I have this thing about time off. Even if I have a million things to do at home, I have very little patience for staying home more than 2 days in a row. If I’ve got a day off, I want to go somewhere and do something. So, over Memorial Day weekend Brian and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and headed to Hyde Park, NY at my suggestion (which was really his father’s suggestion several month’s ago). There we visited the home and resting place of our 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
After touring the home, sitting down to chat with Franklin and Eleanor and checking out the (first ever) Presidential Library, Brian and I went to the Eveready Diner for lunch. The menu on the website was fairly extensive and the Eveready has been on Food Network’s Diners, Drive Ins and Dives (apparently even after leaving cable television 2 years ago I’m still a sucker for anything with the Food Network stamp of approval). I loved the look and feel of the diner-it was just the way a diner should be.
We started our meal with Spin Dip, which contained spinach, artichoke hearts, shallots, garlic, spices and cheeses. We also shared an amazing vanilla flavored Coke, which I can’t even come up with words to explain the deliciousness of. And I don’t really even like soda anymore.
I ordered the Hudson Salad, which (in addition to being huge) was topped with chicken, apples, cranberries, walnuts, blue cheese and honey mustard dressing. Sometimes I feel sort of silly getting salad when I eat out because I can easily make salad at home, but this definitely hit the spot. And I took home enough leftovers for both Brian and I to eat later.
Brian ordered the atomic burger, which was topped with cheese and chili. He said it wasn’t as spicy as he’d expected, but he still really enjoyed it. I only managed to steal one bite from him, so you’ll have to take his word for it.
After lunch, we took a quick walk through the Val-Kill property where Eleanor Roosevelt’s cottage is located. We’re cheap, so we opted not the do the tour, but the scenery was beautiful. Plus skipping the tour gives us a reason to go back sometime.
If Memorial Day is the official kickoff to summer and our day in Hyde Park is any indication of things to come, this is going to be an excellent summer.
Sounds lime a great day! I sometimes love ordering salads out, just because the vegetables taste refreshing, and I’ll get new combination ideas.
If you enjoyed the presidential library, there’s one on Northampton, MA for Coolidge. Might make another fun day trip. :)
Restaurant salads also tend to have ingredients that I’m too cheap to buy myself.
Thanks for the Coolidge library tip–I had no idea! I really need to do some more exploring of the Northampton/Amherst area. Maybe this summer?
oh holy crap i forgot how good vanilla coke tastes!
Very very cool you got to go to a diner featured on Triple D. Food Network stamp of approval ftw!
I can’t remember when I’d last had a vanilla coke (besides the bottled stuff) and it was AMAZING.
It’s tempting to make a hobby of checking out Triple D restaurants, but my waist might not be too forgiving. Still, worth the trip.
I am very glad you and Brian had a great day at Hyde Park!! (thanks for the credits on the idea – glad we think alike). I am also excited that you went to the original EverReady Diner (our next door neighbor grew up there and has mentioned it several times). And also glad you made it over to Eleanor’s “respite” property in Val-Kill – it is a beautiful area – so a great day trip! Thanks for sharing.
Bob
Thanks again for the tip!