Ooohhh YEAH... new VanWinkle's menu. Photos + info.

On Wednesday night, Steve and I went up to VanWinkle's to check out the new menu. We had heard a lot of buzz and we needed to take some photos of the awesome new items added to the summer menu by new Executive Chef Tim Lang. The menu has been completely reworked, and there is some SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS food.

I posted a ton of photos on the Hunter Mountain Facebook Page, but to give you a quick recap, we received four appetizers, and four entrees. Our appetizers were all new items to the summer menu: sea scallops and watercress, roasted portabella mushroom and goat cheese overlaid with asparagus, a colossal crabcake (it really is colossal) and caprese. All were outrageously delicious... the crabcake was utterly fantastic, and I am not a crabcake person. These are all light, healthy (well... I beg to differ on the crabcake but it's seafood at least!) and fresh.

I will admit that I am a notoriously health conscious eater, and in the past, VanWinkle's offerings had not been my cup of tea. I'd drive off the mountain for light, inventive fare (and vegetarian options) at other regional eateries: New World, Peekamoose, Aromathyme, The Artist's Palate. After eating at VanWinkle's on Wednesday night I can tell you I'll be staying up here! Who needs to drive anywhere when there's watermelon feta salad?!

For entrees, we received the evening's special, red snapper over yellow rice; salmon in orange-ginger glaze; a watermelon feta salad I knew I wanted from the moment I saw it on the menu; and mind-blowing mushroom ravioli. Both fish dishes were delicious, and any time the snapper comes back on the menu... ORDER IT! In the meantime, I suggest you tide yourself over with the mushroom ravioli. Normally a heavier dish soaking in cream sauce, Tim's ravioli has huge chunks of mushrooms, and is coated in a brown butter sauce. Check it out below... the big chunks of mushrooms give it an amazingly meaty texture.

The watermelon feta salad was weird and awesome... not a combination I've ever had before (or thought to combine), dressed with limoncello vinaigrette. Incredible.

Dessert included a ricotta-honey cheesecake (if you're shaky on the texture of ricotta cheese, order it anyway. You will not be disappointed!) as well as the mini tartlet and a Victorian chocolate cup.

Check out the photos, the menu, and then head up there. We've got a new Foursquare special launching tomorrow, so make sure you check in when you get there!! We hope to see you soon... and PLEASE feel free to post your own amazing food shots on our Facebook page! As a devotee of healthy, slow, local and organic, VanWinkle's new menu has some incredible offerings for the pickiest of eaters. Come on up!

Hunter Mountain Competition Team Blogspot: Lake Placid - Freestyle Team Ramp Camp

Hunter Mountain Competition Team Blogspot: Lake Placid - Freestyle Team Ramp Camp: "Hello Competition Team fans. With the summer in full swing many of our athletes are busy preparing for the up coming competition season. Our..."

Rip Lives! plus Zipline, Skyride and much more!

Summer is in full swing in the northern Catskills, and we've got a lot on the horizon here at Hunter! First and foremost, you might've been cruising through town lately and seen the awesome Rip VanWinkle statues out in front of homes and businesses... these are brought to you by Rip Lives, and they will be auctioned off in September, with proceeds going to local artists and mountaintop not-for-profit businesses. So if you find one that suits your fancy, make sure you head over to the auction... it could be yours!

Our Kaatskill Flyer has been taking people to the summit week in and week out: have you taken a Skyride yet this summer? Check HunterMtn.com for more info and the operating schedule. We've also got the Mid-Mountain Tour, Skyrider Tour and Adventure Tower open all year round! Mild to Wild Summer Savings! 10% off the Mid-Mountain or Skyrider Zipline Tours on Wednesdays until August 31st! This is an adventure that can’t be missed! Call 518-263-4388 to book your reservation or book now at ZiplineNewYork.com: Promotion code Wedn. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts. Offer expires 8/31/2011. Reservations are strongly recommended.

While you're perusing through the resort's many offerings, don't forget to stop into VanWinkle's for a bite to eat! Serving up lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and dinner every night, VanWinkle's has a brand new summer menu offering light, fresh fare. We've got outdoor seating with beautiful views, and a full service bar, plus happy hour and nightly specials! View the new menu here!

Festivals, Y & Z-Lift Chair Sale & West Side Construction!

August is also coming up quickly, and soon enough it will be time for summer festivals, beginning with our annual Brats & Brews and International Celtic festivals. Tickets are on sale for these fests... get them now on eSki!
Not enough for you? This year, the organizers of Mountain Jam are launching a new blues festival: Bluestock! Three days of blues, brews and much more. Gregg Allman will be here... will you? Get your tickets and/or view the lineup at Bluestock.com!
There are still Y- And Z-Lift chairs for sale, and our West Side quad installation is well underway. Don't forget to check the Hunterblog for photos and updates about the lift installation. Y- and Z-Lift chairs make great yard and porch decor and allow you to keep a piece of Hunter history forever! For more information or to purchase a chair, e-mail btransue@huntermtn.com. For further info on the West Side installation, visit HunterMtn.com!

Don't forget to Like Us on Facebook (we'll have some great deals and giveaways coming in the near future!), and keep abreast of updates, photo, video and more in the Hunterblog. We've got a lot going on all the time, and we want to keep you informed! We're also on Twitter... and for those of you with feed readers, our RSS feed is here. Among other new features coming in 2011/12 is a mobile site... stay tuned!

We hope you're having a wonderful summer... we are!