News
Trailside Treat
Clarence Fanto
Special to The Eagle
Thursday, March 22 Lenox
Anyone looking for a quick pick-me-up in a quiet, informal atmosphere, away from the Route 7 and 20 hustle and bustle, might make tracks for the Trailside Cafe, a wing of the venerable Arcadian Shop, a destination for local and visiting outdoor enthusiasts fondly referred to as "The Arc."
It's an ideal spot for high-quality sustenance, within whispering distance of Aspinwell and a pebble's throw from the Lenox Fitness Center.
Open for the past three years, primarily as an Internet cafe with wi-fi access, the Trailside is currently serving lunch Fridays through Sundays, with additional days likely once the busier summer season approaches.
The cafe is presided over by the affable April Bertelli, a Pittsfield native who's essentially the Lone Ranger of the operation, with some backup from Arcadian Shop colleagues when needed.
On a recent snowy Sunday, her lunch special was a hearty spicy habanero roasted red pepper stew ($5.95). A generous portion, very tasty - a chili-style dish with a long list of fresh and, in some cases, exotic ingredients, including cous-cous. The rotating list of luncheon stews comes from well-known caterer Joan Embree, and are accompanied by fresh, crusty bread from Berkshire Mountain Bakery in Housatonic. Other lunch specials you're likely to encounter include black bean stew and three-bean vegetarian chili, all variations on the basic theme.
Hot beverages include basics like house coffee ($1.20 for a small cup), espresso ($1.75), tea ($1.60) and hot chocolate ($2.15), and there's a tempting list of specials like cafe latte, mocha latte, cappuccino and cafe au lait, all reasonably priced from $2.40 up. We had the mocha latte, and it had just the right flavoring topped by a dollop of whipped cream. The top-shelf coffee is supplied by Barrington Roasters. During the warm-weather months, the cafe also offers refreshing smoothies.
There's an assortment of fresh baked pastries, including scones and muffins, all supplied by Bellissimo Dolce in Pittsfield and Cakewalk in Lee. A heaping bowl of granola ($4.95) as well as an assortment of cookies come from the Old Inn on the Green in New Marlborough. David's Biscotti is also available - the Trailside certainly goes for prime pedigree in its choice of vendors. All items are available for takeout.
It's an inviting spot to spend some time; Bertelli notes that there are regulars who hang out with their laptops every morning.
Hikers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and mountain bikers drop by before or after exploring Kennedy Park; there's an entrance to the park's inviting, heavily-used trail system from the Arcadian parking lot.
Reflecting the Arcadian Shop's clientele, live sporting events and videos often are displayed on the cafe's high-def big screen. A selection of reading material is also on hand.
Coming up as customer traffic increases, Bertelli says, "we'll be expanding our lunch menu; it's trial and error to find out what works and what doesn't."
She's also experimenting with occasional live Saturday soirees; local musicians Bobby Sweet and Adam Michael Rothberg recently performed there, and they are scheduled to return on an April evening to be announced. (Sweet is a well-regarded singer-songwriter with four CDs to his credit; Rothberg's debut CD, "All the Whispering," released several years ago, was called "one of the greatest debut recordings I've ever heard" by pop music critic Seth Rogovoy.)
The Trailside is an inviting oasis where you can catch up on your reading, e-mail or Web surfing (with your own laptop), stay as long as you like, and imbibe top-quality beverages augmented by a limited but appealing selection of appetite-quenchers.
(c) 2007 The Berkshire Eagle. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.
