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I have to say that I had a fabulous time in the mountains this past weekend.  The weather could not have been better (well, Saturday at least) and I got to indulge at one of my all-time favorite breakfast spots in Woodstock – Oriole 9.  Sunday morning breakfast has become a tradition for us at Oriole 9 which offers a quirky but delicious respite that is reminiscent of a small European café that could be in any number of European cities.  There is rotating art covering the walls and funky music playing at just the right level to allow for private conversations without having to listen to your neighbors – or vice-versa.  The coffee is the real deal, ground fresh and brewed strong and served with water backs – just like I like it and perfect to get you moving on a lazy summer day.

The menu does not disappoint and each time I go there are several wonderful specials along with the tried and true breakfast/lunch menus.  Oriole 9 does not serve dinner with the exception of special evenings every now and then where they offer guests the opportunity to indulge in a typically themed evening of dining.

The laid-back atmosphere and welcoming service make this spot a true stand-out.  Yesterday’s breakfast did not disappoint.  I always order the same thing without fail – their house made corned beef hash.  Toss aside and preconceived notions you have of tinned hash coming out of a can (don’t get me wrong – that variety can be a comfort food stand-by and I like it as well) as Oriole 9’s is made from scratch and has to be quite possible the most delicious I have ever had.  I actually crave it days before I know we will be heading up.  The hash itself has just the right amount of potatoes and is actually more meat than spuds.  The beef itself is house prepared and has the most wonderfully distinct flavor that must stem from the brining they use.  It is not salty in the least and is topped with two eggs cooked to order – but is there really any other way to top it than with over easy or poached?  I love piercing the soft yolks and having their richness meld with the beef and potatoes.  Oh, and Oriole 9 serves this dish in a perfectly deep bowl that is perfectly conducive to mixing.  Their presentation (of all dishes) is often just as quirky as the place itself but it all works – it is neither pretentious nor done just for the sake of being done – the presentations are practical and most important fun.

Two of us had the has while the other two had one of their specials – a fabulous looking whole artichoke stuffed with truffle oil infused scrambled eggs, fresh, thick cut toast, and a small salad.  The word must have quickly spread as to how good this actually were because more and more artichokes kept coming from the kitchen as the restaurant began to fill.  The two artichokes on our table had fresh bacon (cut by the restaurant) added as the perfect side to an already decadent dish.

If you are in Woodstock do not miss the opportunity to stop at Oriole 9 and if you like corned beef hash or even if you don’t think you like corned beef hash – give it a go – you will not be disappointed.  And thank you Oriole 9 for making the most important meal of the day feel important once again.
 
 
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I recently had the opportunity to sample something I had no idea even existed – custom made gluten-free cereal mix from my friends at Custom Choice Cereal.  The company manufactures in a dedicated gluten-free facility so cross-contamination is not an issue…nice.

Getting a custom made cereal could not be easier.  I simply went on their Web site, selected my base from a choice of three (Corn flakes, cinnamon granola, or their Good Morning mix of flax, buckwheat, quinoa, and amaranth).  Next you select your mix-ins from a wide range of dried fruit and nuts.  Fruits first then add move on to the nuts selection.  Finally you give you custom mix a fabulous name and in just a few days you will be enjoying your mix as it is delivered direct to your door.  The process was so simple and quite frankly fool-proof; you are limited only by your personal taste and imagination.

So what did Gluten Free Mike create?  Well, I decided to make two mixes GFM’s Mix 1 and 2).  The first had a base of corn flakes to which I added raisins, pineapple, pumpkin seed, and hazelnuts.  It was delicious.  Perhaps what I like most about these cereals is that there is really no added sugar (other than the fruit you add).  It took me back to my teenage days when I lived in Europe and food tasted real.  My corn flake mix was crisp and crunchy and when paired with the chewy sweet dried fruits and meatiness of the nuts I was in breakfast heaven.  The next mix had a base of cinnamon granola, that’s right gluten-free granola.  To it I added apples, cherries, pears, and pistachios.  Now this was probably my favorite of the tow because the granola really reminded me of the muesli I thought I would never have again.   Again, no added sugar so you can really enjoy the hint of cinnamon and the full flavor or all of your mix-ins.

As you create your cereal the nutritional information will update with each item you add so you can get a handle on exactly what you will be consuming – this is a really cool feature and the final label is attached to your package.  If you are looking for a sugary sweet breakfast food…look elsewhere.  If you want a real, natural tasting, healthy option than log-on and create your very own mix.  Are the mixes cheap, well, that really depends on your mix-ins and yes when compared to off the shelve varieties you are probably paying more.  But as the old adage goes You get what you pay for and in this case you get quality.  My mixes were both 12 oz. bags, which when put into perspective are only an ounce and half less than a normal size box of Chex.

I loved my mixes so much I  even had my mixes for dessert after dinner and will be placing another order very soon because my bags are approaching empty.   
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