Breakfast
CAFFE POMO D'ORO 6 Depot St., West Stockbridge, MA
The sun pours in to Caffe Pomo d'Oro in the morning - it’s just gorgeous sitting in this restaurant for breakfast. Chef/Proprietor Scott Edward Cole has turned this spot into an idyllic place to enjoy a meal. The Caffe consists of an open dining area, attractively decorated with a photo exhibit on the walls and culinary items for sale on the shelves, including serving platters, soup bowls Pomo d’Oro’s signature marmalades and preserves, breads and pastries.
The breakfast menu features Omelets with a choice of options including; Black Forest ham, brie, chevre, mushrooms, smoked trout, red onion, fresh herbs and smoked salmon to name a few.
Thick slices of Challah go into the French Toast, and Buttermilk Pancakes come unadorned or with raspberries and/or blueberries.
The Stone Ground Oatmeal is topped with a choice of fruits and syrup, and looks really hearty. And you can order eggs any way you like with bacon, ham, herb roasted potatoes, mixed greens, fruit and toast or bagel. The popular Breakfast Sandwich consists of eggs,
The Caffe also serves bagels and the Bagel Platter comes with smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese, red onion, tomato and cucumber. Pastries include a muffin of the day and currant cream scones with jam and butter.
A cup of coffee here is large and delicious and you can also get an espresso, cappuccino or latte. The tea list is extensive, with varieties of Black Teas, Herbal Tisanes, Green Teas and White Teas.
We sit next to the large window and watch the birds feeding from the Caffe’s feeder. It’s January in the Berkshires, but with the sun, the food and the marvelous atmosphere in this Caffe, you feel like you’re in paradise. It’s hard to leave! www.caffepomodoro.biz
OUR DAILY BREAD 54 Main Street, Chatham, NY
It's fitting that Our Daily Bread is the first shop I list in this BREAKFAST column because there's something really special about the place. Chatham is an old industrial village – set in the Hudson River/Berkshire region – that is making a strong comeback. Our Daily Bread anchors one end of a wonderful commercial street. A walk thru Chatham is a nice way to spend a morning. Chatham (1765) is surrounded by Dutch founded settlements – Kinderhook, Ghent, Schodack, Austerlitz are but a few.
Zvi Cohen is the owner of Our Daily Bread, and he runs the bakery with his sons Yoni and Gavriel. There's a real pride of place here - you feel welcome and at home. While the seating is casual, the staff takes great care in making sure customers are happy. Residents from the area seem comfortable talking from table to table, with lots of discussion going on in this friendly local cafe.
It's worth taking a moment to survey the selection of fresh baked goods before making a decision – everything is delicious. Our Daily Bread also serves espresso and cappuccino and distributes its own brand of coffee. A colorful refrigerator next to the entrance is full of specialty goods, including local dairy products such as milk and yogurt from Ronnybrook Farm and cheeses from the region. The bakery produces an extensive variety of great breads including three types of baguettes, beautiful artisanal loaves and big bagels.
The bakery in back of the restaurant makes desserts sold at the bakery that are served throughout the region, including Chocolate Pecan Tarts, Cheesecake, Frangipane Pear Tarts, Chocolate Dipped Macaroons, Cookies, Brownies and a fabulous Iced Lemon Cake. Just look at the Chocolate Raspberry Rugelach!
