Page 14 - Valley Table - Winter 2023/2024

Wm. Farmer & Sons
12 TheValleyTable | December2023-February2024
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Wunderbar Bistro
Culture Cream
Nine Cakes
● Good Morning
In a historic former bank, the lovely boulangerie Le Perche serves over a dozen French baked goods. For something heartier, order the duck confit hash with poached eggs and salsa verde. A few doors down is the boutique hotel The Maker—and you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy their Euro- style café. The espresso drinks are delicious, pastries are made from Ghent’s Bartlett House, and the breakfast sandwich (fried egg, cheddar, choice of sausage, bacon, or avo) hits the spot. Grazin’ elevates every breakfast staple in its retro diner setting.
● Lunch Break
Le Gamin Country serves up bistro sandwiches like croque monsieurs
or madames and le jambon beurre (ciabatta with ham, butter, and cornichons). There are also sweet and savory crêpes and classics like escargots and ratatouille. Share a wood-fired pizza—we like the Dirty Brutto or
dolce vita—at Baba Louie’s. Grab a local beer and play billiards or darts at Wunderbar Bistro and order excellent burgers, wings, and schnitzels.
● Snack Time Verdigris Tea & Chocolate Bar has a large tea selection and lots of bonbons. Before you leave with a creamy Mexican hot chocolate and a slice of cake,
don’t forget to check
out their extensive teaware selection. Another midday option is Supernatural Coffee + Bakery, where you can get great coffee, seasonal latte specials, and fresh cookies and pastries.
● Happy Hour
Hold a novel in one hand and a brew in the other at The Spotty Dog Books & Ale. Over 10 beverages are on tap and the large selection of newly released novels can keep you busy for hours. Vino lovers can kick back in the swanky Bar Bene, which has an extensive wine list. For fun cocktails and Thursday night trivia, hit up Lawrence Park Hudson. (If the Thai-inspired Tom Yum daiquiri is on the menu, order it.) If you want to hit up a brewery, there are three— Return Brewing, Union Street, and Upper Depot—within walking distance of Warren.
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) COURTESY OF WUNDERBAR BISTRO; BY MENDY WAITS; COURTESY OF CULTURE CREAM; BY MATT DUTILE
● Dinner is Served
Opened last December, El Sabor de Oaxaca is serving up authentic Mexican. Top picks include the torta Cubana—aka Oaxacan-
style Cubano sandwich—huaraches (similar to an open-faced flatbread) with cactus salad, and stuffed
peppers. Mostly everything comes with delicious house made Oaxacan queso. For an intimate meal, check out Swoon Kitchenbar—there are bread boards, cheese plates, and other apps to share. Entrées include pan-roasted cod and house made pappardelle with Kinderhook Farm beef Bolognese. Southeast Asian noodle dishes shine at BackBar—the dan dan noodles with Sichuan pork are a must—but
wild mushroom bao buns are great too. Tuscan spot Feast & Floret (3rd Street) and upscale American Wm. Farmer & Sons (Front Street), are other great eateries right around the corner.
● Sweet Endings
Have room for a bit more? Inside super cute bakery Nine Cakes are fresh French macarons, cupcakes, and decorative slices of cake and tarts.
If you love ice cream in any season, stop by Culture Cream for gut- healthy scoops of vanilla cardamom kefir ice cream or blackberry thyme kombucha sorbet.