Living the Provençal life

“If you have a good experience in a restaurant, you tell two people. If you have a bad experience, you tell 10 people.” – Anthony Bourdain

Fine dining has been on my mind lately. I had the most exquisite experience at X20 in Yonkers a few weeks ago for my husband's birthday. And now, another old fave has come back: Equus at the Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown has reopened.

I've been to this restaurant countless times over the years, from salad in the sunny Garden Terrace, to a more formal experience by the fireplace in the Oak Room to cocktails by the pool as part of ticketed event, to more drinks in the cozy nook of The Generals Bar.

The restaurant was closed for a long time due to the pandemic and then only open to 12 guests for a gourmet tasting menu for the past year. Surprise surprise the bar was back open, too, but unless you were in the know — and privvy to its limited hours — you wouldn't know.

The full story on its new lease on life — new chef, new menu, new cocktails, new management company — are below. But here's a teaser: Dinner is meant for sharing and brunch has a Southern accent.

The Provençal life

Remember my trend story on the rise of Manhattan restaurateurs in Westchester? Or my story on how fine dining is alive and well in the suburbs? Well newly opened Cenadou, in North Salem, feeds into both. It's also part of an emerging French bistro trend happening in Westchester. It's the first of a trio of new spots opening this year. Micheline and Bistro de Ville are right behind it, coming soon to Scarsdale. Details in my earlier story on new Westchester restaurants.

Cenadou, which means dining room in Provençal, is owned by French-born husband-and-wife Andrea Calstier and Elena Oliver. The two previously owned Papilles in Manhattan's East Village but say they wanted to come north to be closer to nature — and to the farmers they're sourcing from. Diners can expect an open kitchen, an airy dining room and a menu focused on sharing.

Cheers to beers

In other news, the Pils & Love 2023 beer festival is back in the U.S. after a three-year hiatus. The June 9 event, at DeCicco & Sons in Somers, and in partnership with Birrifico Italiano, is perfect for fans of the iconic pilsner style.

Particpants can expect more than 25 breweries along with food from Smokehouse Tailgate Grill. Ticket info at deciccoandsons.com/pils-and-love/.

Speaking of beer, Simple Motive Brewing opens Saturday in Yonkers. I'll have full details next week but since you're reading this newsletter — and thank you for subscribing — I'm letting you in on the secret. The space is gorgeous — in a giant warehouse on Lake Avenue that's part of the Alexander Smith Carpet Mills complex — and the beer is delish (no food though!). More to come on this so, as usual, stay tuned to lohud.

Best Bites

(Things I ate - and loved -- this week)

• Lobster roll at KEE Oyster House, White Plains: Hopefully you read about this in my "Best Thing I Ate" story, below, but the combo of a packed-with-meat-lightly dressed lobster roll on a buttery brioche bun accompanied by crispy housemade Old Bay chips is a winning dish all around.
• Sole en Papillote at Encore Bistro in Larchmont. This French bistro has always been a delight for me — check out my old Journal News "Restaurants We Love" piece hanging in a frame by the ladies room! — and I always gravitate to the lemon sole baked in foil, lemon grass and lime sauce.

• Banana split at Village Creamery & Sweet Shop in Valhalla. It's ice cream season so why not go for broke?

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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.