Monday, November 1, 2010

CIA gastro getaway

Hope you had a terrific Halloween! I spent mine still aglow from last week's CIA encounter - not the CIA with spies, but the nicer Culinary Institute of America (Anthony Bourdain's alma mater).

You can dig into goodies at five award-winning, student-run restaurants. We tried Caterina de' Medici, above. The prosciutto & warm robiola, oxtail with romanesco, and tiramisu were heavenly.

And the restaurant's yellow villa is straight out of an Italian town!

You'll also appreciate the bucolic setting in Hudson Valley, NY. :)
~ Wishing you a delicious week! ~

P.S. The CIA offers popular culinary boot camps - wouldn't it be great to say you went to "CIA boot camp"?

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46 comments:

  1. JustineNovember 1, 2010 at 4:19 AM

    this all looks soooo good, what a wonderful way to spend an evening, very jealous!

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  2. Yvonne - Frl. KleinNovember 1, 2010 at 4:24 AM

    mmh, it looks so delicious!!!!!
    Have a wonderful new week,
    Yvonne

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  3. K and SNovember 1, 2010 at 4:51 AM

    fun and delicious way to spend your evening :)

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  4. Lady GreyNovember 1, 2010 at 6:57 AM

    I am incredibly jealous!
    oxo

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  5. The Breakfast LoverNovember 1, 2010 at 6:59 AM

    Wow wow wow! this food lools lovely and the place too!

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  6. SigneNovember 1, 2010 at 7:13 AM

    So sooo jealous! I would not mind that cheese and fichus platter right now :)

    Hugs,
    Signe

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  7. BrandiNovember 1, 2010 at 8:28 AM

    I would love to do one of their boot camps! Maybe when I get back to the East Coast permanently -- I don't think the school is too far from where I'll be living. This place is stunning. I certainly wouldn't mind spending time there, especially if I'm being fed delicious foods.

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  8. Silver StrandsNovember 1, 2010 at 9:21 AM

    Oh my word Jude! SO classy! And yes ... Sign me up for CIA Boot Camp!
    Xoxoxoox
    Denalee

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  9. IsabelNovember 1, 2010 at 9:23 AM

    sounds delicious! i wish i had the chance to attend such an event :)

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  10. MeghanNovember 1, 2010 at 9:35 AM

    yum!! CIA boot camp sounds fun! Hope you have a great rest-of-week!

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  11. UnknownNovember 1, 2010 at 10:31 AM

    yummy x

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  12. Rosie GreyNovember 1, 2010 at 10:37 AM

    This looks soooo delicious! CIA boot camp - what a great name! That alone is worth participating! :-))) Although I'm rather at the eating end of the process ;-)

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  13. little luxury listNovember 1, 2010 at 10:39 AM

    Wow, what an amazing culinary experience and the Hudson valley is gorgeous. Lucky lucky!

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  14. DewiNovember 1, 2010 at 11:08 AM

    I think I'd go to CIA boot camp. Thanks for the link.

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  15. jeanette from everton terraceNovember 1, 2010 at 11:11 AM

    I was looking for fresh figs this weekend, darn that first photo looks good. The Hudson Valley sounds so divine to me, would really like to visit there. My daughter would absolutely love to go to one of those boot camps. She loves everything about food, cooking it and eating it and talking about it etc...

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  16. UnknownNovember 1, 2010 at 11:24 AM

    All looks and sounds so wonderful! Have a sweet day!

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  17. Angie WillisNovember 1, 2010 at 11:38 AM

    My goodness, that made my mouth water! Cheese & figs - heaven on a plate :-)

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  18. BonBon Rose Girls KristinNovember 1, 2010 at 11:51 AM

    Ohhhh, that sounds like a fabulous and delicious time!

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  19. Tiffany KadaniNovember 1, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    Amazing! All the food looks and sounds amazing. I would love to do something like that someday. Actually, I'd love to do everything you do someday. You live a fabulous life!

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  20. AnnieNovember 1, 2010 at 12:37 PM

    awwww you went to the CIA!! I'm dying to try it.. My husband went to college right near there (Marist) and has been and really liked it. Isn't the Hudson Valley just soo beautiful? I love that you went there!!

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  21. Melissa BlakeNovember 1, 2010 at 12:42 PM

    I am jealous too!

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  22. LenoreNeverM♡reNovember 1, 2010 at 1:11 PM

    Wonderful Jude!
    Food presentation is an art form indeed!

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  23. Lisa GordonNovember 1, 2010 at 1:17 PM

    Oh, what a delight this must have been. These photographs capture it beautifully, make me want to be there, and of course make mer VERY hungry. A CIA Bootcamp. So neat!!!

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  24. Kristin HNovember 1, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    Oh my! You made me slightly jealous that looks fabulous!!! mmmmmm. I have been to the one in the Hudson Valley, but only for lunch! The cheese plate is to die for!!!
    Have a wonderful Monday Jude:)

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  25. Connie @ Sogni e SorrisiNovember 1, 2010 at 1:25 PM

    Looks sooo good!

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  26. StaceyNovember 1, 2010 at 1:45 PM

    OK., so of course my eyes zoomed right into these words, "oxtail with romanesco, and tiramisu were heavenly" I am just licking my lips in anticipation of the taste of the oxtail followed by the smooth texture of that tiramisu. Yum! Sounds like someone is having lots of fun, and eating great too!:-). Miss u! XX

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  27. RowenaNovember 1, 2010 at 2:09 PM

    Oooh...lucky lucky you! I am actually trying to get through Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential - in italian - but when I get to the parts where he swears, I'm laughing like a goon and can't go on reading because it just sounds so much more baaaaad in italiano!

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  28. heatherNovember 1, 2010 at 2:21 PM

    OOOH That photo of the figs and cheese just looks divine!!!

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  29. THE ALTERNATIVE WIFENovember 1, 2010 at 2:51 PM

    I've always wanted to go there! I was actually going to head there for my anniversary back in Sept but couldn't find a decent place to stay. We can't really do B+Bs because J is allergic to most pets. Anyway, this looks spectacular and now I really must go! Hope u had a fabulous weekend, sweetie. And Happy Monday! xoxo

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  30. ~*~ saskia ~*~November 1, 2010 at 4:28 PM

    Wow, what beautiful landscape, Jude. Have a wonderful start to the month of November! xxxx

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  31. Claire KieferNovember 1, 2010 at 4:47 PM

    Unbelievable! What a delightful experience. My dad is a chef, and he's coming to Napa for a culinary conference in November, so my roommate and I are driving up there to go wine tasting and enjoy a delicious chef-cooked dinner! I'm so excited . . . about the wine, the food, and seeing my daddy! xoxo

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  32. UnknownNovember 1, 2010 at 5:10 PM

    Yum! A "gastro getaway" sounds divine right about now. Have a lovely week!

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  33. BenchesnChandeliersNovember 1, 2010 at 5:28 PM

    yum.... all that cheese looks lovely!

    http://www.benchesandchandeliers.com

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  34. JudeNovember 1, 2010 at 6:07 PM

    Thanks so much for all your lovely comments!
    @Annie, that is so cool your husband went to Marist - the setting is so amazing!
    @Jeanette, I'm sure your daughter would have the time of her life! :)
    @Tiffany, aw, that is so sweet of you!
    @Stacey, such a lovely surprise! Miss you too! :)
    @Dawn, oh no, that's too bad about J's allergies (true, the whole region is just b&b's!) - I hope you make it up there, perhaps a daytrip from NYC!

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  35. Style, She WroteNovember 1, 2010 at 7:04 PM

    Oh my! Everything looks delicious! Maybe I should take some classes!

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  36. AmberNovember 1, 2010 at 7:20 PM

    now that looks like an event I could gain an extra 10 pounds at and not even care

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  37. Becca.November 1, 2010 at 8:20 PM

    your posts always make me really hungry!!

    glad you enjoyed reading the tips!

    Thankyou for the comment on my blog:)
    XOXO, BECCA
    www.fashion-train.co.uk

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  38. Punctuation MarkNovember 1, 2010 at 11:14 PM

    as i'm reading this i'm watching an episode of no reservations... what an amazing place!

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  39. Vinda SonataNovember 1, 2010 at 11:35 PM

    that's a really wonderful way to spend an evening.
    anyway, those pictures are great as usual jude:)
    i love blue cheese.

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  40. this free birdNovember 1, 2010 at 11:41 PM

    My bf (the Chef) went to school there!! Let me tell you they turn out excellent chefs - I can verify this first hand!! He got a tick bite along the Hudson and got Lyme Disease. Not pretty - luckily they caught it in time or he would've been in big trouble (as would have his brain).

    xoxo,
    Carrie

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  41. Barbara von EngerNovember 2, 2010 at 4:32 AM

    Ahh, what a delicious way to pass an evening.The first image looks divine. I Adore figs! So glad to hear everyone was in good form.
    Ah, and I love oxtail, too;-)

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  42. Diana MieczanNovember 2, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    What a wonderful way to spend a day..I love those photos:). I could use a bit of relaxing
    Hugs and kisses my dear

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  43. UnknownNovember 2, 2010 at 11:29 PM

    oh you've made me hungry for something amazing (sadly not much happening in my fridge right now...)

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  44. Bombay BeautyNovember 3, 2010 at 8:12 AM

    this is such a great travel idea! all looks beautiful... will definitely file it away... xo bb

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  45. Amy@OldSweetSongNovember 3, 2010 at 6:28 PM

    You have just made me insanely jealous!

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  46. Oh, My DarlingNovember 5, 2010 at 3:29 PM

    Sweet! What a cool experience!

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