9 replies to this topic

[Rail Paul]

Food & Wine magazine has a short article by Gina Hamadey about beverage and food related places in the Berkshires. The list crosses state borders, but the places (Hillsdale, Great Barington,etc) are relatively close together.

Hillrock Estate Distillery in Ancram has a Maker's Mark former distiller creating a local whiskey described as a Bourbon. Tours by appointment, whiskey should be available this summer.

Bell & Anchor in Great Barrington is the result of two Marlow / Diner veterans using local farm produce.

Nearby Briarcliff Motel is described as high style, low price (doubles from $200).

Hillsdale General Store (newly opened) offers vintage enameled pots, linens and local crafts. Next door is Crossroads Food Shops which offers seasonal foods and take out.

F&W Berkshires

[Lippy]

The article was written too soon to catch Brava, a new sorta tapas/wine bar on Housatonic Street in Lenox. We ate there twice last week, the first time because Nudel was closed on Monday and the second time because we liked it so much the first time. There is an extensive by-the-glass wine list and a selection of cheese, charcuterie and small plates. Everything we had was good, and I especially liked the tomatoes stuffed with eggplant, ricotta and parmesan. The grilled corn with feta and mint is another winner.

We hear great praise for Nudel, but the place is tiny and difficult to get into, unless you arrive really, really early. We have yet to succeed in snagging a table.

[Rail Paul]

Brava sounds like a nice addition to the neighborhood. 27 Housatonic Street, 413-637-9171

The Berkshire Eagle liked it as well.

The beer list sounds like the owners went to a good amount of effort to select an engaging selection with an Allagash, a Belgian, etc

Brava

[bloviatrix]

As I stood in front of Brava examining the menu a woman walked over to me and started to complain that it replaced a a fabulous Japanese place that had the most gorgeous red lacquer walls. I have to be honest - I had no idea what she was talking about.

The one night we ate in Lenox we ate at the bar at Bistro Zinc. Corn fritters were ok but the sauce was too sweet. Good gazpacho. I second Lippy on the crowds at Nudel.

[bloviatrix]

Food & Wine magazine has a short article by Gina Hamadey about beverage and food related places in the Berkshires. The list crosses state borders, but the places (Hillsdale, Great Barington,etc) are relatively close together.

Hillrock Estate Distillery in Ancram has a Maker's Mark former distiller creating a local whiskey described as a Bourbon. Tours by appointment, whiskey should be available this summer.

Bell & Anchor in Great Barrington is the result of two Marlow / Diner veterans using local farm produce.

Nearby Briarcliff Motel is described as high style, low price (doubles from $200).

Hillsdale General Store (newly opened) offers vintage enameled pots, linens and local crafts. Next door is Crossroads Food Shops which offers seasonal foods and take out.

F&W Berkshires

Hillrock is not yet open for tours, even by appointment. This issue arrived the day before we left for the Berkshires and I checked the website.

[Rail Paul]

As I stood in front of Brava examining the menu a woman walked over to me and started to complain that it replaced a a fabulous Japanese place that had the most gorgeous red lacquer walls. I have to be honest - I had no idea what she was talking about.

Per the Berkshire Eagle, the sushi place moved out, which angered the fans. Brava moved into the space.

The one night we ate in Lenox we ate at the bar at Bistro Zinc. Corn fritters were ok but the sauce was too sweet. Good gazpacho. I second Lippy on the crowds at Nudel.

Bistro Zinc 56 Church St Lenox

(413) 637-8800

[Suzanne F]

Dare I say that the café at Mass MoCA (North Adams, not what I'd consider Berkshires, but not far) is a fine example of a museum eating place? Or of a casual place to eat anywhere? Excellent sandwiches and salads, fair prices, very good local ice cream.

[bloviatrix]

Dare I say that the café at Mass MoCA (North Adams, not what I'd consider Berkshires, but not far) is a fine example of a museum eating place? Or of a casual place to eat anywhere? Excellent sandwiches and salads, fair prices, very good local ice cream.

Did you see the Sol LeWitt show? We loved the work called Splat. There were also a several pieces in the Canadian art show that were great.

[Suzanne F]

No, we skipped the LeWitt this year; saw it last year, and after all, he's not making any new works they could add.

But when we were outside (on our way to and from the swings), we saw this big ol' woodchuck that seemed very much at home, even with its own little cubby under a wall. One of the maintenance guys said there are several that hang out there.

In the Canadian show, I loved the one by Diane Landry called "Knight of Infinite Resignation" -- the one with the spinning water bottles. Fascinating to watch!

[bloviatrix]

In the Canadian show, I loved the one by Diane Landry called "Knight of Infinite Resignation" -- the one with the spinning water bottles. Fascinating to watch!

It took me a while to figure out what the noise was when I walked into that gallery.

The pieces that I really liked the beaded replicas of the viruses. There's something about the concept of reframing something deadly into a work of art.