Soul Dog-The Fancy Hot Dog

One of my favorite things about the winter coming to an and and summer coming around is the food that becomes more acceptable to eat. Let's be serious, no one thinks of summer without thinking of hot dogs. On the 4th of July alone, millions of hot dogs are consumed by the US population. I, myself, look forward to those delicious, grill-cooked hot dogs as much as the next person. However, there are times when the generic hot dog with ketchup on a bun just doesn't cut it. For those of you who know what I'm talking about, Soul Dog is the place you need to go to.

Located on Main Street, Poughkeepsie, Soul Dog Cafe offers customers specialty hot dogs for awesome prices. The cafe has a great atmosphere with great decor and crayons and board games laying around to play with as you have a hot dog. Even as a college senior, I can appreciate when I see Connect Four on a table, who didn't love playing those games as a kid? The menus are scattered around as well so you can take your time decided which hot dog suits your mood that day. The options are seemingly endless!

As you look at the menu, you can choose which type of hot dog you would like: beef, chicken, vegetarian and Italian sausage are all possible options. You then get to pick the toppings you want to have...the first two toppings are only 50 cents with the third being free. Some of the multiple options you can have are: chili, sour cream, bacon, baked beans, cheese, cole slaw, and more. I personally, gave the chili cheese hot dog and the baked bean hot dog a whirl when I went there for this post and both were amazing!

The cafe also offers different food choices if hot dogs aren't your thing. They also serve beer and wine for those who feel like making the hot dog a bit more classy. The prices, as I mentioned, are great. With the hot dogs costing you no more than $5 for what you get (that's including toppings). And for those who may have food allergies, all of the food at soul dog is gluten free. If you haven't popped into Soul Dog yet, I highly suggest getting over there to taste a bite of summer!

Rossi's Deli

It's no secret that Rossi's Deli is one of the best deli's in the area. However, despite its reputation, there are still people that haven't experienced this amazing food (especially their paninis). Like these people, I had been hearing about Rossi's for over a year from my obsessed friends but still hadn't been there myself. Thankfully, creating this blog gave me the necessary motivation to go and experience it for myself so that I could share it with everyone else. And, let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

The deli is small but, as I'm learning, that doesn't mean anything. Upon entering the deli you are given the choice of the regular deli sandwich options, a daily special, and the panini list. If you are a fan of paninis, that's what you want to focus in on. There are the options for how they make your panini, including the type of meat you want, the type of dressing, the type of cheese and any extra toppings you may want. After you place the order you make your way down to the front of the deli, passing amazing authentic Italian food as you go.

The deli also caters for events with Italian food that looks and, I'm sure, tastes great. Aside from the delicious panini I had, I decided that dessert was in order and wasn't disappointed. As an Italian, I've had countless cannolis. Rossi's had a plate of cannolis that I just couldn't resist. They had multiple options including chocolate filling, chocolate covered, and duel filled with vanilla creme and chocolate. I got the duel cannoli and was amazed, it was probably one of the best cannolis I think that I have ever eaten. 

The food isn't going to be the cheapest option in Poughkeepsie but I think that the food you receive is well worth the price that you pay for it. And coming from a college student, that says a lot since I'm always watching what I spend. If you haven't been to Rossi's yet, you need to get there!

Roosevelt Farm and Forest Hiking Trail

Despite the fact that it is only March, the 80 degree weather has hit. This means that it's time to break out the shorts and t-shirts and get outside. For my friends and me, this means that it's also time to get out on the trails and go hiking. Right up Route 9 from Marist College is one of many of the Hyde Park Trails. The Roosevelt Farm and Forest Trail is located right in between the drive-in movie theater and the Hyde Park Brewery. When you arrive at the trail, you have the option of walking, pushing a stroller, or riding your bike through the trail, the pathway is designed so that multiple modes of transportation are possible.

This specific trail is 3.6 miles long by the time that you go to the end of the trail and the back. However, the trail is so beautiful that you don't even realize that you are walking that far. The trail winds through the forest across the street from the Roosevelt House. The main trail is outlined well as you walk through the woods by a gravel path (we wouldn't want any hikers getting lost). However, if there are hikers out there that are feeling a little more adventurous, there are multiple side trails that can be followed based on color markings on the trees. These paths wind deeper through the forest but eventually drop hikers back off at the main trail so they can find their way back to the parking lot at the beginning of the trail. As of right now, there aren't many trees in full bloom so it's looking a little sparse but when spring is in full bloom, it's gorgeous and well worth the walk.

An added benefit to walking this, among other Hyde Park Trails, there is a badge that you can receive if you walk 6 or more of the trails associated with this collection of trails. When you arrive at the entrance to the trail, brochures can be found with the complete list of trails, their locations, and information on the trails around the area. This list also serves as the check list for which trails you have walked and the required documents to receive the sew-on badge offered.