Event gives visitors a ‘taste’ of Rhinebeck Benefit raises $15,000 for hospital foundation By LYNN WOODS

Event gives visitors a ‘taste’ of Rhinebeck
Benefit raises $15,000 for hospital foundation
By LYNN WOODS

The party spirit reigned supreme on a recent evening in Rhinebeck, as disco music blared on village streets, restaurants and cafes threw open their doors to the cold, and crowds of foodies milled about, nibbling on a scrumptious array of appetizers and desserts.

The March 26 event was the third annual Taste of Rhinebeck, a benefit for the Northern Dutchess Hospital (NDH) Foundation in which participants paid $75 to sample the delicious treats and drinks at 22 participating restaurants and food purveyors. Two wine and liquor stores and a florist also joined in.

The festive atmosphere extended to The Tavern of the Beekman Arms, where the Blue Gardenia band played mellow jazz in the candle-lit dining room. Live music also enlivened the Rhinebeck Grille & Cantina, which presented the popular group The Trapps.

“There’s no shortage of great restaurants in Rhinebeck,” said Deborah Breen, executive director of the NDH Foundation. “We have six new restaurants participating in this year’s event. People get to come in and experience the different ambiances.” Plus, she said it’s always a pleasure to visit the town, which has kept its 19th-century charm even as it has grown considerably, with many clothing boutiques, furniture stores, and yes restaurants popping up. “Rhinebeck is one of those towns it’s easy to fall in love with,” Breen said. “Anytime the hospital works with the town, it’s a win-win for everyone.”

Breen said the event raised almost $15,000 and attracted more than 350 participants not only locals but also visitors from Millbrook, Poughkeepsie and Kingston. That’s a significant increase over last year, and judging from the good cheer and community spirit radiating from all involved, Taste of Rhinebeck seems destined to become a village tradition. The hospital promoted the event over the airwaves on Clear Channel radio stations and also in local newspapers.

Not only is Taste of Rhinebeck “a nice way to do something and give back to the community,” said Julie Doubroski, owner of Desperado Cafe, a Mexican restaurant that opened last June, but “you meet everybody. It’s a blast. My staff’s been great and I’ve met a lot of new people.” Participants wrapped in scarves and coats lined up in the brightly colored space for piping hot samples of pollo a la extremena (chicken cutlets sauteed with onions, peppers, tomatoes, chorizo sausage and Serrano ham in a sherry wine and brandy sauce on a bed of Spanish rice).

Some businesses partnered up: for example, Rhinebeck business newcomers Oliver Kita, a caterer and artisan chocolate-maker, and florist Tina Keil shared space in her elegant shop, Bella Fiori, in the town’s European-style courtyard. They were both thrilled to be participating. “Everyone is really enthusiastic,” said Kita, noting that members of the Rhinebeck Chamber had stopped by to show their support. “It’s a great way to market your business and get personal visibility,” added Keil. Kita served seared tuna on crispy wontons with cilantro lime wasabi from a large bowl, while Keil handed out $5 floral coupons to participants.

The owners of Rhinebeck Deli set up a table in Old Mill Wine & Spirits to be closer to the action (their shop is a few blocks from the center of town). “A lot of customers have come in, and they’ve also told other people about this,” said deli owner Richard Besgen. To keep up with the overflow crowd, his wife and deli co-owner, Itzy, rapidly ladled cream of mushroom soup into paper cups and brought out more samples of her gooey butter cake and inside-out BLTs. The soup, made from three types of mushrooms, had a subtle, smoky flavor, and the BLTS were a creative interpretation of the old standby, consisting of Roma tomatoes with panko bread crumbs sauteed in olive oil with arugula and goat cheese.

Demonstrating that creativity counts, both the soup and BLTs were a hit: For the second year in a row, the Rhinebeck Deli was voted “best appetizer” by participants who visited all the restaurants and submitted their first choice. Sakura, a Japanese fusion restaurant that served chicken, steak and shrimp, all Hibachi style, won for “best main course.” “Best dessert” went to Le Petit Bistro, for its chocolate truffle torte cake. Sabroso, specializing in Latin world cuisine, won the “best beverage” award for its white peach sangria, while the “best overall” award went to The Tavern of the Beekman Arms.

The NDH Foundation supports the mission of the Northern Dutchess Hospital, an affiliate of Health Quest, which also includes Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie and Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel.

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