Main Street Matters

There are a lot of things going on with our Main Street Mountaindale neighbors that are worth sharing:

Photo by Vi Carpio, talented wife of
featured artist, Virgelio "Billy" Carpio

With the weather turning warmer, Uccelli Restaurant guests will be able to enjoy dining al fresco at the outdoor seating in front of the restaurant. Plans are underway to build a large deck before the summer for additional outdoor dining. Chef Robert is also busy creating an all new Lunch Menu that he will begin serving on April 24th. He will resume Sunday Brunch with a new menu and new daily hours. Please visit the Uccelli Restaurant site for updates this month.

We have been glad to welcome Ahleana back to Main Street with her Tuesday evening Bellydancing classes in 62 Main Street. The new time is 7 to 8:15PM. I have heard that her students are getting a very enjoyable workout while learning an exciting, exotic art form. Please call 845-436-8945 for more details about weekly classes. The suggested attire is comfortable, loose clothing and fun hip scarves may be purchased before class.

Alexandra Lalieu of Upstate Karate of Mountaindale and several of her advanced students will spend the day at the Sullivan County Community College tomorrow to participate in the 3rd Annual Health & Wellness Fair. They will be providing information and demonstrations of Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan, the Korean martial art that they have studied at 81 Main Street for the past 8 years. Congratulations are in order for all of the champions of this karate school who attended the Mid Hudson Regional Tournament at the New York Military Academy last week and came back with loads of trophies and medals. Next, they will be attending the Soo Bahk Do National Festival in Cherry Hill, NJ in June.

The Look Up Cafe added a colorful banner on their railing to help you look up to find this charming place for breakfast and lunch at 6 Main Street. Speaking of banners, the Mountaindale Community Development Project will soon be installing all new banners along Main Street in Mountaindale. The new, larger banners and bracket hardware were purchased with a portion of the funding awarded by Sullivan Renaissance for our efforts to enhance the gateway to the Rails to Trails last summer.

Look Up Cafe

Here we GROW AGAIN!
There are a number of new faces on Main Street in Mountaindale and we offer a hearty welcome to all the new people who have moved in. I am especially pleased to congratulate a new business who is growing right before our eyes. I have known local resident Louisa Pabon for a number of years now. She has always impressed me as a hard working woman with a powerful, entrepreneurial spirit. In August of 2008, she began a business which manufactures a gourmet seasoning which is a staple of Spanish cooking, known as Sofrito, (pronounced “so-free-toh.”) Although a canned version may be found on many store shelves, Lousia takes pride in making her natural product fresh, using only the best quality vegetables like peppers, onions, cilantro and other savory herbs & spices for Sofrito Verde. These are quickly processed while they are at their peak flavor and frozen so that they can be delivered to a store near you and enjoyed within two weeks. Another delicious product made by Louisa is 'Oooh That's Good Hummus' which can also be purchased locally at Catskill Harvest Market in Liberty, NY. She makes this product by starting with her own cooked chick peas to eliminate any salt or preservatives that might be found in canned versions.


Sofrito Verde Kitchen



For the first couple of years, Verde & Company operated out of a rented commecial kitchen. They were able to grow and produce quality products carried by a large number of supermarkets and specialty stores. However, they would not be able to fully reach their potential until Louisa could have a commercial kitchen of her very own. She needed a clean place where she could expand her production as well as experiment with new recipes for her loyal clientele. After several intense weeks of renovation, she was able to officially move in to 6 Main Street in Mountaindale.  This is the handsome brick building with a concrete porch that used to be the Rittberg Bakery in town. It is now a fully functional certified commercial kitchen with sleek stainless steel and soothing teal colors where Louisa can fill all of her wholesale orders.



Look Up Cafe Dining Room

When Lousia isn't making her delicious sofrito and hummus, she is able to indulge her long time dream of having a small breakfast and lunch cafe. The name of this new quaint establishment will be the Look Up Cafe. Why? Lousia said it is because people will have to look up at the building to see where she is. I visited there yesterday for lunch and think guests will only have to follow their noses for the delicious smells. I greatly enjoyed my chicken empanada which was seasoned just right and had a tender, flaky crust because it was baked and not fried. This was served with tasty homemade macaroni and cheese. Although I was stuffed, Lousia and Ralph, her husband and assistant baker, convinced me to sample a luscious bite of freshly baked carrot cake. Other people began dropping in for coffee and I heard that the brownies were delicious as well. You can find out for yourself tomorrow if you stop in for coffee or a meal between 7AM and 3PM in the sunny attractively decorated dining room. Whether you are there for a fresh muffin, eggs, or a Latin style lunch with strong Bustelo, you will enjoy your meal at the new Look Up Cafe!