BBQ, bubble tea, over-the-top milkshakes: Summer bucket list for Hudson Valley food fans

Summer 2022 is looking to be the summer for good times and gatherings. Whether it's grabbing brunch with the family on a Sunday or looking for a place to snack after hitting the trails, the mid-Hudson Valley is a foodie's dream.

If you're looking for new places to get some food, drinks and fun here's our summer bucket list for the mid-Hudson Valley foodies. What's on your list?

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Grab a hot dog from some local  favorites

Last year, we asked mid Hudson Valley readers about their favorite spot to grab a hot dog, and boy, did they answer! Readers sent in their responses for best hot dog in Dutchess County as well as Orange and Ulster counties. If you haven't tried Pam's Bun n' Run in Pleasant Valley, now's the time!

Try the world's 2nd best pan pizza

In March, Poughkeepsie's Hudson and Packard was voted the second best pan pizza in the world at the International Pizza Expo. Its Holé Molé is topped with molé negro, habanero salsa, avocado purée, red onions, and an unexpected star ingredient.

Enjoy the tropics

The Jet Set Tiki Bar and Restaurant is getting ready to open in Newburgh sometime this summer with cocktails and pub eats. In the meantime, those looking for authentic tiki drinks, check out Fuchsia Tiki Bar in New Paltz.

Grab a glass of wine at a wine bar

The Hudson Valley is known for its many craft breweries, but there are plenty of places you can grab a glass of wine, too, including a variety of wine bars located in Beacon, Poughkeepsie, and Wappingers Falls. 

Enjoy a night out supporting history

Newburgh's Tapas on the Terrace, a fundraiser to help The Downing Park Planning Committee, will be held at The Shelter House, 123 Carpenter Ave., Newburgh, on June 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be tapas, wine, craft beer, a raffle, silent auction and local vendors. Tickets are $60 per person.

Try a themed cocktail while playing classic arcade games

Beacon's Happy Valley Arcade Bar's cocktail menu includes video game-themed drinks the "Megamanhattan," the "Marge-A-Rita" and "Sex on the Koopa Troopa Beach" twists on the classing Manhattan, margarita and sex on the beach cocktails respectively. Patrons can sip on their drinks while playing on arcade cabinets like "Frogger," "Asteroids," "Donkey Kong," "Galaxian" and more.

Try a wood fired pizza

In High Falls, Ollie's Pizza serves up wood fire pizza pies including a margherita (in vegan too!), white pie and tomato pie, though customers can customize their pie with a variety of toppings.

Take in river views and brews

From the rooftop bar at 178 Main Street in Poughkeepsie, Zeus Brewing Co. gives patrons 21 and over a view of the Mid-Hudson Bridge, the river, and the land across while they enjoy the brewery's array of house-made beers, pizzas and other offerings. Zeus also offers specialty cocktails and wines.

Get an over-the-top milkshake

At Rosendale's Santa Fe Burger Bar you can find burgers, sandwiches, an assortment of beers and giant milkshakes (one even topped with a full slice of cake).

Have happy hour on the riverfront

Hutton Brickyards' River Pavilion, which sits along the Hudson River, serves up cocktails and cuisine including PEI mussels, wood roasted Snowdance Farm chicken, and more. From Monday through Wednesday, it is only only open for drinks from 5 to 9:30 p.m. returning to full service on Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Sunday 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Sip some bubble tea

A fun Taiwanese sensation, bubble tea combines iced teas — often in fruit flavors — with bursting boba or pearls, also in fruit flavors, or tapioca pearls. Customers can mix and match fruit flavors of tea and pearls at Bubble Tea-Ology in Monroe while Beacon's Matcha Thomas offers seasonal "boba/bubble tea" drinks including the "Strawberry Matcha," which has maple and vanilla infused strawberry boba or their "Pure Matcha" that has tapioca pearls infused with maple.

Feast on fish in the fresh air

On Newburgh's waterfront, Primo's raw bar offers up oysters, littleneck clams, smoke salmon dip and more with views of the river and adjacent mountains.

French inspired dishes by the Walkway

Farmers and Chefs in Poughkeepsie serves up escargot and mussels for appetizers, followed by duck confit ragu and steak au poivre entrees, as part of a diverse menu that you can enjoy with views of the Walkway Over the Hudson from an outdoor table.

Grab a cone at Bellvale Farms Creamery

Warwick's Bellvale Farms Creamery not only has dreamy valley views, but the family run farm and creamery serves up handmade ice cream, available in classics like strawberry, chocolate and vanilla as well as cheesecake, "Calf Trax" and more, in the house-made waffle cones.

Have a pint after a hike

In Beacon, hikers taking on Mount Beacon and the nearby Breakneck and Hudson Highland trails can find three different breweries: Hudson Valley Brewery, the closest to the trails, Two Way Brewing Company, with a view of the river that flows two ways, and Industrial Arts Brewing Company, located next to District Social.

Give in to your BBQ cravings

Though we're not in Texas, the Hudson Valley is the home of several barbecue restaurants serving their take on ribs, brisket and more. In Dutchess, there's Billy Bob's BBQ in Poughkeepsie and Smoky Rock Barbecue in Rhinebeck. In Orange, Newburgh has Handsome Devil BBQ as well as Billy Joe's Ribworks. Lastly, in Ulster barbecue lovers will find Hickory BBQ and Smokehouse in Kingston and Legal Swine BBQ in Saugerties.

Check out the CIA

The Culinary Institute of America, known for alumni such as Roy Choi, Cat Cora and the late Anthony Bourdain, has its own restaurants where students can learn on-the-job. There are currently four restaurants open at the CIA this summer: American Bounty Restaurant, Ristorante Caterina de' Medici, The Bocuse Restaurant, and Apple Pie Bakery Café. As the restaurants are staffed by students, they are closed on certain days so it is best to call ahead or check out their respective websites before heading out.

Try a vegan donut

Owned by twin sisters, Brittany and Justine Soto, Peaceful Provisions, located on Main Street in Beacon stands out for its strawberry twist and glazed donuts but also for its commitment to crafting vegan pastries. The shop's website affirms its doughnuts include no animal products, bone char ingredients, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, GMO ingredients, palm oil, artificial flavors or synthetic coloring. Are they tasty? Well, the shop usually sells out by 11 a.m. each day.

Heather Clark covers business openings and closings throughout the Hudson Valley. Contact Clark via email, hclark@poughkeepsiejournal.com. 

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Hudson Valley food guide: 18 things to cross off the 2022 bucket list