By Yvette Signore
Ah… Marist College, what a place to be. From the vibrant sunsets, to the famous river views, the furry ground hogs running about, and the abundance of people to meet from all corners of the globe – what’s not to love?
Well, as an avid food-lover (emphasis on the AVID), sometimes eating at the dining hall every day may get a bit dull. Don’t get me wrong – our food services are great, every time my friends from other schools visit Marist, they constantly say how our food tops theirs ANY day – however, there’s no harm in wanting to explore what culinary adventures there are out in Poughkeepsie!
I made it my mission to find the BEST food places around here, and I can honestly say my findings have been very promising (and very delicious). I wanted to go beyond the usual out-of-campus options, such as Lola’s, Cosimos, and the local diners. Of course, they’re great, but I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and try out new places (I must say, the Yelp app was a great help).
- Brasserie 292 – French Cuisine
Oh boy… where do I even begin? Walking into this beautifully dim-lighted setting with magnificent copper ceilings, tiled floor and walls, and the aroma of different spices in the air, it transported me back to the Parisian nights I’ve had with my family a few years back. I can honestly say anything you select on this menu will be a huge hit. You can literally taste the passion that was put into each dish, the magnificent blend of various flavors and the intricate food designs truly demonstrate the work by the chefs in the kitchen. What do I recommend, you might ask. Well, for an appetizer, my personal favorite is the foie gras parfait, which comes with fig jam and butter toasted brioche. Just writing about it is making me hungry! For a main course, honestly, anything is fantastic, but if I had to pick one thing… hmm, well, I’m torn. Either the truffle roasted chicken breast or the parisienne gnocchi will blow any other meal you’ve ever had away. Don’t worry – I didn’t forget about dessert! At Brasserie, you can NEVER go wrong with the beignets with a side of Nutella.
- Crave – New-American Cuisine
GUYS – this place is a must try. It is extremely unnoticed by so many – and I don’t know why! I can’t tell you how many times I have spoken about this place with Marist students, and they had no idea it existed! The crazy part is – it’s right next door to Lola’s! Fun fact – Lola’s and Crave are under the same management (no wonder why it’s so good!) The menu may seem small – but the effort and time placed in each dish makes it understandable. They turn such simple foods into a flavorful masterpiece. For example – you can get a burger almost ANYWHERE, literally, but nowhere like this place. They combine ingredients that I would never imagine to be in a burger, but with one bite I was hooked. The Crave Burger contains two 4 oz. beef patties, dijonnaise, aged cheddar, bacon jam (which I never heard of until I went here), garlic pickles (another first), and EGGS! All together, it was, without a doubt, one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.
- Molè Molè – Mexican Cuisine
Many of you Red Foxes reading this may realize this place sounds quite familiar – and it should, considering how close it is to our campus. Molè Molè is right behind Campus Deli! Surprisingly, it always looks so empty, and so many people have said, “I’ve seen it, but I’ve never walked in.” Well, you definitely should! My mother emigrated to the United States from Mexico when she was 20 years old to raise my siblings and I here, but, despite growing up in America, I have spent much time visiting family in Mexico and enjoying the colorful culture down there. However, it is pretty hard to find a Mexican restaurant that is truly authentic in this country (no, chipotle definitely does not count). So when I discovered Molè Molè, I was hesitant since I am very critical of Mexican food served in the states. Nothing quite tastes like the food back in my mother’s hometown in Puebla, Mexico… that is, until I ate at Molè Molè. As soon as I walked in, I felt at home. With Mariachi music playing in the background, famous paintings of Mexican artists on the wall, and the smell of tamales in the air – it brought me back to my favorite place in the world. I must say, I give this place the Yvette Signore approval of authentic Mexican food (if that means anything!). It was fresh, it was flavorful, and it was made with that Mexican touch of home cooking. The chicken and lime soup tasted just like the one my Abuela used to make me when I was a little girl, and the enchilada dish tasted just like the lunches I had with all my primos (cousins) sitting around the table after a long morning of running and playing under the hot Mexican sun. I can honestly say this place is as close to Mexico as I can get while at Marist.