megp922 "cheese, I like cheese. "

The feeling you get once you step foot into The Cookery is a feeling of familiarity, but with a desire and curiousity that there is something more happening beyond the kitchen. The most appealing aspect of this place is the laid back atmosphere. Servers dress casual in jeans and white shirts making the vibe at ease. Tables are topped with crisp crostini and every wine offered can be served by the glass. Chef David DiBari doesn’t attempt to boggle your mind with unfamiliar dishes, but instead makes you feel right at home with a touch of authentic Italian warmth. Every dish that graces the table tops are simple yet perplex.

The pastas on board are all homemade by DiBari’s mother and the cheeses smoked right then and there in the Cookery’s smoker. During the summer, Mrs. DiBari picks many of the vegetables and herbs straight from her personal garden that atop majority of the dishes. Chef DiBari can be seen stalking the outside of the kitchen patiently waiting to taste test every plate that is served to his customers – a true enthusiast for flawless food. Everything from their creamy polenta with smoked lamb sausage, Swiss chard and sweet apricots to their white lasagna leaves you beyond satisfied and hungry for more. Each dish has it’s own significant taste, a true quality that is hard to find in many restaurants. Each sauce is prepared differently and the pastas boiled to perfect texture.

Do not miss: The warm crostini with fresh ricotta, thyme and truffle honey. A light and satisfying start to your meal. The cauliflower ravioli with lemon brown butter and fresh parmigiano is true Italian soul food yet not overly filling. For meat lovers, try the braised short ribs in a light-spring vegetable vinaigrette with roasted potatoes. This dish was the first I had ever tried at The Cookery, and it’s what kept me coming back for me. As for dessert, every bit of it is exceptional!

The real greatness of The Cookery is how you and your company feel while eating together. Both are guaranteed to leave satisfied and may even subconsciously hum a long to yourself out of pure belly satisfaction (I may be guilty of this!) The prices are fantastic, especially compared to the other river town restaurants located in the area. The Cookery serves lunch, dinner and brunch daily.

The Cookery: 39 Chestnut Rd. Dobbs Ferry, NY (914) 305-2336

Siam Square in Riverdale, NY is a true hidden gem. Tucked between a tight strip of shops on a busy Bronx corner, no one would ever suspect the culinary greatness that awaits inside to ignite our palates, literally. When you first step into the burgundy splashed paneling the ambiance warms you inside. Beautiful paintings dress the walls and authentic art pieces from Thailand make you feel like you are eating inside a cookery on the Southeast side of Asia.

The menu is fairly large and broken down by appetizers, main courses, chef specialties, rice/noodles and vegetables. Along with the menu comes a separate list of traditional Thai street foods all for under $6. For starters, try the Kui Chai, a light pan fried Thai dumpling filled with Asian chives and paired with a soy vinaigrette. Perfect for two. This dish will accompany your ice cold Singha, a delicious Thai beer that tastes similar to the Italian’s Peroni, quite perfectly. If you enjoy Asian infused greens, then try Siam’s Som Tum Salad, one of their award winning dishes. Inside lays a mixture of ripe-shredded green papaya, string beans, plum tomatoes, crushed peanuts all lightly drizzled with a lime-garlic vinaigrette. Yes this salad has won an award for all the right reasons. It’s a delicious mash up of refreshing and exotic flavors.

For an entree favorite most would suggest the duck. Every duck entree at Siam is crispy, flavorful and cooked to perfection, rare. For noodles, the favorites claim to be the drunken noodles with shrimp or a Thai classic, pad thai. Plates are filled perfectly and do not leave you overwhelmed or peer pressured to over eat. The portions are simply satisfying. While every chopstick of a bite is pleasurable my only complaint, which was my own fault, is the infamous Siam spice factor. Quite frankly I favor overly spicy dishes and had made the mistake of ordering my drunken noodles at a level three degree of spicy. Oh had the spice gods tricked me. Asking the honest server what she recommended, I probably should have went with her suggestion of two, but being the daring eater that I am I settled overly confident on three. Mistake. Was three intended to be fire? Warning: Make sure to notice the tiny hot red peppers next to the dishes you are considering.

1 pepper: spicy, 2 peppers: rather spicy, 3 peppers: very spicy, 4 peppers: Thai spicy, 5 peppers: for those who dare.

To cool down your taste buds try a mixture of the Thai ice tea, pandan leaf and mango squared homemade ice cream. The sweet ice milk is filled with actual tea leaves and shredded mango chunks. For true dessert lovers order their signature dessert the coconut mousse. A light creamy mousse made from young fresh coconut, typically served with seasonal fruits and berries. A perfect ending to any Thai fare.

Siam Square is a great spot for a fun and original first date or for casual dining with family and friends. Parking can be a bit tricky, but the subway and bus routes are near by. Opened on Tuesday-Sunday from 5pm to 10pm.

Siam Square: 564 Kappock St. Bronx, NY 10465

Emma’s Ale House in White Plains, NY is set snuggled on Gedney Way, a good distance away from your noisy-younger crowd that populate the well known Mamaroneck Road bars and restaurants. Named after owner Casey Egan’s lovable yellow Labrador, Emma appears to be the main theme through out the pub’s decor. Before stepping inside a drinking bowl for pups sits cornered in the door way and photos of Emma dress the walls from inside the dining room to the bar area. The black and whites hung up of Emma give you the feeling of almost being at home – true comfort. The atmosphere is set in a way in which you feel like everyone knows each other. Families and friends come here to gather and make you feel as if you walked into your own neighborhood bar, a real Cheers “where everybody knows your name” moment.

The cuisine at Emma’s is comforting American food with a twist. Once seated, the friendly-bow tied servers top your table with warm doughy pretzels and spicy mustard for dipping. Delicious, but make sure not to fill up on them. The beer and wine lists are to die for offering twelve delicious wines by the glass and a never ending beer list that includes Brooklyn Oktoberfest, Blue Moon seasonal dashed with pumpkin spices, Dogfish Head, Palm and the list goes on all ranging from $5-$6. The menu offers a variety of appetizers that can be ordered in threes or fours and shared among guests instead of ordering large entrees.

Do not miss: Homemade baked mac and cheese shells with peas and smoked bacon. Perfectly plated for two. The fusion of cheeses accompany the smoked bacon just right – a real comfort food to be had. The popcorn shrimp is crispy and lightly breaded and fried, served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce and cucumber noodles – a perfect pairing to cool down your buds after dipping. A friend of mine’s favorite are the crispy chicken lollipops. These little suckers are called pops because the spice from the buffalo and the sweet from the teriyaki and BBQ leave you sucking them bone dry. Drizzled with blue cheese dressing this appetizer is indeed a personal favorite.

Turkey burgers, veggie burgers and seafood burgers are all options on the menu and are served with hand cut fries dressed in sea salt. Try the Emma Burger cooked to your liking with shredded lettuce, pickles, hand cut fries, and if your feeling like a champion top it off with a fried egg – just one of the many extras you can add to your personalized burger.

For entree favorites try the chicken pot pie filled with chunks of chicken, peas, carrots, potatoes and baked deep in a flaky crust. This entree is large enough to be shared with two or three guests. The pie is served in a hollow crock pot and can be overwhelming just at first sight! For Guinness lovers try the Guinness braised beef stew – tender and melt in your mouth good. For those who prefer seafood, I recommend the fresh pan seared Chilean sea bass over warm lentils and sauteed spinach. A phenomenal dish that is light and leaves room for sweets.

Be sure to ask your server what Emma’s weekly specials are. Dishes range from buttermilk fried chicken to Maine lobster rolls, another Emma diner favorite. As for dessert I allowed my friend, an Emma’s regular to surprise me with her selection. Our dish arrived with two spoons (thank god) a perfect two scoops of vanilla ice cream sat atop a large mound of warm cinnamon dough drizzled in caramel syrup. My first bite and no words could be formed. I had to try it again to make sure it was really that amazing. Oh and it was. A Krispy Kreme cinnamon doughnut battered in cinnamon and spice and deep fried to perfection, then tiered off by cold vanilla bean. A must have.

Come to watch the game or dine in the private dining area. Brunch, lunch and dinner are served daily from 12pm to 1am (In the area? Sneak in for a late night snack.)

Emma’s Ale House: 68 Gedney Way White Plains, New York 10605 (914)-683-EMMA