The Scoop on Stock Up, The Sandwich Shop That Replaced The Copper Roof Deli

O, heavenly days... Those are words you just may sing to yourself once you walk into Stock Up, the new sandwich shop and eatery that replaced The Copper Roof Deli at 29 Teller Avenue. Music wafts from an old-timey radio outfitted with a modern USB port, playing rockabilly and other genres you'll enjoy while kicking back and eating a turkey sandwich with a side of the BBQ Carrot Salad, dotted with such goodies as purple pickled onion and sprouted quinoa.

The new front counter at Stock Up, formerly The Copper Roof Deli.

Brought to you by the owners of Marbled Meat Shop in Cold Spring, Stock Up is a casual eating experience with a very deeply healthy and meat-intense menu that has plenty of vegetarian, or green-eating options. Says Lisa Hall, co-owner with her husband Chris Pascarella: "When I go to a smokehouse, I don't find anything green." That issue is certainly rectified at Stock Up, particularly with the refrigerated case in the front filled with prepared side options, like the "Greek and Grain" tomato salad, "BBQ Carrot," "Dirty Potato Salad," and the "4 Bean Chow Chow."

The front case, with your choice of sides.

Let's zoom in on those side dishes...

Regulars familiar with the former Copper Roof Deli space will notice a change in the interior. It remains cozy and friendly, yet has a redesigned counter, seating, and plants hanging in sunny windows. For the moment, morning regulars will miss the egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, which is ever the quest for morning people who need a pop of protein, as Stock Up opens at 11am, but folks could enjoy a new dish of yogurt and house-made granola instead. With late-ish hours already, Stock Up is open until 8pm daily, which is perfect for quick dinner pickups (post-train, even!) or lounging with friends inside or outside on the back patio.

Patrons will not go hungry at Stock Up. As professional butchers and picklers, the owners make sure the choice of meat sandwiches is extensive, with creative sauces - which, as any connoisseur of a sandwich knows, can be key to a crave-worthy sandwich. Equally important and creative are Stock Up's meat options, including jowl bacon, smoked pork, rotisserie chicken, and more. And sometimes when available, you can get turkey wings prepared in a bourbon maple brine.

Executive Chef and Partner Adam Sternberg, who you may know from "36 Main" in New Paltz and from O2 right here in Beacon years ago, is passionate about the taste of and nourishment from food, and has veggies pickling and grains sprouting in the basement.

Wait - "sprouting," you ask? Yes, answers Adam. He is happy to educate you about the health benefits of eating sprouted quinoa, which involves rotations of soaking and rinsing the quinoa for hours and hours to make it easier to digest and get a few more vitamins and minerals out of it.

Sprouted quinoa can be found in the BBQ Carrot Salad, with watermelon radish, pickled purple onion, and smoked and roasted carrot. This combination understandably may never have been on your radar, but it could become a fast favorite.

Partners (from left): Adam Sternberg, Chris Pascarella, and Lisa Hall.

A family-friendly atmosphere is very important to the team at Stock Up. Lisa and Chris are parents of little ones, and value such things as a changing table in the bathroom, which (as of this publishing) is coming soon. Lisa, a former teacher, and Chris, a former commuter into the city, had been thinking about what business they wanted to create in order to live in Cold Spring with less commuting. Past residents of Brooklyn, they were big fans of their local grocer/restaurant, Court Street Grocers. After dreaming of opening their own business for a long while, Lisa and Chris took the plunge to open Marbled Meat Shop after Chris was unexpectedly laid off from his job, like so many others, thus giving them permission to open the business of their dreams. With Stock Up, Beacon is home to their second business, and on the first day of opening, several of their Cold Spring friends had come up to experience the new addition.

The drink cooler has delicious options from Salud, Blue Sky and others.

The beer will be flowing from taps on the outdoor patio as soon as the liquor license comes through, but in the meantime, you can benefit from the team's possible obsession with a variety of brands of deliciously sweet soda, like two kinds of orange soda, two kinds of ginger ale, and more from brands like Blue Sky and Salud Refresco. There's even coconut water!

So without further ado, you have much to enjoy this lunch or dinner hour. And I'm going to wrap this article up, because a new craving for sprouted quinoa must be answered...

Photo Credits: This lovely photography has been taken by Leigh Baumann, a social media photographer for A Little Beacon Blog and a talented designer.

Best Brunch in Beacon, NY

Photo Credit: Beacon Bread Company

This Best Brunch roundup is updated as Beacon grows and changes, and was originally published years ago for those seeking syrup-topped weekend breakfasts. This roundup continues to be a favorite destination for those searching out the best brunch in Beacon, NY, so we want you to access an up-to-date list. Restaurants are a hot ticket in Beacon these days, so the number of brunch and breakfast offerings is on the rise every day. Below, you'll find a selection of brunch destinations, with more added as we explore them.

Last Updated: 1/24/16

BRUNCH AT HOMESPUN
Homespun, www.homespunfoods.com

232 Main Street
Homespun was Beacon's original brunch destination. Famous for their deep-dish vanilla french toast or yogurt with fruit, or a delicious bowl of oatmeal, you will find something you like here. Drinks include beer, coffee and tea, and flavorful sodas like Orangina. Eat inside, or take advantage of the garden patio in the back during warmer months. Reservations not accepted; it's first-come, first-serve. A great option for early risers.

BRUNCH AT TOWNE CRIER CAFE

Towne Crier Cafe, www.townecrier.com

379 Main Street
Brunch and lunch are served at the Towne Crier Cafe, located in the "Market Square" district of Beacon, aka the middle of Main Street. The kitchen creates a new menu every weekend; they can be previewed in the restaurant. A full bar is available, so you may enjoy wine, beer or cocktails. The restaurant is large and can accommodate large parties.

BRUNCH AT BEACON FALLS CAFE
Beacon Falls Cafe, www.beaconfallscafe.com

472 Main Street
The Beacon Falls Cafe is an American bistro with a menu that serves variety. They do serve craft beers, and have outside seating on the front sidewalk. Brunch at Beacon Falls Cafe is quite convenient for those shopping at the boutiques located on the East End of Main Street, or if you're attending an event at the Howland Cultural Center. 

BRUNCH AT THE ROUNDHOUSE 

The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls, www.roundhousebeacon.com

2 East Main Street
Brunch at The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls is perfect for large or small parties who are looking for an incredibly beautiful view of the falls. Dining here is serene, even in warmer months when you can hear the rushing water from a table nestled below street level, in the riverbank. A full bar is available, so you may enjoy wine, beer or their famous cocktails. Served from 11am-3pm.

BRUNCH AT CHATEAU BEACON

Chateau Beacon, www.chateaubeacon.com

37 Lamplight Street
Located just a few short minutes outside of downtown Beacon, Chateau Beacon's brunch menu offers Pancakes with Spiced Maple Syrup, Bananas Foster French Toast, Eggs Benedict Florentine, and a Vegetable Frittata. The booths are big at Chateau Beacon (as is the entire restaurant), and you'll find plenty of TVs surrounding the bar. To get there from Main Street, take a right on 9D, drive over the I-84 overpass, and take a left at the little statue of a soldier. Opens later in the morning, at 11am.

BRUNCH AT BEACON BREAD COMPANY

Beacon Bread Company, www.beaconbread.com

193 Main Street
Carbohydrate lovers will enjoy the selection of breads, croissants and other pastries. Eggs can be cooked your way, and grilled vegetables may be added to any order. Food with a Lebanese flair is on the menu, including homemade yogurt for those who crave protein with their french toast. During the warmer months, seating is available at picnic tables outside. Reservations are not accepted, and it's first-come, first-serve. A great option for early risers.

BRUNCH AT BJ'S SOUL FOOD
213 Main Street
Hungry weekenders and longtime locals welcome the fried chicken and oxtail options at BJ's Soul Food, served with a side of mac and cheese, collard greens, or whatever specials are on the menu for the day. Be sure to ask for their cornbread. The breakfast menu includes pancakes and eggs, and for dessert, enjoy a large slice of a triple-layer, homemade, frosted cake. A great option for early risers.

BRUNCH AT YANKEE CLIPPER DINER
Yankee Clipper Diner, www.beaconyankeeclipper.com
 397 Main Street
Hungry families have their choice of Belgian waffles with fruit toppings, pancakes, french toast, eggs cooked your way, loaded omelets, hashbrowns, and the usual choices found in diners. This old-time favorite is sure to have a booth or table for you. Enjoy a milkshake while you wait.

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BREAKFAST CAFES

BREAKFAST AT ELLA'S BELLAS
Ella's Bellas, www.ellasbellasbeacon.com
418 Main Street
While Ella's Bellas does not offer a traditional brunch that includes syrup, early risers will find the cafe open for a great cup of Tas Kafe coffee, a heartier latte, or a piece of quiche or bread pudding. Yogurts are available in this kid-friendly cafe, and garden seating in the back is a must during warmer months. Gluten-free eaters will love this bakery for the many truly delicious options on offer.

BREAKFAST AT BEACON PANTRY
Beacon Pantry, www.beaconpantry.com
382 Main Street
Beacon Pantry is a local favorite for elevated snacks like a croque monsieur, prosciutto cotto, French ham, grilled cheese, goat cheese salad, house made granola, yogurt, chocolate croissant and other baked goods. Perk up with a cup of Stumptown coffee.

BREAKFAST AT BEACON BAGEL
Beacon Bagel, www.thebeaconbagel.com
466 Main Street
Beacon Bagel is sure to fill the bellies of large and small crowds, with or without children. We did a review of one of their breakfast bagels here as a great to-go option for those who need to hit the road early on a weekend morning. Several sandwich options are available, to be supplemented with coffee, juice and (why not?) cookies.

HOME-COOKED BRUNCH
To make your own top-notch brunch at home, find easy pancake mixes from Bob's Red Mill at Key Food, specialty syrups sold in several of the above-mentioned cafes, and delicious bacon and house-stuffed sausage at Barb's Butchery, located at 69 Spring Street, on the other side of the bridge at the Dummy Light.

For a full list of all restaurants in Beacon, where you can find lunch or dinner despite a special breakfast menu, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide.

January is the New Vacation Season for Restaurants! Look Who Is Closed!

Just when I was getting ready to plan where I was going to hunker down and catch up on all of my 2015 business bookkeeping, a few of my top spots for working from my laptop, glass of wine in hand, have gone on holiday! It seems that after the intense rush that begins before Thanksgiving and pushes through Christmas and the New Year, these great establishments need a little time off. While they served us during our vacations, January is the quiet time when they can take theirs.

Therefore, we are in a State of an Update at A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide, identifying which cafes, bars and restaurants are closed for the first part of January, namely:

Temporary January Closures
The Hop - closed January 1st - 8th. Reopens January 9th
Ella's Bellas - closed January 4th - 12th. Reopens January 13th
Oak Vino - closed January 1st - 14th. Reopens January 15th
Beacon Pantry - closed January 4th - 6th. Reopens January 7th
Kitchen Sink Food & Drink - closed January 12th - 22nd. Reopens January 23rd

Permanent Closure
Cascadas Mexican Restaurant

New Late Nights!

 Beacon Bagel burns the candle at both ends on Friday and Saturday nights, open from 9pm - 2am.
You may be baking bagels with them, but they sure will taste good!

As I type this, I have sought refuge in Bank Square (on the Open list!) with a hot chocolate. ;)

On deck is an article for Where To Go To Grab A Glass of Wine, Beer, or Coffee While You Update Your Books for Tax Season.

Cheers! Your Champagne Recipe for New Year's and Beyond

According to Timothy Buzinski, co-proprietor of Artisan Wine Shop in Beacon, NY, Champagne and other sparkling wines should be enjoyed at all times, as easy as wine or a craft beer. Yet in the States, bubbly is almost entirely associated with New Year's Eve and other celebrations. Perhaps one New Year's resolution could be to drink Champagne more often (not a hard resolution to keep, I would think!). To take it one step further, and make it easier to get creative, we are looking into making a cocktail out of that glass of bubbly.

On the eve of the New Year, I stopped into a few of Beacon's most trusted sources for Champagne and drink flavorings - Artisan Wine Shop and Drink More Good. The proprietors at each opened my eyes to pouring a few drips of bitters or cassis into champagne or a sparkly white wine.

 

Meet a few of the many bitters shelved on the wall under "Bitters" at Drink More Good. In flavors like Gypsy Tamarind Cacao, Kiki Lavender Elderberry, and my surprising favorite, Scarlet Strawberry Chili.

To taste test, one squeezes a drop of the flavor on the hand, then lick! I recommend also smelling the drop, because the experiences are totally different. To drink, squeeze one full dropper of your chosen flavor into a glass of Champagne, and enjoy.

At Artisan, you'll find a selection of bitters in flavors like Dandelion & Burdock Bitters, and orange flavors. These, Tim recommends, you could squeeze over a sugar cube that has been placed into your glass, then pour the Champagne over.

 

For a more traditional flavoring that is sure to be sweet, pour a bit of cassis into your glass, and you have a fresh and fruity treat. While dining, you may wonder what goes well with Champagne? Tim recommends popcorn. Pretty simple! I might take it a step further and make that a cheese-coated popcorn of some kind. But most important for this cocktail, Tim says, is to make sure the pairing is salty. If you're out to dinner, or planning on having Champagne after your meal, have smoked fish or trout, or other fish. Entertaining at home? Beacon Pantry has a shrimp cocktail that you can pre-order, and if you ask really nicely, they may even make you a cocktail sauce from scratch.

Happy New Year - And Beyond!

Restaurants That Are Open Christmas Eve and Day, Plus Special HudsonValley Recommendations

The winter holidays are notoriously linked with cooking large meals for family and friends at home. But what if you're too tired, or your kitchen is so buried in dishes from breakfast quiches and croissants that you can't possibly cook a dinner? Well, for you and any out-of-towners who are here visiting Beacon, NY, for Christmas, we called restaurants in A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide who offer a cozy, sit-down dining experience to find out who is open on Christmas Eve and/or Day.

Additionally, we have a guest contributor to this restaurant list, for those who want a special dining experience elsewhere in the Hudson Valley! Hudson Valley Magazine editor Olivia Abel has given her Top 3 picks for where to dine in the Hudson Valley to enjoy a special night out this holiday season. Read on for more!

OPEN: Christmas Eve
The Roundhouse
Sukhothai
The Vault
Brother's Trattoria
Chateau Beacon (3pm-7:30pm)
Pleasant Ridge
Isamu
Cafe Amarcord
Baja 328
Draught (they do serve light food!)

Quinn's (free beer, wine or hot chocolate with receipt of a purchase on Main Street dated 12/24/15 details here)
Poppy's (open until 3pm)
Yankee Clipper (open until 3pm)


OPEN: Christmas Day
The Roundhouse Lounge only - 3pm-10pm, serving bar menu (burger-like fare)
Isamu


CLOSED: Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Dogwood
The Hop
Kitchen Sink
Pandorica
Max's on Main (kitchen closes early)
Towne Crier Cafe

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Classic Hudson Valley Dinner/Brunch Options for Christmas Eve/Day

Guest Contributor, Olivia Abel, Editor in Chief, Hudson Valley Magazine
There are several classic Hudson Valley restaurants that serve Christmas brunch/dinner. The following places, while a bit of a drive, are all top-notch, and offer other sightseeing stops along the way. Dining reservations may be required, so call before you head out.

Diamond Mills Hotel
Diamond Mills is a luxury boutique hotel and contemporary American tavern located in the historic village of Saugerties, New York. Nestled between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, Diamond Mills offers a hotel and culinary experience that you are sure to enjoy. Saugerties is also a really fun little river town to explore.
Open Christmas Eve: 3pm-9pm
Open Christmas Day: 10:30am-4pm
www.diamondmillshotel.com


The Beekman Arms, Rhinebeck
This tavern/restaurant, established in 1766, features lots of fireplaces and cozy touches that will keep you in the Christmas spirit. Delicious food, with easy access near Rhinebeck's main drag (Market Street). Very fun.
Open Christmas Eve: Lunch, 11am-3pm; dinner 4pm-8pm (call first, as they may close early)
Open Christmas Day: Buffet, 12pm-4pm, This is the only meal of the day. Reservations Required
www.beekmandelamaterinn.com


Cucina, Woodstock
This Italian standout is almost a decade old, and gets rave reviews all around. Located in the center of Woodstock, so you will have plenty to check out as you walk off your meal.
www.cucinawoodstock.com

Bear Mountain Inn, Restaurant 1915
Fairly close to Beacon, the Bear Mountain Inn is a beautiful and historic resort (originally opened in 1915) that I wrote about here is an Adirondack-style stone lodge with soaring ceilings.
Open Christmas Eve: Kitchen closes at 8pm
Open Christmas Day: Kitchen closes at 9pm

www.visitbearmountain.com

Photo Credit: This photo is of the Lounge at Roundhouse. Graphic design work by Katie Hellmuth Martin.

Get Your Sweet Tooth & Dancing Shoes Ready This Weekend!

We have more Pop-Up Guide action happening this weekend in Beacon, filled with sweet, delicious goodness and more!

It's the second week of Flowers & Flours at Clay Wood & Cotton, featuring dried flowers and wreaths from Diana Mae Flowers and assorted sweets from The Darling Kitchen. Stop by this Saturday, starting at 11 am.

Also this Saturday over at the east end of Main Street, stop by Echo and pick up freshly baked goods by 5Hens, sure to delight your recipient. Cookie boxes, teacher gifts, marshmallows and more. You can pre-order by visiting fivehensbakedgoods.com or email 5hensbaked@gmail.com. Pick up at the store.

Once you're done snacking, head over to The Howland Cultural Center for a night of dancing! This monthly dance series is attended by singles, couples, friends and strangers. Great bands and voices will be heard, including a variety of rhythms, styles and moods. Light refreshments will be served. Suggested donation: $10.00

As always, you can check out all of Beacon's ongoing events throughout the year in our Events Guide. 

Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens for People in Need in Beacon

One of the first meals served in the new Soup Kitchen at the
Tabernacle of Christ Church A/G at 483 Main Street.
Photo Credit: Tabernacle Church of Christ.

The Salvation Army's restructuring of its soup kitchen prompted a fresh look at food pantries and soup kitchens in the area, and the opening of a new one. While these sources are on the radar for many, including the Sloop Club who hosts an annual event in December to raise money for pantries, donating to food pantries and soup kitchens may not be at the top of the list for others. Furthermore, food pantries can go underused, according to Deaconess D. Williams of Springfield Baptist Church, who says: "Many miss out because they simply don't know that help is available."

This Thanksgiving, we have organized a list of sources for people to donate to and eat from.

If you organize a food pantry or soup kitchen, or provide free meals in another way, please email this information to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com to be considered for this list.

Whether you are looking for a warm meal, canned goods, or friendly community, or you’re in a position to help by donating food or time, the following organizations in and near Beacon would love to see you. Contact organizers for information about the most up-to-date ways to participate.

Soup Kitchens & Feeding Programs

Soup Kitchen

Tabernacle of Christ A/G Church

Organized rapidly this November and already served its first meal, this soup kitchen is open to all and serves a hot meal. Several organizations pitched in, including Common Ground Farm, My Bread Is Your Bread, Dutchess Outreach, Tabernacle of Christ Church A/G, and In Care of.

Tabernacle of Christ A/G Church 
481 Main Street

Beacon, NY
DAYS/TIMES - Free Meals

11am-12pm Monday - Thursday

Coordinators for eating or donating:
Candi Rivera and Kundi Glasson: (845) 728-8196 incareof.beacon@gmail.com 
Currently seeking donations for commercial-grade stove and refrigerator. For the interim, Ella's Bellas has donated a household refrigerator until the commercial-grade version is secured.
Donations: https://www.gofundme.com/kjb4buzw 
To Volunteer: http://vols.pt/Bd35tD 



Welcome Table Soup Kitchen

Photo Credit: First Presbyterian Church.

First Presbyterian Church 
50 Liberty Street 
Beacon, NY
DAYS/TIMES Free Meals

10-12pm Fridays and Saturdays. In the summer, you may spot the Green Teens' green bus selling very affordable produce from the parking lot.

Coordinator for eating or for donating: 
Rose Quirk: (845) 600-5389

Seniors Feeding Seniors Ministry
Free meals and baked goods for seniors

Springfield Baptist Church 
8 Mattie Cooper Square
Beacon, NY

DAYS/TIMES - Free Meals

The last Saturday of each month at 12pm. 

DAYS/TIMES - Baked Goods

Every Wednesday (845) 813-4093

Coordinator for eating or for donating: 
Penny Jackson: pjackson6@hvc.rr.com

Senior Program
Salvation Army, Beacon Corps

Salvation Army Beacon Corps

372 Main Street
Beacon, NY
DAYS/TIMES Free Meals for Seniors
Tuesday & Thursday, 11-1:30pm
DAYS/TIMES for Donation of Food
Tuesday - Thursday by using the back door by the parking lot. Not the side door by the bank's parking lot, but the very back door directly behind the church. Walk straight back and step over the chain that blocks cars from short-cutting through to avoid the light, or if by car, use the Fishkill Ave. / Rt. 52 entrance.

The Salvation Army in the church at 372 Main Street, which is in the middle of town across the street from the Yankee Clipper Diner, recently restructured its soup kitchen to be open to senior citizens only.

Pastor Kisser studied the people walking into the church, and noticed that in Beacon's current renaissance, the fastest-growing demographic using the service was seniors. Pastor Kisser explains: "Due to budget constraints, the cook for the soup kitchen was let go, and the program director and the seniors stepped in to volunteer to help feed each other. The program continues to feed 20-25 seniors per session on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-1:30pm." Earlier this week, the kitchen served its Thanksgiving meal to seniors, who enjoy the community time with each other.

Important to the Salvation Army is helping people eat in groups for social interaction. While the soup kitchen program is dedicated to seniors, during the Thanksgiving season, the Salvation Army does offer food vouchers to all people. Says Pastor Kisser: "In an effort to preserve the family, we give out vouchers to enable families to buy food at their own grocery stores and prepare it at home so that the family can sit down together in their own environment."
Coordinator for eating or for donating: Rhode: (845) 831-1253
Seniors should call or walk in to sign up for the program.
Donations of food can be made Tuesdays - Thursdays by using the back door off the parking lot.
Financial donations can be made online and designated to Beacon, as well as answering the seasonal mail that comes. When you designate Beacon, the location at 372 Main Street is the recipient. And of course, when you see the bright red kettles at supermarkets, money goes to your local Salvation Army. You could also drop off a check at any time to the building.

Food Pantries Open To All In Need

St. Andrew’s Food Pantry

St. Andrew’s Church
17 South Avenue, Beacon
DAYS/TIMES - Pickups

10am-11am Saturdays

Contact for eating or for donating: 
Pat Lassiter: (845) 831-4711

St. Luke's and St. Andrews Food Pantry

Contact for eating or for donating: 
Rev. John F. Williams: (845) 831-2643

Salvation Army, Beacon Corps
372 Main Street
Beacon, NY
The emergency food pantry is open to all.
DAYS/TIMES - Pickups
Starting at 9am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Appointments are required.
Call to make an appointment, or stop in:
(845) 831-1253
DAYS/TIMES - Donations of Food 

Can be made Tuesdays - Thursdays by using the back door off the parking lot.

Springfield Baptist Church
Food pantry

Springfield Baptist Church 
8 Mattie Cooper Square
Beacon, NY

Coordinator for eating or for donating: 
Deaconess Joan Cook: cjoanochorios@aol.com

Food Pantry

New Vision Church of Deliverance 
831 Route 52
Fishkill, NY
This food pantry serves fresh produce from Common Ground Farm. Says Common Ground: "Fresh produce is tough to find at food pantries because it is perishable, so it doesn't store as long as canned foods or dry goods. But of course, it is much healthier (and tastier). That's why we harvest that same day and deliver directly to our pantry partners." This pantry is in Fishkill, NY, and is a few doors from the diner, on Beacon's side of I-84.

11am Thursdays

Fishkill Food Pantry

First Reformed Church
1153 Main Street
Fishkill, NY (just before Route 9)
DAYS/TIMES - Pickups

Monday - Thursday 9am to 12pm 
Tuesdays: open until 2pm

Contact for eating or for donating: To access the pantry, make an appointment by calling (845) 896-4546. Call the same number to donate or volunteer. 


I Am Beacon

While not a food pantry, it is a source that delivers food to people in need during Thanksgiving. Key Food is a major partner in this drive, by way of collecting donations and storing turkeys until they are delivered.

A very special thanks for the rapid responses of organizers on the eve of Thanksgiving to compile this article:

• Catherine Sweet of A Little Beacon Blog for pounding the keyboard and making phone calls to find programs.
• Joyce Hanson with the Beacon Sloop Club for delivering information on food pantries in the area. Beacon Sloop Club is hosting a Cajun Holiday Party fundraiser with proceeds going to the Beacon Food Pantry and Beacon Sloop Club. Read about this and other upcoming events in A Little Beacon Blog's Annual Events Guide.
• Deaconess D. Williams of Springfield Baptist Church for clarifying and providing contact information.
• Kundi Glasson for helping to rapidly organize the Soup Kitchen at Tabernacle of Christ Church A/G and providing its newest details as they develop. 

 

Thanksgiving Menu Roundup for 2015 - Turkey, Desserts, Soups, Sides to Order

The weather is so unseasonably nice, that it is really hard to imagine that next week we'll be slowing down to a few days off from school and work, in order to help us unplug and enjoy our families. And if the rumors from folks in Chicago and Ohio are true, this region may actually get snow for Thanksgiving! Which would be a classic case of terrible weather for those who drive or fly to Grandma's - something always comes up.

For this year's Thanksgiving Menu Roundup, I had to plant myself at Ella's Bellas - one of the delicious sources of what may be several dishes served on your table this year - for my own pre-Thanksgiving slice of pumpkin cake and pumpkin fondue (which is not on their official Thanksgiving menu). It was a nice treat to have pumpkin and spice on the tip of the tongue - literally.

Pick and choose your Thanksgiving treats and serve a bounty of dishes collected from all over Beacon. Let us begin...(and order RIGHT NOW because some of these makers have ordering deadlines of Monday, or Tuesday, or maybe yesterday, but they might still accept last-minute orders).

HINT: Call ahead to see if the pie or bread of your dreams is still available to pre-order... While pounding the pavement for these menus, we saw several spots had order deadlines that had been scratched off and extended. So take a chance and call just in case... Websites can be a little trickier to update than good ol' pen to paper. Several sources list Sunday or Monday as the drop-dead day.

APPETIZERS

Cheeses...you are in luck because cheese platters are Beacon Pantry's specialty! These cheese plates are serious business, and include delightful bite-sized goat cheese tarts, stilton and cranberry tarts (stilton is a type of blue cheese), and a hand-selected array of artisanal cheese.

Because you cannot snack on cheese alone, dips and spreads are also on the Thanksgiving menu at Beacon Pantry. Select from hummus, dolmas, tomato bruschetta, mushroom bruschetta and olives. Beacon Natural Market has a tasty menu with a lot of options for various courses of your dinner. Select from tapenade (a dip made from black olives, capers and anchovies) or artichoke hummus, or surprise your guests with a seasonal pumpkin hummus!

What will you decide?

SALAD

Pumpkin Pie Spice vinegar from Scarborough Fare.

Stay light and healthy with an arugula/mesclun salad with goat gouda, toasted pepitas, butternut seed oil and maple vinegar dressing from Beacon Natural Market, or an Autumn quinoa salad.

ROLLS & BREAD

Time to get really fancy with the bread you'll serve to guests. And by fancy, I mean tasty. First, start with really salty, smooth butter from Kate's Homemade Butter from Maine or the Amish Roll Butter (a tad onion-y from the cows' diet of regional chives and such), which is easy to find at Key Food.

As for the bread, All You Knead Bakery has the largest selection of breads, from Sourdough to Challah to Olive to an Autumn Harvest - a sweet and chewy loaf chock full of cranberries, raisins and pecans. Baguettes are easy to find at other cafe restaurants like Beacon Pantry, where you may also be ordering cheeses or soups, while plain or rosemary dinner rolls dinner are warming in the oven at Ella's Bellas.

Special to Beacon Pantry this year are sweet breads, including include petite muffins in a variety of flavors, orange gingerbread, banana bread, pumpkin cranberry bread and apple raisin, brought in from the famed Cafe Le Perche up in Hudson.

SOUPS

Now come the toughest choices. There are a lot of good soups on these Thanksgiving menus. But here is the good news: Soups can totally transform leftovers into fresh, savory dishes when you make a sandwich and dip it into soup. So feel free to over-order here. While you may find frozen soups at your favorite source like Homespun, you need to think about these seasonal soups being offered special for Thanksgiving. Beacon Natural Market is offering a pumpkin soup with curry leaves. Ella's Bellas has a butternut apple soup, and Beacon Pantry also has a butternut squash soup.

THE TURKEY & WHAT GOES WITH TURKEY

Russell Samuel and Shivana Weathers
donate turkeys as part of the
I Am Beacon here in Key Food Beacon.

Beacon Natural Market and Key Food are your easiest sources to find turkey. Barb's Butchery cut their turkey ordering off a week ago. Key Food is also carrying out the annual turkey and food drive in partnership with I Am Beacon, and have so far reserved 95 turkeys, donated by various people, for families in need. If you usually pick up Murray's chicken from Beacon Natural Market, you can order their turkeys as well in 20lb or 22lbs range. There is a larger selection from Snowdance Farms, where you can buy a turkey from 11-24lbs. But order now, because they are accepting orders until the turkeys are gone.

A cranberry sauce with orange and spices can be found at Beacon Natural Market, and Beacon Pantry does have a cranberry chutney as well as your turkey gravy, sausage bread stuffing, and traditional bread stuffing. But if stuffed acorn squash is your thing, then Beacon Natural Market has a stuffed acorn squash stuffed with tofu, nuts, fruits and quinoa. If you're making your own stuffing but want a little help from Ella's Bellas, they are selling stuffing cubes in 10oz bags.

SIDES

Rosemary infused oil from Scarborough Fare.

Mashed potatoes get creative twists this season with a sage mashed potato or a sweet potato puree with toasted pepitas at Beacon Natural Market, and Yukon gold mashed potatoes or a mashed maple sweet potato at Beacon Pantry.

Veggies!! We must be healthy, right? Good luck with that, when we can order roasted brussels sprouts cooked in duck fat and bacon from Beacon Pantry. Regular roasted veggies are available at Ella's Bellas, and consider an order of string beans with sesame garlic seasoning from Beacon Natural Market.

If you are roasting your own potatoes or vegetables, infused oil from Scarborough Fare can put your dish over the top. A top recommendation for the Thanksgiving fixings is the rosemary oil. 

DESSERT

Pumpkin molasses turnovers with cheesecake filling
at All You Knead.

This is the moment when you need to get a cup of coffee and really think about your options. This is serious.

Among light and fruity options are tarts, like frangipane tarts in many flavors including apple, blueberry, raspberry, chocolate caramel pecan and mixed berry at Beacon Pantry. Stuffed apples with pecans, currents, brown sugar, butter and maple syrup are being baked at Homespun. Cranberry sour cherry pie, and a vegan apple or apple pie or a cranberry upside down cake can be found at Ella's Bellas.

Pretty much all of your usual bakeries are selling pumpkin pie and apple pies. You are covered here. You just need to get your order in.

Where you want to get dangerously delicious are in these other pies, special for Thanksgiving. Ella's Bellas is baking up a fudge pie, and a pecan bourbon version with Hudson Valley Bourbon. There is a chocolate malt pie at Beacon Natural Market. Homespun has outdone themselves with a caramel pecan tart pie, pumpkin cheesecake bars, almond dacquoise with pumpkin buttercream (gluten-free), and vanilla cranberry jam cake with pumpkin-spiced buttercream. You may also find pie ideas from Get Frosted Cupcakery, but call for options!

Traveling? 

The Pie Box, to travel with your pie, at Utensil.

For those of you traveling, pies are always the easiest contribution to bring to a gathering. The key will be in how sturdy the pie box is. Thankfully, Utensil is one step ahead of you with The Pie Box. This is a lucky find, as The Pie Box actually sold out last year around holiday time. For pie bakers, it's a great holiday gift because it makes pie delivery so much more secure.

Frozen soups are also easy to travel with, especially if you have a luggage rack on your roof, as it's usually cold in November. Well, hopefully it's cold in November.

This is all assuming you are driving, of course.

Please share your pictures of Thanksgiving meals with us at A Little Beacon Blog by tagging us on Instagram at @alittlebeacon! Looking forward to see how your dinner turned out.

Menus Used For This Article Include:

Beacon Natural Market

Beacon Pantry

Ella's Bellas (all gluten-free)

Homespun

PS: If you are a food source who wants to be included in next year's Thanksgiving Menu Roundup, be sure you sign up for our Advance Notice email by clicking here where we send out opportunities to businesses so that they can submit to articles we are working on.