant, Athens

ASIAN FUSION

Asia Restaurant, Stone Ridge
First Capital Poke Bar, Kingston
Yum Yum Noodle Bar, Kingston, Red Hook & Woodstock

CAJUN/CREOLE

The Parish, New Paltz

CAFES/BAKERIES

All That Java, Rhinebeck
Ball & Claw Coffee Shop, Port Ewen
Kingston Social Café, Kingston
La Deliziosa, Poughkeepsie
Meredith's Bread, Kingston
Monkey Joe Roasting Company, Kingston
Mother Earth's café, Kingston

PUBS/GASTROPUBS

Flying Goose Tavern, Kerhonkson
Garvan's Gastropub, New Paltz
Jar'd Wine Bar, New Paltz