My daughter and I took the trip out to attend the opening
of the Autumn Exhibition of Nature Photography presented by the Nature
and Wildlife Photographers of Long Island at the Castello Di Borghese
in Cutchogue, New York. We went to support our member Barbara
Badetti Palumbo who showed several of her photographs at a show for the Long Island Nature Photographer's Association,
Atiny review of the show - we loved it. The host property is a Long Island vineyard Castello Di Borghese, who provided a beautiful, large room for the show. We were greeted warmly by Borghese staff when we arrived. We enjoyed the show immensely and urge anyone interested in photography - specifically nature photography (and wine) to make it out there to see the show which extends through December 9.
After the Opening we decided to drive home via Rte 25 - hoping to stop at the Jamesport Hardware Store - who has a odd little section way in the back of equestrian tack - something my daughter loves to browse. We bought saddle soap. What fun.
Along the way we noticed the "Snack Bar" and being in the "photographing mood" we stopped just to get a pic of the sign. Once out of the car we noticed that the place had a certain charm, I mean it actually had a telephone booth out front.
My 12 year old daughter asked "what's that?" Hah - she's never seen a telephone booth! We decided to brave it and go inside - if nothing else it would be an educational experience for her, right?
Now
usually when mother and daughter are on an outing without Father we
tend to opt for the junk food venue - the junkier the better. Interesting
eateries are usually reserved for outings with Dad since he appreciates
unusual fare. But this time we just couldn't resist.
Inside was like we walked through a time portal. We landed some time in maybe the 50s also somehow we wound up in rural USA. This place seemingly has not changed anything - not one thing - since 1955 - complete with very unfortunate uniforms on the waitresses. Now, I am not panning the place - just mentioning the "quaint" atmosphere.
So we had a seat in the dining room with a little trepidation. In retrospect I wish we had sat at the counter on the other side of the barrier. It looked more fun and at least we would have been able to watch the wait staff, which I'm sure would have been entertaining.
The
menu... was an odd combination of seafood and other assorted oddities
like a Shrimp Burger ($8.25). They did advertise their famous Lobster
Salad but at $18.95 we decided to pass. We ordered conservatively
still feeling a little out of time and place. My daughter ordered
the Lobster Bisque. She liked it at first but like many bisques, once
it started to cool and the diary started to seperate from the stock,
she wasn't so keen on it. I ordered the Shrimp and Crab quiche advertised
as a lunch special. Well, the quiche wasn't exactly what I was expecting...
it was truly "homemade". It looked like something I would
make. Regardless, I liked it very much. It professed to come with
a tossed salad which turned out to be three or four pieces or sorry
lettuce with some tomatoe wedges which was sort of disappointing.
The meal wasn't very filling, but was pricey at over $18.00 even though
we ordered no beverages or dessert.
Here comes the cool part... as we were paying at the cash register which is over there where we should have sat at the counter, we noticed several people buying "mashed turnips" to go. "Curiouser and curiouser" noted my daughter (taking a cue from Alice in Wonderland). I mentioned to her that I have never tasted mashed turnips.The waitress behind the counter overheard me and popped over with a little monkey dish of the stuff. "taste" she said. We tasted. Wow! We bought a quart to take home for Dad.
So all in all it was a curious place, with a curious menu and even curiouser decor, but we plan to come back to sample some of the other "homemade" menu items next time we visit Long Island's wine country.
And we definetly plan on sitting at the counter.
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