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About
Dutchess County is home to a diverse array of peoples and cultures. The region’s large cities and small villages were built by immigrants, including Dutch, German, Irish and Italian laborers. Explore Poughkeepsie’s Little Italy, Millbrook’s connection to a town in Lazio and lots of delicious Italian cuisine!
Italian culture is an essential part of Poughkeepsie’s long, eclectic history. After emigrating Europe, many central and southern Italians traveled to New York and settled in Dutchess County. The Dutch were this county’s first European immigrants, but Irish, German and Italian laborers soon followed. Mediterranean men and women arrived in the late 1800s. Many of these 19th Century Italians worked on constructing the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge—now the Walkway Over the Hudson. In addition, they built schools, churches, and the first daycare center specifically for immigrant children. Pelton’s Mansion, an Italianate villa-style structure, housed the Poughkeepsie Day Nursery founded in 1859.
With a hand in so many community pillars, Italian families contributed greatly to the infrastructure and culture of Poughkeepsie. Find Little Italy in the Mount Carmel district of The Queen City, just a short walk from the stunning waterfront. According to the Historical Marker standing in Poughkeepsie’s Little Italy, over 4 million Italians arrived in America between 1896 and 1921.
Much of the city’s architecture reflects its Italian influence. Victorian-era Italianate buildings like the 1880s-constructed Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center give Poughkeepsie its trademark look. In 1928, several local organizations combined to form The Italian Center.
Searching for Italian sweets and treats? Skip the trip to New York City and visit this truly authentic bakery and pasticceria. For over 50 years years, La Deliziosa has generated incredible sfogliatelle, biscotti, cannoli, rum baba and specialty cakes. This is a Poughkeepsie Little Italy staple. Find them at 10 Mount Carmel Place.
Your visit to Dutchess County can’t be complete without trying one of the famous sandwiches at Rossi Rosticceria Deli. This nearly five-decade-old establishment creates mind-blowing panini with fresh focaccia, semolina, ciabatta or gluten-free rounds. The Number Four with pesto is a local favorite, featuring chicken cutlet, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and roasted red peppers. (The Muffaletta and The Quattro Falso are also worth the try.) Rossi Alimentari can be found in Eastdale Village in Poughkeepsie for a modern deli and marketplace.
Hungry for pizza? Try Aloy’s renowned square thin-crust pizza, a popular meal since 1929. Pair with a trip to the Walkway Over the Hudson, and indulge in hearty Italian dishes after crossing the world’s longest pedestrian bridge.
Millbrook is another destination in Dutchess County with a rich Italian heritage. The 2017 documentary Il Villaggio di Millbrook explores the influx of immigrants to the Eastern Dutchess village.
Many of these immigrants arrived from Fondi, a city in the region of Lazio. Fondi was traditionally known as a citrus cultivator, halfway between the important trade centers Rome and Naples. Masons and stone workers began arriving in Dutchess in 1893, and they built many of Millbrook’s estates. Later, Italian boys got jobs as caddies at the local golf clubs. Their relationship with local “movers and shakers,” according to an article by Rural Intelligence, helped their assimilation process. Many of them became members, and eventually, golf champions.
Continuing the tradition of Italian heritage in Millbrook, Barbaro provides an excellent spot for a night out. Grab a seat in their atmospheric dining room, and enjoy a variety of staple dishes and modern twists. Dig into Neapolitan-style pizza fresh from a wood-fired Pavesi oven, gnocchi, risotto, grilled octopus, penne puttanesca and much more.
Il Figlio Enoteca offers unique Italian dishes in a stunning space. Their menu includes options for each course in the classic Italian dinner: aperitivo, primi, secondi, contorni and dulci. Past specials include creamy burrata with delicata squash, pecans and sage; ricotta cavatelli tossed with a six-hour veal bolognese, tomato and parmigiana reggiano; and a beautiful sautéed branzino with French lentils, roasted mushrooms, shallot and green herb salsa verde. To make a reservation, click here.
Next door, check out the newly-opened La Sorella.This cafe/mercato provides a perfect early-day dining option for visitors to the Village of Fishkill. Breakfast sandwiches feature Italian twists like a bacon, egg, fontina and pesto on focaccia or a smoked salmon toast with whipped mascarpone. Plus, pair their house-baked delights with excellent espresso and seasonal coffee concoctions.
Dutchess County attracts foodies from all around the globe. A major draw is The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, where visitors can sample mind-blowing cuisine prepared by the next generation of elite chefs. Inside a Tuscan-style villa sits Ristorante Caterina de’ Medici. Imported furniture, Venetian glass chandeliers and other decor set the scene for authentic regional meals. Dine on elegant dishes while overlooking the rose and herb garden and the majestic Hudson River. To make a reservation, click here.
Experience a true celebration of foraging, farming and butchering, blending Italian techniques and principles with Hudson Valley ingredients. During the warmer months, dine al fresco on their lovely grapevine-lined patio. Of course, their rustic dining room brings warmth and charm to any occasion. Their expansive menu encourages repeat visits, as every course is represented with a dearth of decadent dishes. To explore their menu, click here.
Spettro is an Italian gastropub, and serves up artisanal pizzas, sandwiches and salads for lunch. Settle in for dinner to experience truly inventive Italian fusion, with items like butternut squash and caramelized apple risoto, sweet potato gnocchi and polenta croquettes bringing new ideas to palates. The Pera pizza pairs grilled pears with crispy prosciutto, stracciatella, fiore di latte and honey, while the mushroom-loaded Funghi uses white miso with ricotta.
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