Rhinebeck: A destination for food lovers

Pizzeria Posto

The Neapolitan pizzas are flat-out great at Pizzeria Posto in Rhinebeck --- among the very best in the Hudson Valley. The crusts are perfectly thin and crispy, with nicely blistered and puffy outside edges. Chef-owner Patrick Amedeo, a native of Poughkeepsie, keeps his menu small and tightly focused — just seven pizzas and five salads. All of the 12-inch pizzas are made to order, with simple, fresh ingredients. No slices here, but you can order pies to go. On busy nights, though, Amedeo may stop taking take-out orders to focus on the restaurant. In summer, you can eat outdoors in the cobblestone courtyard. Closed Tuesdays.

What to get:

Pizzas: We particularly recommend the Marino, which has San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, Soppressata and Gaeta olives for a salty punch. Another winner is the Morandi, with Grana Padano cheese, red onions, pistachios and rosemary. It so works. Like two other pies on the menu, the Morandi has no tomato sauce. Two simple pies — Margherita, with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil, and Marinara, with tomatoes, oregano and shaved garlic — lend themselves to a topping or two. Pizzas are $14.25 to $19. Available add-ons, which range from $1.50 to $4, include fennel sausage, roasted mushrooms, basil, red onions, salami and anchovies.

Salads: The house salad, a mix of baby greens, was vinegary and bright. The other four salads on the menu are spinach, arugula, Mediterranean and Caesar. Salads are $9 to $13.50. There are antipasti plates, for $10 or $11.

Drinks and dessert: The wine list has about 20 bottles that range in price from $26 to $55, with five whites by the glass along with 10 reds. Beers are available, too. In keeping with the simplicity theme, there is only one dessert, a hazelnut pastry.

Go: 43 E. Market St., Rhinebeck, 845-876-3500, postopizzeria.com

3 sweet spots

When it comes to chocolate, we are solidly in the more is more camp. No trip to Rhinebeck is complete without a stop at three confectionary shops in the village’s Historic District. Samuel’s beckons to candy lovers, both young and old, cookie lovers and choosy coffee drinkers. Some people think the coffee is the best around, which is saying something when you count up all the restaurants (at least 20) that stretch out from the one and only traffic light in town. Krause’s sells old-fashioned chocolate in every variety, including seasonal items and beautiful lustered pops. Oliver Kita is more exotic, with chocolate Buddhas and green tea truffles.

Samuel’s

At Samuel’s Sweet Shop, a dazzling array of candies, desserts and pastries, piled on counters and stacked on shelves, draws you in with frosting and pastel colors, nostalgic packaging and clever names like Sour Rainbow Belts, Muzzle Loaders and Clodhoppers. Adding to the shiny luster of Samuel’s are two of the shop’s owners — actors and Hudson Valley residents Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Samuel’s offers hundreds of items for sale, many of them local and many of them made exclusively for the shop. Gift boxes include the Hudson Valley Sampler, $49.95, and Nostalgic Favorites, $37.50, which features baby-boomer childhood favorites.

Go: 42 E. Market St., Rhinebeck, 845-876-5312, www.samuelssweetshop.com

Krause’s

A Hudson Valley favorite, the Rhinebeck store is one of three owned by the Krause family, who have been making their signature hand-dipped chocolates for three generations. The other shops are in Saugerties and New Paltz. Make-your-own-assortments start at $8.55 for a half-pound, and can be assembled from 50 varieties of milk, dark and white chocolates. Shop favorites include chocolate-covered pretzels and cookies, fudge, nut barks and caramels. Krause’s offers custom favors for showers, weddings, birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs and other occasions, and special molded chocolates for holidays.

Go: 6423 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, 845-876-3909, www.krauseschocolates.com.

Oliver Kita Chocolates

Oliver Kita chocolates are grouped in ‘collections,’ which include rejuvenating, soothing, comforting and inspiring. Kita, a longtime Valley resident and CIA graduate, worked alongside top talent in France, before opening his Rhinebeck studio in an 1828 firehouse. His chocolates are in more than 200 stores in the Hudson Valley. He sells wholesale, retail and online, and frequently gives lectures at chocolate festivals and events around the U.S.

Go: 18 West Market St., Rhinebeck, 845-876-2665, www.oliverkita.com.

Terrapin

We've had some delicious dinners in Terrapin's main dining room over the years, but we really like it for lunch, in the adjacent Red Bistro/Bar. It's a vast, high-ceilinged space (a former Baptist church) that's informal yet a bit dressed up and special. Many people prefer the bistro over the fancier dining room for dinner. Josh Kroner, the longtime chef-owner at Terrapin, has made a name for himself as a Hudson Valley farm-to-table pioneer since opening here in 2003. His food covers a lot of ground: New American with a classical French base, with strong influences from the Southwest, Asia and Italy.

What to get: We love the create-your-own sandwiches, usually choosing among the beer-battered fried cod, ahi tuna, duck confit or Hudson Valley Cattle Co. burger. Tons of choices for bread, sauce and extras. Excellent house-cut fries. Tapas are good, too, and sensibly priced at $5 each. Choices include Bloody Mary oyster shooters, goat cheese filled wontons and crispy artichokes. The quesadillas, especially the duck, are perfect starters for the whole table. For lighter eaters, there are salads, wraps and crepes. Terrapin’s web site includes full menus with prices for both dining rooms. Be sure to save room for the warm Molten Center Chocolate Cake, with local Ronnybrook vanilla ice cream, for dessert.

Go: 6426 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, 845-876-3330, www.terrapinrestaurant.com

Farmers market

The very popular Rhinebeck Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays from Mother's Day through Thanksgiving, which is great if you want to take home farm-fresh goodies. Not so good if you're hunting for a parking spot in town. Be patient and keep widening your search to nearby residential streets. Wear shoes for walking, and bring a bag or soft cooler to tote your farm-fresh Hudson Valley produce. Also, pets are not permitted. Opening day is May 14, with free seedlings for moms. Go: 61 E. Market St., Rhinebeck, www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com

Watch for this newcomer

We love to see local businesses grow, so cheers to Alicia Lenhart and Rod Johnson, co-owners of the craft beer bar and retailer Grand Cru Beer & Cheese Market.

"With Grand Cru, we wanted people to try beer from all over the place," she said.

Go: Grand Cru, 6384 Mill St., Rhinebeck, 45-876-6992, grandcrurhinebeck.com

Grand dame

Beekman Arms-Delamater Inn has pub food and fancier fare. The hotel itself is said to be America's oldest continuously operated inn. Lunch is served Monday to Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Dinner is served daily, starting at 4 p.m. The Beekman Arms has a lovely greenhouse if you prefer light and airy or a low-ceiling colonial tap room, with a fireplace, if you like it dark and cozy. The menu features updated takes on traditional favorites, with appetizers such as French onion soup, clam chowder and shrimp cocktail; and entrees such as steak, prime rib, seafood, chicken, pork and pasta dishes, with options for vegetarian and gluten-free. Call for reservations. Go: 6387 Mill St., Rhinebeck, 845-876-1766, beekmandelamaterinn.com.

Bread Alone

Be sure to stop in one of the newer branches of Bread Alone Bakery, a breakfast and lunch hub for locals and visitors to enjoy a cup of coffee and munch on a hearty sandwich or pastry. This is Valley resident owner Daniel Leader's one of four locations — the others are in Boiceville, Woodstock and Kingston — his bread and baked goods are also offered at dozens of farmers markets around the region. The Rhinebeck locatons featues a cafe and seated dining; the cafe is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the dining room, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Breakfast covers every appetite, from muesli to scrambled-egg tacos and smoked salmon on rye; at lunch, choose from soups, quiches, hearty sandwiches ($8-$12) — pastrami Reuben, grass-fed beef burger, bahn mi — and creative salads ($9-$10) , such as kale and beet. Save room for a dessert pastry, and bring a tote bag. Leader's muffins and organic breads freeze well, so you can stock up. GO: 45 E Market St., Rhinebeck, 845-876-3108, www.breadalone.com

While in town

Rhinebeck: Dutchess County Fair

The second largest county fair in New York state features thousands of farm animals, agricultural exhibits and horticultural displays over 147 acres. The fair will be held Aug. 22-27 and will feature carnival rides, food and entertainment, including the Grandstand Concert Series. This year’s lineup has yet to be announced, but previous acts included The Doobie Brothers, Cole Swindell and the Spin Doctors.

Go: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Springbrook Ave., Rhinebeck. 845-876-4000; www.dutchessfair.com