[ ] FREE Serving Philipstown and Beacon Earth Day Events Page 15 APRIL 14, 2017 161 MANI ST., COLD SPRING, N.Y. | highlandscurrent.com Clearwater Sails Again After a stormy 2016, sloop returns to river By Brian PJ Cronin hese days you could walk right by the sloop Clearwater, the Hudson TRiver’s second most famous ship currently docked on the Rondout Creek in Kingston, and not even notice it. Jason Angell, left, spoke to the Philipstown Town Board on April 9 in support of a “sanctuary city” resolution, while Rodney Dow voiced his opposition. The meeting was moved from Town Hall to the Haldane school auditorium. Photos by Ross Corsair Philipstown Forbids Aiding Immigration Arrests Resolution offers ‘equal Haldane school auditorium to accommo- nicipalities that declare themselves to be date the audience, which numbered about sanctuaries. protection’ but not ‘sanctuary’ 200 people. “I know this town is full of good peo- Although listed on the agenda as a mea- ple whose hearts are in the right place” By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong sure “declaring Philipstown a sanctuary and whose values include helping others town,” the resolution does not include on a daily basis, Supervisor Richard Shea fter more than 90 minutes of the word sanctuary. Instead, it speaks of said when introducing the resolution. “It’s public comment, the Philipstown upholding “the rights of all,” regardless important to reinforce those values, let Town Board on April 6 narrowly A of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual people know where we stand. I feel very adopted a resolution to ensure “equal orientation and immigration status. strongly about that. To people who’ve protection” to all residents, regardless of On April 3, the Beacon City Council been given much, much is expected in re- immigration status, and forbid town em- unanimously passed a similar resolu- turn, to help the most vulnerable. And to ployees from participating in arrests by tion declaring the city to be “welcom- support basic human dignity through our federal immigration officers. ing, safe and inclusive” but also avoiding actions is vital at this time.” The resolution passed 3 to 2. The meet- Clearwater Photo by Dorice Arden sanctuary. President Donald Trump has Councilors Michael Leonard and Nancy ing was moved from Town Hall to the threatened to deny federal funds to mu- Montgomery (Continued on Page 8) Located behind the Hudson River Mari- time Museum, the sloop sits wrapped in plastic wrap, as if in a giant cocoon. Climb- The Meat Goes On ing aboard through an opening in the wrap reveals a dozen crew members per- Poppy’s has closed, but burgers will continue forming the final round of winter mainte- By Brian PJ Cronin nance before the 106-foot sloop begins its 2017 sailing season on Tuesday, April 18. n the long list of things to blame on the 2016 election, you can add The mood is less hectic than it typi- Paul Yeaple’s decision to close Poppy’s. cally would be at this time of year. Since O “I probably wouldn’t have sold this place if Hillary had won,” he the sloop underwent a massive $850,000 said of his popular burger joint on Main Street in Beacon. restoration in 2016, there isn’t work to be Like many things Yeaple says, what sounds like a joke hides a deeper done now except routine maintenance. truth. “I don’t trust Trump’s economic… well … anything,” he said. “No On the other hand, the air is charged matter what he does, we’re going to end up in a bad economic moment. I with expectations. Last year was a tumul- thought it would be good to not be in anything right now.” tuous one for the Beacon-based nonprofit, Yeaple closed Poppy’s in March after eight years in business, during which was conceived in 1966 by folk icon which it helped kickstart the farm-to-table restaurant movement in the Pete Seeger to save the Hudson River. (The Highlands. Revenues were growing, he said, and he owned the building so Clearwater launched in 1969.) rent was not a concern. But the difficulty of attracting and keeping reliable It began with Peter Gross, the executive staff led him to do more of the work himself. director of Hudson River Sloop Clear- “It’s a physical and mental toll,” he said. “If I want this place to get better water, Inc., resigning after 18 months in than it is right now, I have to stop at this location. I have to figure out how to the position. Clearwater's annual Hud- rebuild this from the ground up so I can figure out what I’m doing wrong.” son River Revival music festival, a major The burgers will continue at 184 Main St., however, because Yeaple source of revenue, was cancelled; the or- has sold the building to Brian Arnoff, the (Continued on Page 6) Poppy's Photo provided ganization said (Continued on Page 18) 2 APRIL 14, 2017 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.com Small, Good Things 3,000 years ago, in Mesoamerica, the pignolis or pistachios are local additions, ing the chocolate afterward for a smoother seeds of the cacao tree were milled into golden raisins (or sultanas) and black or consistency. The finished dish is served over Chocolate Bunny “bitter water,” a fermented drink pur- white pepper are vestiges of Persian occu- pasta or mashed potatoes. Coniglio ‘Ncicu- ported to be an aphrodisiac. This is the pation and influence. The addition of wine lattatu is also — unsurprisingly — a special By Joe Dizney genesis of a culinary history that developed vinegar belies the Sicilian taste for sweet- item on Sicilian spring or paschal menus. to include both the confections we know sour agrodolce condiments. Mexican chocolate is typically sold in hex- y nature of its enthusiastic fertil- but also Mexican moles, savory sauces of Lacking a Sicilian nonna, the version of agonal cardboard boxes or tissue-wrapped ity, the rabbit has been a symbol of chilies, spices, fruits, seeds and nuts — and Coniglio ‘Nciculattatu presented here is discs and sometimes labeled “drinking choc- Brebirth and spring for millennia. chocolate — served over meats (including the most authentic I could find. Alternate olate.” Abuelita, Ibarra and Taza are brands In 18th century Germany, edible bunnies rabbit) and known as Conejo en Mole. recipes suggest straining the braising liquid to look for, and Go-Go Pops on Main Street fashioned from sweet pastry and hidden The story doesn’t end here. Following the once the rabbit is cooked and incorporat- in Cold Spring stocks the latter. Rabbit can around the house were a spring custom. Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, chocolate be ordered from Marbled Meats (chicken, The Easter bunny further multiplied and served as a beverage and sweetened with Coniglio ‘Nciculattatu pork or lamb can be substituted). evolved in America when in 1842 Whit- honey or sugar and flavored with vanilla Sicilian Braised Rabbit in Chocolate Sauce man’s introduced a chocolate version. became a favorite of the Iberian court. Serves 4 to 6 But let’s look at the chocolate-rabbit con- Mexican chocolate today remains close vergence from another angle. More than 3 to 4 lbs. rabbit, cut into serving pieces 1½-cup chicken broth (plus some for to its Aztec roots: unlike the more civilized 1 cup dry white wine (plus some for reserve) European versions, Mexican reserve) ½ cup white wine vinegar chocolate is “cold processed,” ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil 6 to 7 oz. Cioccolato di Modica or which preserves more of 6 bay leaves Mexican chocolate broken into the complex flavor and nu- 2 onions, diced pieces* trients. Mexican chocolate 3 ribs celery, sliced fine 1 to 1½ cup pine nuts or chopped is noticeably grainy due to 3 carrots, peeled, sliced fine pistachios 8 to 12 cloves tied into a cheesecloth milling in stone mutates 1 cup naturally sun-dried golden sachet made from the volcanic lava raisins 1 tablespoon fennel seeds, lightly Salt and freshly ground black pepper stone of Mt. Aetna. Flavor- toasted and coarse ground to taste ings are typically limited to 1 teaspoon (or more to taste) dried red (Fettuccine or pappardelle pasta or single notes such as cinna- chili flakes mashed potatoes for serving) mon, chiles or almonds. (Grated Parmesan or Romano optional) The Sicilian town of Mod- 1. Marinate the rabbit in the wine, ¼ cup of the olive oil, bay leaves and ½ ica, once occupied by Spain, teaspoon of salt and freshly ground black pepper for at least 3 hours (up to 8), is to this day renowned for turning it occasionally. its cold-processed ciocco- 2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove the meat from marinade; drain well, lato. The indigenous Sicilian reserving the marinade for braising. Add the reserved olive oil to a large frying Coniglio ‘Nciculattatu — rabbit mole with a Sicilian version of Conejo en Mole is pan or Dutch oven (with lid) over medium-high heat. Uncovered, sauté the known as Coniglio ‘Ncicu- meat until browned; remove, drain and set aside. accent Photo by J. Dizney lattatu. Wild fennel and 3. To the same pan, add onions, carrots and celery; sauté until soft but not colored. Add to the vegetables two of the bay leaves, the fennel, cloves sachet and chili flakes. Reduce heat and add the reserved wine marinade, chicken broth and vinegar. Scrape pan to incorporate browned bits and simmer all for 10 to 15 minutes. Easter Egg 4. Return the rabbit to pan. The braising liquid should just barely cover the meat. If not, add broth or wine as necessary and bring all back to a simmer.