In Defense of Lunch: Frida’s Bakery in Milton
Peter Martin | February 5, 2015Lunch is hands-down the most underrated meal. Between dinner’s decadence and “the most important meal of the day,” lunch is often stuck playing second fiddle. It’s unmatched, however, as the perfect time to enjoy some great food without the fuss, and to catch up with old friends, especially when all of you have busy schedules. So, instead of settling for a bag of chips and that fourth cup of coffee, why not head to Frida’s Bakery and Café in Milton?
Milton is a sleepy little town about fifteen minutes south of the Mid-Hudson Bridge off of Route 9W, where Bob Pollock is quietly building an empire. Frida’s is the latest of his ventures, but he is also the proud proprietor of Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa as well as Henry’s at the Farm, both definitely visit-worthy in their own right. Pollock, like many others, came to the Hudson Valley from Brooklyn and recognized its vast potential and vibrant community. But why start a bakery? The answer is at once simple and charming. When Pollock opened Henry’s, he initially sourced his bread and baked goods from Dave Metzer, one of the only local bakers Pollock felt was really ‘authentic.’ Long story short, he was so enamored that he asked Dave if he’d like to go into business together, and so Frida’s was born. I can vouch for Dave’s baking, along with the talent of the other kitchen staff; the food was delicious.
I had a take on that timeless classic and quintessential lunchtime staple, the grilled cheese, along with a soup (obviously necessary). Both items feature daily variation, and for me it was brie, cheddar, and apple included with the former, and curried lentil for the latter. They were fantastic; the bread is made in-house (of course), and was simply perfect. The soup too, was excellent. For something so simple, it really is hard to find a curried lentil soup that isn’t over-seasoned or ‘gloopy.’ Frida’s really knocked it out of the park. I’ve got to say as well that the prices were very reasonable.
As you can see from the loft pictured above, Frida’s is also just a nice place to spend time. The downstairs was very comfortable and the upstairs loft was cavernous and tastefully appointed. It also features a playroom for the younger upstaters among us, rounding out its status as a great neighborhood hangout, and as one of the best hawkers of that noble-yet-misunderstood meal, the lunch.
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