Gastropub pop-up aims to attract locals to CIA

HYDE PARK - While The Culinary Institute of America's restaurants offer area foodies a range of fine dining options, the school's latest pop-up eatery will focus on pub food and tasty brews.

When it opens in February, Post Road Brew House will offer gastropub fare and a plethora of craft beverages at a competitive price point. It's the latest effort from the nationally known culinary hub to appeal to a broader local clientele.

"We don't want people to be intimidated driving through the gates at the CIA," said Waldy Malouf, senior director of food and beverage operations at the CIA. "It's different, but I like to think we're opening up the campus to the younger crowd and to more local residents."

The school has embraced more casual dining recently, with the opening of a tavern section in its American Bounty restaurant. Also, The Brewery at the CIA launched in Dec. 2015, providing students the opportunity to learn how to brew beer and even create their own recipes.

"There's a need to be casual and formal," Hutch Kugeman, head brewer at the school, said of the casual additions to the curriculum. "It allows us to open up to the community while teaching the students about different types of restaurants."

The pop-up will feature beer produced at The Brewery at the CIA as well as craft beer from local breweries, including Mill House Brewing Company and Blue Collar Brewing Company, both in the City of Poughkeepsie, Malouf said.

"Craft beer has become an essential part of the culinary world," Kugeman said.

It will also feature products from local distilleries, such as Taconic Distillery in Stanfordville and Dernnings Point in Beacon, and local wines, including Millbrook Vineyards & Winery and Clinton Vineyards in Clinton Corners.

The menu will focus on pub fare, including burgers, cassoulet and salads. Most appetizers will range in price from $7 to $9, while most entrees will be between $12 and $18.

This isn't the school's first foray into pop-up dining. The institute launched Pangea, a pop-up restaurant featuring a plant-forward menu, for two limited runs in 2015 and 2016.

The Egg, a student commons and dining area at the school, also features the Innovation Station; each semester the station offers a different menu based on a concept submitted by a bachelor's degree student.

Post Road Brew House is expected to open on Feb. 16 and run through June 15 on campus at 1946 Campus Drive, according to the restaurant's website. The restaurant will seat 97, including a six-person bar and a sixteen-seat community table. Lunch hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., while dinner lasts from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Customers can place reservations at 845-451-1015. For more information on the restaurant, visit www.ciarestaurantgroup.com/post-road-brew-house.

Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: Geoff_LW