Business Notebook: Extended hours for the Iron Forge Tap Room

Warwick - According to the internationally known Zagats Restaurant Guide, ”You may need a GPS to find this beautiful old 1760 farmhouse-turned-restaurant tucked in a postcard-pretty hamlet of Warwick, but once you do, you’ll discover a staff that makes you feel special, serving a seasonal menu of delicious New American fare that always has surprises to offer.” Warwick residents, however, may not need a Global Positioning System to find the Iron Forge Inn. Just turn down Iron Forge Road off Route 17A about halfway between the Village of Warwick and Greenwood Lake. Stay to the right and in less than a minute you’ll be at the foot of Mount Peter on Bellvale Lakes Road where the Iron Forge Inn has been famous for its fine country dining for more than 50 years. The inn is located on the site of an historic forge in a revolutionary era home built in 1760. Each season, head chef Erik Johansen, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, emphasizes the use of local ingredients with what he describes as the restaurant’s Modern American cuisine. Owners John and Barbara Johansen and their son Eric and his wife, Elise, offer their patrons a choice of five colonial era style rooms with personal touches including antiques, original artwork, paintings, furniture, carvings, and even the music. Diners also may choose to enjoy more casual fare in the restaurant’s Tap Room, which has been a favorite of local residents, especially in cool weather. Formerly open on Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights, the Tap Room at the Iron Forge Inn is now open every Saturday evening for dinner with an expanded menu. The Tap Room’s popularity stems from its reasonably priced pub menu with a selection of hearty food served with ales and lagers as well as wines and mixed drinks. There also is seating near the fireplace (the original 1760 cooking kitchen). Once seated by the fire, you might start off, for example, with a bowl of Baked French Onion Soup followed by Barbecue Pork Spare Ribs washed down with a pint of Guinness or Bass Ale. And, most likely, many of the desserts at this time of year will include locally grown apples. The Tap Room was the original kitchen of the historic home when it was first built during the Revolutionary War era. The 250 year old fireplace keeps the room warm and cozy on autumn and winter evenings. Wood carvings and antiques decorate the room where the original stone and brick remains exposed. For more information on the Iron Forge Inn, call 986-3411 or visit www.ironforgeinn.com. Leo Kaytes Ford Inc. receives 25 year award In the automobile industry, it’s unusual for a dealership to offer exclusive finance plans provided by any one financial institution, even that of the manufacturer, for a long period of time. That stability and the benefits of the manufacturer’s credit program for Ford customers, however, were important to Leo Kaytes Ford Inc., Route 94, Warwick. And the dealership recently received an award for 25 continuous years of service as a “Ford Credit Dealer.” The award, issued by A.J. Wagner, president of Ford Credit North America, stated: “We are very proud that the business relationship between Leo Kaytes Ford and Ford Credit is now over 25 years old. Together we have experienced numerous changes in our industry and our relationship has developed and matured.” In the past 28 years, Leo Kaytes Ford Inc. has received more than 100 awards from Ford for various achievements. “Receiving this award from Ford Credit is very important to us,” said Leo R. Kaytes, president of Leo Kaytes Ford Inc. “Ford Credit has provided our customers over $50 million in loans in the past 25 years.” Visions of Sugar Loaf Bertoni Gallery, 1392 Kings Highway, Sugar Loaf, is now exhibiting “Visions of Sugar Loaf,” featuring works painted by artists from the Wallkill River School of Art. The Plein Air painters have been painting Sugar Loaf for weeks and are now presenting their artworks in watercolor, oil and pastels. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to support the Artisans of Sugar Loaf, a non-profit local organization supporting the arts. The show ends Oct. 29. A reception will be held next Saturday, Oct. 14, from 6-8 p.m. For more information, call 845-469-0993 or visit www.bertiongallery.com. Autumn collection Last weekend Warwick celebrated Applefest and Frazzleberries, 24 Main St., seized the opportunity to unveil its new autumn collection, featuring new wreaths, florals and home accessories designed to turn your house into a country home.